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www.LouisBerkLaw.com 407-906-0500 September 2023
Car Accidents | Truck Accidents | Pedestrian Accidents | Slip & Fall/Premises Liability | Wrongful Death
A Journey of Roots and Culture It’s always fun when someone asks me about my heritage and background — they love to take some guesses. I often hear, “You look a bit Middle Eastern, a tad Spanish, and maybe a little Israeli.” I have such a great mixture of cultures behind who I am that it excites me to share my heritage and explain why I have so much pride. stories enthralled me. For all that my family endured to seek a better future for themselves and their children, both amazed and inspired me. PRIDE IN HERITAGE
Having been born and raised in a different country, heritage is extremely important to me. I treasure the stories, our food and traditions, and my Venezuelan heritage. I love the different cultures that make up who I am today. Heritage ties my entire family tree together, and the stories and experiences passed down to me will one day be passed down to my children and grandchildren. I take pride in being different in a nation’s melting pot, just like everyone else — we all have stories to tell, traditions to share, and new foods to taste. I remember when my dad moved my family from Venezuela to the U.S., to give us the best “new life” possible, he relied on the stories of my grandparents to teach us about hard work, integrity, and ethics. Many years later, we still learned from their experiences — it still gives me chills. While all of us come from different backgrounds, it’s fun to connect with those who share some similarities in heritage. I am proud to see Puerto Rican, Venezuelan, and Cuban flags in Miami and even some areas of Orlando. There are little pockets of different cultures all over, and it’s always fun to visit and try new foods. I also enjoy immersing myself in cultural experiences that feel familiar to me, too — it helps me feel like I’m at home.
This month, we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, and on Sept. 22, National Hispanic Heritage Day. Embracing and celebrating your heritage is a powerful way to connect with your roots, preserve your cultural identity, and foster a sense of belonging. It links us to our ancestors and their stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. It highlights what shapes us into who we are today. Heritage isn’t just a personal endeavor — it connects us to those around us and is a way to honor our past and strengthen who we are.
In an interconnected world, it’s essential to embrace your cultural identity and celebrate diversity! Preserving your roots honors your past and celebrates your future. It allows us to share our history and learn from others — never stop sharing your roots!
Both sides of my family are Jewish. My maternal grandmother was born in Israel and my grandfather was born in Romania. My grandfather survived the Holocaust and moved to Israel. On my dad’s side, his mom was from Cuba and Russia. Eventually, everyone relocated to Venezuela, where I was born. Growing up, I loved hearing stories from my grandparents and parents about their journeys and experiences — the
-Louis Bernardo Berk
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Silence Is Golden: A Guide to Understanding the Fifth Amendment
Almost everyone knows what it means to “plead the Fifth.” We hear it often in the news, crime TV series, and all of the best mobster movies. When you plead the Fifth, you’re exercising your right granted by the Fifth Amendment to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. While this is your constitutional right, there are actually times when you are obligated to speak. Before you zip your mouth shut, you’ll need to learn when you should and shouldn’t plead the Fifth. What do you need to share with authorities? While you have the right to remain silent, there are a few questions you are legally required to answer. In most states, it’s the law that when a cop pulls you over and asks you to identify yourself, you have to answer. Even if the law doesn’t apply to the state you live in, it’s safe to simply provide your name, address, and date of birth. Another piece of information required when authorities pull you over is your license and registration. If you were pulled over by officers for a valid reason, you have to hand over your documents to them. Other than these two scenarios, you don’t have to answer any further questions. Anything you say to the authorities can be used against you, and the last thing you need is for a few poorly thought-out answers to land you in court. When is it best to stay silent? Because your words can be used against you, it’s in your best interest to stay silent until you are able to speak to your attorney. Once you have them by your side, they can speak for you and ensure that whatever they say protects you from incrimination. This
is part of your Sixth Amendment right: You can remain silent and refuse to give any statements until you receive counsel.
Will pleading the Fifth make you look guilty? Some people worry that pleading the Fifth will make the police and others who may hear about their case believe that they are guilty and have something to hide. This conception likely comes from the media, which tends to only mention the Fifth Amendment in extreme cases.
“Anything you say to the authorities can be used against you, and the last thing you need is for a few poorly thought-out answers to land you in court.”
For example, you might remember reading about Michaele and Tareq Salahi, a couple who snuck past the United States Secret Service and crashed a state dinner at the White House in late 2009. They famously plead the Fifth more than 30 times during questioning by a House committee. At the time, ABC News wrote an unflattering article on the topic called “White House Crashers Remain Silent.” Though stories like the Salahi’s may make it seem otherwise, pleading the Fifth is not an admission of guilt. While many may think those who invoke this right are guilty, in legal matters, they can’t be assumed guilty just because they refuse to answer. There have been countless cases where innocent people implicated themselves in an investigation simply because they said the wrong thing or didn’t choose their words wisely enough. No matter how many “Law & Order” episodes you’ve seen, you’re not a legal expert, and you should always err on the side of caution. The best way to remain innocent is to keep your rambles to yourself and leave it to your attorney to speak on your behalf. Silence is golden!
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TAKE A BREAK
Born around 1412 in Domrémy, a village in northeastern France, Jeanne d’Arc was raised by her farmer father and devout Catholic mother. During this time, England had control over much of northern France, and she witnessed countless families forced out of their homes due to British invasions. At 13, she began to hear voices she believed were sent from God. These voices told her that she would be the one to remove the British from France, return the crown to Prince Charles of Valois, and save her people from continual war. She took a vow of chastity and trekked across dangerous British territory at the age of 17 to reach the prince’s palace in Chinon. Once she arrived, she spoke of her destiny and how she could guarantee the prince his crown and France’s success. She asked for a small army to fight in the conquered Orléans. While their conversation is unknown, Charles insists she said words only a messenger of God would know. With that confirmation, he agreed, and she was off to battle. Fearless atop a white horse in men’s armor and short hair, not only did her army win the battle, but she made a name for herself as the prophesied virgin who would finally save France. Not even an arrow to the neck could stop her mid- battle. She and her army escorted Charles to his coronation, THE UNTOLD STORY OF JOAN OF ARC A Journey of Bravery and Betrayal
SPICED PECAN PIE BARS
Inspired by SouthernLiving.com
Ingredients
which took place in July 1429, and named him king. Sadly, in 1430, British forces captured Joan and charged her with witchcraft, heresy, cross-dressing, and more. To create distance between himself and the accused heretic, King Charles made no attempts to rescue her or negotiate her release. She was on her own.
• 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar • 1/2 cup honey • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour • 1/4 cup melted butter • 1 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/2 tsp ground ginger • 3 cups chopped pecans
Crust • 3 cups all-purpose flour • 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed • 3/4 cup powdered sugar • 1 tsp salt Filling • 4 eggs • 1 cup corn syrup
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Use baking spray to grease a 13x9-inch pan before lining with parchment paper. 2. In a food processor, blend crust ingredients until a crumble forms. Press mixture into pan. Bake until light golden brown, about 20 minutes (crust will have cracks). 3. In a bowl, whisk all filling ingredients (except pecans) together until smooth. Stir in pecans and pour over crust. Bake until set, around 30 minutes, then let cool completely in pan.
After a year of imprisonment, a 19-year-old Jeanne d’Arc was burned at the stake. Celebrated worldwide for her courage and passion, Joan of Arc is now the patron saint of France, the country she died for.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
We’re Proud of Our Cultural Legacy
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Unveiling the Right to Remain Silent: Your Guide to the Fifth Amendment
Spiced Pecan Pie Bars
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Joan of Arc: A Teenager’s Journey to Deliver France From British Rule
Thief Caught Red-Handed Thanks to Facebook?!
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They Seem Too Dumb to Be True! HILARIOUS REAL-LIFE CRIMES
Today, we have tons of podcasts, YouTube videos, TikToks, and documentaries about true crime. It seems like we can’t get enough of learning about the person behind heinous crimes and their motives. But what about the crimes you can’t help but laugh at because they’re almost too funny to be true? Here are two crimes you won’t believe happened because of how silly and, for the lack of a better term, dumb they are! Don’t forget to log out of Facebook! Nicholas Wig broke into James Wood’s house one night and stole his credit cards, cash, watches, and more. However, the 26-year-old thief left his Nike shoes, jeans, and a belt at the scene of the crime … but that’s not all. When James got home, he was stunned to see his house had been broken into. But after realizing the thief had accessed Facebook on his computer, he decided to post on Nicholas’ account that he (Nicholas) had broken into his (James’) home. James also shared his phone number in case anyone had any additional information. Nicholas contacted James over text, and the two agreed to meet in person. The thief thought if he went to James’ home and returned
the stolen items, everything would be fine — but that’s not how things played out. As soon as James spotted Nicholas walking toward his home, he called the police. When law enforcement arrived, they arrested the thief on the spot. Monopoly money doesn’t work in the real world. Michael Fuller stopped by Walmart to purchase a vacuum cleaner and microwave for $476. But instead of paying with real money, he decided to pay using a million- dollar note from the game Monopoly. The gentleman then demanded that he
receive $999,524 from the cashier since he would need cash back for his “purchases.” The cashier called the police, and Michael was charged with attempting to obtain property by false pretenses. Can you believe these hilarious crimes?! Do you know of any we should highlight next time? We would love to hear from you!
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www.LouisBerkLaw.com 407-906-0500 Septiembre 2023
Car Accidents | Truck Accidents | Pedestrian Accidents | Slip & Fall/Premises Liability | Wrongful Death
ORGULLO DEL PATRIMONIO Un viaje por las raíces y la cultura
Siempre es divertido cuando alguien me pregunta por mi ascendencia y mi origen, les encanta hacer conjeturas. A menudo oigo: “Pareces un poco de Oriente Medio, un poco española y quizás un poco israelí”. Tengo una mezcla tan grande de culturas detrás de lo que soy que me emociona compartir mi herencia y explicar por qué estoy tan orgullosa. Este mes celebramos el Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana, y el 22 de septiembre, el Día Nacional de la Herencia Hispana. Abrazar y celebrar tu herencia es una forma poderosa de conectar con tus raíces, preservar tu identidad cultural y fomentar un sentido de pertenencia. Nos une a nuestros antepasados y a las historias que han pasado de generación en generación. Resalta lo que nos ha convertido en lo que somos hoy. El patrimonio no es solo un esfuerzo personal, nos conecta con quienes nos rodean y es una forma de honrar nuestro pasado y reforzar lo que somos.
soportó mi familia para buscar un futuro mejor para ellos y sus hijos me asombraba y me inspiraba.
Habiendo nacido y crecido en un país diferente, la herencia es extremadamente importante para mí. Atesoro las historias, nuestra comida y tradiciones, y mi herencia venezolana. Me encantan las diferentes culturas que forman lo que soy hoy. La herencia une a todo mi árbol genealógico, y las historias y experiencias que me han transmitido algún día se las transmitiré a mis hijos y nietos. Me enorgullece ser diferente en el crisol de culturas de una nación, como todo el mundo, todos tenemos historias que contar, tradiciones que compartir y nuevos alimentos que probar. Recuerdo que cuando mi padre se mudó con mi familia de Venezuela a Estados Unidos, para darnos la mejor “nueva vida” posible, se basó en las historias de mis abuelos para enseñarnos sobre el trabajo duro, la integridad y la ética. Muchos años después, seguimos aprendiendo de sus experiencias. Aunque todos tenemos orígenes diferentes, es divertido relacionarse con quienes comparten algunas semejanzas en su herencia. Me enorgullece ver banderas puertorriqueñas, venezolanas y cubanas en Miami e incluso en algunas zonas de Orlando. Hay pequeños núcleos de culturas diferentes por todas partes, y siempre es divertido visitarlos y probar comidas nuevas. También me gusta sumergirme en experiencias culturales que me resultan familiares, me ayuda a sentirme como en casa.
En un mundo interconectado, es esencial abrazar tu identidad cultural y celebrar la diversidad. Conservar tus raíces honra tu pasado y celebra
Mi familia es judía por ambas partes. Mi abuela materna nació en Israel y mi abuelo en Rumanía. Mi abuelo sobrevivió al holocausto y se trasladó a Israel. Por parte de mi padre, su madre era de Cuba y Rusia. Con el tiempo, todos se trasladaron a Venezuela, donde nací. Mientras crecía, me encantaba escuchar las historias de mis abuelos y mis padres sobre sus viajes y experiencias, las historias me cautivaban. Todo lo que
tu futuro. Nos permite compartir nuestra historia y aprender de los demás, ¡no dejes nunca de compartir tus raíces! -Louis Bernardo Berk
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La historia no contada de Juana de Arco UN VIAJE DE VALENTÍA Y TRAICIÓN
Antes de que reconozca su nombre, compartamos su increíble historia primero. Nacida alrededor de 1412 en Domrémy, un pueblo en el noreste de Francia, esta joven fue criada por su padre granjero y su madre católica devota. Durante este tiempo, Inglaterra tenía control sobre gran parte del norte de Francia, y la joven fue testigo de innumerables familias obligadas a abandonar sus hogares debido a las invasiones británicas. A los 13 años, comenzó a escuchar voces que creía que habían sido enviadas por Dios. Estas voces le dijeron que ella sería quien sacaría a los británicos de Francia, devolvería la corona al príncipe Carlos de Valois y salvaría a su pueblo de la guerra continua. Hizo un voto de castidad y caminó a través del territorio británico peligroso a la edad de 17 años para llegar al palacio del príncipe en Chinon.
corona y el éxito de Francia. Ella pidió un pequeño ejército para luchar en la Orléans conquistada. Si bien su conversación se desconoce, Carlos insiste en que ella dijo palabras que solo un mensajero de Dios sabría. Con esa confirmación, él estuvo de acuerdo y ella se fue a la batalla. Sin miedo y encima de un caballo blanco, con armadura de hombre y cabello corto, su ejército no solo ganó la batalla, sino que se hizo un nombre como la virgen profetizada que finalmente salvaría a Francia. Ni siquiera una flecha en el cuello pudo detenerla en medio de la batalla. Ella y su ejército escoltaron a Carlos a su coronación, que tuvo lugar en julio de 1429 y lo nombraron rey. Lamentablemente, en 1430, las fuerzas británicas capturaron a Juana y la acusaron de brujería, herejía, travestismo y más. Para crear distancia entre él y la hereje acusada, el rey Carlos no hizo ningún intento de rescatarla ni de negociar su liberación. Estaba sola. Después de un año de prisión,
Jeanne d’Arc, de 19 años, fue quemada en la hoguera. Celebrada en todo el mundo por su coraje y pasión, Juana de Arco es ahora la santa patrona de Francia, el país por el que murió.
Una vez llegó, habló de su destino y de cómo podría garantizar al príncipe su
Ingredientes
• 1/2 taza de miel • 1/4 taza de harina todo uso • 1/4 taza de mantequilla derretida • 1 cucharadita de canela molida • 1/2 cucharadita de sal • 1/2 cucharadita de jengibre molido • 3 tazas de nueces pecanas troceadas
Corteza • 3 tazas de harina todo uso • 1 taza de mantequilla fría sin sal, cortada en cubos • 3/4 taza de azúcar pulverizada • 1 cucharadita de sal Relleno • 4 huevos • 1 taza de jarabe de maíz • 2/3 taza de azúcar morena bien compactada
Instrucciones 1. Precaliente el horno a 350 °F. Utilice aceite en aerosol para engrasar un molde de 13x9 pulgadas antes de forrarlo con papel sulfurizado. 2. En un procesador de alimentos, mezcle los ingredientes de la corteza hasta que tenga un aspecto desmenuzado. Apriete la mezcla en el molde. Hornee hasta que esté ligeramente dorada, unos 20 minutos (la corteza tendrá grietas). 3. En un bol, bata todos los ingredientes del relleno (excepto las pecanas) hasta obtener una mezcla homogénea. Agregue las pecanas y vierta la mezcla sobre la corteza. Hornee hasta que cuaje, unos 30 minutos, y deje enfriar completamente en el molde.
BARRAS DE TARTA DE NUECES PECANAS Y ESPECIAS
Fuente: SouthernLiving.com
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