By Jewish Star Staff Issue of January 8 2010/ 22 Tevet 5770 Leah (right) a Flatbush mother, and Aliza (left), a grandmother from Bnei Brak, met for the first time last week at a celebration for … more

Issue of April 23, 2010/ 5 Iyar, 5770 One ceremony for six million To the Editor: Although it has been 65 years since what has become one of the darkest chapters in human existence, the … more

by Micah Halpern Issue of August 13, 2010/ 3 Elul, 5770 Bahai is more than a beautifully manicured garden attached to a Center in Haifa. Bahai Faith is a religion. In Israel, the Bahai Faith … more

Do a search on the internet for "Klausenburger Rebbe" and you'll find the deceased rebbe has a Facebook page. Add the word "tochacha" to your search, and you'll find a story about a time he was in shul for the reading of the tochacha, and he told the reader to read the section in a loud voice. Rabbi Frand, who tells the story, records the Rebbe's explanation for this contrarian position to an ancient custom. more

A crowd of a hundred gathered in Andrew J. Parise Cedarhurst Park to reflect on the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, hearing from local elected officials, clergy and survivors. “This is for the Jewish people a month of reflection and today we engage in this holy activity,” said Rabbi Kenneth Hain of Congregation Beth Sholom. “We ask for remembrance of a terrible tragedy, innocent lives of people who did nothing wrong but go to work on that Tuesday morning.” more

As a senior in Rambam Mesivta, there are unfortunately only a few more months left to savor before I continue on life’s journey, wherever that may take me. B’ezrat Hashem, next year, and perhaps the year after next, I will be in Israel “The Holy Land,” studying in Yeshiva before I continue on to college. Although there is much I can write about Yeshiva in Israel and College, what I would like to reflect on is my High School experience, specifically, certain decisions I made as a high school student that have had long-lasting implications on my life. more

According to my Concordance, the root word “kosher” appears three times in the Bible (in Esther and Ecclesiastes) – not once in the Torah. more

What motivates some people to do more than just appreciate the blessings they have in their lives; and to actually be a vehicle for blessing? This week’s portion, Ekev, contains one of the pivotal verses of the entire Torah regarding the concept of blessings: “Ve’achalta’ ve’sava’ta’ u’verachta’ et Hashem Elokecha al ha’aretz hatovah asher natan lach.” “And (when) you shall eat and be satisfied and bless G-d your G-d for the good land which He has given you.” (Devarim (Deuteronomy) 8:10) more

The subject of the life’s journey of Joseph, Yosef Hatzaddik, is the subject of weekly Torah readings till the end of December, which includes the festival of Chanukah. more

The untimely and completely supernatural death of Nadav and Avihu serves as one of the focal points of this week’s parasha. Nadav and Avihu were the sons of Aharon and Elisheva: “Aaron took to himself for a wife, Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.” more