Community Corner

Recent study indicates that 84% of Israeli children suffer from emotional
distress since the October 7 attacks

Israeli children suffering from emotional distress following Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks are receiving help from an unlikely place: Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services, a Jewish organization based in Brooklyn, that since 1969 has provided American children with mental-health support.

The Young Israel of Hillcrest hosted a wonderful game night experience for its membership on Motza’ei Shabbos, February 10. The shul was filled with laughter, music, games, and prizes, all to raise money for the families of those serving in the Israel Defense Forces. Dubbed Playing for Our Land, the event turned out to be most enjoyable, uniting upwards of 100 community members who showed stellar achdus and sportsmanship in games of Scrabble, Mahjong, and Rummikub, amongst others.

At just 15 years old, Yaniv Meirov looked around his community and saw a troubling reality: a generation adrift, disconnected from their heritage, their identity, and each other. The lack of accessible Jewish education left a void, a gaping hole in the fabric of their lives.

Rav Yaakov Ribowsky presented the legal holiday yarchei kallah shiur at Khal Adas Yereim of Kew Gardens this past Monday morning, February 18, on President's Day. The rav spoke on the differences between Adar Alef and Adar Beis, and hilchos seudas Purim, including Purim Katan.

In Parshas Ki Sisa, Moshe Rabbeinu comes down from Har Sinai, after spending the last 40 days and nights dwelling in the presence of Hashem, holding the Luchos – only to be confronted by the sight of the people, who were waiting below, that they constructed a Golden Calf. As it states, “It happened as he drew near the camp, and he saw the calf and the dancers, that Moses’ anger burned. And he threw down the tablets from his hand, and he shattered them at the bottom of the mountain. He took the calf that they had made, and he burned it in fire. He ground it into a fine powder and strewed it in the water. And he made the Children of Israel drink from it” (Sh’mos 32:19).

The Israeli soldiers who discovered the tunnels under UNRWA as well as those who recently rescued two hostages shared something in common: footwear. Their brand-new, high-quality boots were donated by Boots for Israel, an initiative spearheaded by NSHA alumnus Yakir Wachstock. Founded shortly after October 7, Boots for Israel has already delivered 40,000 boots to Israel Defense Forces soldiers — and isn’t about to stop any time soon.