A Look at MDYHS Alumni

As our graduates venture into the world beyond Magen David Yeshivah High School, we are proud to follow their journeys and celebrate the leaders they are becoming. we are reconnecting with members of the Class of 2025 to hear how their time at MDYHS shaped their paths, their passions, and their futures. From Ivy League economics to breaking barriers in the world of sports marketing, our alumni are already making their mark.

We are excited to spotlight two outstanding graduates. Philip Sherr is studying Economics and Finance at Princeton, where he is diving into the analytical and strategic foundations of global business. Jacqueline Cohen is studying Marketing at Macaulay Honors College at Baruch and is pursuing her goal of entering the field of sports marketing, a path not commonly pursued by women and one she is determined to trailblaze.

Join us as we catch up with these young leaders and learn how their MDYHS experiences helped launch them toward their dreams.

Philip Sherr

How did MDYHS help prepare you to be a proud Jewish student on campus?

Throughout my time in Magen David Yeshivah, we were constantly being taught to be a proud and strong Jew. Through minyan morning and afternoon, special programming on the holidays, and Rabbi Mansour’s weekly Siha (Torah talk), Magen David helped instill a Jewish background that would remain with us forever. It was intertwined in every class that we took, both secular and Judaic.

I have made it a point so far to keep that Jewish identity with me at Princeton. I pray in minyan at the Chabad every morning, get involved in the Jewish organizations and events on campus, and continue to prioritize my Jewish values. Magen David gave me the foundation of Jewish traditions that I carry proudly on campus.

What skills, such as study habits, writing, time management, or critical thinking, did you gain at MDYHS that you use now?

During my time in high school, I was a part of Magen David’s Scholars Program, the varsity basketball team, and the SBH Youth Committee. Between the workload of the Scholars Program and my extracurriculars, time management became a big focus of mine. I learned how to stay organized, how to balance my tasks, and to stay efficient while also leaving time for some fun. These are skills you need in order to have success in college.

Although it was not easy at first, through learning by doing, Magen David taught me how to have a good balance and solid time management, which are critical skills for college and beyond.

How did MDYHS’s extracurriculars, clubs, sports, or leadership opportunities help you grow?

One thing that is special about Magen David is the number of clubs and opportunities it offers. MDY’s extracurriculars range from sports teams to science and business clubs. Being part of the basketball team taught me discipline and responsibility, and that hard work leads to success.

I was part of an advisory group that met with Dr. Vitow to discuss topics around the school, including the plans for the new high school building. I was also elected to MDY’s student government. The clubs at MDY are meant to teach you how to be a part of a team, and to lead and communicate with people.

Every senior in Magen David gets a unique internship opportunity in a field they are interested in through the NEXT program. NEXT helped show me and my friends what it is like to have a real world job and to work in a professional environment. Some students were even offered full time jobs after impressing during their internship.

Through NEXT and the other opportunities at Magen David, you learn important real world skills like leadership, collaboration, and communication. You also get a valuable chance to intern in a professional setting and see what life after school could look like.

How did the MDYHS College Guidance Office support your application process?

I do not think I would have been able to get into Princeton University without the help of the College Guidance Office at MDY, specifically Ms. Laura Miller and Ms. Seloi Beckford. They started working with me in my sophomore year, showing me how to build a strong profile and planning a timeline for the coming years.

The college guidance counselors spend countless hours helping students with whatever they need and are always available to meet and discuss anything. I worked on many essays and applications with Ms. Miller, and she helped refine every detail to make my application stand out. She helped me with my AP courses and my SAT process, and she showed me whom to meet.

The College Guidance Office at MDY makes sure that you leave no stone unturned, gives you the best chances possible, and provides all the resources you need to complete the application process.

If you could describe MDYHS in one sentence now that you’re in college, what would you say?

To me, Magen David feels like family, a home built with warmth and community where the faculty believes in you and is invested in you, all rooted in Jewish tradition that shapes who you become.

Jacqueline Cohen

How did MDYHS help you discover your strengths or interests?

The MDYHS NEXT internship program at the end of my senior year helped me discover my interest in sports marketing. Sports marketing focuses on promoting sports teams, athletes, events, and products connected to sports, as well as using sports to market non sports brands. I interned at Sparx Marketing Group, where I was able to gain real experience. I enjoyed it so much, and I even decided to change my major in college to marketing.

How did the AP, honors, or elective courses you took at MDYHS help you transition to college-level coursework?

The AP classes at MDYHS really helped prepare me for some of my difficult college classes. They also gave me credits for classes that I otherwise would have had to take. Having already entered with all of the credits from my APs, I was able to take classes toward my major.

This semester, I am taking Business 2000 where I am learning different aspects of the business world, including management and leadership basics and marketing principles. While it is an introductory course, it is giving me an understanding of the major areas of business and how they work together. As a marketing major, it is amazing to see how much creativity and strategy go into every area of business.

How did MDYHS’s extracurriculars, clubs, sports, or leadership opportunities help you grow?

Being a part of the Girls Volleyball Team at MDYHS, while also being a student, helped me become well rounded. It prepared me to balance the things that are important to me now that I am in college, including Torah classes, family, and friends.

What values from MDYHS do you find yourself carrying into college life?

MDYHS instilled in me strong bitahon (trust in G-D), and it is very comforting to know in this new college environment that I can always rely on G-D.

If you could describe MDYHS in one sentence now that you’re in college, what would you say?

MDYHS is my second home, and it is a place that inspired me to grow both spiritually and academically.

Ziv Hatorah’s First Annual Challah Bake

On November 5, 2025, Ziv Hatorah hosted its First Annual Challah Bake, welcoming one hundred twenty women from across the community, each bringing her own story, tradition, and brachot (blessings) to knead, braid, and bless dough for Shabbat.

The evening opened with inspirational words from the Menahel of Ziv Hatorah, Rabbi Yaakov Dwek. He shared the “secret” to making the best challah in the world. The secret lies in your mindset and how well prepared you are. By carefully blending the ingredients with the right kavanah (spiritual intention), it infuses the dough with hope for one’s family and creates space for personal tefillot (prayers) during each step. The ladies in attendance leaned in to catch every tip on how to anchor every motion in baking the challah to a personal and deeper meaning.

There was also a hands-on, inspiring highlight from Jackie Bitton on Dibbur (the sacred power of speech). Our words, she taught, shape reality. Just as dough rises with what we feed it, our lives and homes grow with the words we choose. When we speak with care and kavod (honor), we nourish the people around us. When we fill our challah with tefillah (prayer) and gratitude, we elevate a simple recipe into a vessel for blessing.

Midway through the program, Ziv Hatorah introduced its Chai for Life initiative, an invitation to become part of the school’s steady backbone with a monthly gift of eighteen dollars. The Chai for Life campaign is simple and powerful, small and consistent donations that truly make a difference for a small school doing big work. Each commitment helps ensure that students, especially those who need a more supportive setting, receive the individualized attention, warmth, and encouragement that turn potential into progress.

By evening’s end, the tables were lined with bowls filled with dough, each marked by a personal tefillah (prayer) and a shared intention to bring more light to the home and more strength to the school. The ladies left with dough to bake, tips to perfect their next batch, and a renewed sense of togetherness. Proof that when a community gathers around mitzvoth, everyone rises. With deep gratitude, we thank Margo Chalouh for setting up the Challah Bake and Rabbi Kishik for securing our donors. We are especially grateful to our Event Sponsor, FC Advance, dedicated Leilui Nishmat (for the elevation of the soul of) Yitzchak ben Loris, and for the refuah shelema (complete healing) of Lulu bat Miriam, and Habib ben Loris, to our Hafrashat Challah (the mitzvah of separating challah) sponsor, RHY, and to RCN for sponsoring the refreshments in honor of Rabbi Kishik.

Magen David Yeshivah Sixth Grade Boys Begin Their Journey Into Gemara Learning

This month marked a meaningful and unforgettable milestone for the MDY sixth grade boys as they gathered for a special kickoff event celebrating the beginning of their Gemara career. For generations, Gemara was passed down in exactly this fashion, from grandfathers to fathers to young boys eager to soak up the traditional ways of their ancestors. Entering the world of Gemara has been considered a gateway to deeper Torah study, sharpening the mind and building the foundation for a lifetime of learning. Our students stepped proudly into that tradition.

The evening opened with inspiring words from esteemed MDY rabbis who spoke passionately about the beauty, challenge, and reward found within the pages of Gemara. They shared personal stories of their own learning journeys and encouraged the boys to approach this new endeavor with curiosity, perseverance, and joy. Their messages resonated deeply, highlighting how this moment is not only an academic milestone but a spiritual one as well.

One of the most meaningful parts of the event was the opportunity for the boys to sit and learn with their fathers and grandfathers. The room filled with the sounds of voices learning together, three generations united over the same timeless text. Watching parents and grandparents guiding the boys through their first steps of Gemara study created an atmosphere of warmth, pride, and connection. It was a vivid reminder that Torah learning is not only personal but part of a cherished family and community tradition.

As the boys embark on this new chapter, the excitement and enthusiasm felt throughout the event serve as a powerful beginning. Learning Gemara will challenge them to think critically, to question, to analyze, and to grow intellectually and spiritually. The Hatchalat Gemara (beginning of Gemara study) event set the tone beautifully, motivating them to embrace the journey ahead. We are confident that this milestone will be the launching point for a strong, long-lasting foundation. With the guidance of inspiring teachers, the support of family, and the dedication of the Magen David students themselves, the future of their Torah learning is bright. May this be the first of many steps toward deep understanding, strong commitment, and a lifelong love of learning.

Atidaynu recently opened a new Table Décor and Dress Gemach inside the school building, created and operated by both students and staff. What started as a small idea quickly became one of the most visited and appreciated rooms in the entire school.

The gemach houses a wide range of neatly organized event décor, including full table settings for groups of 40 or more, depending on the items selected. It also offers a variety of dresses in multiple colors and styles for anyone in the community who needs something for a simcha or special occasion.

Students played a major role in bringing the gemach to life. They helped collect, prepare, and tovel every item, often making several trips to complete the process. Together with their teachers, they arranged the room, learned how to style sample tables, coordinated décor themes, and set up the space in a way that looks polished and inviting. Teachers oversee the room, guide the students, and help manage the day-to-day operations.

The project has become an active learning experience where students practice organization, teamwork, customer service, design skills, budgeting, and the responsibility involved in maintaining a community service. Rentals are handled by the students with teacher supervision, and the profits are divided among the student team, giving them a sense of ownership and purpose.

The gemach is open to the entire community, and people regularly come in to borrow décor or dresses for events. Students proudly assist visitors and show the items they helped prepare and care for. Their involvement, combined with the teachers’ guidance, has turned this space into a welcoming and functional resource.

Atidaynu’s gemach reflects the school’s commitment to practical learning, skill-building, and community service. It is a collaborative effort between staff and students, and it continues to grow through everyone’s dedication and hard work.

For more information, visit atidaynuourfuture.com or reach out to us at admissions@atidaynuourfuture.com.

At Magen David Yeshivah High School, innovation and opportunity go hand in hand. Our curriculum continues to evolve to meet the demands of an ever-changing world, preparing students not only to understand the marketplace but to lead it. Through a wide range of academic and business-focused ELECTIVES and Clubs, MDYHS students gain early exposure to leadership, finance, marketing, management, and entrepreneurship, all while developing the critical thinking and creativity needed to thrive in the modern economy.

Academic excellence is a cornerstone of the MDYHS experience. Our extensive Advanced Placement (AP) offerings provide motivated students with the opportunity to pursue college-level study in high school, strengthening their readiness for higher education and beyond. These courses include AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Drawing, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP European History, AP Macroeconomics, AP Precalculus, AP Psychology, AP Seminar, AP Statistics, AP U.S. Government and Politics, and AP U.S. History, along with Pre-AP World History and Geography. Together, they reflect our commitment to academic rigor and intellectual growth across all disciplines. At MDYHS, we believe every student should have the chance to challenge themselves. All students are welcome and encouraged to take AP courses that align with their interests and goals.

Building on this strong academic foundation, MDYHS is proud to introduce the next step in our evolution, the Magen David Business Institute (MDBI). Launching next year, this four-year program will accompany students throughout high school, offering a comprehensive, immersive education in business innovation and leadership.

Courses such as Artificial Intelligence and Hedge Fund Strategies / Financial Statement Analysis, already part of our advanced offerings, will be incorporated into the Institute to create an even more cohesive and future-focused business curriculum.

In Artificial Intelligence, students are introduced to the fundamental concepts, techniques, and real-world applications of modern AI technologies. They explore machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing, and robotics, gaining hands-on experience with programming and data analysis. Beyond technical skill, the course emphasizes ethical considerations, from bias and privacy to the broader social impact of automation. By the end, students understand not only how AI systems work, but also how they are transforming industries and reshaping the future of work.

In Hedge Fund Strategies / Financial Statement Analysis, students step into the world of high finance, learning to analyze public company financials to evaluate performance and valuation. They build financial models using key metrics such as revenue, EBITDA, free cash flow, margins, and leverage, while exploring hedge fund trading strategies including Merger Arbitrage, Distressed Credit Investing, and Convertible Bond Arbitrage. With Bloomberg Terminal access and professional-level training, students gain firsthand experience using the same tools as Wall Street analysts and investors.

From the 9th-grade Speaker Series and Seminars, where students meet inspiring entrepreneurs and alumni, to upper-level courses like Business Law, Accounting, Bloomberg Terminal Analysis, and Women in Finance, each year builds upon the last. Students explore how business shapes the world, and their role in shaping its future. These courses represent more than electives. They are foundational experiences that bring theory to life and connect classroom learning to real-world application.

The Magen David Business Institute represents the next chapter in our mission, one that integrates business innovation, technology, and ethics into a unified program of study. It ensures that our students graduate not only business-minded but future-ready, equipped with the skills, integrity, and vision to lead in any field.

At Magen David Yeshivah High School, innovation is rooted in tradition. As our students explore new frontiers in business, technology, and ethics, they do so through the lens of Torah values, learning that true leadership comes not only from intellect and ambition, but from integrity, humility, and a sense of responsibility to others. At MDYHS, we are not just teaching business, we are building the future of it.

The DSN Girls Soccer League wrapped up another unforgettable season this November, marking one of its strongest years. With over 150 girls participating from first through eighth grade, the league brought together families, friends, and an entire community.

What makes the DSN Soccer League so special isn’t just the sport, it’s the people. Every team is led by volunteer parent-coaches, both moms and dads, who pour their time, energy, and heart into giving the girls the best experience possible. Their dedication shaped the league this year, creating an environment that was not only structured and skillful but joyful and positive.

“There’s nothing like coming to the field and seeing everyone there,” one parent shared, and this season delivered that feeling week after week. With beautiful weather throughout the fall and even New York families making the weekly trip to join the league, DSN’s reputation for excellence, warmth, and high-caliber play continues to grow.

At its core, the league is about confidence, helping young girls feel empowered to step onto the field, take chances, and support one another. They learn how to play as a team, how to balance competitiveness with camaraderie, and how to develop the fundamentals, passing, defending, spacing, and strategy. As the girls get older, their play becomes increasingly controlled and tactical, and this year’s older divisions showed remarkable skill and maturity.

The goalies, in particular, stood out, fearless, focused, and fully owning one of the toughest positions on the field. Across divisions, the games were exciting and intense. The oldest group had tight matchups all season, with no game decided by more than two goals. They responded each week to high-pressure situations with grit and mental toughness.

First grade soccer coach, Joe Silvera, reflected on the season with pride. “This season was our best yet. It was incredible to see so many parents and grandparents on the sidelines, and they were treated to overtime thrillers, shootouts, last-minute goals, and standout performances.” DSN’s Girls Sports Coordinator, Danielle Shemueli, and her team created a fun, disciplined environment that kept the girls engaged and smiling all season. Silvera continued, “Coaching is the highlight of my fall, and it’s a gift for our family to start every Sunday on such a positive note.”

Danielle echoed those sentiments, sharing just how meaningful the experience is for her and her staff. “Running the girls DSN leagues is honestly the most rewarding job in the world. I get to watch these girls grow from first through eighth grade, watching their love of the game get stronger, their confidence build, and their personalities really come alive on the field. I love seeing the parents get passionate, the volunteer coaches fully invested, and the community filling the fields on a crisp Sunday morning in late October. The noise, the cheering, the little moments on the sidelines, it’s the most wholesome and satisfying atmosphere. We live for those moments: the friendships, the laughs, the tough plays, the falling down and getting right back up again.”

That spirit was on full display during the fifth through seventh grade championship game, a triple-overtime shootout that had the entire field holding its breath. “The girls fought for every second of that game, and you could feel how badly they wanted it,” Danielle said. “When it was over, every single girl walked away knowing she played her absolute best.” DSN’s Executive Director Sammy Sitt summarized, “Our girls soccer league continues to be a place where girls grow not just as athletes, but as confident young women, and where the community comes together in the most meaningful way. I am extremely proud of our staff, coaches, parents, and certainly our players for a hugely successful season. May Hashem continue to bless DSN!”

Rabbi Meyer Laniado

On September 7th, 2025, at 6:00 am, I received a call from my father telling me that my grandfather had passed. While I knew this moment would come one day, and had even thought of writing a funeral speech for him over the years, I was at a loss for words.

What could I say that would encapsulate my grandfather’s life, who he was, how he lived, how he impacted me and others?

On my way to the funeral, while crossing the George Washington Bridge, I remembered that, while in high school, I had interviewed my grandfather for a paper on his life. With only ten minutes to spare before the funeral, I stopped by my parents’ house. I went to my old room and, in my frantic search, found the filing cabinet with my old papers, including a drawer labeled ‘Writings.’ In that drawer, there it was! ‘The Life of Irwin Leventer.’ At the very end of that essay, to my surprise, was a section entitled: “Advice for Future Generations.” There, in my hands, were my grandfather’s words, to me, and to my family, from more than twenty years ago:

“Stay close to good, learned, and religious people, who stay with Torah. You will be influenced by them and learn how to be a good person. Money is not the most important thing in the world. Don’t let money corrupt your soul.” (Irwin Leventer, March 2002).

These words don’t capture the totality of his life, but they do capture a part of what mattered most to him, and what he wanted to pass to the generations that would come after him. I shared this with those who came to honor my grandfather, and I keep coming back to these words.

We often think of inheritance in terms of physical possessions, but more enduring than heirlooms is an ethical inheritance. What I have recorded in that paper is my grandfather’s ethical will; not his estate, but his real legacy: what he lived for, and the guidance he left his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Sometimes, when a person passes, suddenly or not, we are left wondering: What would they have said if they had one more chance? What would their parting message be?

But what if we didn’t wait? What if we took the time to ask those whom we love what their message is? In turn, what if we asked ourselves the same question, to crystallize and pass on what really matters to us?

Imagine your children, one day, opening a drawer with your writings. What would you want them to discover? What is the idea, the value, the teaching you most want to carry forward? That’s what an ethical will, a sava’a, is. It is a genre that originates with the Jewish people, with G-d saying about Abraham: Lema`an asher yesavve et banav ve’et beto aharav, veshameru derekh Hashem la`asot sedaqa umishpa` — “So that he [Abraham] will instruct his children and his household after him to keep the way of G-d, by doing righteousness and justice” (Bereshit 18:19; Hebrew Ethical Wills by Israel Abrahams).

We are familiar with this type of literature from Pirqe Abot. Literally “The Chapters of Our Fathers”, a book filled with, one-line aphorisms of our greatest sages: the solitary idea and message they each thought was the most important to preserve for the next generation. We also have models of longer, more elaborate ethical wills. The most well-known are those of Yehudah Ibn Tibbon and The Ramban (12th–13th Centuries).

The Ramban, after winning the debate against Pablo Christiani in Spain, had to flee for his life. While in Israel, far from his son, he wrote a letter to guide his son through life. He emphasized the importance of humility, distancing oneself from anger, and speaking calmly as core traits for his son to cultivate for a successful life. This letter is still read regularly, included in siddurim, and published as a stand-alone book by major Jewish publishers.

Another example that I find so powerful is from Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai, one of the greatest rabbis of the Mishna. At great personal risk, he secured Judaism’s survival after the Second Temple was destroyed by his request to the Romans to save the city of Yavneh and its scholars.

On his deathbed, with his students requesting a final blessing, Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai left them one piercing line: “May the fear of Heaven be upon you like the fear of flesh and blood.” His students protested: Ad kan? Is that it? And he answered: Halevai. If only we could live at that level (Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 28b).

These messages were said by our greatest scholars during their lifetimes, some directly to their children, and others to their students. This is how we should think of ethical wills. Not as documents to be read after we pass, but even while we are living, to make clear to our loved ones what is most important to us. This will also serve us well ourselves, to remind us the way we think is most important to live, maybe even to frame on our wall or place on our desk as our guiding message: as a living ethical will.

Two challenges often arise when discussing the writing of these documents: feeling our message isn’t unique, and finding just a few values that truly define us.

Firstly, to address the matter of uniqueness. The impact of a living ethical will is not that it is a hiddush, a new insight that was never said before. It is that it is your message. It powerfully encapsulates how you genuinely live, what is most important to you, describing what guides your life, and your message to your loved ones about how they should live theirs. That is why it is so impactful on those closest to you, your family, and your students.

Secondly, to address the challenge of choosing a few main points. Even regarding Avraham, our forefather, whom we describe as ish hesed, our model for hakhnasat orhim, how we invite in and host guests in our home. He is also described by G-d as a man of sedaqa u-mishpat, righteousness and justice. Both of those are true, and speak to aspects of who Avraham was, yet our prayers highlight one trait, that of his hesed. We also all live by multiple values that animate our lives, but when we distill them to one or two, we bring to the forefront, in clear articulation, part of the core of who we are.

The process demands honesty, and is not about trying to sound noble and virtuous. It is about clarifying what truly matters to us, what we strive for in our choices, and how we want to be remembered, through verbalizing it succinctly and sharing it with others, either orally or in writing.

This idea began to take shape for me when I invited a group of rabbis and mentors to share the single verse from Tanakh that most captures how they try to live and what they hope to pass on. I shared their responses over the High Holidays with my congregation, and the reaction was overwhelming. Many people told me how much the verses resonated with them, and how they were inspired to search for a verse or a teaching of their own. Not everyone is comfortable or familiar with Tanakh, and choosing a single verse that crystallizes your message may not come easily, but you may find yourself drawn to a line or teaching that feels true to you, one that captures the through-line of your life and the conviction that guides it.

For me, this question, “What’s my verse?”, my message, began in a very real moment, when I read my grandfather’s words, his living ethical will, and later, when, as a family, we searched for a verse that could capture the essence of his life. In that moment, I realized he had left us a gift, and with that gift came a responsibility: to begin writing my own. To ask myself: What is my message? What will I leave for my children, grandchildren, students, and congregation?

So the question for us is: What is your one message? Your key value? Your lesson for future generations? What are the words that will be your life, your legacy, your ethical will, your gift to the generations who come after you?

Rabbi Meyer Laniado is an associate rabbi at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun and leads its Sephardic community on New York City’s Upper East Side. He teaches at Ramaz and is a growing voice in the broader conversation on Sephardic history, ideas, and culture, having shared perspectives at UJA, the Maimonides Fund, and the Bronfman Fellowship.

Ari Baum, CFP®

For many, turning 65 feels like a line in the sand, a milestone that carries both celebration and responsibility. You may still be working, planning your next adventure, or easing into retirement, but this birthday brings new choices that can shape your financial health and lifestyle for decades to come. From enrolling in Medicare to refining your investment and estate plans, the key is to approach this transition thoughtfully, not reactively.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the paperwork, decisions, and fine print that come with this age. But with a clear plan, turning 65 becomes less about deadlines and more about opportunities to protect your income, simplify your finances, and design the next stage of your life with confidence.

Get Ahead on Medicare and
Health Coverage

Medicare is one of the first major items to address when you hit 65. Your Initial Enrollment Period begins three months before your birthday month and ends three months after. Missing this window can mean lifelong penalties, so it pays to plan early.

Start by choosing between Original Medicare (Parts A and B) or Medicare Advantage (Part C), which bundles hospital, medical, and often drug coverage under one plan. If you need prescription coverage, Part D can be added separately or through a Medicare Advantage plan that includes it.

For those still employed, compare your employer’s health plan with Medicare. Sometimes it makes sense to delay Part B to avoid paying duplicate premiums. Also, consider a Medigap supplemental policy to cover expenses that Medicare doesn’t, such as copayments or overseas emergencies.

Make a Thoughtful Social Security Decision

While many people assume 65 is the time to start drawing Social Security, your full retirement age may actually be 66 or 67, depending on your birth year. Claiming early means a permanent reduction in benefits, while waiting until age 70 can boost your monthly payment by roughly 8% per year.

Couples can coordinate their claiming strategies to maximize household income, especially when one partner has a higher earnings record. And if you’re still working, delaying benefits can also reduce the tax impact of your Social Security income later on.

Fine-Tune Your Retirement Income Strategy

This is the perfect time to look holistically at your 401(k), IRA, and pension balances. Consolidating accounts can simplify management and make it easier to coordinate withdrawals.

Even though Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) don’t begin until age 73, planning ahead can help avoid large taxable distributions later. A smart withdrawal strategy balances tax-deferred, taxable, and tax-free accounts to manage both cash flow and taxes efficiently.

If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), stop making contributions once you enroll in Medicare, but remember those funds can still be used tax-free for qualified medical expenses.

Revisit Insurance and Protection Plans

Insurance needs evolve as your lifestyle and financial goals shift. For many, long-term care insurance becomes more relevant at this stage, helping protect your assets from the high cost of extended care. If you already have a policy, review the benefits and inflation riders to ensure coverage keeps pace with rising costs.

Evaluate your life insurance as well. Some retirees may choose to reduce coverage if their children are grown and debts are paid off, while others may keep policies for estate or charitable purposes.

Refresh Your Estate and Legal Documents

Aging doesn’t just change your financial life, it reshapes your legacy planning too. Take time to update your will, trusts, and beneficiary designations to reflect current wishes. Outdated documents can create complications later, even if your intentions are clear.

You’ll also want to review your power of attorney and health care proxy so someone you trust can act on your behalf if needed. Keep these documents, along with insurance information, account lists, and passwords, organized and accessible to a loved one or advisor.

Redefine Lifestyle and Personal Goals

Turning 65 isn’t just a financial checkpoint, it’s an invitation to design how you want to live the next phase of your life. Start by reviewing your retirement budget to include healthcare, travel, hobbies, and giving back.

Many people consider downsizing or relocating to match their retirement lifestyle, whether that means moving closer to family, trading city life for quieter surroundings, or joining a vibrant 55-plus community. Equally important is prioritizing your well-being. Staying physically active, socially connected, and mentally engaged keeps both body and mind strong.

A New Beginning at 65

Rather than viewing this birthday as a countdown, think of it as a reset button, a chance to align your finances, health, and purpose for the years ahead. With preparation and perspective, turning 65 can feel less like an ending and more like the start of something meaningful. It’s the freedom to live life on your own terms, supported by a plan that’s as resilient as you are. q

The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult with a financial professional regarding your specific situation.

Ari Baum, CFP® is the Founder and CEO of Endurance Wealth Partners, with over 25 years of experience in the Financial Services industry. He brings his in-depth experience to Conceive. Believe. Achieve. for his clients. Securities and Advisory services offered through Prospera Financial Services Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Brokerage and Advisory accounts carried by Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC.

Linda Argalgi Sadacka

Let’s be honest, this past election hit hard. Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral win left many New Yorkers, especially within our community, feeling frustrated, disillusioned, and wondering how this could happen in the greatest city in the world. But before we sink into despair, let’s look a little closer. Beneath the headlines lies something extraordinary, a community that finally woke up, organized, and showed up.

For years, I’ve been rallying our community to move from talk to action and creating spaces, conversations, and networks that now count tens of thousands of engaged voices. The results we’re seeing today didn’t happen overnight. The numbers don’t lie, registration drives broke records, volunteers worked around the clock, and people who never thought their vote mattered stood in line for hours. That’s not defeat. That’s groundwork.

A New Chapter

Enter the announcement, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, one of President Trump’s strongest allies, is stepping into the race for governor. It couldn’t come at a better time. Her candidacy breathes new life into a weary electorate. If we channel our energy, learn from the last race, and mobilize again, New York could be back in steady hands sooner than anyone thinks.

Momentum is everything in politics, and right now we have it. The infrastructure is there, from registration networks and community organizers to motivated first-time voters, and this moment is our chance to build on it. Because if Mamdani’s victory taught us anything, it’s that complacency is not an option.

Proof That It’s Possible

Need proof that New York can flip? Look at 2022. Congressman Lee Zeldin came within roughly six points of unseating Governor Kathy Hochul, the closest gubernatorial race in decades. That margin wasn’t luck, it was organization. It was communities like ours stepping up, registering voters, educating neighbors, and realizing that sitting out elections has consequences. That gap is what dedicated civic engagement can close. It’s doable if we start now.

The Foundation Was Laid

Efforts by community members like Linda Ebani and Rebecca Harary, among others, helped lay the groundwork for what comes next. Real leadership means recognizing those who work beside you, even when the path wasn’t always smooth. Together, this community proved what’s possible when determination overrides division.

Where We Go From Here

The next phase can’t wait until the next race. Over the coming months, we need to institutionalize what worked, voter databases, volunteer coordination, synagogue and school outreach, and social-media targeting that speaks the language of everyday New Yorkers. It’s not glamorous work. It’s infrastructure. Campaigns that win are built long before ballots are printed. If we treat civic engagement as a year-round mission instead of a seasonal reaction, we’ll never again be caught flat-footed. That’s how real movements, not just campaigns, are built. Yes, challenges may lie ahead under this new mayor. But challenges make for strong builders. And right now, we’re building something that lasts, a civic awakening rooted in pride, participation, and purpose. Because if this election proved anything, it’s that the people of New York haven’t given up. They’re just getting started. In politics as in life, those who keep their composure after the storm end up designing the skyline.

HANNAH LAZEROWITZ

Every family has its own story, its own journey worthy of care and attention. In this case, Dad was a sales executive earning $350,000 a year, until he abruptly got sick and landed in the hospital. He could no longer work, forsaking the joy and pride of providing for his family. Mom was a fitness instructor who made roughly $60,000 a year. Typically, she’d teach three sessions a week, but due to Dad’s health concerns, she had to take a work hiatus in order to take care of her husband. Mom and Dad have three children: a thirteen-year-old daughter and two sons, ages fifteen and eighteen. Mom had her hands full—whipping up delicious dinners every night, helping with homework, and imparting essential life lessons. However, the home structure suddenly flipped from comfort to chaos. Mom and Dad had too much on their plates to be present for their kids and shower them with the love they deserved. The youngest child wasn’t doing well in school, the middle child didn’t want to attend at all (and protested by misbehaving), and the oldest child was worried because high school graduation was looming and he needed life guidance. Putting her pride aside, Mom knew exactly whom she needed to turn to; she needed the full-package assistance that SBH provides. Knowing when to reach out for help is the first step, and being strong enough to make the call is just as important. Mom demonstrated bravery by following a community volunteer’s advice and contacting the SBH Client Services Division.

SBH’s mission statement is threaded with hope, assurance, and a guarantee that they will do their absolute best to mitigate family crises and act as a complete support network. Mom was vulnerable with SBH’s intake coordinator and opened up about her family’s recent struggles. The coordinator conducted an initial assessment of the case and ensured the situation fit the criteria.

“Here’s how the client service structure works,” the intake coordinator explained. “Each family is assigned a case worker and a community volunteer—referred to as a ‘captain.’ That is the team that walks families through crises, collaboratively creating both short-term and long-term goals. We employ a holistic approach for the entirety of this process. The holistic model enables us to cater to both the individual and the family as a whole. We work as a collective, as a team.”

Mom nodded with appreciation and was grateful for SBH’s dedication to help.

The intake representative continued to detail the confidentiality aspect. SBH would never disclose the names of its clients. Before someone is officially assigned a team consisting of a social worker and a captain, SBH verifies their names with the individual to ensure they are comfortable having them on the case. Assigning the right team to the right client is vital. SBH wants to cater to every family’s needs and find them the perfect match. The entire process is laced with compassion and understanding.

Later on, the team was confirmed with Mom, and they began their services by conducting a house visit. The social worker noticed disarray. Mom and Dad were behind on their bills and drowning in their mortgage. There was significant financial stress. The team agreed that it would be important to attend to the family’s physical needs as well as their mental health.

The goals were as follows: working toward providing Mom with more daily structure, facilitating Dad’s eventual return to his job, and ensuring that each child reaches a state of homeostasis and returns to a healthy lifestyle.

The dominoes were then set into motion, and SBH began to enlist their many incredible departments.

• The SBH Food Division sent over meals for dinner.
• The SBH Medical Division aided Dad with his recuperation process, making sure he was recovering properly and seeing the best doctors.
• The SBH Volunteer Division tutored and helped the kids with their homework and drove Dad to and from his appointments.
• The SBH Young Adult Division assigned mentors to both sons to guide them through crucial formative years.
• Mom and Dad were referred to the SBH Counseling Center, addressing anxiety and circumstantial uncertainty.
• SBH assisted with pressing bills, provided aid toward grocery shopping, and aimed to get the family back to their normal routines.
• The SBH Clothing Division bought Dad a new suit.
• SBH Career Services helped polish his job résumé, aiming to get him job-ready.
• The SBH SEARCH Program assigned a coach to guide Mom and Dad on how to deal with a teenager who acts out.

Not only does SBH excel at collaborative problem-solving, but they highlight the importance of maintenance through weekly check-ins:

“Mom, how is everything progressing?”
“Hey Dad, what skills can we accentuate to prepare you for a job interview?”
“Are things running smoothly?”

As portrayed, there are numerous moving parts to the SBH client services process—a harmonious intermingling of divisions and a strong army of people eager to help alleviate families from crises. SBH provides an unparalleled level of care and guidance to those in need.

Your family may look different than the one depicted—every member undergoing their own journeys and overcoming their own obstacles—but the message remains: SBH is a pillar of support every step of the way. Help yourself by letting us help you. With a case manager and captain guiding the process with love, care, and comfort, we can get through some of the toughest treks.

Hannah Lazerowitz has published several articles and essays about her life and how writing has shaped her. She is working toward publishing a novel and a poetry chapbook. Hannah is deeply passionate about her craft and hopes to continue wielding her writing as a powerful tool of connection.

Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, Esq.

It is not widely known but Jerusalem is at the center of each of the Jewish holidays. In addition to the three pilgrimage festivals, a second day was added to Rosh Hashana to facilitate the Temple service in case the precise appearance of the New Moon perplexed the authorities. The Temple service was at the heart of Yom Kippur and Jerusalem celebrates Purim on the same day it was celebrated in Shushan, one day after most of the Jewish world rejoices.

But on no holiday does Jerusalem feature as prominently in its history and observance as it does on Hanukkah. The miracle of Hanukkah – the burning of the Temple Menorah for eight days – occurred in Jerusalem and the liberation of Jerusalem was considered the apex of the military victory even though the war itself continued for another two decades. And there is much that happened on Hanukkah that can guide us today as the challenges that bedeviled the Jewish people then are prevalent, not to mention, exasperating, in modern times.

The story of Hanukkah almost 2200 years ago took place against the backdrop of three major crises. The Jewish world then had to wrestle with a foreign enemy, internal strife, and a spiritual malaise that threatened the continuity of Jewish life.

The Syrian Greeks led by a descendant of one of the generals of Alexander the Great captured the land of Israel and the Temple itself and embarked on a campaign of coerced Hellenization of the Jewish population. The Temple was defiled with a statue of Zeus, service in the Temple was summarily halted, and the Syrians attempted to force the Jews to abandon Torah study, circumcision, and other fundamental commandments in the hope that Jews would assimilate into the Greek culture as all other conquered nations had done. Additionally, the Syrians exercised hegemony over the land of Israel and the Jews were subjugated in their own land.

Most Jews succumbed to the allures of Hellenism, embraced their conquerors, and fiercely opposed the rebellion of the Hasmoneans. In a real yet frightening sense, the war of Hanukkah was as much a civil war among Jews as it was a rebellion against the foreign enemy. Jews were quite willing to lend support to the enemy and too many did not hesitate to abandon the particulars of Jewish observance and identity in order to integrate into the Hellenist culture that had swept the world.

None of these predicaments are unknown to us today. The Jewish state, and Jerusalem itself, hosts a large Arab population that does not necessarily perceive its destiny as identical to that of Israeli Jews. There are hostile foreign elements within Jerusalem – chapters of Hamas, Turkish anti-Israel organizations, Qatar money funding a variety of nefarious activities, and European consulates that operate in Jerusalem as embassies to the Palestinians in defiance of Israeli law and thus threatening Israeli sovereignty in the Holy City, including that of Greece, of all countries, our ancient tormentor.

The internal disharmony in Israel over the last few years, which itself precipitated the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, was mostly papered over by the war but has now slowly re-emerged. It mostly centers on starkly different, even diametrically opposed, visions of Jewish destiny, the meaning, importance, and even continued relevance of a Jewish state, and competing notions of Israeli and Jewish identity.

To be sure, the good news is that the state of affairs when the rebellion of Hanukkah began was far more precarious than it is today. We have endured much as a people, weathered conquests, expulsions, exiles, pogroms, and Holocausts, only to return to our land – as promised in the Bible – and reestablish thereon the third Jewish commonwealth. Jews for the last two millennia could only dream of an independent Jewish state in which Torah study is abundant, the observance of mitzvot is woven into the societal structure, a Jewish army can rise up against our foes in righteous self-defense, and Hanukkah is a national celebration. Indeed, despite all our differences and the superficial discord, somehow, we have created and maintained a thriving society, prosperous and caring, boisterous but determined, tolerant and broadminded, embattled but audacious, and in many respects, the envy of the world.

We should never ignore the gifts we have been given nor trivialize the opportunities with which we have been blessed. The Jewish population of Jerusalem has not been as sizable as it is today since the destruction of the Temple over nineteen centuries ago. The challenges that we face today – both domestic and foreign – pale before the challenges we overcame throughout history.

That is because the great light of Hanukkah still illuminates our way forward and reminds us of the great days of faith, unity, and redemption ahead.

Happy Hanukkah to all!

Rabbi Steven Pruzansky is Senior Research Associate at the Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy  (JCAP.ngo)

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks ZT”L

History itself has a history. Our perspectives shift over time, and some moments may only seem meaningful in retrospect. We don’t always understand the real significance of an event until many decades later or sometimes even centuries. A classic example of this is the history of Hanukkah.

At one level, the Hanukkah story is very simple. From the days of Alexander the Great of Macedon, Israel was under the dominion of the Alexandrian Empire of the Greeks. This meant that in the third century BCE, it was under the control of the Ptolemies who were based in Egypt and Alexandria. Then, during the second century BCE, Israel came under the domain of the Seleucids who were based in Syria.

The Seleucid leader, Antiochus IV, who modestly called himself Epiphanes, meaning “G-d made manifest”, decided to force the pace of Hellenisation on the Jews of the land of Israel. Among other things, he forbade the public practice of Judaism, erected a statue of Zeus in the Temple, and offered swine before it as a sacrifice, in a desecration of Jewish values that Jews of the time called the Abomination of Desolation.

An elderly Priest called Mattityahu, and his sons and their supporters known to history as the Maccabees, rose in revolt. Over the next three years they scored a momentous victory over the Seleucids, reconquering Jerusalem and bringing it back under Jewish sovereignty. They cleansed the Temple and rededicated it, lighting the great Menorah, the candelabrum that stood in the Temple, for a celebration lasting eight days.

That is the story of Hanukkah as captured in history in the first and second books of Maccabees. But that is not how the story was ultimately told within the Jewish tradition, as it was ruled that the two books of Maccabees, and others under the same title, should be called Sefarim Chitzoni’im, apocryphal works, and kept out of the Bible. The Hanukkah story that is told instead is a very different one, with a powerful message.

The Talmud tells us that in the first century, in the last days of the Second Temple, a Rabbi called Yehoshua Ben Gamla established a network of schools throughout Israel. The result of this was that from the age of six, every child in the country received a publicly-funded universal education. This was the first education system of its kind anywhere in the world, and also a clear indication of the now familiarly Jewish commitment to education and to ensuring our children are literate in their heritage. According to the Talmud, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Gamla’s memory is blessed, because without his intervention the Torah would have been forgotten in Israel. Without him, there would have been no survival of Judaism and ultimately no Jews.

What Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Gamla and the other Sages understood, and what was not understood at the time of Hanukkah itself, was that the real battle against the Greeks was not a military one, but a cultural one. At the time, the Greeks were the world’s greatest in many fields. They were unparalleled in their advances in art, in architecture, in literature, in drama, in philosophy. Even today, their achievements have never been surpassed. But Jews nonetheless believed, and surely history has borne this out, that there is within Judaism, within ancient Israel and still within its heritage to today, something special. Something worth fighting for. Judaism, with its emphasis on the sanctification of life, and the belief that every human being was created in G-d’s image, held eternal truths that we could not abandon. This was the unique distinction between the culture of the Greeks and the world of Torah and Judaism. As a result, Jews have always known that the real battle is not necessarily fought on the physical battlefield with physical weapons, but rather in the hearts and minds of future generations.

So Judaism, and the Jewish people, became a faith and a nation no longer focusing on its military heroes, but on its spiritual ones. It became a civilization rooted in texts, and in teachers, and in houses of study. We became the people whose heroes were teachers, whose citadels were schools, and whose passion was learning and the life of the mind. The end result was that Judaism did survive and thrive throughout the centuries, whereas Ancient Greece, the Greece of Athens, the Greece of Alexander the Great, declined. In fact, it was only a short time after the events of the Hanukkah story that Greece began its decline, and Rome rose to take its place.

That is the message of Hanukkah, and to articulate our story, we focus in a rather beautiful and symbolic way on just one tiny detail of the original chain of events: That one cruse of pure, undefiled oil was found by the Maccabees among the wreckage and defilements of the Temple, just enough to light the Menorah until more oil could be sourced.

One of the most interesting aspects of this shifting perspective from the original way of telling the story to the current way is reflected in the name of the festival itself. Hanukkah, from the word chanuch, means re-dedication. That is what the Maccabees did to the Temple. They rededicated it, as described in the books of Maccabees. Yet over time, Hanukkah became connected to the word chinuch, a word meaning education. What we re-dedicated was not a physical building–the Temple–but living embodiments of Judaism, namely our children, our students, the people to whom we teach and hand on our heritage and values.

From being the festival of a military victory, Hanukkah became the festival of a spiritual and civilizational one.

I believe this history of our history has a message for us all. It teaches us this fundamental truth, as relevant to our lives today as ever before: To defend a country physically you need an army, but to defend a civilization you need education, you need educators, and you need schools. Those are the things that kept the Jewish spirit alive and the Menorah of Jewish values burning throughout the centuries in an everlasting light. Often what seems at the time to be the headline news, the military victory, is, in the hindsight of history, secondary to the cultural victory of handing your values on to the next generation.

If we do that, we will ensure that our children, and theirs, light up the world.

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks ZT”L was an international religious leader, and philosopher. The author of over 30 books, Rabbi Sacks received multiple awards in recognition of his work. Sadly, he passed away in November 2020.

The housing market is showing new signs of life

Roberta Gordon Esquenazi

This fall, Miami and South Florida’s real estate market is entering one of the most active stretches of the year. After a quieter summer, we’re seeing more movement across multiple segments of the market, with both buyers and sellers positioning themselves before the winter season begins and 2025 closes out.
Interest rates are expected to trend lower in the coming months, giving buyers increased purchasing power while inventory begins to build. Combined, these factors are creating the early signs of a more balanced market, where motivated sellers and well-prepared buyers can align for strategic opportunities.
The condo sector rebounded slightly but still continues to struggle, with sales down and pricing sliding. Inventory surged, giving buyers a clear advantage and strong leverage. This combination suggests that well-priced, newer, or renovated units continue to draw interest, even as older inventory lingers.
With its unmatched mix of beaches, tropical lifestyle, and no income tax environment, combined with global connectivity, South Florida has firmly established itself as one of the most desirable places to live, work, and invest.

Roberta Gordon Esquenazi, is a Realtor with over 40 years of experience specializing in luxury condos, home sales and rentals. Originally from Brooklyn, she’s passionate about South Florida living since 1982. Her goal is pairing people with the right property.