Calendar for the week of July 29, 2011 more

Words for the Kletzky family and community from local rabbinic leaders more

At a recent funeral, an elderly mourner collapsed and died at the cemetery. After I somehow revived him with CPR, his first words were, “I’m okay; I’m okay.” I turned to his daughter who was still screaming and I said, “He’s okay.” I then picked up a shovel and continued filling in the grave of the deceased. more

The Talmud says: “One should not extravagantly distribute more than one fifth of one’s income to charity.” Are the sages saying there’s a ceiling cap on tzedakah? Yes they are, because if everyone were to give too much away there would be too many mouths to feed. more

There are no words to explain the horrific tragedy that unfolded in Brooklyn last week, only questions. The positive side of the story is the outpouring of love, concern, and support that a community could exhibit for a child and for his family, in the aftermath of a conclusion no one could anticipate, expect, or face as being the reality. more

To my dear Readers, We, as a nation, are still raw from the tragic and shocking murder of Leiby Kletzky. Many people have asked me questions related to the aftermath. I feel that it is an important issue to address, and apologize for taking a break from my usual light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek tone while I share some of these questions and my answers. more

Sometimes an eloquent quote reflecting an event can take on a life of its own and reflect events not originally intended by its author. Such was the case recently in a quote made by Rabbi Haskel Lookstein reflecting upon the fi re that destroyed his shul, Kehilath Jeshurun of Manhattan. Noting that there were no casualties the rabbi made an interesting , and in retrospect, timely observation in describing the “catastrophic” fire. more

Now more then ever it is an exciting time to be a kosher food writer. This is because not only is the catalog of kosher products becoming more diverse, but also because the dissemination of public knowledge about kosher is beginning to muscle its way to the forefront of public consciousness. But this recent surge in public interest in kosher food is not by any means coincidental. more

He was the eternal optimist, leaving the shtetl of Kasrilevke for America, taking a risk on the stock market, and she was the ever-critical housewife who stayed behind in the alte heim. “Everyone says that in America, G-d willing, I’ll be a big hit,” to which his wife replies that he is a “certified lunatic.” The optimist is Menachem Mendel, writing to his wife Shayna Sheindel, but it may as well be the author Sholem Aleichem, who also invested in stocks. more

With only two days left of shiva, a pulsating crowd of Jews eagerly wait outside the Kletzky Borough Park home, Monday, to pay respects to the parents and sisters of young—brutally murdered—Leiby HY’’D. A mix of several police officers, reporters and photographers occupied the sidewalk space facing the front door of the Kletzkys’ 15th avenue apartment building. Many of them noticed the flyers attached to doors and windows, requesting that the famil more