Thanksgiving, to me as a kid growing up, meant a day or two off from school, getting bundled and attending the Thanksgiving day parade and getting together with family and friends to stuff ourselves and give thanks for all that we had. more

Nov 25 Far Rockaway Carnival Extravaganza The Baltimore Jewish Community and The Young Israel of Wavecrest and Bayswater Present a ‘Welcome Home!’ Carnival Extravaganza Fabulous free Children’s Carnival to be held at Young Israel of Wavecrest and Bayswater It’s located at 2716 Healy Ave, Bayswater, NY. The ‘Welcome Home’ Carnival promises to lift the spirits of the children and families who have suffered from Hurricane Sandy. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. more

My family never held back in retelling their horrific experiences of the Holocaust. more

As many areas hit by Hurricane Sandy struggle to return to normal, doctors are noticing the onset of respiratory symptoms related to the clean up and are issuing warnings to homeowners, volunteers, and workers. more

There was no love lost between Yaakov and his father-in-law Lavan. Lavan criticizes Yaakov for having “stolen” his family, and Yaakov responds saying he had been cheated numerous times over a period of 20 years working for Lavan. more

Once again, Israel, which so longs for peace, is being forced to ready her children for war.... As missiles fall on the South and parts of the coastal region, and leaves are cancelled, there will be many families whose tefillot (prayers) will have special meaning and urgency this Shabbat. more

While New York and New Jersey Jewish communities have been left stranded and overwhelmed following Hurricane Sandy’s determined path of destruction, their neighbors in Baltimore have not sat idle. more

Shabbat, Nov 16-17 Congregation Beth Shalom Scholar in Residence Yoram Hazony Founder and President of the Shalem Center in Jerusalem, author of the highly acclaimed Congregation Beth Shalom 390 Broadway Lawrence “The Jewish State:The Struggle for Israel’s soul” (2000) & author of the recently publishes: “The Philosophy of Hebrew Scripture” (2012) Schedule for Shabbat Friday Night Oneg, 8:oo p.m. “Solomon’s Gold” at the home of: Wendy & Uri Ottensoser 41 Auerbach Lane, Lawrence more

The Torah describes one interaction between Avraham and Yishmael (his banishment in chapter 21), one interaction between Avraham and Yitzchak (the “Akedah” of chapter 22), and one interaction between Yitzchak and his sons in the blessing episode of chapters 27-28. From an objective perspective, judging only the human element without the divine instructions to listen to Sarah and to take Yitzchak to a mountain, Avraham’s parenting skills don’t pass muster. more

If you would have asked me what Abir would end up doing with his life, I would have imagined him as a bouncer.... Abir, an ex-paratrooper, is one of the unsung heroes of the battle of the Chinese chicken farm, when a battalion of paratroopers in the Yom Kippur war had to take a crucial Egyptian position by running up 300 yards of open ground; most of the battalion never made it out of there. I could easily have imagined him grabbing one of the first planes out after the war, maybe to New York or Los Angeles. more