DECEMBER 12 • 2024 | 7
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Jewish community would do well
to pause and make note of the debt
we owe them for their steadfast
commitment to all of us, for the
Jewish infrastructure they have
created and maintain throughout
the world, and for reminding us of
who we are and the values we stand
for.
The world would also do well
to pause and learn from Chabad’s
remarkable army of men and
women who never hide or shirk
their identity and values but choose
instead to work fearlessly anywhere
and everywhere to bring light to
a darkened world. Their strength
should inspire the many who
continue to display weakness in
their epic failure to act with moral
clarity and courage and confront
evil and who have chosen instead to
cow to popular opinion and tie the

hands of Israel.
What has been done and said in
recent days by the ICC, the UN, the
Vatican and by some in the United
States Congress has added wind
to the sails of Iran, Hamas and
Hezbollah, further fueled global
antisemitism, and empowered the
enemies of the Jewish people. If
only they had the moral courage of
a Chabad shaliach.
The vicious murder of Rabbi
Kogan reminds us Jews of who we
are. The life of Rabbi Kogan and of
his fellow shluchim should remind
all people of good conscience to act
with discernment and moral clarity,
standing up fearlessly to evil and
lovingly offering their support for
the good.

Rabbi Moshe Hauer is the executive vice

president of the Orthodox Union.

Conference showed the extent
to which Israeli companies are
“transforming Miami into a global
tech hub.” Any student of computer
science or software engineering, or
even a budding tech entrepreneur,
will suffer greatly by boycotting all
things Israel.
STEM students who refuse to
work with Israeli technologies,
scientists and universities will
sabotage their careers. They will
likely wind up at the bottom of
their professions — far from
important research and Nobel
Prize winners. Israeli schools and
research companies are responsible
for many breakthroughs in
detecting and treating cancer, and
Israelis have dominated the Nobel
Prize in chemistry for most of the
20th century.
Naturally, none of the student
demands should be taken seriously.
In America today, no one virtue

signals like a college student.
Their hunger strikes begin after
breakfast and end at lunch; so, too,
do their demands end the moment
they sign a resolution or shout in
front of the camera.
Of course, I would love for just
one anti-Israel, pro-BDS, boycotting
and/or divesting protester to prove
me wrong and truly refrain from
using or benefiting from anything
derived from Israeli ingenuity.
Write me, using pen and paper, of
course, and tell me how it’s going.
Find an envelope and stamp, and
mail it to me at: The Investigative
Project on Terrorism, 5614
Connecticut Ave. NW, No. 341,
Washington, DC 20015.

A.J. Caschetta is a principal lecturer at

the Rochester Institute of Technology and

a fellow at Campus Watch, a project of the

Middle East Forum, where he is a Ginsburg-

Ingerman fellow.

continued from page 4

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STORY
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STORY
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In February 2024, Melissa and Adam Neff became
the proud owners of the 75th U.S. franchise of Scenthound
when they opened their dog-focused Birmingham shop.
“We try not to use the word ‘grooming,’” Melissa said.
“Grooming implies that you just drop off your dog and leave
the care to others until your next visit. We offer services, but
also teach you how to keep your dogs healthy when they’re
at home. There’s an educational component with Scenthound,
even in the business name – SCENT is an acronym for Skin,
Coat, Ears, Nails and Teeth.”
Prior to launch, the Neffs thought they could finance their
entire venture internally, between themselves and their families,
but it was much more costly than they thought it would be to
get across the finish line. They turned to Hebrew Free Loan’s
Marvin I. Danto Small Business Loan Program.
“The HFL process was very smooth and painless,” Melissa
said. “It was much friendlier than traditional lending, we
loved the concept of HFL helping to uplift our community, and
we also liked that it was something that we could eventually
give back to someday. Being interest-free didn’t hurt, either.”
Almost a year later, Melissa and Adam are pleased with
how it’s going. “Scenthound uses a membership model, which
offers customer benefits, and we’ve doubled our membership
in the last eight months,” Adam said. “We have a dynamic
staff, and public reaction to what we offer is really positive.”
As the Neffs look at their success with Scenthound, and
consider the future of their business, they recommend that
local Jewish small businesses push the envelope.
“Dream, experiment, network, formulate your plans, then
go to HFL,” Adam said. “Don’t be afraid of the work, and
don’t miss out on what you could contribute to the world.”