With Chanukah as a backdrop, the timing was extremely apropos of the event, as HAFTR was illuminated with excitement on Tuesday night for the ribbon cutting of the brand new state of the art Neil Steuer gym, dedicated by Sherry and Joel Weiner. more

Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, assessed the UN vote on the Palestinian Authority, the cease-fire between Israel and Gaza, and Israel’s connection with the international community in a phone interview with The Jewish Star last week. more

Office Shevach (Shevy) Berkovits, originally of Brooklyn, was awarded a top cop honor at the Nassau County PBA gala on Tuesday. He was one of three officers who was confronted with an armed and extremely dangerous individual. This subject had committed an armed home invasion and was attempting to stab the officers with a knife. The officers reacted valiantly in stopping this life threatening attack. more

Dec 13 -15 Cedarhurst Grand Menorah Lighting Community leaders and dignitaries light the largest Menorah in town. There will be music, hot latkes and gifts for children Andrew J. Parise Park Nightly at 6:00 pm; Friday at 3:00 pm 516-295-2478 or www.chabad5towns.com more

“From Our Hearts to Your Home”, a new and exciting cookbook comprised of personal family recipes from board members, family and friends of Shaare Zedek is the “labor of love” of The Women’s Division of Shaare Zedek Medical Center. more

While earning my B.A. at SUNY Albany, I learned that Theatre of the Absurd is a style of Drama, which expresses the belief that human existence is meaningless, and, therefore, all communication breaks down. Logical plot construction and argument gives way to irrational and illogical speech and actions and an ultimate conclusion, which is silence. more

To be honest, that year, I wasn’t particularly looking forward to Chanukah, and hadn’t really had much time to think about it. Our armored battalion had recently come down from a few months up in Lebanon and, while I was thankful we would be spending the winter in Israel and not up in the freezing cold mountains of Lebanon, we were still in the process of overhauling the tanks; not a particularly enjoyable task. more

HAFTR Lower School students welcomed six Torah scrolls into their home with song, dance and prayers. more

While in a supermarket in Brooklyn the other day, I spotted a package of “cauliflower pizza.” Not sure which was more eye catching, pizza made of cauliflower or the price, $24. Granted, there were four pieces in the package, but they were thin and about 3” x 5”; I could have eaten all four by myself. Of course, wasn’t sure I would actually want to. Do not get me wrong, I love cauliflower and I love pizza, but not sure why I would want cauliflower crust pizza. more

There are many ways to analyze Yosef’s strategy with his brothers--what was his intent, his plan, and his goal in having them go through all the “tzurres” he gave them over their younger brother and their father. The superlatives run from “cruel” to “brilliant” and from “vindictive” to “well thought out.” more