Camp is over, pools are being closed, fall clothing line the racks in stores, the football season has begun and there are only 19 games left to be played in the MLB. Yes, sadly, summer is over and Rosh Hashanah is just a few days away. For the last few weeks the exchanges have been the same....”Shanna Tova,” “have a happy and healthy new year,” or my favorite, “gut g’benched yur,” as my grandparents used to say. more

Back to school, those dreaded three words....to kids, that is. Most parents can be seen dancing in the streets come the first day of school. Of course we, as parents, deal with all the issues leading up to the first day of school. Will our kids be with their friends? Will they have the best teacher? Will the kid that tormented them last year, hopefully, be put in another class? more

About 25 years ago, I had tickets to Jackie Mason on Broadway. We met our friends at the theater, since they still lived in Forest Hills, and we had already moved to Woodmere. By the time we parked and made it into the theater, we slipped in near our friends just as the curtain was rising. Almost in unison, my friend and I whispered, “where do you want to eat after the show?” more

That dreaded word “exercise.” Most people decide to hit the gym, run outdoors, or swim, once May rolls around, to get into shape for the summer. Though I’m a member of a local gym, have a top notch treadmill I inherited (thanks, Robbie Rothenberg), and a swimming pool in my backyard, I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t been to the gym, or on the treadmill since May and I’ve only done laps about three times this summer. more

Are those the camp buses rolling back into town? Didn’t they just leave? Wasn’t it yesterday that all the trunks were being packed? It’s been a while since I’ve packed and unpacked those trunks, but the memories are still very vivid. more

There are no records dating back to the time of the invention of the shoe. There are just assumptions based on primitive cave paintings. But you can be sure a lot has changed since then. Today the average woman owns 19 pairs of shoes and the average man, 7. more

To the Editor: Orthodox Rabbis in the Five Towns urge their followers to cancel subscriptions to The New York Times. In the opinion of these Jewish leaders, The Times, in an effort to promote its liberal agenda, editorializes, rather than reports, the news. This practice of literally coloring the news in an effort to promote its agenda now seems to resonate with The Five Towns Jewish Times as well. more

Although it’s been almost 30 years since I’ve been to Grossinger’s for Shabbat Nachamu, every year, as it rolls around, I reflect back on the wonderful memories I have of those days gone by. Of course my kids don’t understand why everyone’s parents lament that Grossinger’s isn’t around any more. It was a place where everyone went. more

Each year, during the nine days, I always marvel at the amount of people waiting on line at the kosher dairy restaurants around town. more

BBQ’s, picnics, going to the beach, swimming in your backyard or attending baseball games, there are so many things to love about summer. Everything, that is, except for shopping for a new bathing suit. more