Ping-Pong balls rocketed back and forth at the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County elementary school. For the past eight weeks, HANC students ranging from the fourth to sixth grades have devoted their Mondays to skipping the school bus home and working on their serves and slammers. “It’s fun. I get to play other people who are as good as me,” Josh Chiger, 10, said. “I’m pretty good. I’d say I’m the second best one here.” more

Their field is known for cutthroat competition, as they square off with depositions, testimonies, and briefs. When they’re not wearing suits, recent Touro Law Center graduates Alex Shkolyar and Ian “Yitzi” Ribald compete on the hardwood, connecting their profession with basketball. more

Calendar of community events for the week of April 8, 2011 more

Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl, in a recent Dvar Torah on Parshat Tazriah noted the following observation: “We have spoken about using speech in a way prohibited by the Torah, one of the ways in which we can use our speech for mitzvoth is relating the story of the exodus from Egypt. Although it is important that we read the text of the Haggadah, we may and are encouraged to add and elaborate on the story of yetzias Mitzrayim, as we say in the Haggadah, ‘the more one relates the story of the exodus, the more praiseworthy is he’. more

Davening was by far my greatest problem with Judaism. The number of hours spent in shul was staggering. Of course it wasn’t davening per se that bothered me but rather my inability to have meaningful davening experiences that was so frustrating. During my high school years, barriers to meaningful davening included my shamefully childish refusal to “submit” to administrative rule-makers who used detention threats as leverage to force me into minyan each day. Another obstacle was my failure to understand even the literal translation of the Hebrew words in the siddur. These two issues were resolved rather easily when I grew up a little and understood that teachers only want to help. I was ready to give davening a chance so I bought a new siddur with English translation printed under each individual word. more

Dear Aviva, I am a father of 4 kids- all in yeshiva. The tuition costs are exorbitant, and it's burning a huge hole in my pocket. It is causing much financial strife in my family. I am working a full time job that pays well, so I don't qualify for scholarship, yet I can't seem to afford much else except the tuition! It's putting a strain on my marriage, and arguing about money in front of my kids doesn't help our shalom bayis either. What’s your take on it? more

Trying to understand and or become a mensch in the world today, Often takes more thought and energy and effort, let’s say, Than one would normally think about on any given day. We often declare, “He’s a mensch!” and he very well might be, per se. more

Lawrence will be hopping Sunday evening April 10 as Congregation Beth Sholom enjoys its 59th Annual Testimonial Dinner honoring Marcia and Moses Z. Berman and Felice and Todd Soifer. A Community Chesed Award will be presented to Beverly and Ted Lowenthal as the formal gala buffet dinner parties from 5:00 pm into the night. more

As Gourmet Glatt prepares for the Passover holiday, The Jewish Star sat down and spoke with its management team. more

The Goldstone Report was named for Judge Richard Goldstone who led the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) inquiry into Operation Cast Lead, the Gaza War, which was provoked by thousands of missiles fired by Hamas into Israel’s Negev communities. more