Following the ugly battle between the Egyptian military and Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsi, resulting in Morsi’s ouster on July 3, as well as the ongoing bloodbath in Syria, the arguments for the preservation of the Jordanian model—politically moderate, more democratic than its neighbors, and proudly Islamic yet amenable to good relations with western nations and with Israel—are self-evident. more

For 90 years, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life has provided what many call a “tent” welcoming students of every Jewish background and denomination on campus. But as Hillel prepares to nominate its next president and CEO, questions persist over how open that tent should be when it comes to opinions about Israel. more

On his second visit to Jerusalem’s Beit Halochem rehabilitation center this year, Rabbi Hershel Billet and three of his Israeli grandsons unveiled a plaque honoring donors from the Five Towns community. more

Ten women, ranging in age from 20 to 60, leaned forward, focusing intently as Allison Chait carefully dusted a finely ground makeup powder across the cheeks of one of the women. “It doesn’t look like color by number even though the colors are not touching,” another woman pointed out. The women, some in hats or wigs, some without, gathered at the Five Towns Jewish Community Center for a two hour class in the application of makeup on Shabbat. They came to learn what is approved for use and how to use it. more

In the space of a few weeks, we commemorate our greatest moment — receiving the Torah on Har Sinai on the 6th of Sivan — and fast forward to our lowest point — the destruction of the Bait Hamikdash on Tisha (the Ninth day) B’Av. Through the bumpy road of Jewish history and now on to the modern State of Israel, with the words of Shir Hamaalot — the return to Zion, returning like waves of water in the desert — ringing in our ears--rebuilding Torah institutions, rejuvenating our language. more

Challenging someone to step forward and forge unity across the varied streams of Torah observant Judaism in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway, Stephen Savitsky declared the need for achdut (unity), in a talk following Shabbat mincha at the Young Israel of Woodmere. more

Monday July 8 Ohel Sara Amen Group, in memory of Sarit Maron, a”h, nvites all women to attend our Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av program. 8:15 a.m. Brachos; 9 a.m. Hallel; 9:30 a.m. Rabbi Yissocher Frand, “Reaching Up By Reaching Out.” 2 Forest Lane (entrance on Broadway), Lawrence. Free. more

Palestinian supporters accuse Brad Pitt’s latest apocalyptic movie “World War Z” of pro-Israel bias by depicting Israel as one of the few countries in the world not immediately destroyed by zombies. more

A report based on voluminous statistics gleaned from employer interviews and culled into a detailed report by Israel’s Ministry of Economy under Knesset Member Naftali Bennett’s direction has just been translated and made available to the English speaking public. more

If a scandal festers in Washington but no one reports it, is it still scandalous? Forget, for a moment, headlines about the National Security Agency, Internal Revenue Service and Justice Department reportedly snooping on or obstructing ordinary citizens, political opponents or journalists. Consider instead the less dramatic but longer-running example of an under-the-radar scofflaw federal agency. The agency is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). more