The Benefits of Being Stupid When You're Old The Splendid Feasts of Passover Take Note Computer Corner The Bar Mitzvah Present The Mountain and the Sea The Empty Nest Syndrome (Almost) Ask the OK Fleuchem: Where Nature, Chemicals and Kashrus Meet Making the Most of Your Simchah A Different Standard Pschology Q&A I Can't Help Being Sensitive The Transformer Remembering the Past: Reclaiming the Future Odds & Ends Letters to the Editor Seeing the Light

The Living Letters

 Hardcover $12.00, Ages 3-8    The Living Letters, by Sashi Fridman, is one of the newest books from Merkos Publications’ Young Readers’ Division.

   This little gem, sweetly illustrated by Pesach Gerber, brings the Hebrew letters to life for the child, instilling a sense of personal involvement and affection for the letters of prayer.

   Told in easy-to-read rhyme, the book portrays the importance of a child’s intention while praying, personalizing the effect of his prayer by illustrating the journey of the letters to Hashem as a child davens.

   The adorable letter-characters created in The Living Letters will help foster a child’s love for Hebrew letters, and instill in him or her, through visual reinforcement, the importance of prayer. To order call 718-778-0226.

Huge Demand for Co-ops Spurs
Lower East Side Renaissance

The Lower East Side is witnessing a major rebirth as three huge area apartment complexes have gone co-op and people from all over the New York area are clamoring for the units.

   This marks a major resurgence in economic and cultural growth in the historic Lower East Side, once synonymous with the color and culture of New York’s Jewish immigrants. The Lower East Side, according to Heshie Jacob, General Manager of Co-Op Village, has become one of the most desirable neighborhoods in town. Joel Kaplan, Executive Director of the United Jewish Council of the Lower East Side, explains that young middle-class people are looking at the Lower East Side Co-ops as a place to bring up their growing families, bringing new life to the community. He adds, "It is an absolute boon to any Jewish community to have such housing stock available. The Lower East Side has a lot to offer young Jewish families because of its shuls, yeshivos, mikva’os and kosher food establishments."

   Residents of all ages seem to be upbeat about the future of the neighborhood, and Kaplan predicts that the area will continue to develop.

Kosher Hot Dog Stand at Woodbury Common

 For kosher shoppers, a day at the mall means either bringing one’s own food or trying to find a bag of acceptable kosher nosh. Gedaliah’s Kosher Express, located at Woodbury Common Factory Outlet Center in Central Valley, NY, has made life a lot easier for kosher shoppers. Gedaliah’s Kosher Express, which is supervised by the OK and open from May to November, has an extensive menu, including frankfurters, pastrami, chicken cutlets and tuna sandwiches, Also available are knishes, pretzels, potato chips and assorted beverages.

   Proprietor Gedaliah Ladenheim says that his real profit is seeing the look of relief on his customers’ faces when they realize they don’t have to go home hungry. Ladenheim is looking for additional locations for his kosher food stands. Interested parties can call him at 212-647-7440.