From Nobel Peace Prize Winner Elie Wiesel comes Rashi, a powerful introduction to the wisdom of the great Biblical and Talmudic commentator of the Middle Ages.

This deeply personal book looks at the life and work of Rashi, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, whose phrase-by-phrase explanation of the oral law has been in every printing of the Talmud since the 15th century.

Both beginners and advanced students of the Bible rely on Rashi’s groundbreaking commentary for simple text explanations and Midrashic interpretations. His perspective, encompassing both the mundane and the profound, is timeless and Wiesel is an expert guide to the lucidity of Rashi’s writings.

The September public programming schedule at the Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust will feature provocative discussions, intriguing authors, and talented performing artists.

Public Programs

The Believers: Wednesday, Sept. 9, 7 pm
Author Zoë Heller (What Was She Thinking? Notes on a Scandal) interviewed by Gabriel Sanders, deputy editor, Tablet Magazine.

Set in New York in 2002, Heller’s latest novel is a satire about an idealistic secular Jewish family that implodes after the patriarch, a famous civil rights lawyer, falls ill. These deeply flawed yet compelling characters’ examinations of their own beliefs are heartbreaking and humorous. $5, free for members.

A few years back I found myself with a dilemma. My youngest child Benzy, who has special needs due to Williams Syndrome and PDD (Pervasive Development Disorder), was reaching the end of his first year in a new school. This state-funded school had great teachers, good facilities, and most importantly, students could attend through age 21.

Benzy is a very charming and lovable child, but is prone to spontaneous and uncontrollable outbursts, which as the year progressed, seemed to be becoming more difficult for his teacher to deal with.

Hostess Gayle Krost

Recently, the Ezra Abraham To Life Foundation held an elegant fashion show and Chinese Auction at the magnificent home of Gayle and Brian Krost. With a beautiful day and an admirable cause to support, a tremendous turnout resulted.

Ezra Abraham A”H started the To Life Foundation by selling green rubber “pray for Ezra” bracelets. One of Eddie’s goals was to raise money to support the causes that helped him. With the firm belief that one person can make a difference, Eddie’s spirit showed that no goal is out of reach. The foundation is currently completing their first To Life Teen and Young Adult Room in Monmouth Medical Center, which will be equipped with computers, arcades, ping-pong tables and all sorts of fun and interesting things for the patients. The room will provide the patients with a place where they can establish social groups with other teens who face the same challenges as they do. A program has also been developed to provide various therapies to patients and their families. The next project will entail decorating the children’s hospital rooms.

Soldiers assembling a mortar at the army base in Nothern Golan, which is right on the Syrian border

Many teenagers in our community are counselors at camp each summer, while others work in the city. This summer, I did something different. I spent 10 days in Israel on an advocacy program called Write On For Israel. (WOFI). WOFI is an intensive two-year program that trains high school students to become advocates for Israel through journalism. The program consists of seven Sunday seminars held at Columbia University that are taught by top educators and journalists along with appearances by PR executives, IDF officers and Israeli officials. Students participating in WOFI gain knowledge of ancient and current Israeli history as well as the confidence and skills needed to make Israel’s case on college campuses and in the world of media and politics. The summit of the program is the 10-day Israel mission that provides a hands-on look at Israel’s political and security issues.

The Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) held an Evening of Cancer Awareness recently at the Deal residence of Lisa and Isaac Oved. Several hundred members of the community came to listen and learn from leading cancer specialists who were honored for their important work in the fight against cancer.

Sadie Jemal-Meyers, a member of the community and recipient of the 2008 ICRF Tower of Hope Humanitarian award, joined the Oveds in welcoming guests. Mrs. Meyers was presented with an award for her outstanding commitment to ICRF’s mission by Dr. Yashar Hirshaut, ICRF Chairman.  Charles Ben Dayan, ICRF Trustee, presented a special award to Lisa and Isaac Oved for their generous support of cancer research in Israel.

And Hashem took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden, to work it and to protect it.

“In order to serve G-d, one needs access to the enjoyment of the beauties of nature, such as the contemplation of flower-decorated meadows, majestic mountains, and flowing rivers. For all these are essential to the spiritual development of even the holiest of people.”
Rabbi Abraham Ben Moses Ben Maimon (1186-1237)

Nature plays a significant role in traditional Jewish liturgy, from the creation story, to our everyday prayers upon rising each day and blessings over food—from blessings upon seeing natural wonders and trees in blossom for the first time in a season, to our cyclical holidays marking harvest festivals, the birthday of trees, the waxing and waning moon, and light in the darkness. Indeed, our most sacred Torah is understood as a “tree of life” that contains within its scrolls important mitzvot that prohibit against purposeless destruction and waste, and when given the choice of life and death, blessing and curse, we are commanded, “Choose life, that both you and your offspring may live.”

It has been more than 60 years since the Holocaust in Europe, more than 60 years since the world declared “Never again,” more than 60 years since the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and declared genocide a crime, and yet the large-scale killing of one group of humans by another continues with no end in sight.

Some believe it is impossible to stop genocide. The Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation agrees: Genocide, once begun, is fiendishly difficult to stop. But it can be prevented.

Some people are afraid of flying. Others are afraid of snakes. Now meet Sarah, a third grader in a local school. Sarah has a very uncommon fear. She’s afraid of recess.

On the surface Sarah is a bright and intelligent young lady who gets good grades on her tests and excellent report cards. Inside, she’s miserable. That’s because she has a major problem dealing with social situations. She becomes awkward and shy whenever she has to interact with classmates or potential friends. So during school hours she can bury her head in her books and perform reasonably well. But during recess she is a social mess.

A classroom at Allegra College

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. It’s a saying we have all heard and at different times in our lives relied on for guidance. But it is true—we all experience different phases of our lives, starting as children and on through adulthood.

One of these phases is the amazing time in many women’s lives when they go from the never-ending, full-time job of motherhood to when their youngest is in school full-time and they start to wonder, “What do I want to do now?”

This summer, the second annual Iron Chef cook-off tournament for Nesach Yisrael took place at the home of Audrey and Stevie Shalom. The tournament was accompanied by a fully-stocked barbecue and an exquisite Chinese Auction. All proceeds were given to Nesach Yisrael, a school for underprivileged and disabled children in Eretz Yisrael, founded and run by Rabbi Victor Harari.  With Hashem’s help and the help of our devoted committee, the night started off without a glitch.