Sponsered by: Opened
Five Towns Insider Events
To Share an Event please fill out this Form
Thursday evening–Friday, May 14–15, 2026 — Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day)
🇮🇱 Yom Yerushalayim — Jerusalem Day — Communities across the Five Towns marked Jerusalem Day this past Shabbat, commemorating the miraculous reunification of Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967. Shuls held Hallel prayers and celebrations in honor of the day Jews returned to the Kotel for the first time in nearly 2,000 years. "Next Year in Jerusalem" — for 59 years now, that prayer has been answered.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 — IMPORTANT!
Hewlett-Woodmere School District & Library Budget Vote + Board of Education Election — Time: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM — Location: Woodmere Education Center, 1 Johnson Place, Woodmere. Vote on the proposed $149.9 million district budget, the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library budget, and two Board of Education trustee seats. Incumbents Shari Amitrano and Cheryl May are running unopposed. Don't forget to vote!
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Five Towns Community Center Programs — Time: 5:00–6:00 PM — Location: 336 Woodmere Boulevard, Woodmere. Weekly youth and family programs. For details call (516) 758-7130.
Wednesday–Sunday, May 21–25, 2026
HALB Closed for Shavuot & Memorial Day — Hebrew Academy of Long Beach is closed through the holiday weekend. Check with your school for specific schedules.
Friday–Saturday, May 22–23, 2026 — 🕯️ Shavuot
Shavuot is almost here! — The holiday begins Friday evening, May 22, and concludes Saturday night, May 23. Many Five Towns shuls will be hosting Tikkun Leil Shavuot — all-night Torah learning sessions open to the whole community. Check with your local shul for schedules and topics. It's also the time for cheesecake, blintzes, and staying up way too late learning Torah! Have a meaningful and sweet Chag! 🍰
Monday, May 25, 2026
🇺🇸 Memorial Day — All local government offices and many businesses will be closed. Take a moment to honor those who gave everything for our country.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Ongoing — Tuesdays & Thursdays
FREE Senior Enrichment at The Sands, Lido Beach — For Town of Hempstead residents 55+. Line Dancing, Zumba Gold, Tai Chi, Boot Camp and more. 710 Lido Blvd., Lido Beach. Free. 516-485-8100.
Ongoing — Rock Hall Museum, Lawrence
Open Wed–Sat 10 AM–4 PM, Sun 12–4 PM. 199 Broadway, Lawrence. Appointment tours: 516-239-1157.
LIRR Strike Hits Home — Five Towns Commuters Scrambling
The Long Island Rail Road went on strike just after midnight on Saturday, May 16 — its first work stoppage since 1994 — leaving hundreds of thousands of commuters, including many right here in the Five Towns, without train service. Five unions representing 3,500 workers walked off the job after negotiations with the MTA broke down in the final hours over wages in the final year of a new contract. The MTA has set up limited shuttle buses running during peak hours with stops at select Long Island stations, dropping off riders at Howard Beach and Jamaica subway stations — but officials have been upfront: the buses cannot come close to replacing normal LIRR service. If you ride the Far Rockaway Branch, check mta.info for shuttle options and consider working from home if you can. Monthly ticket holders will be eligible for prorated refunds for strike days. We'll keep you updated as this develops. Source: abc7ny.com
King Kullen Hewlett Closes This Week — A Community Institution Says Goodbye
After 45 years, the King Kullen at 1765 Peninsula Blvd. in Hewlett will officially close its doors on Wednesday, May 21. The store couldn't reach a new lease agreement, bringing to an end a beloved neighborhood institution that for generations was the place Five Towners ran into their neighbors and built weekly routines. Longtime shoppers described the loss as the closing of a chapter, not just a supermarket. Employees will be offered positions at other King Kullen locations. The nearest remaining options are Foodtown at 1368 Peninsula Blvd., and King Kullens in Valley Stream and Rockville Centre. Source: liherald.com
Yom Yerushalayim: Five Towns Marks Jerusalem Day as North American Aliyah Surges
This past Friday, Jews around the world — including right here in the Five Towns — celebrated Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, marking 59 years since the miraculous reunification of Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967. And in a meaningful coincidence of timing, Nefesh B'Nefesh released new aliyah data showing that Jerusalem remains the top destination for North American Jews making aliyah. Since the start of 2026, 201 new immigrants have already arrived in Jerusalem, with the organization projecting some 1,200 olim by year's end — up from 1,128 all of last year. Since last Yom Yerushalayim, 1,014 North American olim chose to make Jerusalem their home, including 70 families, around 400 young singles, and about 180 retirees — the oldest being 96 years old and the youngest just 11 months old. The Five Towns has always been a community with deep ties to Israel. Chag Sameach to all who celebrated. Source: 5tjt.com
Shavuot Is Coming — What You Need to Know
Shavuot begins Friday evening, May 22, and is one of the most meaningful — and underrated — holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and marks the culmination of the seven-week Omer count that began after Passover. The holiday is traditionally marked by all-night Torah learning (Tikkun Leil Shavuot), dairy meals, and community gatherings. In the Ashkenazi tradition, foods like cheesecake and blintzes are served, echoing the scriptural description of the Promised Land as "flowing with milk and honey." Five Towns shuls will have learning sessions throughout the night — check with yours for the schedule. And yes, the cheesecake is mandatory. 🧀 Source: timeanddate.com
Lawrence School District Wins 2026 Best Communities for Music Education Award
Fantastic news for Lawrence: the Lawrence School District has been named a 2026 Best Communities for Music Education honoree by the NAMM Foundation, recognizing the district's longstanding commitment to arts education and student performance opportunities. It's a well-deserved recognition for a district that continues to invest in the whole child. Mazel tov to the students, teachers, and families who make it happen every day! Source: liherald.com
Hewlett Elementary Students Give Back at Angela's House
Students at Hewlett Elementary School recently visited Angela's House to see firsthand how their yearlong fundraising and donation drives make a real difference for local families in need. The visit was both a lesson in community responsibility and a powerful reminder of the compassion that defines the Five Towns at its best. Source: liherald.com
Swastika Found at Inwood LIRR Station — Lawrence Mayor Responds
A swastika was discovered etched into a window at the Inwood train station last week, specifically in the portion of the station located within the Village of Lawrence. Lawrence Mayor Samuel Nahmias condemned the act in the strongest terms, calling it "especially despicable" and confirming that Nassau County Police and MTA authorities are jointly investigating the incident. The village recently announced plans to install approximately 160 surveillance cameras throughout the community — directly connected to the Nassau police command center — to help track down and deter perpetrators of exactly this kind of hateful act. This is our community. We do not tolerate this here. Source: longisland.news12.com
Swastikas Are Becoming Too Common in New York — Our Community Must Stay Vigilant
The Inwood incident is not isolated. On nearby Long Island, swastikas were recently scrawled on a train, in a park, and in a high school bathroom. In the first quarter of 2026, more than 55% of all confirmed hate crimes in New York were antisemitic. Swastika incidents in New York State rose 10% from 2024 to 2025, and since 2016 the state has seen a 480% increase in antisemitic incidents overall. The Five Towns is a proud and strong Jewish community. Lawrence Mayor Nahmias said it best: if something like this happens again, we need the tools in place to track down the perpetrators. The village's planned 160-camera surveillance network is a step in the right direction. If you see something, say something. Nassau County Crime Stoppers: 1-800-244-TIPS Source: timesofisrael.com
🃏 Jokes
Why did the Five Towns commuter bring a tent to work? Because the LIRR said the strike was "open-ended"! 🚂⛺
Why do Jewish people eat dairy on Shavuot? Because after staying up all night learning Torah, nobody has the energy to wait six hours after meat! 🧀😂
🏛️ Five Towns Trivia
Question: Shavuot is known as the "Festival of Weeks" — but it actually has THREE different names in the Torah. Can you name all three?
Answer: Shavuot goes by: Chag HaShavuot (Festival of Weeks — marking the seven weeks since Pesach), Chag HaBikkurim (Festival of First Fruits — when farmers brought the first harvest to the Temple in Jerusalem), and Chag HaKatzir (Festival of the Harvest). It's one holiday with three personalities — kind of like every Five Towns family trying to agree on where to eat! 😄
Bonus Trivia: King Kullen on Peninsula Blvd. served Hewlett for 45 years before closing this week — and holds a famous distinction in American retail history. It's widely credited as "America's first supermarket," recognized by the Smithsonian Institution for pioneering separate departments, self-service shopping, discount pricing, and chain marketing when it opened way back in 1930!
🦺Community Safety News
LIRR Strike Safety Reminder for Five Towns Residents
With the LIRR on strike, expect significantly heavier traffic on Peninsula Blvd., Central Ave., and surrounding roads as commuters look for alternatives. Please allow extra time, be patient at intersections, and watch out for pedestrians who would normally be boarding trains but are now walking or waiting for buses. If you need to get into the city, visit mta.info for shuttle bus options and peak hour schedules. MTA says: if you can work from home, please do. Stay safe out there, Five Towns!
Swastika Found at Inwood LIRR Station — Investigation Underway
A swastika was discovered etched into a window at the Inwood LIRR station last week. Nassau County Police and MTA authorities are jointly investigating. Lawrence Mayor Samuel Nahmias has condemned the act and the village is moving forward with plans to install 160 surveillance cameras throughout the community connected to the Nassau police command center. If you have any information, please contact authorities. Source: longisland.news12.com
Nassau County Police Non-Emergency Line: 888-684-4274 Nassau County Crime Stoppers: 1-800-244-TIPS