REMINDER! This Sunday on Toolbox Talks: Taking Care of Israel’s Lone Soldiers
THE MICHAEL LEVIN BASE:
Taking Care of Israel’s Lone Soldiers
& National Service Volunteers
Sunday, May 11, 9 PM IL / 2 PM EST
Zoom
Address:?
To
Register:?
| Rabbi Sid Slivko Community Relations Coordinator
Tel./WhatsApp: +972-52-609-1415 US Tel/WhatsApp: +1-929-231-6865
Website: LinkedIn:?? |
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Shalom
Please daven for Tamir ben Cheirut, ???? ?? ????? the cousin of a friend of mine who was abducted from his army base on October 7th. It's over 580 days and his family have had no news, he is the hostage whose status is unknown, there has been no sign of life or any leads about him. All they know from a video when he was abducted is that he was taken in his pyjamas, barefoot, without his glasses. Tamir comes from a Torah observant family. He is basically blind without his glasses. I can't imagine what he must have gone through with no shoes, proper clothing, no glasses not to mention access to Tefillin, a siddur or Torah. Without glasses he can't see if any food might be safe to eat or edible or anything else. He'd only be able to detect movements or sounds. If he is alive it will be a miracle, whatever his status he needs to come home to his family. Preferably alive but if G-d forbid he isn't he would need a Kosher burial. Only united Tefillos can bring him home. Preferably alive but if he is, without his glasses, for so long, as an OT who worked in ophthalmology, my heart aches. As a Jew my heart aches. Please share his name and help appeal to Hashem to send him home. Shabbat Shalom Shoshanah
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Today's Inspiration - Shabbat shalom!
Speak No Evil of a Jew
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Said the Apter: "It is a grave sin to speak evil even of the most wicked Jew. Such malignment brings grief to the Shechinah.
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Source: Menorah ha-Tehorah
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Chaya Lagumsky / Sunday Night ZOOM Shiur
bs'd
"Bar Yochai....go back to Yeshiva"
9pm
?Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 899 8786 2494
Passcode: 421266
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Time to count #26 Thursday night
Time to count #26?
???????? ?????? ?' ?????????? ?????? ????????, ?????? ??????????? ????????????? ?????????? ??? ???????? ???????.?
???? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ?????/?????.?
????????? ???? ???????? ????? ???????? ????? ???????????? ???????????, ?????????? ??????????, ????? ?????.
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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 40 – Fighting Fire with Fire
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We have seen that one must be prepared to make sacrifices so that the laws of forbidden speech not be violated.
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In the world of business, when one’s product is maligned by competitors, the natural and predictable reaction is to respond in kind.? Such is not the way of the Torah.? There is no basis for the notion that one who has been the object of loshon hora can respond
with a counter-offensive of defamation.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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Humbled and Contrite
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The Torah teaches that the punishment of tzaraas can take on a number of forms, and each is intended as a Divine calling to the afflicted individual. In the words of Rambam (Hilchos Tumas Tzaraas?16:10):
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The term tzaraas encompasses a number of phenomena which are totally distinct from one another. It refers to the whitening of human skin; the falling out of human hair from the head or beard; a change of color of a garment; and a change of color of the wall
of a house.1
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These [phenomena] . . . did not fall within the laws of nature. Rather, each was a sign and wonder among the people of Israel to caution them with regard to loshon hora.
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If a person would speak loshon hora, then the walls of his house would change color [and the house would be pronounced tamei (impure) by the Kohen]; if he repented, the walls would revert back to their original state [and would be purified]. If he persisted
in his wickedness until his house would have to be destroyed, then the hides upon which he would sit or lie would change color [and be declared tamei]; if he repented, then the hides would undergo ritual purification. If he persisted in his wickedness until
the hides would have to be burned, then the clothing he wore would change color; if he repented, then the clothing would undergo purification. If he persisted in his wickedness until they would have to be burned, then his skin color would change and he would
be declared a metzora. He would have to remain apart [from his fellow Jews] and his condition would become known to all, so that he would no longer take part in the conversations of the wicked, which are filled with frivolity and loshon hora.
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The Torah states: “And the person with tzaraas … his garments shall be torn, the hair of his head shall be unshorn, and he shall cloak himself up to his lips; 1 he is to call out: ‘Contaminated, contaminated!’ ” (Vayikra?13:45).
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The purpose of this proclamation was to warn people to stay away from him lest his tumah contaminate them, and to inform others of his anguish so that they would pray for him. The metzora’s isolation and disgrace would humble him and inspire him to regret his
sin. He would resolve that from then on he would refrain from committing this bitter sin, and he would beg forgiveness of those of whom he had spoken disparagingly in the past.
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1. The laws of the various forms of tzaraas are detailed in the Torah portions of Tazria and Metzora (Vayikra chs. 13-14).
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"613 Books" Podcast ? Interview with and Author and Anti-Missionary Expert Shannon Nuszen ?
Former Missionary turned Anti-Missionary Advisor Shannon Nuszen is our first guest on Season Three of “613 Books” Podcast!
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We discuss her new memoir, “I Once Was Lost” which includes many revelations about the evangelical family and culture she was born into as well as her heartfelt journey to becoming a fully Torah-observant Jew.
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In our conversation, you will hear for the first time the dramatic story of Shannon’s first Passover Seder during her conversion process, as well as the life-changing and validating four years later that the rabbinical committee asked of Shannon when her conversion process was complete.
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SUBSCRIBE to “613 Books” podcast and discover new books every week!
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LINKS:
Heather Dean Productions Website:?
Apple Podcasts:?
Spotfiy:?
SoundCloud:?
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[free event] If everyone’s in therapy — why is there STILL a crisis?
Here’s the million-dollar question:? If so many people are in therapy, Why is there still a mental health crisis? (It’s quite literally a million-dollar question. Because it’s costing the frum community a fortune — and we’re still not getting the help we need.) People are in therapy for years.? They enjoy the sessions. They feel relief. They gain insights, self-awareness, maybe uncover childhood traumas and process difficult experiences.? But the panic attacks? The depression? The disordered eating?? Still there. And that’s not okay. Because solutions do exist. There are proven treatments. Gold-standard methods. Therapies tested in thousands of studies — and they work. But for some reason, so much of this knowledge hasn’t made it into our community. So we’re changing that. From May 11–15, we’re bringing together the world’s top psychologists for a powerful, free 5-day virtual event: The Therapy Should Work Event. ??Sign up here (for free!):? You'll get over 50 expert interviews on: - Anxiety, depression and OCD
- Serious mental illness and personality disorders
- Eating disorders and addiction
- Trauma: what it is (and what it isn’t)
- Child therapy, ADHD and perinatal mental health
The presentations are: ? Available for 24 hours each (you will be able to get lifetime access with a Toolkit Upgrade) ? In interview format ? Available to watch as videos or to listen to over the phone.? ? Supported by Relief, Ohel, Amudim, Regional Bikur Cholim, Bridges, Mental Care, Chemed, Yad Rachel, and SIMHA. "The Therapy Should Work Summit is essential listening for anyone seeking clarity on how therapy should truly work. We highly recommend this invaluable event, as it has the potential to transform our community’s approach to mental health." Rabbi Binyamin Babad, CEO of Relief Signing up gives you: ? Real hope for your (or your loved ones’) mental health struggles — and a clear path to healing.
? The knowledge you need so you see progress in months, not years.
? The tools to help your kids grow up more mentally resilient (so the next generation doesn’t face this crisis.)
? Sign up here (for free!): Let’s stop settling for therapy that doesn’t work. Looking forward to seeing you there,
Dr. Chaya Lieba Kobernick, Director, The CBT/DBT Center Host, The Therapy Should Work Event P.S. Know someone who could use this? Forward this email. You might save them years of suffering — and thousands of dollars.
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?????,
Office Chabad Rechavia
??? ??"? ????? - ???????
52 King George, Jerusalem
???? ?'???' 52, ???????
02-800-1717
Please visit our website:
Contact us at: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Office@...
To make a contribution:
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Time to count #25 Wednesday night
Time to count #25?
???????? ?????? ?' ?????????? ?????? ????????, ?????? ??????????? ????????????? ?????????? ??? ???????? ???????.?
???? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????/?????.?
????????? ???? ???????? ????? ???????? ????? ???????????? ???????????, ?????????? ??????????, ????? ?????.
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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 39 – Like Any Other Prohibition
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As with any Torah prohibition, one cannot justify speaking loshon hora on the basis of personal need or practicality.? A Jew must be prepared to forego his comfort, social status, and even livelihood rather than transgress Torah
Law.? Needless to say, it is forbidden to speak loshon hora to gain popularity or win friendship.
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One must not succumb to social pressure and engage in gossip, in the same way that one would not compromise his kashrus standards due to social pressure.
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It is forbidden to comply with an employer’s demand that one reveal information which is loshon hora — even if such failure means the loss of one’s job.
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Similarly, the commandment to honor one’s father and mother does not justify speaking loshon hora.? One must respectfully refuse a parent’s request that derogatory or harmful information be related.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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The Metzora’s Isolation
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“He who slanders his neighbor in secret — him will I cut down” (Psalms 101:5). The Talmud (Arachin 15b) interprets the latter half of the verse as a reference to the terrible affliction of tzaraas.
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The Talmudic sage Reish Lakish sees the term “Metzora” (one who is afflicted with tzaraas)? as a contraction of “one who spreads slander.”? “Whoever speaks loshon hora will have afflictions [of tzaraas] visited upon him.” (ibid)
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This indicates the extreme severity of this sin, for the Torah is unusually stringent with regard to the laws of tumah (ritual impurity) as pertaining to the metzora. In the Wilderness, three distinct boundaries existed within the Jews’ encampment, each representing
a different level of sanctity. From among the various types of ritually impure, only the metzora was forbidden from entering all three camps. As the Torah states: “He shall dwell in isolation; his dwelling shall be outside the camp” (Vayikra?13:46).
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“Why was the metzora singled out to live in isolation? Because [through his evil speech] he caused a husband to separate from his wife, and friends to become distant from one another” (Arachin 16b).
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“R’ Yehoshua ben Levi said: Why was the metzora singled out to bring two pigeons for his purification? Said the Holy One, Blessed is He: ‘His sin was one of [sinful] chatter, therefore, let him bring an offering of chirping birds’ ” (ibid.).
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Speak No Evil of Jerusalem
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Said the Staliner Rabbi: "When a Jew speaks or thinks evil of his fellow-Jews, he shall be expelled from the Heavenly Abode, even as one who speaks evil of the king's sons is driven from the royal palace. He who loves a person, loves also his children. Likewise, one who loves God, also loves Israel, His son."
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Source: Or Yesharim
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This Sunday on Toolbox Talks: Taking Care of Israel’s Lone Soldiers
THE MICHAEL LEVIN BASE:
Taking Care of Israel’s Lone Soldiers?& National Service Volunteers
Sunday, May 11, 9 PM IL / 2 PM EST
Zoom Address:?
To Register:?
Link
to May 4 Zoomcast on Insurance:
| Rabbi Sid Slivko Community Relations Coordinator
Tel./WhatsApp: +972-52-609-1415 US Tel/WhatsApp: +1-929-231-6865
Website: LinkedIn:?? |
|
Rabbi Zev Leff’s Weekly Shiur resumes today!
After the long break during Nisan when Rabbi Leff was abroad, we’re excited to announce the resumption of Rabbi Leff's regular Wednesday shiur in halacha and hashkafa. Join us at 8:50 pm Israel time (1:50 pm EST), live on Zoom. As always, the shiur is accessible worldwide, free of charge, via Internet or phone. Mark it on your calendar for every Wednesday.
Currently, Rav Leff is guiding us through the laws between Man and his fellow, such as charging interest (ribis) and related topics. That's followed immediately with an in-depth study of Even Shlayma, exploring the Vilna Gaon's profound insights into human nature and character development.?
Feel free to forward this message to a community email list or WhatsApp group. If you want a weekly email reminder?about the class, write to me, and I’ll add you to my reminder list.
Missed the shiur? It’s recorded! To access recordings, write to Rav Aaron at raaronk@....
Everything is free, but donations and dedications are hugely?welcome. Contact me at szjessel@....
Zoom details are below. Please remember to mute yourself upon joining.? Meeting ID: 634 639 6447 Passcode: 613 One tap mobile: +97239786688,,6346396447# Israel Dial by your location: +972 3 978 6688 Israel +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)? +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +44 203 481 5237 United Kingdom Meeting ID: 634 639 6447 Find your local number:?
See you there! Shlomo Jessel? ? ? ? ? Tel/WhatsApp/Telegram: +972 [0] 546 720 336?
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Does your Shul Need a New Sefer Torah
LOOKING TO DEDICATE Brand New Mehudar ksaf bais Yosef Sefer torah to a Shul in NEED of A Sefer Torah
in the Jerusalem area?
email: sefertorahny@...
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New Israeli Stamps and Educational
Hi Everyone!
I posted online images of the new Israeli stamps that?
will be issued in May 2025.
Under each stamp is a link to a Hebrew / English PDF file?
with information about the stamp.
* Synagogues in the Jewish Quarter - The Hurva
* Bar-Ilan University - 70 Years
Wall Art In Israel
* The Kibbutz Spirit, Ashdot Ya'akov ichud
* Maon Mosaic, Yad Ben Zvi
* Pioneers, Ein Hamifratz
* 80 Years Since the Holocaust of Hungarian Jewry
* Memorial Day 2025 for the Fallen of Israel's Wars
* 22nd Maccabiah
* Yachad - ATM Machine Label
* Blossoming in the South - ATM Machine Label
Please share. Thank You!
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Please continue to pray for and support Israel.
May the wounded have a complete and speedy recovery.
May the hostages be freed now.
May God protect the IDF, the police, the security forces
and all of Am Yisrael.
Have a good night,
Jacob
jrichman@...
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Loving Our Fellow Jews
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The Besht was seated with his disciples, listening to their half-hearted praise of Israel.
"You are like a step-mother who praises her step-son, not because of affection for him, but in order to please her husband,' said the Besht. "Israel is a holy and good nation, a people versed in the Torah, a gracious and upright people."
He continued in this strain until the hasidim were thoroughly instructed in true love for their fellow Jews.
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Source: Midrash Rebish Tov
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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 38 – The Habitual Speaker of Loshon Hora
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The primary prohibition against speaking loshon hora is:? Do not go as a gossipmonger among your people (Vayikra?19:16).?
However, the Chofetz Chaim demonstrates that this sin can involve the transgression of numerous positive and negative commandments.? The baal loshon hora, habitual speaker of loshon hora, can easily accumulate a multitude of transgressions at a rate unparalleled
by any other sin.? That is why the Sages say that speaking loshon hora is worse than even the most severe sins.
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Furthermore, it is virtually impossible for the habitual speaker to ask forgiveness of everyone who was affected by his sinful speech; thus, he will find it difficult if not impossible to achieve full repentance for his sins.
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The Sages caution us to avoid associating with a baal loshon hora, and not to live in the vicinity of such people.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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Disciples of Aharon
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The greatness of peace can be seen from the following incident recorded in the Talmud (Ta’anis 22a):
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R’ Beroka of Bei Chozai would frequent the marketplace of Bei Lefet. The prophet Eliyahu often appeared to him. Once, R’ Beroka said to Eliyahu: “Is there anyone in this marketplace who is destined for the World to Come?”
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In the meantime, two other people entered the marketplace. Eliyahu said to R’ Beroka, “These ... are destined for the World to Come.” R’ Beroka approached them and asked, “What do you do?” They replied, “We are comedians and we go to cheer up those who are
depressed.1 Additionally, whenever we see two people involved in a quarrel, we strive hard to make peace between them.”
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“Hillel said: ‘Be among the disciples of Aharon, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving people and bringing them closer to Torah’ ” (Avos?1:12).
To be among the disciples of Aharon is to secure for oneself a place in the World to Come.
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With regard to the other source of merit of the two men, one should note the importance of helping others to rid themselves of their anguish and worries. To do so is to fulfill the mitzvah, “You shall love your fellow as yourself” (Vayikra?19:18).
Moreover, this brings immeasurable pleasure to Hashem, as it were.
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We can liken this to a father whose son is experiencing worry and suffering. Surely the father will experience great relief and joy if someone offers his son moral support, and he overcomes his distress. Similarly, the Jewish people are considered Hashem’s
children.2
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1. They devoted their comic talents solely for such situations, and thus acted for the sake of Heaven.
2. Devarim 14:1; see Bava Basra 10a.
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Dedications and Sponsorships
Do you know someone who needs a refuah shleima? A shidduch? Or perhaps a meaningful yahrtzeit is approaching? As a merit for a recovery from illness or
for a departed family member you can sponsor a daily email and have over 8,000 people, every day, learn and be inspired as a z’chus for your loved one. To sponsor a daily email visit? |
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Time to count #24 Tuesday night
Time to count #24?
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???? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ?????/?????.?
????????? ???? ???????? ????? ???????? ????? ???????????? ???????????, ?????????? ??????????, ????? ?????.
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Do you want to induce labor in a natural, safe way?
Need to induce labor naturally?
Chana Feldman, a certified doula in Israel, specializes in helping women induce
labor in a safe, natural way, without medical intervention.
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Offering support for women in the following situations:
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Home or hospital visits offered in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh and Beitar.
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*Kupat Cholim reimbursement may be available.
** Free consultation, tips and ideas offered over the phone.
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Jacob Richman