Jonathan Pollard saved millions of human beings in the Middle East and worldwide from excruciating deaths and painful lifelong physical disabilities. To do that, Pollard sacrificed his freedom.
Getting married at 19 to a 17-year-old, both immature and from unstable homes ultimately ended in divorce. Now 27, a young man shares what his life experience has taught him and what we can all take from it.
Until this weekend I had never heard of Noah Pozner, or of his family. But Noah’s father, Lenny, has a friend, and the friend had heard of us and called.
“They need you. You can speak to them, you can relate to them. Come, please come.”
Going into this Shabbos I was torn and uneasy, how does one digest the news that someone can maliciously and viciously execute anyone, let alone to systematically assassinate 20 children, and how are we supposed to overcome such abhorrent evil?
This past Tuesday evening, the 20th of Kislev marked what would have been the Bar Mitzvah celebration of Levi Yitzchak Wolowik Ob”m. In a heartwarming show of support hundreds were on hand at the Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst to reflect on his life as well as celebrate the endless good that has been done in his merit since his passing three and a half years ago.
“Chas, we can save you!’ When I received messages on my blog making this thrilling promise, I assumed they were spam from a finance company offering to consolidate my loans into one ”easy” payment. Instead, it turned out, they were from a Christian in Nigeria who, having read articles I posted about my interest in Judaism and the Chasidim, wants to convert all my curiosity about Judaism into one churchy faith.
This morning, CBS Miami reported on “a possible new development” in the case of missing millionaire Guma Aguiar, who disappeared on his boat in June leaving behind a wife, 4 kids and a $100 million dollar fortune. The earth-shattering news – brought to the press’ attention by Guma’s wife, Jaime – was that Guma’s sister moved to the Netherlands.
Tishrei has come to a close. As we begin to “unpack” the inspiration of the month, we also have a chance to reflect on everything that transpired. What will we glean from the time spent in Rebbe’s “daled amos,” and what will we bring back into our mundane lives? Will it be a ma’amar learned? Perhaps a new chayus in davening? Or will it be the acrid stench of machlokes, as the reality of constant infighting rears its ugly head once more?
.jpg)
It was a crisp November evening, my father came home from work, and after having dinner, he invited me to accompany him to the polls. Standing on line, my father gave me a crash course on American civics, democracy and the electoral system. Although the information overload confused my eight year old brain, I thoroughly enjoyed the quality time spent with my father and learned a thing or two. I can also remember him telling me that it was the first time he voted for a Republican President (Ronald Reagan).
It’s over. The hype, the ads, the campaigning, the debates…we all know how the election this year turned out. There is much to say, and writing this immediately after President Barrack Obama was re-elected I am overwhelmed by a number of different reactions.
Looking for the neatest holiday gift for your sports-loving young one? How about the perfect Bar Mitzvah present that surely will delight?
.jpg)
In the last week, there has been an attempted rape of an engaged woman and a brutal beating and mugging of a Jewish man in Crown Heights. In the case of the attempted rape, despite the woman’s attempts to convince them otherwise, the police refused to classify it as an attempted rape.
When I spoke to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz this past Wednesday, I sensed his giddiness and excitement. Little did I know the extent of what would be revealed a few hours later: the National Hockey League’s New York Islanders had signed a 25-year lease with Brooklyn’s new Barclays Center. Furthermore, they were going to make the move at the commencement of the 2015-2016 hockey season.
I write this op-ed as a response to Eyal Rav-Noy’s article titled, “Op-Ed: Why Mendel Can’t Read” from Oct 24th. As a Lubavitcher Special educator directing a learning enhancement program in Crown Heights which includes children with reading difficulties, I am compelled to respond to some of the views outlined in the article which I feel are heretic in nature from a spiritual standpoint and inaccurate and misleading from a professional standpoint.
.jpg)
As students settle into another school year, it is an opportune time to reflect on an inconvenient truth: Too many children struggle to read Hebrew.
This past week I had the privilege of accompanying my Mother to Washington, D.C for the Republican Jewish Coalition Leadership meeting, where I had the opportunity to hear such speakers as Congressman Artur Davis, Senator George Allen, Fox News Channel contributor Michael Barone, several analysts in US defense policies, foreign and Middle Eastern affairs and RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks.
Yesterday, October 22nd, was National Stuttering Awareness Day. Some of you have never heard the word ‘stutter’ before, and for those of you that have, you may not know much about it. I am here to educate you all a little bit about stuttering.
12
