What do you do when someone you love does something you hate? This week, this month, this year, has seen a terrible polarization in Israeli society. Jewish men purporting to represent what Judaism is meant to be, describing themselves as “religious” or “ultra-orthodox,” spitting on other Jews, throwing chairs and hurling derogatory slurs (often worse, in the eyes of Jewish tradition) at other Jews, rallies in New York declaring the Jewish world in a state of catastrophe, a Rosh yeshiva — himself a candidate for Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel — insulted, threatened and even spit upon at a Jewish wedding by other Jews, and now the Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel recusing himself from rabbinical duties in the midst of an Israeli police investigation into financial and sexual improprieties that may involve him; does it get any worse? more

Being environmentally friendly doesn’t have to take a break during the summer vacation season, as many destinations offer fun family frivolity while contributing to saving the environment. Yet, in some circles these days, having a large family is considered a crime against humanity, especially when it comes to family vacations. The idea that having children is bad for the environment isn’t as new as many people think. more

It’s a familiar pattern. The citizens of a Middle Eastern state explode with frustration against their corrupt, repressive government. They gather for noisy, impassioned demonstrations in their capital city. The authorities react violently. Images of middle-aged women and wheelchair-bound individuals being tear-gassed, clubbed, and sprayed with water cannon race across social media platforms like wildfire. The protests then spread to other cities. The authorities step up their repression. more

My mother, Roslyn Weintrob, Rachel Leah bat Tzvi Hirsch, whose 21st yahrzeit we marked on Wednesday, was an eishet chayil who not only worked to build a strong family steeped in Jewish values, but was also determined to do more than her fair share of tikkun olam. more

Sunday’s concert to raise funds to rebuild Congregation Ohab Zedek in Belle Harbor after its devastation from Hurricane Sandy netted close to $40,000 and filled the shul with 400 supporters. Seen performing at the front of the shul by the aron are, from left, Aryeh Kunstler and Benny Friedman. more

Dr. Jacob Mosak, aged 99, a resident of Cedarhurst and member of Chofetz Chaim Torah Center, passed away on Monday, June 24. The funeral was held at Boulevard Chapels in Hewlett on Tuesday with burial in Israel. more

Leibel Zisman was a survivor, of Kovno, of Auschwitz, of slave labor. He was a refugee from murder, genocide, and unbridled anti-Semitism. He was a Chabad chasid who was destined to survive all the difficulties of life to arrive at these blessed shores, learn English, receive a college degree, teach math, go into business, marry, establish a family, and spend the rest of his life helping others and making the giving of charity the hallmark of his life’s work. more

Students of Gan Chamesh, Chabad of the Five Towns preschool, displayed the compassion and charity they learned throughout the school year during their graduation march on June 14. more

Now that the summer is officially upon us, our children will be scattering all over the world in the coming weeks. I am sharing some points I believe are worth noting when anticipating many summer activities we and/or our children might engage in. The first set of points concern safety concerns many of us are aware of, along with some reminders I think of every summer on account of sundry items that have caught my attention over the years. Please forgive me if I am saying things to you that you already know. When it comes to safety, a friendly reminder is appropriate. This is essentially the same note as last year with a few added comments. more

A Cedarhurst native who davens in Agudath of the Five Towns, won an Emmy award for a daytime travel adventure show, but his principal focus is on Jewish themed videos. The winning show, “Born to Explore” with Richard Wiese, has not been seen by the Torah observant community since it airs on Shabbat mornings on ABC, but David Jasse’s DMJ Digital Media on Central Avenue in Cedarhurst edits the footage for the half hour program and produced the graphics for the show’s opening animation. Jasse and DMJ are better known in the community for their videos for Darchei Torah, TAG, Hatzalah, Achiezer and Chai Lifeline. more