I remember one of the guys I was in yeshiva with, trying to convince me not to sign up for Officer’s course. I would be forced to spend an additional year and a half in the army, without any spiritual environment to safeguard my religious ideals. “Atah titkalkel,” he said, “you will be corrupted.” more

An organization whose goal is to facilitate care and aid for residents in need in the Five Towns and Rockaways is now calling on the community to help raise money to continue its mission. Achiezer, founded in 2009 to coordinate communal resources to assist 24/7 with medical, mental health, financial and physical issues, will hold a dinner this Sunday, June 2, 6:30 p.m., at the Sands in Atlantic Beach. more

Pain may be one of the realities of cancer treatment, but an organization founded to empower children undergoing cancer care by using martial arts techniques is making great strides in alleviating and controlling their pain. Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg of Detroit, who founded Kids Kicking Cancer in 1990, will speak at the Young Israel of Hewlett on Shabbat Parshat Korach, June 8, and will present his technique that Sunday. more

The Jewish community of Lawrence and Cedarhurst joined its neighbors on Monday to mark Memorial Day with a parade up Cedarhurst Avenue and a ceremony in Andrew J. Parise park. “We are grateful this day for those who have put their lives on the line to insure that our country is safe, protected and secure,” said Rabbi Kenneth Hain of Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence. “We remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice — we can never, ever forget.” more

After more than 26 years of unanswered questions, Nassau County police have reopened the cold case murder of Chaim Weiss, a Long Beach rabbinical student, and offered a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the murder. Weiss, a 15-year-old, third-year rabbinical student at the Mesivta of Long Beach, was found slain in his dormitory bedroom on Nov. 1, 1986. more

Rabbi Yosef Mendelevich, whose campaign for religious freedom from within the repressive Soviet Union inspired a generation of young Jews around the world, will visit the Five Towns this Shabbat. The former Prisoner of Zion — he maintained Torah while surviving 11 years in the gulag of communist prisons and labor camps before emigrating to Israel — will make several public appearances on Saturday, and then participate in Sunday’s Celebrate Israel Parade on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. more

The Brandeis School celebrated a delayed JSAM (Jewish Social Action Month) on May 2, hosting a party for the children of SIBS Place. The event featured a bounce house, face painting, cotton candy, pizza and dessert. SIBS Place, a program of South Nassau Community Hospital, provides services for children who have acutely ill siblings or parents. more

In their first season joining the League, the Ateres Yaakov Eagles took home the intermediate division (9th and 10th grades) championship in the National Council of Young Israel’s Basketball League. The championship culminated an intense 10 game season, in which the Eagles finished with a division leading 8-2 record. more

May 28 South Nassau Hospital Offers Parent-Child Education Classes and Support Groups Breastfeeding Support Group, 10:30am-12:00pm All classes unless otherwise noted, will be held at the Parent/Child Education Classroom located at 2277 Grand Avenue, 2nd Floor in Baldwin. For more information, or to register for classes please call (516) 377-5310. more

Unfortunately, there has been a spate of catastrophic events in the last few months. The Sandy Hook shooting, Boston marathon terror attack and now most recently the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma cumulatively pose a threat to the sense of safety and equanimity that we desire for our children and us. In light of this clustering of horror and misfortune, OHEL’s trauma team has revised its “pointers” in its ongoing effort and commitment to preserve our children’s sense of safety. more