My family is among many from West Hempstead who have sons enrolled at the Yeshiva of South Shore, and every Sunday (when school buses are not available), we take our sons to class. Driving on Peninsula Boulevard, the symbolic gateway to the Five Towns is the railroad overpass followed by the former bank that has served as the Israel Chesed Center since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The row of Israeli flags facing the busy road reassures supporters. Here’s a place where one can physically get involved in packing boots, duffel bags, and other supplies needed in Israel.

More than a dozen Jewish organizations on Long Island welcomed Rep. Ritchie Torres to West Hempstead for a Yom HaShoah talk hosted by the Conservative Congregation Shaaray Shalom. The Bronx lawmaker stands out as one of the most outspoken pro-Israel voices in the Democratic Party, offering honest commentary in a social mediascape dominated by opposition toward Israel, influenced by anti-Semitism. Security for this high-profile event was provided by the Nassau County Police Department and the volunteers of CSS, which is comprised of local Jewish community members.

Some of my favorite vacations were the last-minute deals, in which we quickly packed, booked the destinations, and took flight. Having cooked most of our Pesach meals and cleaned more than half of our home, we used the days before the holiday to leave our children at home and feel young again as a couple, backpacking in Europe. Even when we had a tight itinerary fitting in the sightseeing within four days, I could not put aside my sense of journalism while vacationing.