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Jewish New Year: The Month of Festivals

Rosh Hashanah
Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20
ImageIt is customary to sound the shofar and blow trumpets at the coronation of a king. Similarly, on Rosh Hashanah, we crown G-d as king over the universe at large and over each of us in particular.

The sound of the shofar is to awaken people to repent and return to G-d. The shofar represents a simple outcry of a person who recognized his spiritual “poverty” and whose feelings cannot be contained in words. It is compared to a forlorn child in a distant country who has forgotten the language of his people and his father, the king. When he returns to his father his only means of communication is his simple cry, which his father recognizes. He lifts the child up to be close to him. Similarly, when Rosh Hashanah comes we realize we have lost our common language with our Father in Heaven, so from the bottom of our soul we cry out, “Father, Father,” to which G-d responds. This then turns us toward Him to lead our lives in accordance with His will. He accepts our prayers and is willing to be Master of the Universe and grant us a good and sweet year.

Why We Support Bloomberg for Mayor

Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Leadership is a difficult quality to quantify. There are many immeasurable characteristics that comprise what we consider to be the quintessential leader. We want someone who is unflappable under pressure, who possesses a keen understanding of the problems at hand, the ability to create and execute a plan to improve the status quo and a record of successful performance. Our community has high standards for our leaders and an expectation that they will constantly deliver results.

With a mayoral race looming on the horizon, we closely examined the individuals vying to be mayor of the City of New York. We studied their public service records and considered who would be the best person to lead this city for the next four years. We concluded that only one of the candidates possesses the leadership qualities necessary to guide New York into the future. That person is Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Western Wall Shlicheem (Prayer Agents)

Our shlicheem help people all over the world through the unique strength of prayers uttered at the Western Wall, while at the same time raising money for Torah institutions as well as families and individuals involved in Torah learning in Jerusalem.

Western Wall Prayers — Reaching Up to Shemayim!

Are you seeking a shidduch, praying for a loved one’s recovery from illness, davening for parnossa and job security or for deeper understanding of the depth of Torah and more? Now, whether you are in Israel and can travel to the Kotel daily yourself, or are in Israel but a distance from the Kotel, or live in the Diaspora and need someone to go and say Tefillos on your behalf, you can have Rabbanim and/or Talmudei Chachamim praying simultaneously at the Kotel with you as you pray for whatever it is you seek.

Memognet

ImageMemognet
Pictures On Magnet !
Memory With Love Forever ..

Special attraction for parties events and celebrations .. On The Spot !

Jewish Motorcyclists Commemorate the Holocaust

ImageJewish motorcyclists from around the country joined the Jewish Motorcyclists Alliance’s (JMA) Fifth Annual Ride to Remember (R2R) recently in Savannah, Georgia. The Chai Riders Motorcycle Club rode from New York to Savannah to join in the fun and help raise money for a worthy cause.

The Ride to Remember is a fundraising project with proceeds going to Holocaust remembrance groups and other Jewish organizations. This year funds were raised for the planned Holocaust Educator’s Lending Library. Past Rides to Remember have benefited the Paper Clips Project in Whitwell, Tennessee, Magen David Adom and the National Holocaust Endowment Fund.

Husbands Can’t Wait

ImageThere is something new afoot in the world of marital counseling. It’s on television, on radio, in books and online. Everyone seems to be talking about it. What’s this big news? It seems that men (read husbands) have needs too.

A lot of men are starting to speak out. Not in anger, but in pain. Men who feel that whatever they do, it’s not enough. Men who feel constantly attacked and criticized. Men who feel neglected and taken for granted.

Making Brooklyn’s Jewish Institutions Safer

ImageAccording to the Jerusalem Post, the Department of Homeland Security has allocated $1.83 million to boost safety at Jewish institutions in Brooklyn.

More than two dozen Jewish organizations in Brooklyn, including yeshivot, synagogues and the Children’s Museum, will receive funds as part of the program, in an effort to offset security costs at non-profit institutions considered particularly high-risk by officials.

The Jews of Madrid

Plaza Cibeles

Plaza Cibeles

Jews lived in Spain long before the infamous Inquisition of 1492. Jews suffered tremendously under Visigoth rule. Thus, when Moslem forces invaded the peninsula in 711, Jews welcomed the forces from North Africa. The relationship between Jews and Moslems was one of complimentary interests, but not of tolerance. Jews would not submit to the religious message of Islam, but they could be trusted not to side with their prior oppressors. They were, therefore, entrusted with security functions in captured areas, allowing Moslems to advance further without leaving behind military personnel. This was typical of Spain during much of the Middle Ages; a coalescence of interests dominated the political infrastructure.

According to one opinion, there was never a medieval Spanish Golden Age of peace and tranquility amongst Jews, Moslems and Christians. Rather, there was a tense balance of economic and security interests reinforced by governmental weakness to alter the status quo.

Back-to-School Sanity

ImageThe back-to-school season is, for all intents and purposes, a period of pure parental mayhem. From tracking down the coolest backpack on the block to searching out that elusive five subject, wide-ruled, perforated spiral notebook that our child needs for Hebrew class, our to-do lists seem virtually endless.

Still for many modern parents, the stress of preparing our kids for their return to academia pales in comparison to the pressure we endure once they actually get there. After all, in our achievement-obsessed society, it often feels that our parental efficacy is directly correlated with our children’s standardized test scores. It’s no wonder that the sheer thought of homework, report cards and parent-teacher conferences has our stomach turning somersaults.

Pack a Greener Brown-Bag Lunch

ImageBeing eco-friendly isn’t limited to the car you drive or the appliances you buy, and it doesn’t have to mean sacrificing convenience, quality or budget. In fact, it’s time to stop feeling guilty about not being able to do it all and make a few small changes to help the environment.

One easy way to live a more earth-conscious lifestyle is to turn brown bag lunches green this school year. By thinking green every time you pack a lunch, you can save money and take a small step forward for the environment.

Do right by your wallet and the environment with these simple tips:

Buy Local Foods
Look for a farmer’s market or grocery store that promotes locally grown and produced food.

Important Parenting Lessons

ImageI remember going to a parent-teacher meeting when one of my daughters was very young. “When your daughter prays,” said her 22-year-old teacher, “she does it with a lot of energy and vigor.”

“Great,” I responded. But the teacher wasn’t finished.

“But I don’t think she’s doing it out of love of G-d; I think she’s too focused on trying to win my approval.” (Which, it was immediately obvious, was not forthcoming!)

Choosing After-School Activities

ImageHow can you help guide your children to the most enriching after-school activities? It helps to think about all the options.

According to estimates from Child Trends DataBank, the most popular after-school activity for children is sports, with 31% of children participating in athletic programs. Other popular choices include religious activities (20%), arts (18%), scouting (10%), community service (8%), academic activities (7%) and school clubs (6%). To identify local opportunities for your child, ask at school and inquire at places such as swim centers, arts centers, museums, recreation centers, universities and synagogues.

The Back to School Handbook

ImageIt is the end of summer—already. And you know what that means: going back to school, or starting school for the first time. While many parents are happy to see their kids off to school, after a summer of having them at home, other parents become sad, especially if their children are heading off to school for the first time. Parents can become anxious when they consider the new challenges their children might be facing in school this year.

In addition to the usual social and educational stresses of going to school, kids are faced with a slew of other social stressors, including peer pressure and bullying. Talking with your children about these issues at age-appropriate times may help decrease their chances of becoming a victim.