In his preface to this week’s review selection, “The Power of Aleinu” by Rabbi Asher Baruch Wegbreit [Judaica Press, 2011], Rabbi Yisrael Reisman stated that, “It is the custom of Klal Yisrael to recite Aleinu in the middle of the Shemonah Esrei on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. more

The prediction here is that Eli does not have to win this game for us. He manages the game, limits the turnovers, and lets the defense do its thing. GIANTS 20 49ERS 10. (The Jewish Star, sports column, January 19, 2012). more

Another successful volley in the matchmaking world was lobbed this past Sunday at the Young Israel of Woodmere, bringing 100 singles together for an evening of meeting and interacting in a chic food competition. more

Kudos Dear Editor: As our community, both near and far, has gone through very traumatic events these past few months, there is always one source that I turn to for inspiration and uplifting … more

A dust up over free speech arose in Great Neck when a controversial speaker was bounced from appearing at one Orthodox synagogue under threat of protest from a Reform temple and invited to speak at another Orthodox synagogue there. In a further development, a local newspaper is now being accused by supporters of the speaker of distorting an account of the event, with an inaccurate report and photographs. more

Weiner and Spitzer. Enough said. Will New Yorkers elect “Carlos Danger” as Mayor? Considering how quickly the scandal-tarred Anthony Weiner rose in the polls, before this week’s revelations, we shouldn’t discount it. And Eliot Spitzer as Comptroller? Also possible. There’s a thought afloat that “character” doesn’t count, that instead, we should weight a candidate’s “competence” when voting. Yet both character and competence count. more

Kulanu, the Five Towns-based organization that helps children with special needs and their families, will honor three of its founding members — Jewish Star Kitchen columnist Judy Joszef and Alyssa and Leslie Sterba — at its annual scholarship dinner on Dec. 21, motzei Shabbat, at the Sephardic Temple in Cedarhurst. more

Towards the end of Shlach, the Torah gives us instructions for a case of what Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan entitles, “Communal Sin Offerings for Idolatry,” based no doubt on Rashi’s explanation of the phrase, “When [the collective] you err and don’t do all of these commandments.” more

Teaching in the old city of Jerusalem, one develops a certain awareness of the different types of people who can wander in off the street. Many of the people who frequent the old alleyways and ancient stones of Jerusalem are incredible people with incredible stories. But every once in a while you can get real characters walking through your door. more

“The Sturgeon Queens,” a documentary that follows four generations of the Jewish immigrant family that started Russ & Daughters Appetizing in 1914 and still owns and runs the … more