[1] The paper grew out of publisher Larry Gordon's response to an effort in 2000 by the Lawrence municipality to limit the establishment and growth of local Orthodox synagogues.

Gordon wrote a series of articles for the local Nassau Herald, which resulted in an abrupt policy reversal.

Believing the Orthodox community needed its own media, Gordon established the 5 Towns Jewish Times.

The paper is distributed every Thursday on newsstands and in synagogues and Jewish community centers.

It is distributed for free on Long Island and sold for $1.00 in New York City and to weekly subscribers.