I’m obsessed with reading… a great book, an interesting magazine, my favorite newspapers, comics, emails, Facebook updates and tweets. When I was a kid I read cereal boxes, just to keep busy while enjoying breakfast. There were puzzles on the back, things to send away for or even a pop single to cut out and play on the record player (does anyone remember that? I once got an Archies song). Lately I’ve gotten into reading food labels because I’m also obsessed with eating well. more

No one told me that when I entered into adulthood I would end up attending a large number of Chanukah/Holiday parties in which I was asked to bring a reasonably priced gift. This year I have decided to give the gift that everyone loves, chocolate.  Now it is my humble opinion that if you are buying someone a present of chocolate, then you need to make sure that the chocolate you give is of a quality and stature that makes it worthy of being called a gift; and I believe that no brand of gourmet chocolate that represents that ideal more then boutique chocolatier Michel Cluizel. more

Dear Aviva, I will not give out my age or my gender. I merely would like to put out there that I feel under-appreciated and unloved. -Itty-Bitty more

Richner Communications, our parent company, recently hosted a Chanukah/Meet the New Publisher party at Traditions Restaurant in Lawrence, where Karen C. Green was welcomed by local community leaders. more

It was a banner year for DRS applicants planning to attend Yeshiva University’s Honors College Program. In recognition of their excellent academic performance and leadership abilities, four students recieved full tuition scholarships. David Beer, Eli Lonner, Yonatan Mehlman, and Dani Scheinman will attend the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program within Yeshiva College with full tuition 4-year scholarships more

This past week at HAFTR has been very energetic. From college acceptances to the Panim El Panim trip, to the Chanukah holiday, the hallways have been brimming with excitement. more

It has been just over a week since Orthodox Jewish reggae star Matisyahu, tweeted a photo of his newly-shaved face, bare of his trademark beard and peyos along with a message that he is changing his image. more

Sometimes, things seem so obvious you start to wonder why you are the only one who seems to get it. Last week, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich got it, and it was nice to realize we are not alone. more

There are a number of mitzvoth which appear in the Torah multiple times: Shabbat, holidays, kosher animals, Shmittah (Sabbatical year), Eved Ivri (Hebrew servant), not to “cook a kid in its mother’s milk.” Sometimes there are differences in the repetition, and the repetition usually serves a purpose. more

For those of you that can remember life before blogs, you may also remember that people used to publish newsletters on all topics. Forty years ago, Ron Paul launched a conservative newsletter. His newsletters were chock-filled with hateful slurs, some signed by Paul, all appearing in his publication. What was written in those newsletters was nothing short of disgusting. more