As we approach Rosh Hashana the operative word is “judgment.” From the unique foods we eat, to the customs we maintain, our prayers, our thoughts all embody the idea that a court case of sorts is playing out in cosmic proportions. more

With this summer’s unusual earthquake and a hurricane now safely behind us, our minds and reading habits are shifting towards the high holidays and new school year. more

Dear Aviva, My close friend just told me that his father is nearing the end. I have been very close with him ever since his father was diagnosed with cancer several years ago, and I can’t stop thinking about him now. How can I be supportive of my friend while allowing him to undergo his personal grieving process? What should I be doing? -Feeling Friend more

It is a plus that so many kosher restaurants have stellar menus. But that makes it difficult to choose just a few items to try. That is why I love the growth of multiple course tasting menus that allow you to try a smaller quantity of a number of items. These menus succeed in providing a snapshot of a restaurant’s culinary style. One of the first kosher dining establishments to integrate a tasting selection on their menu was Mike’s Bistro on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. more

Calendar for the week of Sept. 2, 2011 more

On Sept. 7, Priority-1 and Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh, which are based in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway, will hold their 24th anniversary dinner. Founded in 1987 in Cedarhurst, Priority-1 addresses “at-risk” teenagers, those who feel alienated by the Jewish educational system, and more susceptible towards reckless behavior. more

Two words; two chilling words, that have haunted a generation of Israelis, Jews, and innocents around the world, were heard yet again, piercing the peaceful quiet of the Negev desert this past week, as all too suddenly, a quiet peaceful afternoon suddenly filled with the screams of the dying and the wounded as Arab Hamas-sponsored terrorists once again targeted the innocent in a horrific series of attacks. more

On an unassuming suburban block in Rockville Center, Dr. Herbert Ausubel’s home has a lawn matching the neatness of his neighbors, but inside is a mixture of medical knowledge, world music, and fine art. more

On 9/11/01 I was in my office and received an IM from my brother telling me of the first plane crash. Taking advantage that my employer was Nickelodeon and there was a TV in my office, I tuned into the news and saw what I thought was a replay of the crash…it wasn’t a replay, it was the second plane. more

Let’s just have Tishri. Sound the shofar, wear the white, beat the chest, bend the knee and round the challah. Why do we need Elul? Why don’t we just jump into the pomp and the pomegranate, the penance and the piyyut? Why do we need Elul? Say the slichos and the ‘sorrys,’ shlep out the tshuvas and shlug kaparos. Why do we need Elul? Don the kittel and dip the apple, really fast and release the vows. more