Since its inception in 1954, NCSY (formerly the National Conference of Synagogue Youth) has been lauded as a world-recognized organization that continues to play a vital role in shaping the lives of Jewish teenagers. Its sundry of programs, including in Israel, Europe, and the US, promote chesed (everlasting kindness) and serve as a viable antidote to confront malevolence and apathy in today’s troubled times.

One of the most iconic photos of the Jewish experience in New York is the 1953 photo of Kishke King, taken when Brooklyn’s Pitkin Avenue had a sizable Jewish community. It is the cover image of Henry Sapoznik’s new book The Tourist’s Guide to Lost Yiddish New York City, which takes readers back in time on a virtual tour of places in the city where the mame loshen was spoken.

Since their arrival in West Hempstead in 2010, Rabbi Elon and Estee Soniker have grown in their roles at Congregation Anshei Shalom, as trusted sources for life events and spiritual questions. Initially under the leadership of founding Rabbi Yehuda Pearl, he was succeeded by Rabbi Soniker in 2016 as the shul continued to expand. The Soniker family was also growing. In 2022, they welcomed their seventh child, Uriel.

Touro University’s Summer Trip to Rome Connected Students to Jewish Life Past and Present

This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to join a group of 25 students on Touro University’s Summer Session 2025 in Rome, a two-week experience that blended serious Torah learning with unforgettable visits to some of the world’s historic Jewish sites. What started as a chance to travel abroad while earning college credits quickly became a meaningful, guided journey of discovery about Jewish history and faith, juxtaposed against the backdrop of ancient Rome.