The sounds of Habibi and the aroma of fresh burekas filled the halls of Manhattan Day School/Yeshiva Ohr Torah (MDS) at its Second Annual Sephardic Heritage Day. Excitement was in the air as dozens of parents joined the students in celebration of Sephardic religious, cultural and culinary traditions.
When called on to teach a class on genealogy to seniors as part of their Sephardic history class at Yeshiva of Flatbush High School, I was excited. This was an opportunity to help students see their connection to our rich Sephardic heritage.
Imagine Academy’s students recently exhibited their artwork at the Taglialatella Galleries on Tenth Avenue in Manhattan. This amazing event was hosted and sponsored by Bear Givers, an organization dedicated to helping children with special needs. Joseph Sprung, Chairman and Founder and Diane Lampert, President of Bear Givers made this event possible.
JULY 4, 1976
Operation Entebbe was a rescue mission performed by several IDF units in Uganda on July 4th 1976, for the liberation of 98 Jewish and Israeli hostages. Their plane, an Air France aircraft, was hijacked on June 27th, by Palestinian and German terrorists. The hijackers landed the plane at Benghazi, Libya and flew it from there to Entebbe in Uganda, where all non-Jewish passengers were freed. Israel tried to develop a dialogue with Ugandan President Idi Amin, who collaborated with the terrorists. Simultaneously, preparations began for a military operation.
At a recent induction ceremony, Jack Fatiha, MD, was sworn in by FDNY Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano. Other dignitaries, including our community’s Supreme Court Justice Bruce M. Balter, were present to congratulate the newest member of this elite group of surgeons.
After six years of transforming the lives of the youth in Deal, DSN has expanded its goals! With the addition of a DSN Adult Couples Department, parents are now able to enjoy their own DSN events.
Childhood and teen obesity in America has gotten so out of hand that it’s been labeled an epidemic. Some people feel that this language is a little strong or misleading, but it doesn’t take a particularly observant person to notice the staggering increase in obese children and teenagers we’re seeing year after year. While it’s easy to point the blame at schools, parents and the children, themselves, one thing about the trend is clear—it needs to be reversed.
In Chinese medicine, scars represent an actual blockage in energetic circulation. Many aspects of Chinese healing rely on a system of meridians, or pathways, which energy or qi (pronounced: chee) flow freely through and connect with our organs. Imagine these channels are like the vascular or nervous systems that transport necessary blood or impulses to every area of the body.
On the 69th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 2013, my 6th grade history class at Magen David Yeshivah (MDY) experienced a unique event. They had spent ten months learning about World War II, extensively researching Pearl Harbor Day and Yom HaShoah and discussing their findings and thoughts about these special days that are part of American Jewish history.
There are only 600 Jews living there today, yet at one point in time, Jews were the heart of Portugal’s economic and intellectual development. Once a country concentrated with Jews, Portugal is filled with Jewish history: a history of success, happiness, persecution, despair, and reconstruction.
The year was 1953. Right after the development of the life-saving Polio vaccine was announced, the Minneapolis Lakers beat the NY Knicks in the seventh NBA Championship, and Sir Edmund Hillary became the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, eight students reached an important and historical moment in their own lives by becoming the first graduating class of Magen David Yeshivah Elementary School (MDY).
Remember squirming to get comfortable in a classroom chair fitted with a side arm for writing? Squirm no more, thanks to a “Smart Cushion” that easily attaches to the seat. Ever struggle to get a backpack on over a jacket? Piece of cake now, thanks to the all-in-one JackPack. Ever watch a roof being shingled and wonder if there was a faster way to get the job done? Roll-A-Roof cuts time and saves money. But don’t look for these products in a local store just yet. These winning ideas were developed by students in Magen David Yeshivah Celia Esses High School’s tenth grade Entrepreneurship Program, which culminates in a business contest.
As we roll into summer, the days are getting longer. With daylight savings time, sunset is really late. For most families, especially those with little children, it is really inconvenient to begin the Friday night meal at 9:00 or 9:30. So, many people take advantage of the halakha that permits us to begin Shabbat on Friday afternoon after pelag haminha.
Defining himself as a passionate Jewish educator, Rabbi Yosef Bitton has taken command of Congregation Ohel David and Shlomo, adding spiritual guidance that has had a clear and meaningful impact on the community in just six months. Attendance is up and the synagogue now has a full activity agenda that draws in members of the community and motivates them to be involved and engaged in a way they never have before.
