By MARILYN SHAPIRO As a child, I was in awe of my big sister. Eight years my senior, Laura wore the best clothes (big skirts with tons of crinolines); listened to the best songs (No to Elvis; Yes to Pat Boone and Johnny Mathis); and exuded a confidence that I lacked. It wasn’t until I was an adult, working with Special […]

ALBANY– Daniel B. Flax, recently retired director of financial resource development for the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York, will be honored by the Jewish Federation on Thursday, Sept. 6, with a tribute and community fund-raising event. The dinner program entitled, “Holy Simcha, Super Dan!” will be held at the Ohav Shalom Synagogue, 113 New Krumkill Rd., Albany at 5:30 […]

By JEFF WILKIN Gazette reporter NISKAYUNA — The Town Board has postponed a vote on whether to approve a Holocaust Museum proposed for a parcel off Route 7. The town had been scheduled to vote on a special use permit necessary for the construction of the memorial at its May 22 meeting. It has moved that vote to June 26. Town officials said Tuesday […]

ALBANY–About 25 members of The Renaissance Group (TRG) of Congregation Beth Emeth in Albany traveled to the Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, Mass. for a recent Shabbat Torah study led by Cantor Jodi Schechtman. “Following her presentation and lively discussion we stayed to enjoy the rehearsal of the Boson Symphony Orchestra as well as to nosh and visit each other,” […]

By MARILYN SHAPIRO My husband Larry and I were enjoying our annual stay in the Colorado Rockies. We were hiking, spending time with our family, and taking advantage of all a summer in Summit County has to offer. The world surrounding us, however, was filled with troubling news. Both of us—especially me—needed to find peace and comfort. Fortunately, we were […]

By MARILYN SHAPIRO “Delaware!” my husband Larry yelled as we drove past a line of parked cars on Galena Street in Frisco, Colo. “We got Delaware!” In our life, “Getting Delaware” is a big deal. Within the first 10 days of our five-week search for license plates, we had gotten the license plate of the elusive Eastern seaboard state. Could […]

ALBANY–A celebratory gala dinner, which served as the culmination of Congregation Beth Emeth’s (CBE) year-long 180th anniversary programs, was attended by 370 people at the Albany synagogue. Congregants wrote and performed a musical entitled “Beth Emeth at 180.” “What was so very special about the gala was not only the impressive turnout, but the spirit and the energy of the […]

The Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York’s 31st annual meeting was held on Thursday, June 14, at The Golub Center in Abany. The evening included installations of the board of directors and The Jewish Community Endowment Fund Board of Governors, and recognition of The President’s Award and The Sidney Albert Community Service Award recipients, and a community dessert reception.  2018 Installations […]

ALBANY–The 30th Dr. Morton Berger Memorial Award was presented to Rabbi Israel and Rochel Rubin at the Maimonides Hebrew Day School’s 30th annual Scholarship Tribute Dinner held at the Shabbos House in Albany on June 5. The event was emceed by the Ronald Goldman, presenter of the award was Albany native Rabbi Lawrence Teitelman now of New Hyde Park. The award […]

By MARILYN SHAPIRO How does one keep the memory alive of the 800,000 Belarusian Jews killed during the Holocaust? For two Capital District Jewish families, and a couple from England, the answer was simple: One monument at a time. The Republic of Belarus is a landlocked country in Europe bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. It was part of the Soviet Union when World […]