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Vol. 29 No. 32
AUGUST 6 - 12, 2026
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Meet Rabbi Sara Birnbaum Congregation Beth Ohr celebrates its new spiritual leader gregation Beth Ohr. “We rabbis are fortunate to accompany people on their Rabbi Sara Birnbaum’s jour- Jewish journeys, always trying ney has taken her from Boston to help individuals add meanto New Jersey, Massachusetts, ing to their lives by pairing our Manhattan and beyond, leading ancient Jewish knowledge and to her arrival as Congregation practices to our contemporary reality,” he said. “Rabbi BirnBeth Ohr’s rabbi on July 1. Birnbaum’s career began in baum has had quite the Jewish social work, which transitioned jour ney herself, with many into work for Jewish nonprofits turns and detours leading her and religious schools. She here to Long Island. I have been began her journey fortunate to watch to become a Rabbi her as she’s taken in 2007. these steps and can “I felt like there say without reserwas more that I vation that the Jewcould give the comish community of munity,” she said. Bellmore (and “It’s been a beyond) is so lucky m o n t h , a n d i t ’s to have her in this been such a bless- SARA BIRNBAUM role.” ing,” she said. “I Hammerman Rabbi feel very, I feel very described Bir nembraced by the baum as a person community. There are so many who “walks the walk,” combinopportunities for program- ing her love of Judaism with a m i n g , f o r e d u c a t i o n , f o r passion for making our broader prayer… what I really love so world a better place. far about our congregation is Nadine Lewis, president of that we’re so open to like trying Congregation Beth Ohr, said different things, figuring out the right decision was made in what speaks to people in their selecting Birnbaum. spiritual life and what they “Few decisions are more want to learn.” important to a synagogue than Rabbi Eytan Hammerman, a choosing its rabbi,” she said. friend of Birnbaum’s, celebrat- “After a thoughtful and thored her new position with Con-
By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo
jdalessandro@liherald.com
I
Courtesy Brian Mann
Mayhem Baseball has grown from a single travel team in 2019 to a Bellmore-based organization with 19 baseball teams and more than 300 players from across Long Island.
From a Bellmore-Merrick team to a regional baseball program By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
The Mayhem Baseball program — which started out as a single travel team for a group of Bellmore and Merrick friends — has grown into a regional youth baseball organization with more than 300 players, a 9,000-square-foot training facility and a mission to strengthen the sport in its hometown. Brian Mann and Brendan Kalkau founded Mayhem Baseball in 2019 and expanded the organization from one 8U team to 19 baseball teams, three softball teams and players representing more than 25 communities across Long Island and New York City. Yet despite its growth, the organization’s owners agreed that Bellmore remains at the center of its
identity. “We still want to keep our roots in the Bellmore and Merrick area,” Mann, whose children attend John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, said. “Beyond the organization being successful and competing outside of the local community, it’s very important to us that we strengthen baseball within Merrick-Bellmore — not only for the kids who play for Mayhem Baseball, but for the kids who don’t.” Mann and Kalkau said they never intended to build a large baseball organization when they first assembled a travel team for their sons and their friends. “When me and Brian met each other, actually coaching Little League, our boys ContInued on page 7
felt like there was more that I could give the community.
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