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Happy Chanukah

December 15, 2022, 10:00 am Edit

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December 5, 2023

Right Now

ON THE COVER: Liora stands between her granddaughters Mika, left, and Gali; they are inset into the ruins of Kibbutz Kfar Aza. (Jewish Agency for Israel)

Surviving Hamas

By Joanne Palmer

Grandmother, granddaughters tell their story

Argentina’s president-elect visits Lubavitcher rebbe’s grave

By Juan Melamed

The art in “The Christmas Menorahs” is by Bill Farnsworth.

What’s a Christmas menorah?

By Joanne Palmer

Children’s book about Billings, hatred, and hope in 1993 is relevant once again

This is a street in the ruined Kibbutz Kfar Aza. (Courtesy Michael Schlank)

Bearing witness to the aftermath

By Michael Schlank

A look at unspeakable brutality and unshakable unity

The rally drew many hundreds of people to protest hate speech in Teaneck High School.

Teaneck Jewish community rallies against high school hate speech

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‘One day’

By Tzivia Bieler

Our correspondent’s thoughts as she prepares to go to Israel to see her daughter’s family

From left, Aviv Efrat’s mother, Ayala, his daughter, Chantal, his father, Haggai, and Mr. Efrat.

‘The world around us has changed’

By Deb Breslow

Aviv Efrat tells Valley Chabad teens about his father’s killing in Egypt in October

The Maccabeats pose in Grand Central Station.

The high notes of Jewish joy

By Erica Landis

Maccabeats will bring an inspiring repertoire to BergenPAC

Jennifer Goodman Linn hugs her father, Len Goodman.

Jennifer’s legacy inspires the spinners

By Leah Adler

Cycle for Survival’s ‘bike party’ is scheduled next March in Summit

Jill Abramovitz as Grandma Tzeitel on Broadway.

From Grandma Tzeitel to Golde

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Jill Abramovitz comes home to Jersey to star in Paper Mill’s ‘Fiddler’

Editorial

Joanne Palmer

Meeting survivors

Column

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Why aren’t Israel’s soldiers given essential equipment?

Opinion

Dr. Jeffrey L. Rubenstein

Israel’s Gazan campaign and the principle of proportionality

Banji Ganchrow

Homework help

In the past, I have written about my surrogate granddaughter. She is the little girl I have been babysitting for the past few years. We started together when she was in kindergarten, and now, thank God, she is in fourth grade. I am grateful to... Continue Reading

Opinion

Dr. Daniel Friedman

Don’t defund Harvard

Opinion

Max L. Kleinman

The abandonment of the Jews in our time

Rabbi Ari Zahtz, left, and Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon talk to IDF troops. (Photos courtesy Rabbi Zahtz)

‘If you need more, ask us’

By Abigail Klein Leichman

Teaneck rabbi arranges Shabbat lodging for IDF wives and kids in Askhelon

Dr. Kadish sits with students at Touro College. (Photos courtesy Touro University)

What’s happening on college campuses?

By Joanne Palmer

A college president explains the tense situation

Adi Vaxman is in the airport, next to suitcases of supplies ready to ship to Israel. (Photos courtesy Operation Israel)

‘We can get that stuff’

By Abigail Klein Leichman

Fair Lawn woman finds it, packs it, verifies it, and speeds it through Operation Israel

Paula Eiselt is in Brooklyn, shooting her first documentary film, “93Queen.”

Abortion rights and freedom of religion

By Joanne Palmer

Documentary ‘Under G-d’ looks at Jewish pro-choice advocacy after Dobbs

Shmuley Boteach and Mohammed Hijab shout at each other on Piers Morgan Uncensored. (Screenshot)

Is it a debate if everyone just yells?

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Rabbi Shmuley Boteach faces off against British YouTuber Mohammed Hijab, as Piers Morgan tries to assert control

Bea Podorefsky is flanked by two past section presidents — Elaine Pollack, left, and Ann Levenstein.

Platinum power at the polls

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NCJW’s 96-year-old Bea Podorefsky spearheads voter drive for seniors

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Brian Marcus will talk about his photos of Holocaust survivors at Wyckoff shul

Alone, but not alone

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Banji Ganchrow

Hidden treasures

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Rabbi Alan Silverstein

A ceasefire is the wrong approach

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Lonye Debra Rasch

A single candle in the darkness

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Rabbi Arthur Weiner

Three observations from the national rally for Israel

ON THE COVER: From left, Donna Weintraub, Andrea Weinberger, Ronni Schapiro, Diane Rothman, Lauri Bader,and Marcy Cohen stand together at the Mall.

Rallying for Israel

By Ron Kampeas

Local groups join 290,000 others on the National Mall

Thousands of demonstrators showed up in support of Israel on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Nov. 14, 2023. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

‘The world can see that we are together’

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March for Israel attendees say they delivered a powerful message

From top left, Rabbi Arthur Weiner, Rabbi Eli Garfinkel, from bottom left, Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot, Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt, Rabbi Bennett Miller

Rabbis express unequivocal solidarity

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Zionist Coalition’s Letter of Unity speaks with one voice

Selling art, strengthening community

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Two-day pop-up show in Tenafly allows visitors to buy great pieces, support Israel

Years ago, Mr. Foxman walks on railroad tracks to Auschwitz on the March of the Living.

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The longtime ADL head’s optimism is challenged, but ultimately it remains

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Eighth-graders at the Solomon Schechter School of Bergen County in New Milford hold up Israeli flags.

Day schools in Jersey meet the moment

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Room is created for Israeli kids whose parents are looking for stability and safety

Robin Spielberg released her new CD this month.

Striking all the right musical notes

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From piano bars to CDs, Robin Spielberg lets resilience color her compositions

Elana Kaplan works with many volunteer groups. Here, she works with OneFamily.

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Areyvut’s Elana Kaplan helps American volunteers in Israel help Israelis

Andrew and Audrey Kent, Alison and Irv Glass, Haylie and Dan Glass

JFCS honors Rachel Scheff and ShopRite of Englewood, Paramus, and Rochelle Park

Participants hold signs as they stand on the National Mall at the March for Israel on Nov. 14, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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Mark Lurinsky

What comes after?

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Rabbi Mendy Kaminker

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Banji Ganchrow

Patience is a virtue

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Every Friday, a group from United Synagogue walks, carrying signs, to keep awareness of the hostages alive.

Hoboken responds

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United Synagogue offers concert, walk – and comfort

All these photos are from Heart to Heart, where Israeli children can feel safe. (Kaplen JCC on the Palisades)

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Kaplen JCC on the Palisades offers programs, attention, and care to Israeli families displaced by war

Former Kfar Aza resident Gili Okev sits outside his ruined house, a month after Hamas terrorists invaded and killed many of his neighbors. (Deborah Danan)

Sacrificing pawns and bishop, Putin moves his chess game to mittlespiel

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Rabbi David Fine and Imam Mahmoud Hamza join to read a statement at a Ridgewood press conference. (Johanna Resnick Rosen)

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Ridgewood’s clergy gather to show that occasionally decency can win

Yeshiva students tie the tzitzit strings.

Spiritual armor for the IDF

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Troops clamor for tzitzis supplied by creative volunteers

Julie Benko, left, and Sierra Boggess in “Harmony.”

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ON THE COVER: A large crowd gathered in Tenafly to gain strength from each other and from the Shabbat tables set for the hostages. (Bruce Pomerantz)

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Empty Shabbat tables set with hope

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker (Courtesy of Mitch Silber)

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Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker recounts his hostage story, as well as what he’s learned

Jewish day school graduates join the IDF

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Soldiers and parents describe the love for Israel that led them to Tzahal

Pro- and anti-Israel forces gathered outside Englewood’s municipal building.

Protest at Englewood city council meeting leads to 5 arrests

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Mayor Michael Wildes describes what happened and makes a plea for outreach

Remembering Rifka Rosenwein

By Joanne Palmer

Program marks beloved writer’s 20th yahrzeit

Dr. Harold Schechter (All photos courtesy Workman Publishing)

Putting a scholarly spin on true crime

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Retired professor painstakingly ferrets out the grisly facts

Unity through cinema

By Laura Freeman

The JFNNJ festival will unfold in challenging times

Doni Zasloff and Eric Lindberg are Nefesh Mountain.

Healing through music

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Nefesh Mountain’s Doni Zasloff and Eric Lindberg consider hate – and love

This relief of triumph of Shapur I over Valerian at Naqsh-e Rostam (ca. 241–272 CE), shows the Roman Emperor, Valerian, kneeling before Shapur I, asking for mercy. The Emperor Philip the Arab is standing, and Gordian III is dead at the feet of Shapur’s horse. (Wikipedia/Diego Delso)

Putting the Iranian conflict in cultural and historical perspective

By Dr. Jeffrey L. Rubenstein

False hospitality

By Rabbi Joshua Waxman

Editorial

Joanne Palmer

Covering the signs

Column

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Wedding in Israel under Hamas’s falling rockets

Opinion

Michael Schlank

What now?

Opinion

Rabbi Mendy Kaminker

It was just fake news

Opinion

Rabbi Alan Silverstein

Israel’s treatment of the Arabs in Gaza and the West Bank

Opinion

Stephanie Z. Bonder

How do we teach our children?

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Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser

History repeats at Cooper Union

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Banji Ganchrow

Mickey gives temporary amnesia

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Zalmen and Avram Mlotek present the presciently timed ‘Amid Falling Walls’

The protestors outside the town council meeting waved flags to show their affiliations.

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A firsthand look at how the Hamas attack in Gaza plays out at home

Why he’s staying in harm’s way

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Computer whiz kid makes an emphatic aliyah

Students from three local schools — Brandeis, MIT, and Harvard — come together for a kumsitz.(All photos courtesy Brandeis Hillel.)

Brandeis is different

By Eitan Marks

Hillel’s student president, from Englewood, takes pride in his school’s response

The breakthrough research on the HIV virus was done at Touro University Nevada.

Why Touro is a university on the grow

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Largest private Jewish school attains global reach through local leadership

Hedi Molnar rehearses “Lost in Yonkers.”

When it’s beyond bashert

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Role of grandma in Neil Simon play goes to woman who ‘relates’ to the part

Joanna Rakoff, and the anthology that includes her story.

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Memoirist Joanna Rakoff writes about her childhood in Rockland County

A poster in Beit Shemesh supporting the IDF.

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