John Napoli compares the voids in a child’s knowledge of mathematics with the holes in a piece of Swiss cheese. Napoli, director of the new Mathnasium Learning Center in Ocean, NJ, says the holes represent the missing elements in a student’s math understanding. It could be challenges with multiplication facts, fractions, algebra, or even geometry.

On August 16th and 17th, community members are invited to enjoy a dynamic showcase of talented performers at the historic Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank’s most enduring arts building. This grand theater possesses a warm feeling of elegance from a bygone era.

One of the most challenging issues facing our community is the high cost of living an Orthodox lifestyle. Especially in these difficult economic times, when so many are either unemployed or underemployed, the financial demands often seem overwhelming.

The number-one expense for most frum families is, of course, yeshivah tuition. It is not unusual for families with an annual income of as much as $200,000 (only 3.5% of Americans earn more) with four or more children in yeshivah day schools to have difficulty paying tuition bills that exceed their mortgage obligations. This situation creates enormous pressure on our struggling day schools and yeshivahs as they strive to deliver quality Torah and secular educations to our children. It also causes tremendous stress on families, reducing simchas hachayim (joy of life) and even leading to shalom bayis (happy home) problems. Most troubling is the alarming number of students who are transferring from day schools to charter or public schools. This problem has been decades in the making, and we now are facing a broken and unsustainable system. Our success in dealing with this issue will determine what Orthodox Judaism in America will look like 25 years from now.

Over 500 of New York’s most influential policy makers, Jewish community advocates and leaders joined Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council) recently for their 35th Annual Legislative Breakfast at the Roosevelt Hotel.

There were many celebrations throughout the United States and Israel to honor Israeli Independence Day this year. Philadelphia, the birthplace of our nation, had a special event which drew 6,000 spectators to their waterfront.

Family, friends and community members recently gathered at Congregation Beth Torah to celebrate the sixth commencement exercises of the Allegra Franco Sephardic Women’s Teachers College. The graduates, Barbara Laniado Blanco, Violet Galapo, Grace J. Timsit and Adelaide Sabbagh Yadid, represent a cross-section of community women. They have spent the past several years mastering not only the vast content of the Judaic studies curricula of our yeshivahs, but the latest pedagogical techniques as well. Each graduate interned in one of the community schools under the guidance of a mentor teacher, recognized by that school as a master educator. In addition, they participated in several skill-building workshops on topics of current educational interest. They will now join previous graduates of Allegra, who are employed as Judaic studies teachers, Qriya (Hebrew reading) and Ivrit specialists, coordinators of student activities, mentor teachers, guidance personnel, and Judaic studies principals in community schools.

Hundreds of people recently participated in the Eighth Annual Lena Cymbrowitz Community Health Fair, sponsored by Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, Maimonides Medical Center, Beth Israel Medical Center’s Kings Highway Division and Kiwanis International.

Tall tapered silver vases lined the tables and popped with bright pink orchids. Guests mingled while they sampled the delicious assortment of mazza, cocktails and mouth-watering desserts. Although they knew they were somewhere between Kings Highway and Quentin Road, the atmosphere made the guests feel like they were in a very fancy setting.

Many of us know the feeling of being the last one picked for a team. Most of us know the feeling of failure or feeling like a square peg in a round hole. Many of us still recall the first hurtful thing that happened to us when we were young that still smarts today. I know I do.

Luckily, as children we were resilient, and with time, maturity, love and external encouragement, most of us were able to work through those tough times and actually become stronger as a result.

I’ve been a part of the Sephardic Bikur Holim youth committee for a full year now. I’ve seen many acts of hesed and kindness in my life, but never did I see anything as amazing as “A Night in Syria,” our most recent event.

Over 200 elementary school students from six yeshivas ended their school year with a hands-on lesson in civics and walked away with some great prizes, including iPads, iPods, bicycles, and Monopoly Deal games.

These students went door-to-door, registering over 2,500 Brooklyn voters on behalf of Teach NYS in an effort facilitated by the Sephardic Community Federation. Two boys received iPads by registering 100 voters each.

The Sephardic Community Center’s Décor by the Shore designer show house was unprecedented and an overall success. The house captured the sophistication of a museum and the elegance of a Syrian household simultaneously. The motivation, inspiration, and all out determination of the committee, designers, and community made for one spectacular achievement.