Rachel Samolovitz, Alyn Saadia, Cikki Sakal, Sally Dwek, Carly Parker, Elayne Gindi, Rochelle Goldman, Rebecca Zagha, Arielle Tanzman, Mrs. Chani Dreyfuss, Geri Cohen and Haley Shalam

Spreading joy, spreading light, spreading smiles and spreading happiness is just what the 6th grade girls of Hillel Yeshiva did in Jersey Shore Hospital and Monmouth Medical Center during Hanukah, brining smiles to the faces of hospitalized children.

The idea began when the 5th, 6th and 7th grade girls of Hillel Yeshiva participated in a special program commemorating Rachel Imeinu. As part of their Bat Mitzvah year hesed curriculum, the 6th grade girls created beautiful gifts which included delightfully decorated pillowcases, adorable felt puppets, and fun books.

While most of the world celebrated New Year’s Day, on January 1, the Early Childhood department at Barkai yeshivah hosted a special Father’s Day festive breakfast celebration. Dads joined their children in their classrooms and got to experience the daily morning routine of the class, including welcome songs, attendance, and tefillah. Fathers, grandfathers, uncles, older siblings and even some moms worked together on creative craft projects followed by a group breakfast and sing-a-long.

Hanukah is always a festive and joyful time of the year, a time spent enjoying each night with family and friends. With that in mind, the youth of Congregation Kol Israel held its annual Hanukah celebration with an enjoyable Bingo Night and Chinese Auction followed by ice-skating the next morning.

Hanukah at Gesher Yehuda is more than just a celebration of the Festival of Lights. It is an experience that leaves an indelible impression on all of those who participate in the week-long events that surround the holiday.

What better way to impress upon the students the importance of giving to those less fortunate, than participating in the annual Chai Lifeline toy drive? Every year, on the days leading up to Hanukah, the students are encouraged to bring in gifts for children who are undergoing the hardship of illness and hospitalization. This year was no different, except that the stakes were higher.  The classes competed with each other to see who would bring in the most gifts. The 8th graders won! All the gifts were displayed in the lobby for everyone to see. It was a true Kiddush Hashem to see how special and caring Gesher Yehuda’s students are.

On Monday December 29th, Magen David Yeshivah held its annual Hanukah carnival. While enjoying Hanukah, the students were treated to a well deserved day off and what better way to spend the day, than to enjoy a fun-filled carnival!

Imagine Academy’s mentorship program began with a visit from Barkai Yeshivah’s eighth grade boys. One of the cornerstones of Imagine Academy’s mission is to help each child reach his/her fullest potential socially. Through a mentorship program, specifically geared for children with autism, Imagine’s students are offered the opportunity to develop their social skills by interacting with children that are similar in age. The goal is to enhance our children’s communication and interpersonal skills.

Together, the children participated in Hanukah songs with Imagine’s music therapist, and created art projects as they celebrated the festival of lights. Esther Hecht, a well trained specialist and Imagine’s principal Elisa Chrem organized and supervised the program that ultimately raised the consciousness of our community’s youth on developmental needs.

The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), the largest Orthodox rabbinic group in the world, has issued the following statement: In light of the prominent role of Jews, both as perpetrator and as victim, in the financial scandal involving Bernard Madoff: We are distressed by the acts of deception and misuse of funds to which Mr. Madoff has reportedly confessed, and we are anguished by the suffering inflicted on individuals and organizations victimized by this scheme. He has caused untold harm across the full spectrum of the Jewish community and the Jewish people, and in the world at large.

Captains of various YOF Middle Division sports teams, thanking the Laniados

Yeshivah of Flatbush Elementary School recenlty had a very exciting day. Over 200 fathers arrived in school, donned chef’s hats, and served pizza with gusto to all of the children. Dads Do Lunch is an annual Ladies Auxiliary event, a favorite of children and parents alike, and this one was the best ever.

The day also marked the dedication of the elementary school’s fully renovated gym, generously donated by Ronit and Hagai Laniado.

Sephardic High School, now that’s a blast from the past. The class of 1983 could hardly believe that 25 years had past. Actually, it is 26 years, but who’s counting? It all started when a few of us began to talk about the need for a reunion. But how do you gather up a group of students and faculty from an institution that no longer exists? It seemed like a hopeless endeavor. Then one day, during winter vacation last year, there was Divine intervention. While vacationing in Turnberry, Florida, one of our former classmates, Raymond Dayan, ran into Dr. Daniel Vitow, our former principal.

When the idea of doing a 25th Anniversary Sephardic High School Reunion came up, it didn’t seem necessary or worth all of the effort that it would require. Thoughts like, “Don’t we see each other at every party?” and “I see whomever I want to see” came to mind, but Sammy Cohen and Raymond Dayan wouldn’t take no for an answer. After a few months they recruited Steve Levy to spearhead the effort.

Hundreds of unaffiliated Brooklyn Jews attended the event

Jewish people of all walks of life attended a Hanukah party hosted by Chabad of Kings highway. The event added the much needed holiday spirit to hundreds of Jewish people in great need of it. The crowd enjoyed illusionist David Blatt, sufganiyot, arts and crafts for the children, live music, and more. Free menorah kits and Hanukah how-to guides were distributed as well.

The crowd at Axelrod Stadium

Some say we eat to live, while others say we live to eat. I would be lying if I protested the latter. In reality, there is truth to both statements. From a biological standpoint, food is a necessity—it’s the fuel that keeps us running. From a religious standpoint, food is an integral part of our culture—holidays, weddings and other simchot revolve around food and the fulfilling of the Jewish dietary laws of kashrut and blessings over the meals.

From a psychological standpoint, the kosher kitchen, the Shabbat meal and the term “balabusta” define the identity of the Jewish woman. As such, it was most appropriate that Torah Links’ evening of entertainment and inspiration for women centered around the quick and kosher recipes of Jamie Geller, a woman who found her spiritual identity in kosher cooking. Torah Links is an organization whose mission is to share the gift of Torah with men, women and children who are ignorant of their Jewish background.

Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz and State Senator Carl Kruger teamed up to give toys and books to the children in Maimonides Infants and Children’s Hospital of Brooklyn. The two elected officials went to each bed, visiting the young patients and their families, and presented each child with a gift.

If you think school is all about books, tests and homework, think again. On the surface, it certainly seems like it, especially considering the amount of homework the kids come home with. But if you take a good look at what really goes on in school, you’ll discover that it has just as much to do with social interaction and learning interpersonal skills as it does with mastering the art of reading or writing.

I have been deeply involved in the field of education for over 25 years and I’ve watched children struggle. I think that the child with a social “disability” is at a greater disadvantage than one who has trouble reading or taking tests. Because after all is said and done, everyone needs to have friends.

Third grade students showing off their crazy hats

To encourage students to read more, particularly to read for pleasure, Yeshivah of Flatbush has dedicated the entire year as Reading for Enjoyment Year, which teachers and students alike have really embraced.

The year-long program started out with a bang with the kickoff “Rocking Reading Party Concert,” organized by the Reading Committee, made up of eight teachers. It featured storytellers Beth and Scott, who sang stories that got everyone dancing, incorporating the themes of reading, nutrition and exercise.