During the Holocaust, the Klausenberger Rebbe, Rabi Yekutiel Halberstam, passed through the gates of hell many times. In the Warsaw Ghetto, the work camps and death marches and the final unspeakable horror, Auschwitz, the Rebbe lost his wife and their 11 children in less than a year, yet never sat shiva, refusing to take the time to mourn for his own children, while so many thousands were being lost daily. more

Even before the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, other schools have taken steps to ensure the safety of their students. more

If I was to be confronted by a Charedi individual espousing an anti-Zionist world view, I would have plenty to say. Religious Zionist thought is firmly founded in sources ranging from the Bible, through Talmudic literature, to late authorities. However, in one important area I would be seriously challenged: Do we, in the Religious Zionist world, recognize Hashem`s great present to us and reflect that through constant efforts towards spiritual growth and commitment? more

The vote for the dual positions of Chief Rabbi of Israel came in on the Haredi side of the equation last week, with 150 representatives electing the sons of two previous chief rabbis. Rabbi David Lau, 47, Modi’in’s chief rabbi and son of a former Ashkenazi chief rabbi, Yisrael Meir Lau, was selected Chief Ashkenazic Rabbi. Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, 61, son of Shas spiritual leader and a former Sepahrdic Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, was selected as Sephardic Chief Rabbi, the Rishon LeTzion. more

THURSDAY DEC. 12 FREE ADVICE. On Thursday, Dec. 12, “Food For Thought” a free talk series for women at 10 a.m. at Cravingz Café, 410 Central Ave., Cedarhurst, artist Jessica Vaiselberg speaks on gaining a better perspective through drawing. There is a special-priced menu and gift certificate raffles. Call (646) 543-7332. more

“Who gives snow like flakes of wool, Who scatters frost like ashes. … Who casts forth His ice like lumps — who can stand before His cold?” (Psalms 147:16-17) Yes, there is a spiritual message to the snow we have been experiencing in such excess. My interest in this matter was peaked recently by Rabbi Dr. Martin Cohen of Shelter Rock in an essay he wrote concerning snow referencing his favorite Kapital Tehillim, Psalm 147. more

May saw a series of tweets by MSNBC hosts displaying a lack of sensitivity about the Holocaust which some would call anti-Semitic. more

The Religious Zionists of America (RZA) brought 1,200 people to its fourth annual Leadership Shabbaton and Convention, on Shabbat at Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence. more

Attorneys representing a group of Hurricane Sandy victims who contend that their claims were denied by their insurance company based on “doctored” damage reports filed a federal … more

You can tell it’s Rosh Chodesh Adar in the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls — the hallways and classrooms are bustling with girls in cute costumes and with colorful wigs on their … more