Naftali Bennett, pivotal Knesset member and head of the Jewish Home party, warned of the continuing Iranian threat and the importance of the eternity of Israel in a 35 minute speech Saturday night at the Young Israel of Woodmere. He stressed the importance of Israel as the home of the Jewish people and not just as a “shelter state” and that Israel is a “lighthouse in the storm” of the turbulent Middle East. more

THURSDAY NOV 21 LUNCH & LEARN. With Rabbi Shalom Axelrod of Young Israel of Woodmere. Traditions Restaurant, 302 Central Avenue, off Rockaway Blvd., Lawrence. 12:30-1:30 pm. Buy a $12 lunch, eat and learn. Alan Stern 516-398-3094. more

Two years ago Rabbi Moshe Sokolow of Yeshiva University penned an essay entitled, “Thanksgiving: A Jewish Holiday After All,” wherein he cited the following historical item that was recently highlighted in an excellent expository essay by Rabbi Meir Soloveitchik of Congregation Shearith Israel entitled, “G-d’s Providence and the United States: A Thanksgiving Reader on Judaism and the American Idea” [Torah To-Go, Nov. 2013, YU ]. more

Dr. Andrew Bostom, noted New England physician and published historian, discussed the violent attitudes of Islam toward all non-Muslims — especially Jews — from the eighth century onward, in a multi-media presentation at the Great Neck Library on Nov. 7. more

JERUSALEM — Several halls of Jerusalem’s International Congress Center were filled with booths representing the best of Israeli innovations as the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) held its General Assembly in Jerusalem for the third time since 2003. From 1998-2012, the Federations sent more than $4.5 billion to Israel, so it’s no wonder that Israeli organizations as diverse as the world-renowned Yad Vashem Holocaust museum to the fledgling Hasdera social change organization were vying for the attention of the 1,500 North American delegates. more

Ellen Zilkha and Ellen Leiman, two women who, as children, were part of the Kindertransport rescue mission, spoke about their experiences and answered audience questions at Temple Hillel in North Woodmere on Nov. 10. more

Rabbi Binny Freedman, The Jewish Star’s Israeli-based inspirational columnist and Rosh Yeshiva and Dean of Yeshivat Orayta in Jerusalem’s Old City, is visiting the Five Towns this week to lead an alumni Shabbaton and recruit new students. More than half of Orayta’s 70 alumni on the east coast are expected to participate in this weekend’s Shabbaton, on the Kulanu campus in Cedarhurst. On Wednesday, he visited the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway to speak with students about his school. more

Two men who risked their lives to save and insure the continuity of the State of Israel are the subject of a presentation this motzei Shabbat at the Young Israel of Hewlett, Congregation Ahavat Yisrael. “Most of the heroes we learn about died or were killed at a young age,” said Tuvia Book, a North Woodmere resident and author of “For the Sake of Zion,” who will present an audio-visual tribute to Eli Cohen and Avigdor Kahalani. Their stories, Book said, are “incredible and inspirational.” more

Rambam Mesivta students rallied on Nov. 10 — the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht — outside the Jackson Heights home of Jakiw Palij, the last-known Nazi war criminal living in the metropolitan area. The protest took place as Jews around the world commemorated Kristallnacht, known as “The Night of Broken Glass” on Nov. 9–10, 1938, in Germany and portions of Austria, where Jewish businesses, homes and people were damaged and attacked. It is considered the day the Holocaust began. more

HAFTR High School’s College Bowl teams hosted the first Yeshiva League College Bowl meet of the year at Congregation Beth Sholom of Lawrence last Thursday. About 100 participants from HAFTR, Central, DRS, Rambam, Shalhevet, North Shore, HANC, and SKA engaged in games of academic trivia. more