When we feel darkness and sadness, it’s hard to go on. That’s when we need to feel that Hashem is with us in our pain. Mrs. Sipy Nissanian, beloved Bais Yaakov of Queens pre-school teacher, shared how painful it was when she and Rabbi Avraham Nissanian of Eshel Avraham, lost their dear son Yaeer a”h in 2002, at age 19. It was too hard to go on, she confided, but with help from Chai Lifeline Bereavement and Dr. Norman Blumenthal, she was able to live through this horrible grief, and she and her husband have helped other parents who had to deal with this type of unspeakable loss.

Rebbetzin Sheva Turk speaks about her time in Queens as the Turks move to

East Meadow for a new chapter in kiruv

This writer had the honor to interview Rebbetzin Sheva Turk, who has been the kiruv rebbetzin along with her husband Rabbi Moshe Turk, Director of the Jewish Heritage Center of Queens and Long Island, for the past 35 years. The Turks are moving to East Meadow after Chanukah, but they will continue to come back to Kew Gardens Hills for a monthly get-together with Jewish Heritage Center alumni, and Rabbi Turk will continue to come back to teach his shiurim. They also have children living here, so that is another reason they’ll be back often.

One person can make a difference in the world! As Jews, we know this is true, and the following story demonstrates this fact. Mrs. Renee Labovitz took her passion for helping others along with her legal expertise, determination, and unwavering faith, and made an enormous difference for those suffering from mental illness or substance abuse.

“Bring them home! Bring them home! Bring them home!” The surging crowd of over 290,000 people gathered in the National Mall of Washington, DC, chanting a fervent prayer with one voice. There were Jews from communities all over the United States and Canada, as well as non-Jewish supporters of Israel. Everyone was there to show dedication and support to Israel and to the families of the hostages. There were Chabad Jews helping other Jews put on t’filin, and Jews from all different backgrounds, both secular and observant. You couldn’t help being swept into a feeling of achdus at this unbelievable event that was the largest gathering for a Jewish event in the history of North America.