- October
- 9
A reader from West Nyack called today wondering why some libraries in Rockland are open today while others closed for Yom Kippur.
A good question, and one I didn’t know the answer to, so I asked ace reporter Khurram Saeed to find out.
Here’s his report:
Nyack Library Director James Mahoney was able to explain:
Every library is an independent entity. Their board of directors decides which days they will be closed.
Of the 17 libraries in Rockland, four chose to close today: Finkelstein, New City, Suffern and West Nyack.
Each library probably has its own reason.
Some may feel not enough patrons will show, but considering how diverse most communities in Rockland are, it’s hard to figure that’s the primary reason.
Mahoney said sometimes it’s done as a sign of respect.
For example, Nyack Library now closes on the Martin Luther King Jr. birthday holiday in January, though for many years it was open on that day.
Another issue may be staffing. If a library has predominately Jewish employees who are taking the holiday off, opening on Yom Kippur might not be a viable option.
Posted by Amy Vernon on Thursday, October 9th, 2008 at 4:54 pm |
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- April
- 10
The annual community-wide chometz burning will take place from 6:30 to 11:47 a.m. Friday, April 18, according to the Chabad of Greater Monsey blog.
For the uninitiated, chometz (also spelled chametz) is leavened food you’re not allowed to eat during Passover. Observant Jews rid their homes of all chometz before the eight-day holiday begins, this year at sundown April 19.
Here are the rules:
The burning is for bedikas chometz only. Wrap chometz in paper bags only. Plastic bottles, glass bottles and aerosol cans are not permitted. Children can visit the burn site only if accompanied by a responsible adult.
Bedikas chometz is the chometz found during a special search on Passover eve (when Passover starts on the Sabbath, it’s moved a day earlier, I believe). The idea is that you’ve removed all chometz from your house already, but you do this really thorough search of your entire home, as if you hadn’t searched your home yet at all. (Please let me know if I didn’t get all the details right.)
2007 photo of the community chometz burning in Monsey by Kathy Gardner / The Journal News / LoHud.comÂ
Posted by Amy Vernon on Thursday, April 10th, 2008 at 6:14 pm |
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- January
- 18
Staff writer Christina Jeng was tied up this week, so her colleague and fellow blogger, Sarah Netter, stepped up to bring you the Week in Review podcast.
Download:
And, as usual, here are links to the appropriate stories:
Monsey group fined for mess after chicken ritual
Schumer visits cadets at West Point
Special Report: Our Schools, Our Money
Haverstraw resident charged with trying to kill Spring Valley man
Posted by Amy Vernon on Friday, January 18th, 2008 at 4:29 pm |
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- January
- 11
Posted by Christina Jeng on Friday, January 11th, 2008 at 12:00 pm |
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