Despite a Pentagon directive loosening restrictions for U.S. troops who wish to wear religious garments or beards with their military uniforms, men and women in the military must still seek special approval from their commanders, and such requests can still be denied. more

THURSDAY JAN. 30 LUNCH & LEARN with Rabbi Shalom Ax- elrod of YI Woodmere.Traditions Restaurant, 302 Central Ave., Lawrence. 12:30-1:30 pm. Buy a great $12 lunch, eat and learn. Alan Stern 516-398-3094. more

A few days ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the official Palestinian Authority (PA) newspaper published an op-ed claiming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “has preserved it [racism] and acquired it genetically from the days of the Nazis and the Aryan race,” Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) reported. more

Much of the traditional halftime show — this year featuring Bruno Mars and Red Hot Chili Peppers — is generally considered inappropriate entertainment for frum families. But there is an alternative. more

In a matter of moments there were literally dozens of accidents and emergencies. Cars slid into one another, mothers and children slipped and fell, and many elderly individuals suffered terrible falls and subsequent injuries. Just as quickly, our community sprang into action. more

In my opinion, the practice of these families has support in halakha. It has basis in the Rishonim (רמב״ם, רשב״א וספר החינוך) and R. Yosef Karo, the מחבר שולחן ערוך, seems to follow that opinion. more

Frogs here, frogs there, frogs are jumping into kindergarten math activities! After learning in Parshat HaShavuah about the plagues that struck the Egyptians, kindergarten students at HANC’s Samuel & Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School, in West Hempstead, were surprised to find frogs on their math papers! more

Last year, Dr. Rochelle Brand, principal of HAFTR Middle School, understood that the universal challenge of bully prevention was a critical need for the students. Mrs. Yali Werzberger, the school’s psychologist and director of student services, identified the evidence-based Olweus Bully Prevention Program as a program that could help address this need. The school community eagerly embraced the program and implemented it throughout last year. Now, with their extensive training in the program, students at HAFTR Middle School are well-aware of how to identify, prevent, report and respond to bullying behavior. more

A group of students from Stella K. Abraham HS for Girls began running Pre-START, a hands-on science initiative for preschoolers, in December. In this program, the high school students bring all of the necessary materials to the pre-school, and teach science concepts to the preschoolers, by leading hands-on science experiments. more

My initial instinct was to dismiss the idea of a minyan, for us to simply recite mincha on our own in one of the stadium corridors. Yankel was not sold. “There’s got to be ten Jewish men around here in this stadium. But how do we find them and get them into one place? There’s got to be a way.” more