On Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer and the 18th day of the month of Iyar, Jewish communities are aflame with celebration. People frolic around bonfires in traditional festivities, marking the day with joy. more

One of Pnina Newirth’s earliest childhood memories is of a trip to Mount Meron on Lag B’Omer. But this was no ordinary family vacation. “I was very small, yet I vividly recall the huge fires and the immense crowds,” she says. Despite the cacophony and the roaring bonfires, the Ra’anana resident insists she felt no fear that day. more

As part of his whirlwind tour of New York’s Jewish organizations and institutions, Rabbi David Lau, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel visited Orthodox Union headquarters to learn about OU Kosher and to be the guest of honor at a luncheon. Rabbi Lau is in New York for a week, in his first official visit as Chief Rabbi. more

A crush of well wishers, rabbis and politicians coursed through the home of Lawrence Mayor Martin Oliner on Monday, many posing in front of a phalanx of photographers with the draw of their attentions, Rabbi David Baruch Lau, Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Israel. He later left to speak at the White Shul, Kneseth Israel, in Far Rockaway, after mincha. more

A swallowable camera, an exoskeleton to enable paraplegics to walk and a device that can see through walls were showcased at an Israel technology fair on Long Island. Sodastream, whose Superbowl ad with Scarlett Johansson made it a focus of the BDS movement, was there too. more

HAFTR students gathered to commemorate Yom Hashoah. more

First graders in Morah Katz’s class at HANC’s Samuel & Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School, in West Hempstead, took their siddurim on a walk to a blossoming blueberry bush so that they could perform the mitzvah of “Blessing the Trees,” which is done during the month of Nisan, when fruit trees begin to bloom. more

Four Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway HS students were awarded medals for outstanding research at the final round of the Long Island Math Fair on May 2, 2014 at Hofstra University. more

It started as a schmooze. Mr. Hillel Goldman, Rambam’s assistant principal, was discussing the many programs and activities at Rambam with his father. After mentioning the Mock Trial team, that finished in the final four last year in the Nassau County Tournament, his father asked, “Why not have a model Beis Din? That would teach the boys how to analyze a contemporary, real life issue from a halachic perspective.” more

In addition to the budget vote on Tuesday, May 20, residents in Lawrence School District can cast ballots in the race between incumbent Board of Education Trustee Asher Mansdorf and challenger Asher Matathias. Sitting Trustee Murray Forman is running unopposed. All terms are three years. more