With all of the uncertainty surrounding Israel, the Middle East and Iran, suggesting the true takeaways from this year’s very well attended policy conference that AIPAC hosted in Washington last week may be difficult. AIPAC had to show its 14,000 guests that it was still relevant and necessary for Israel’s future. more

Achiezer’s Krias Megilah Program is back for another year! Last year, volunteers in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway performed more than 45 lainings and enhanced the Purim celebration for many in our community. more

Since its founding in 2008, J Street, the liberal Jewish advocacy group, has expended a great deal of energy trying to convince American Jews that it is a credible and more ethical alternative to traditional pro-Israel organizations like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). more

Education seems to be a constant theme running through every issue of The Jewish Star. We cover initiatives in education, what to teach, how to teach it, the importance of learning Torah, the importance of speaking with Holocaust survivors, and the importance of learning from our past. more

A Great Neck boy’s interest in sneakers forged a connection with his grandfather and led to a fundraising project that ties him to Israeli soldiers. more

Jewish National Fund hosted a breakfast at Hewlett East Rockaway Jewish Centre on Sunday featuring Micah Halpern, an expert on terrorism, the Middle East, and Muslim fundamentalism. more

With the Winter Olympics beginning this Friday in Sochi, Russia, the Jewish debate on the games mirrors the discourse taking place in the broader international and athletic communities. more

Rabbi Yitzchok Frankel, rav of Agudath Israel of the Five Towns in Cedarhurst, called it “a fabulous four days.” “It’s hard to explain till you do it. It’s very exhilarating.” more

In a matter of moments there were literally dozens of accidents and emergencies. Cars slid into one another, mothers and children slipped and fell, and many elderly individuals suffered terrible falls and subsequent injuries. Just as quickly, our community sprang into action. more

The Taglit-Birthright Israel program has expanded eligibility for its free 10-day trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18-26, JNS.org has learned. Teenagers who went on an educational trip to Israel during high school were previously not eligible but can now participate if they were under 18 when they traveled, confirmed Noa Bauer, Birthright’s vice president of international marketing. more