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HERALD
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All the news of the Five Towns
HAFTR senior publishes book
Honoring veterans for Memorial Day
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VoL. 103 No. 22
MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2026
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Young Israel’s annual dinner set for June 10 tember 2008, when they became the rabbi and rebbetzin of Young Israel of North WoodMore than a half-dozen mere. The rabbi said he worked members of the North Wood- to expand communitywide promere community will be hon- gramming for the Five Towns ored at the 37th annual Young and Rockaways while also establishing adult Israel of North education programs Woodmere dinner focused on Torah on June 10. study, prayer and The synagogue, mental health. at 634 Hungry Har“We tried to put bor Road in Valley North Woodmere at Stream, is recognizthe center of the ing congregants Five Towns with who have found a these programs and home in the commubring vibrant new nity and whose programs to the involvement has shul,” Lisa Septishaped the congremus said. gation over the After stepping years. down last year, the “Our honorees pair pursued other were chosen interests. Yehuda because they are developed a Long shining examples of DANIEL Island-based psythe very best our ToRcZYNER chotherapy practice community has to president, specializing in trauoffer — devotion, Young Israel ma recovery and leadership, generos- of North Woodmere relationships while ity and a deep comalso teaching at Yale mitment to the life of our shul,” its president, Dan- and Columbia. Lisa, the director of student iel Torczyner, said in a statelife at North Shore Hebrew ment to the Herald. Academy High School, teaches Rabbi Yehuda and Lisa Septimus women halacha and Talmud The Septimuses joined the and works as a yoetzet halacha Five Towns community in SepContinued on paGe 9
By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY
awarshavsky@liherald.com
o
Courtesy Guy LaCognata
Hewlett twins Joseph, left, and John Gomes are the first siblings to be named the top two students in a graduating class at Chaminade High School, in Mineola.
Hewlett twins reach top of class John and Joseph Gomes earn highest honors at Chaminade By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
For most high school students, competing for top academic honors in their graduating class is an individual pursuit. For Hewlett twins John and Joseph Gomes, it became a shared journey defined as much by brotherhood as by competition. Administrators at Chaminade High School in Mineola announced on May 5 that John was named valedictorian of the Class of 2026, while Joseph was selected as salutatorian. And their academic achievements were separated by mere percentage points, with John earning a 99.42 grade-point average and Joseph weighing in with a 99.29 GPA.
The brothers said their four years at Chaminade were shaped by a balance of academic rigor, faith and friendship. Though they pursued different academic passions, they often found themselves side by side in both the classroom and extracurricular activities. “Over the course of our four years, we have shared so many of our experiences at Chaminade together,” John said. “Of course, we are our own individuals, but for both of us to conclude our time on stage next to each other, as brothers, as twins, as Chaminade Men, will truly be a special moment in our lives.” The twins participated together in SodaliContinued on paGe 12
ur honorees were chosen because they are shining examples of the very best our community has to offer.