The Orthodox Union Advocacy Center lauded sections of the just released NYS Executive budget for its increased education funding that will in turn benefit New York Jewish day schools. more

Gavi Nelson took his Five Towns Torah education and background to heart and took a step no one else in his high school class did: He made Aliyah and joined the Israeli army. more

It’s a brand new Seasons. The completely remodeled supermarket, for many years branded as Supersol, is the latest enhancement in a world of increasingly upscale kosher shopping experiences. And its opening, anticipated by the end of January, will likely supercharge the relatively quiet Lawrence business district. more

The Jewish community in Brooklyn’s trendy Park Slope neighborhood recently celebrated the opening of the William and Betty Katz Center for Jewish Life, a 3-story center that boasts mikvaot for men and women, as well as a visitors center and guest rooms. Its opening will serve to further strengthen Jewish life in Brownstone Brooklyn. more

Jubilant faces are a rare sight after a devastating loss by the home team, yet it was all smiles for the thousands of Jews who participated in CTeen’s Jewish Heritage Night during Chanukah at the Brooklyn Nets Game at Barclays Center. more

Three people from the Five Towns who helped create Chai Lifeline’s i-Shine program, were honored this week as “People of the Year” by the Nassau Herald newspaper. more

Rambam Mesivta held another successful toy drive for Chai Lifeline, under the captainship of juniors Hudi Rosenfeld and Shlomo Sandler, with guidance from history teacher Ariel Jerushalmy. more

A capacity crowd of high school and seminary girls and representatives of 13 community organizations filled Achiezer’s Central Avenue office in Lawrence to explore chesed as the raison d’être of every Jew. Rabbi Boruch Ber Bender, Achiezer’s founder, cited a chilling Gemara of a Tzaddik who climbed into his wagon to retrieve a piece of bread for a poor person, only to find that the hapless man had expired in the brief time that it took to find the bread. Rav Chaim Shmulevitz explains that it is not enough for a Jew to be happy to help another when asked — a Jew must always be prepared with a piece of bread in his back pocket, just in case! more

In a country engulfed by anti-government protests, Ukrainian Jews find themselves facing the same existential choice as the rest of the country. The protests began during the last weekend of November, when Ukrainian police clashed with hundreds of protesters in Kiev’s Independence Square, known as “Maidan.” The crowd was protesting Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to freeze plans to join a free trade agreement with the European Union just before the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit. more

This life-saving letter was distributed this week by Achiezer. We the Korman family from Far Rockaway would like to share our personal Chanukah MIRACLE with you. Some of you may know who we are, and some may not, but our identity is not of importance because this story could be about you. more