On a recent rainy day, it was all sunshine and gardens in Magen David Yeshivah as parents and  children experienced literacy lessons side-by-side in their classrooms.

With the successful introduction of the new reading program, Journeys, MDY wanted to give students the opportunity to share with their parents all that they had learned throughout the year. In addition to students sharing with their parents, the goal of literacy day was to reiterate the importance of reading and how parents can join their children on the path to leading lives of literacy.

Parents were delighted as they entered the lobby to find gardens of paper flowers created by their children. Each child had a flower with his/her photo planted in the lobby. Complete with butterflies, chirping crickets and a John Deere tractor, the lobby was thoroughly transformed.

Strivright/The Auditory Oral School of New York (AOSNY) recently celebrated their grand opening with a spectacular ribbon cutting ceremony. Nearly 300 people gathered in their brand new, state-of-the-art facility to rejoice.

Strivright is a unique school that focuses on teaching children with characteristics of Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), speech delays and hearing impairment. The Center provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, counseling, music therapy, social skills groups and other services that provide children with the tools to attend mainstream schools and thrive.

Founded in 1999 by Dr. Pnina Bravmann, an audiologist, speech language pathologist, teacher and the mother of a hearing impaired child, Strivright/AOSNY has serviced and changed the lives of thousands of children and their families. After having filled three temporary locations, the school is now finally consolidated under one roof, on the corner of Avenue M and East 34th Street.

How often do you get the chance to help children in need, while taking a break from work with a lively group of friends, plus the opportunity to spend time outdoors amid spectacular scenery? In addition there were amazing health and fitness benefits, and the chance to bring people together for a common goal. Bike4Chais charity bike ride offered all these things plus a grand finale guaranteed to tug on your heartstrings.

Bike4Chai raises funds so seriously ill children can spend two carefree weeks at Camp Simcha, a medically supervised overnight summer camp in Glen Spey, New York.

Abie Maleh and Alan Shamah helped to spark community interest in Bike4Chai two years ago. Now in its third year, the ride has grown from two dozen to 200 cyclists. In order to participate in the ride, bicyclists from the tri-state area, across the country and Canada, commit to raising a minimum of $3,600.

The Yeshivah of Flatbush celebrated its 85th anniversary of educational excellence recently and paid tribute to four teachers who have positively influenced countless students and families over the years: Rabbi Zelig Prag, Chairman of the YOF Joel Braverman High School Talmud Department; Rabbi Naftali Besser, Dean of Students at the Joel Braverman High School; Rabbi Dr. David Hertzberg, Middle Division Principal; and Mrs. Leah Breski, Lower Division Torah Studies teacher. Over 500 people turned out to recognize the honorees deep commitment to education and Jewish life.

The event at Shaare Zion also celebrated the installation of a new roster of lay leaders at YOF. Ladies Auxiliary 2011-2012 President Ami Sasson welcomed Melissa Tbeile as her successor together with Nathalie Vilinsky as President-Elect. Current President Mark Goldstein will head the yeshivahs lay leadership board for a second term, ensuring continuity in a time of growth and innovation. He spoke of this summers major improvements, which include a new auditorium and much more, thanks to the Khezrie, Ben-Haim and Laboz families. He also announced the launch of a major capital campaign to build a state-of-the-art facility adjacent to the high school building, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the Al and Sonny Gindi families.

Congregation Shaare Shaloms Annual Chinese Auction and Bake Sale has been a highly anticipated event for more than a decade. Since then, the bond of the congregants has never weakened.

This year, the bake sale was held at the lovely home of Raymond and Rachel Mouhadeb. It began with an evening reception. Decorated in a lovely array of soothing hues, the relaxing ambiance served as a lovely backdrop to the evening. The night provided a wonderful opportunity for the guests to socialize. A delicious gourmet dinner by Adam Dweck was elegantly displayed and more than 50 people participated in the backgammon tournament, which  Brian Kraiem won.

Shelly and Renee Productions recently held a very special, three-day, sample sale to raise money for the Morris I. Franco Community Cancer Center. Sample sales are used by designers in order to sell excess merchandise. These sales are an opportunity to introduce customers to new designers and for the customers to purchase merchandise at a fraction of the price they would spend in stores. Of course, designers are always hopeful that the shoppers will love their designs and buy the merchandise at full price, in stores, some time in the future.

The recent sale featured Nancy Gonzales exotic skin handbags. Women who wanted their very own Nancy had to RSVP in advance and donate $36 to the Morris I. Franco Community Cancer Center.

Do you bike ride? Do you want to start riding?  If so, there is only one place to go: Roys Sheepshead Cycles in Brooklyn. Yes, the black, the white, and the greenRoys Cycles store colors.

Located at 2679 Coney Island Avenue (between Avenue X and Avenue Y), Roys was established in 1931; which makes it one of Brooklyns oldest bike shops and one of the oldest bike shops in the US (that has been operating in the same area since it opened).

For over 80 years, Roys has been supporting a growing cycling community and is considered one of the top 100 bikes shops in America.

Isaac Yedid has been the leader and mentor of the Young Adult Minyan at the Sephardic Lebanese Congregation since February of 2006. He is a trusted leader with a heart of gold who always has a special smile when greeting each individual.

Raymond Zeitoune has stood at Isaacs side as one of the Minyans main Torah readers, as well as one of the Minyans key advisors. Ray is known by many of his peers as a man with a lot of integrity, emunah (faith) and a desire to do the right thing for everyone.

Both Isaac and Ray have a desire to help people in any way they can. It is this desire that has enabled them to gain the trust and admiration of those they have counseled. For many attorneys, counseling begins after the individual has graduated from law school and has passed the bar exam. For Isaac and Ray, counseling is something they love and have done since childhood. Not only is counseling second nature to them, but it has been a huge part of their lives.

Back in 2001, were you to have asked Dr. Ralph and Limor Madeb, two New York City transplants, to describe their initial impression of Rochester, NY, most likely their response would have echoed Dorothys famous line from The Wizard of Oz, Were not in Brooklyn anymore!

Actually, it was just Ralph back thenpursuit of the titles urologist and urologic surgeon at the University of Rochester Medical School and Strong Memorial Hospital was what brought the young couple to Rochester and was at the root of their migr status.

In 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed the month of May: Jewish American Heritage Month, at the urging of Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and former Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

Congresswoman Wasserman Shultz explained, Jewish American Heritage Month was created to increase tolerance and raise awareness about the depth and breath of contributions of Jews through 350 years of Jewish life in America.