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Yom HaAtzmaut was celebrated in festive style at YIJE. In true Israeli form, there was a barbecue and plenty of music and fun for adults and kids. Youth Director Jacob Herskowitz kept the children laughing and dancing with crafts, music, and games, plus the surprise breakout of YIJE’s 35^th annual Color War games. Parents and grandparents were also on hand to socialize and join the fun.

The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) expressed concern regarding positions pertaining to Israel expressed in the past by Karine Jean-Pierre, who was recently promoted by President Biden to be Assistant to the President and White House Press Secretary.

Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld has a new role after his scheduled departure from the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills: He will be leading an organization that represents over 2,000 Orthodox Rabbis in issues of American public policy, the Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV).

Woodmere residents Jonah Loskove, David Rubin, Naftali Shavelson, Marc Ziarno and Michael Fagin, and Shoshi Tuchman from Cedarhurst, have been named valedictorians of Yeshiva University’s Class of 2022. These impressive honors reflect their remarkable achievements in every facet of their academic career.

The Rabbinical Alliance of America (Igud HaRabbonim), representing over 950 American rabbis, expressed shock and outrage over the new educational guidelines issued by the New York State Education Department.

Throughout history, David HaMelech’s Book of Psalms has been a traditional source of inspiration, clarity, chizuk, and comfort in times of distress. Whenever we find ourselves in difficult situations, whether individually or communally, we open up the Book of Psalms and use David HaMelech’s poetic praises and supplications to ask Hashem for mercy. Throughout the 150 chapters, there are praises, declarations, and supplications spanning the full range of human emotions (e.g., fear, hope, despair, excitement). All of the chapters convey an emotional awareness of Hashem’s involvement in every aspect of our lives. The Midrash tells us that when King David compiled the Psalms, he had in mind himself, as well as every Jew of every generation and every circumstance. The words of the Psalms contain appropriate chapters for every possible situation, feelings, and circumstances.