By the end of the week Aliza and Yossi Battat expect to be living in a Petach Tivka apartment next door to Yossi’s brother. The Battat’s, now former Cedarhurst residents, are among a number of local families that are moving to Israel … more

By Eileen Goltz Issue of October 16 2009/ 29 Tishrei 5770 When my youngest son Avi was in first or second grade (lo those many years ago) a teacher asked him, in the course of getting to know … more

By Michael Orbach Issue of January 22 2010/ 7 Tevet 5770 The tragedy in Haiti hit close to home for two men who work in the Five Towns community. Vanel Desruisseaux and Alony Robert, … more

By Sergey Kadinsky Issue of April 30, 2010/ 15 Iyar, 5770 Standing in the rain, hundreds of supporters gathered outside Israel’s consulate in Manhattan on Sunday, condemning President … more

From the other side of the bench by David Seidemann Issue of August 28, 2010/ 18 Elul, 5770 We laid Aunt Judy to rest this past Sunday. Next to her are my mother and my late uncle. I … more

Simcha Katz was planning on spending his twilight years immersed in the reedy commentaries of the Talmud when Rabbi Menachem Genack, CEO of the Orthodox Union, called him. It was 2005, and Katz had … more

Dear Aviva, My husband uses the computer too much. He claims that it’s for work, but I just don’t buy it. He’s online at all hours and it’s really starting to get to me. I can’t imagine what kind of work needs to be done the minute he comes home from work. I feel like he is just using it as an excuse to not help out with the kids or with the house. I feel like a nag, but I need this to stop. Am I overreacting? more

This past month, I have been honored to attend three weddings that exemplified the solution to the so-called shidduch crisis, couples representing very different backgrounds, with love triumphing. A story worthy of publicizing. I brought my dancing shoes, a shiny Borough Park suit, and practiced my handstands for the mitzvah of sameach chasan v’kallah. But there was one item that I left in my parked car, and for good reason. The facts below have been slightly altered to protect the parties’ identities. more

2012 has thus far brought a lot of activity to Israel that could be indicative of the year it is expected to have.  The growing internal strife that has become very public between the religious right and most others to the left of them is threatening the foundation of Israel’s society.  In addition to the social difficulties it poses, the squeeze of the widening financial burden on those who produce income and those who rely on the State for services is taking its toll on the patience of the general society. more

The incoming missile siren went off on Monday during Rambam Mesivta’s sophomore Honors Hebrew class while the students were video conferencing with their teacher, Batel Dahan in Sderot. more