The past week, really just the past few days, was a simcha-filled and emotional week for my extended family. I was able to celebrate and join in-person, via YouTube Live, and via WhatsApp texts and pics, a number of big “milestone” smachot for us.

On Sunday, our family celebrated my Washington

As I was sitting at my desk late Tuesday and thinking that it was time to get out of the office and perhaps experience some of the thankfully warmer weather now upon us, I received a call from Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky of Bris Avrohom, one of my favorite rabbis, though I have many favorites. I assumed he was calling me to invite me to a Bris

Last November, during the darkness of the pandemic, some light broke through. Old and new friends, all wine enthusiasts, gathered around a complex, multilayered project that, despite all the regulations and distancing guidelines that have characterized this year and made our lives virtually unrecognizable, took hold. In some ways,

I am dedicating my publisher’s space to my friend, our writer, published author, longtime Teaneck resident and proud Jewish Link contributor, Joe Rotenberg, z”l, who passed away suddenly early last week.

It’s hard to describe Joe Rotenberg in one relatively short column. I laughed along

It was last Wednesday afternoon on our deadline day when I heard the terrible news that Shira Shatzkes, a young Teaneck mother of five, had suffered a brain aneurysm and was in critical condition, which is where she still remains as I write this on our deadline day once again. I made the decision then not to put anything into last

Last Thursday morning, I had the honor of accompanying my friend and accident survivor Micah Kaufman to the Teaneck Police headquarters. He sponsored and spoke at a lunch for the entire department as part of thanking them for helping to save his life. Teaneck police responded to the late December 2019 accident

On Wednesdays, Jewish Link editors spend the day reviewing multiple drafts,  checking headlines, captions and spellings. It is almost exclusively on those days that we finalize our cover and editorial page headlines. Late last Wednesday afternoon, as violence erupted in the Capitol, we knew we’d have to rip out our planned front-page

Last year, my wife and I were honored at Yachad NJ’s annual gala and I published in this space a column about our family’s many strong connections with, and affection for, Yachad and how much Yachad has done for us and our special son, Zev. It was a very special night for us and one I will remember always.

We at The Jewish Link, like most of our readers, have many thoughts and opinions about the year 2020, which is ending now as we go to print.

Arguably the most difficult year any of us can recall, we feel few would want to eke out even a few more moments of 2020.

For

I was working late on the paper’s deadline night just before our big Chanukah edition when I got the call from Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky of Bris Avrohom of Hillside and Fair Lawn. Although I knew his call wasn’t deadline related, I made sure to pick it up. I knew what he was calling about.

I

On Tuesday on social media, I was shocked, thrilled and amazed to see a selfie photo of a Bergenfield neighbor receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. With 370 likes and 50 supportive comments the last time I looked at the post, I think it’s safe to say that the excitement was palpable. While the end of the global pandemic may not be

This past Sunday morning found me outside of Teaneck’s Congregation Keter Torah, where I attended the OU’s biennial 2020 

National Convention outdoors. I went as a proud representative and delegate of my shul but I also went because I had never been to an outdoor OU Convention ever