In what has become a two decade old tradition, Rambam graduates and their Rosh Mesivta, Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, joined together for an amazing and inspiring Shabbaton in Israel. more

i-Shine In last week’s front page article about the Nassau Herald’s “people of the year” award, The Jewish Star neglected to properly identify Deena Intrator as one of the three founders of i-Shine along with Annette Kaufman and Stacy Zrihen. more

Executive Director Beth Raskin celebrated Kulanu’s bar mitzvah on motzei Shabbat, announcing at the group’s annual gala that, in line with Kulanu’s amended charter, a new state education department contract would allow the Five Towns-based organization to expand its vocational and rehabilitative services to adults over age 21. more

Rambam Mesivta held another successful toy drive for Chai Lifeline, under the captainship of juniors Hudi Rosenfeld and Shlomo Sandler, with guidance from history teacher Ariel Jerushalmy. more

HANC parents, students and alumni gathered at the 609 Campus in West Hempstead for the first ever Mishmar On The Road Program, allowing members of different communities to learn Torah with HANC administrators, teachers and alumni outside of the school setting. more

The SKA JUMP team successfully ran its first event of the year. Organized as a component of NCSY, JUMP (Jewish Unity Mentoring Program) is a teen leadership training program that focuses on teaching Jewish high school students leadership skills, thereby empowering them to help create positive changes in their schools and communities. more

Steve Frankel of Mikdash Educational Center (Machon Hamikdash in Jerusalem) presented a hands-on experiential learning program for HAFTR middle and elementary school students to learn about the Holy Temple. more

Kulanu, the Five Towns-based organization that helps children with special needs and their families, will honor three of its founding members — Jewish Star Kitchen columnist Judy Joszef and Alyssa and Leslie Sterba — at its annual scholarship dinner on Dec. 21, motzei Shabbat, at the Sephardic Temple in Cedarhurst. more

After the much anticipated year in yeshiva or midrasha has come and gone, the students return to earth from a spiritual high in the rarified environment of Torah learning in Israel. Back in the U.S., many struggle to establish a college experience that continues their Torah high. To facilitate and maintain a yeshiva connection in the students, Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky, menahel (principal) of the Davis Renov Stahler (DRS) High School for Boys in Woodmere, has initiated a periodic Shabbat minyan (the next one is this Shabbat, Dec. 7). All single post-high school young men and women are invited. more

In Kabul, Afghanistan, he exhibited courage under fire. When he came to Rambam Mesivta in Lawrence, he was teary eyed. Maj. David Chartier, commanding officer of the combat outpost Bala Hissar in Afghanistan was the keynote speaker at Rambam’s Annual Veteran’s Day Assembly. Since its inception in 1992, Rambam has paid tribute to American forces fighting abroad. more