They say that necessity is the mother of invention. Chana Shields and Dalia Stelzer, both of Teaneck, New Jersey, took this to heart, and with the annual Teaneck Children’s Clothing Exchange not taking place this year decided to put a new spin on a greatly needed chesed. The women created The Clothing xChange, which is already helping

Tarnow, Poland, once a hub of Eastern European Jewish life, lost nearly all of its 45,000 Jewish inhabitants in the genocide of World War II. Most of its inhabitants were deeply religious, and Tarnow was a hub of chasidic observance in Galicia. The end of Jewish life came dramatically. In the

In 2018, the Anti-Defamation League recorded 1,879 anti-Semitic incidents in the United States, as opposed to 1,352 a decade before. Many synagogues throughout America now have armed security guards, not just for the High Holy Days, but every Shabbat. I have spoken with people who are seriously considering aliyah, not because of Zionist

Our sages teach us that everything Hashem made in this world has a purpose and that when we see the wisdom and kindness found within them, we fulfill a positive mitzvah of the heart (Chovos Halevavos, ‘Duties of the Heart’, Gate of Reflection). One of my favorite examples of

In light of recent events, I thought it appropriate to recall things that we used to do in the not so distant past. On this occasion I review a very common phenomenon that affected most of us, but that maybe some don’t totally miss.

Words are such fascinating things! Think how in many

Dear Dr. Chani,

I would love to hear your guidance about an issue that I struggle with on a daily basis. I am laughing as I write this since it sounds so trivial. Yet, I am really upset by it. I feel I am being excluded by my friends and family on WhatsApp.

Like most

Part 5

(Continued from last week)

The passengers from the Wyoming were loaded on trucks and driven toward the Sahara Desert, destination an abandoned French Foreign Legion camp at Sidi el-Ayachi about 50 miles southwest of Casablanca. They were greeted by

Hey, remember the old days, when between winter and summer there was a season called spring?

I kind of feel like spring used to be this whole major season. When I was growing up, I feel like we had a couple months every year when it was about 60 degrees out. Now we basically go straight from winter to

For reasons unknown, among the carbonated beverages most commonly served at a synagogue kiddush is the reliable and undeniable Ginger Ale. This recurring refreshment can be found at synagogue kiddushim across the country even though there is nothing inherently or particularly Jewish about Ginger Ale. While some thirsty kiddush attendees

Mazal tov to Hannah Kirsch on your graduation from Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School and Joshua Kirsch on your graduation from eighth grade at Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy. We are so proud of all your accomplishments and we love you very much!

Love, Mom and Dad, Joey, Sara and Jonathan

Mazal tov to Nechama & Tuly Polak on the engagement of their son Eli to Rivka Banayan of Monsey!

 Mazal tov to Rabbi Ezra and Adina Wiener on the engagement of their son Akiva to Etty Sommerstein, daughter of Janine and Moishe