By Michael Orbach Issue of August 20, 2010/ 10 Elul 5770 Residents of Woodmere can breathe a sigh of relief with the arrests of two Brooklyn men who police say murdered a 20-year-old in the … more

Letters to the Editor more

There is a mystical idea, which suggests, that hidden within every fire of destruction is the spark of redemption. Such, for example, was the case on Aug. 3, 1492, which was also the Ninth of Av, the anniversary of the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem. On that day, the Inquisition was imposed on the 250,000 Spanish Jews, faced with the choice of expulsion, conversion or death. more

9/11 was a life-changing day for many people.  But it was especially the case for Robin and Avi Schreiber. Prior to their marriage they agreed to make Aliyah “some day.”  more

The American Heart Association website notes that “anyone can learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and everyone should!” Rabbi Elozer Kanner, coordinator of Chevrah Hatzalah of the Rockaways and Nassau County concurs. more

Once in a while, when our kids were super stressed by school. I allowed them a “mental health day.” It sounds like playing hooky, but sleeping in and getting a little unexpected time off goes a long way in helping with focus and creativity. more

With the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel this coming week, we are once again faced with the annual rants concerning whether to say Hallel with a blessing, or not to say Hallel at all. more

A video on terrorist attacks by the OneFamily fund and a Powerpoint presentation bookended a Tisha B’Av lecture by Naftali Moses, memorializing his son, one of eight young people murdered in a 2008 pre-Purim terrorist attack at Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva in Jerusalem. more

The essays by Rabbi Moshe Sokolow and Rabbi Meir Soloveitchik cited in last week’s essay prompted great interest, especially in the Bible commentary by Henry Ainsworth referenced by them. This prompted me to research this matter further and to bring to your attention a work written and published three years ago by British historian, Nick Bunker, entitled, “Making Haste From Babylon: The Mayflower Pilgrims and Their World” [Vintage Books, 2010]. more