Jewish Journal Staff

SWAMPSCOTT — Like most Orthodox rabbis, he is a learned scholar and teacher. But Rabbi Yossi Lipsker is also contemporarily hip. His tzitzit peek out from under a Hurley hoodie, and his iPhone rings constantly. A diminutive dynamo, he exudes warmth and energy.

Lipsker and his wife, Layah, came to the region two decades ago to found Chabad of the North Shore. On June 3, the organization will celebrate its 20th anniversary (see thesidebar on page 3).

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Special to the Journal

Youths in Foxborough, many of whom are not Jewish, are working on a Holocaust memorial art project using cancelled stamps. The goal is to collect 11 million cancelled stamps to represent every life lost during the Holocaust, and create 18 mosaic collages, each one depicting an important lesson or aspect of the Holocaust.

The project began three years ago at the Foxborough Regional Charter School, located in southeastern Massachusetts. They surpassed...

Special to the Journal

BURLINGTON — Being the longest serving female rabbi in Massachusetts is an impressive accomplishment, but it’s not Rabbi Susan Abramson’s only claim to fame.

The rabbi of Temple Shalom Emeth in Burlington is the successful author of a series of children’s books designed to teach Jewish customs and traditions in an entertaining way.

Each book in the “Rabbi Rocketpower” series features a female rabbi who can transform into a superhero and helps...

Jewish Journal Staff

Is there another way to finance synagogues?

That was the question asked by a group of friends and members of Swampscott’s Congregation Shirat Hayam at the end of 2010. “A few people realized that changes had been made to so many other aspects of synagogue life, but not to the funding formula, so they started talking about ways to fund a synagogue whichmight not have been thought of,” said Hal Schwartz, Zuzzim president.

The answer they came...