Pidyon Shivuyim: Save Alan Gross To the Editor: I am contacting you to ask that you forward information to your readers about the current efforts to help get my friend Alan Gross back home. It is now over 3 years since Alan was arrested and placed in an 8’ x 10’ cell in Cuba. Alan went to Cuba to try to improve internet access for Cuba’s Jewish community. Alan’s wife, Judy, has created a petition to ask President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro to negotiate to release Alan. Alan’s attorneys are trying to get 100,000 signatures on the petition and much help is needed. The petition can be found by going to: www.bringalanhome.org The link to the petition is the second item under Latest News. Anything you and your readers can do to help is deeply appreciated. Lenny Levy Gaithersburg, MD more

Regular readers of this column know the various objections that have been raised regarding Senator Chuck Hagel’s nomination to replace Leon Panetta as Secretary of Defense but, thanks in a big part to overt and de facto support from Jewish organizations, it is clear that, in the end, he will be confirmed, joining John Kerry as a two-man anti-Israel front in the Obama administration. more

Lenny Cherson will be installed as Woodmere Fire Department Chief on Saturday night at the Woodmere Country Club. He has the distinction of being the first Orthodox Jewish chief in the department’s 124 year history. more

Rabbi Moshe Weinberger will be joining the faculty of Yeshiva University at the beginning of the coming school year in September 2013, in addition to continuing as the Rav of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere. more

Students and politicians are mobilizing to denounce Brooklyn College’s president and political science department for supporting and sponsoring an anti-Israel presentation on campus on February 7th. The forum “BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanction) Movement Against Israel” will feature two speakers, Omar Barghouti, a founding member of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (and who is currently studying in Tel Aviv University), and Judith Butler, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. more

Three speakers sat on stools in front of a rapt audience of 25 men and women in the Ganz family home in Woodmere Saturday night, explaining the ups and downs, ins and outs of foster parenting. In the first step of a long process to recruit potential parents through OHEL for foster children, OHEL presented the fourth recruitment meeting in two years, noted Derek Saker, Director of Communications for OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services. “We are always looking to increase the pool of foster parents,” he said. more

Although the official results won’t be announced by the Knesset until January 30th, some of the election results for the 19th Knesset already in, present some interesting developments and statistics. Current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was called upon by President Shimon Peres to attempt to form the next government, since his party, Likud Beytenu, garnered the most seats—31. As the jockeying and bargaining for positions continues, it is as yet unclear which parties will be brought together to make up a majority to form the next government. more

Friday night. The sun had long since set, dark clouds hid the stars, and the wind was howling off the Shouf mountain range in central Lebanon. I had managed to quietly sing the Kabbalat Shabbat service while en-route to the ambush site, and even pray the evening service while in the staging ground, before giving my men a final inspection, but I had no idea what to do about Kiddush. more

Feb 2 Woodmere LIVE FROM EMUNAH, IT’S SATURDAY NIGHT! EMUNAH OF AMERICA- 5 Towns Chapter proudly presents its 2nd Annual Comedy Event Sold out last year! Join for a fun filled evening with good friends and great laughs. Featuring the comedy of Ofira Eisenberg: has appeared on Comedy Central’s premium blend Barry Weintraub: hosted talk radio, anchored sports television Jon Fisch: host of the popular podcast “In the Tank” Chosen as Comedy Central’s Fresh Faces of Comedy WHEN: Motzei Shabbos, 8:00pm: Dairy Buffet 9:00pm: Showtime WHERE: Backstage Nite Club (Woodmere Lanes) 948 Broadway, Woodmere Couvert : $60 per person more

Close to 600 friends and supporters of AMIT from throughout the tri-state area and beyond came out Tuesday night to attend the annual dinner which was originally scheduled on November 4, and postponed due to Hurricane Sandy. more