There is no tuition crisis, there is a crisis of understanding. There isn’t a failure in the efforts of our young marrieds to support themselves, there is a failure in our conviction to support them. (Excerpt from: “Truth and Responsibility” featured in IMAGE Magazine, October 2011 Issue).

Steve Jobs 1955 – 2011 C.E.
Abraham 1813—1638 B.C.E.
Noah 2704—1755 B.C.E.

When a world class business leader dies, do we have an obligation to do something?

Should we dedicate a portion of the time we share as families to an understanding of his/her life and accomplishments?

The young man sat on the park bench in the middle of the holiday of happiness (Succot), lowered his head and allowed the tears to slip down his cheeks.

“How could there be tears?” he demanded of himself.  “The nights in the succah (temporary dwelling) had been so joyous! The children, the song, the love, the life… And the sense that the spiritual and the physical truly connected – as the spirits of the giants of humanity, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob joined in the celebration.”

The Orthodox Union recently announced challenge grants ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 for up to three-years to develop innovative solutions to address the extreme high cost of Hebrew day schools/yeshivot.

Applications are now open to receive grant proposals from schools and communities, with a deadline for submission of October 28th. Award decisions will be announced on December 4, 2011.

This year’s Off Sides event was expanded to two separate tournaments benefiting two amazing organizations. One of the organizations, located in Israel near Modiin, is Ulpanat Dolev which was established in 1988 as a residential facility for girls at risk. Today it serves over 100 troubled girls who have been referred to the Ulpana by social workers. In addition to a basic high school education of religious and general studies, Ulpanat Dolev students are offered early childhood care giving courses, as well as courses in computer repair and programming, cosmetology, nutrition, catering and hotel studies. The school uses music, dance, videography and horseback riding as therapeutic tools to enhance each girl’s self esteem and to help them build successful lives after the Ulpana.

Hurricane Irene forced six million to evacuate the Jersey Shore, took down trees and power lines, causing mayhem in New Jersey. In the wake of this horrifying nightmare, we, the tournament chairmen, were forced to decide what to do with the Sephardic Food Fund’s First Annual Topspin Tennis Tournament, which was originally scheduled for the day Irene made landfall in New Jersey.

Nestled in our very own backyard, lies a treasure so well hidden that even those in close proximity might never have stumbled upon it. This hidden gem is Monmouth University, a state-of the art facility, and site of the first ever Deal Sephardic Network (DSN) Summer Games.

In the United States today, 77% of students have experienced some form of bullying and 14% say they have experienced severe negative reactions to some form of bullying. One in five kids admits to being a bully and 8% of kids miss a day of school each month for fear of bullies. Every seven minutes a child is bullied; adult intervention is 4%; peer intervention is 11% and no intervention is 85%. These are staggering statistics, but unfortunately they are true.

The new memorial to fallen Jewish military chaplains began last month and will continue to tour the East Coast, with stops in Florida, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington, DC. The memorial will stop at JCCs as well as synagogues, military installations, and civil institutions. At its final stop, the monument will be formally dedicated on October 24th at Arlington National Cemetery.

With school back in session, many parents with special needs children are facing new efforts from the Department of Education (DOE) to limit resources for their children. To confront the harmful effects of these cuts, Councilman David Greenfield recently held a meeting with several dozen community and special education leaders to discuss emerging problems in special education and to gather feedback directly from parents on how best to address these issues. The participants included representatives from Tafkid, Ease Advocates, Agudath Israel, Bonim Lamakom, Gesher Yehuda, Reach for the Stars, Shema Koleinu, Lev Uvois, Building Blocks, Step, Yaldeinu and other parent and school groups.

Sukkot is a holiday rich in tradition and meaning. From the holding of the lulav and etrog to the sitting in a sukkah, the holiday is filled with symbolism to express our relationship to G-d.

The 9th Annual SAFE Foundation Dinner will be marked in history for the nearly 400 people who gathered at the home of Cookie and Stanley Chera to participate. This event ironically fell four days after the death of Betty Ford, an iconic woman who fought to change the stigma associated with addiction. SAFE, in its 9th year of operation, is fighting to do the same.

Founded in 1973 by Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, the Hineni outreach organization has evolved into the most influential and internationally recognized Jewish educational network in the modern era. Inspired by the wisdom of the Torah as imparted by Rebbetzin Jungreis, alienated Jews from around the globe have flocked to her weekly classes for decades and it is there that the pintele yid (the Jewish spark) ignites into a flame. Some attend to seek guidance from the Rebbetzin about the challenges that life represents and others are not precisely sure what to expect. One thing is certain; no one departs unaffected.