Susie Garber

On Monday evening, December 13, Rebbetzin Devorah Kigel, well-known speaker and teacher for Emet Outreach, spoke on behalf of the organization on the topic of why marriage is so hard. In her inimitable way, Rebbetzin Kigel shared wise insights and practical advice. She has had years of experience as a dating and marriage coach. She shared that her shiur was geared to the average couple dealing with normal things. She began with the following disqualifier: If a relationship is dealing with abuse or addictions, then this requires professional help beyond the scope of her lecture. She shared that she can refer people to professionals who can help with these types of situations. She added that “Torah is not a substitute for therapy.” Torah does help everyone, no matter their situation.

On Sunday evening, December 5, Chazaq hosted a fireside chat with Rabbi Benzion Klatzko, founder of Shabbat.com. Rabbi Klatzko taught that holidays end on a high. On Yom Kippur, we have N’ilah. Purim ends with a feast. Sukkos ends with Sh’mini Atzeres and Simchas Torah. Chanukah ends with Zos Chanukah.

We are fortunate to live in Kew Gardens Hills, which is such a vibrant, frum community, filled with young couples from Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, Yeshivas Ohr HaChaim, Lander College for Men, Queens College, and more. Our community is known for its beautiful achdus, and this was highlighted recently with the start of a new holy project in Queens. Ashkenazim, Sefardim, Jews from every background, came together with a like-minded goal: to reconstruct our Kew Gardens Hills Mikveh. The mikveh has not been renovated or modernized for the past 20 years. Any homeowner will attest to the fact that there is wear and tear and a need for upgrading after that many years.

What’s the secret to finding happiness? How do we merit the free gifts from Hashem’s treasure trove of gifts?

On Sunday, December 5, Zos Chanukah, Chazaq and Mikvah USA hosted an incredible night of inspiration for women with two dynamic speakers. First, Rebbetzin Amit Yaghoubi, well-known inspirational speaker, shared a big thank you to Chazaq for all they do in every area of Jewish society. They are interested in helping every Jew. “Chazaq has big goals.” She thanked Mikvah USA for providing the framework to enable people to keep the mitzvah of mikvah. “This is what the Jewish family is – it is family purity.”

Chazaq, Stories to Inspire, and TorahAnytime hosted the following powerful shiurim for Chanukah. On Sunday, November 28, Rabbi Meir Simcha Sperling, TorahAnytime Speaker, shared a story about a man who walked into shul and sponsored a large, lavish kiddush for his community. He made the kiddush as a sign of gratitude for being saved after being hit by a car while walking to shul. The next week, another man sponsored a kiddush for the community. He made the kiddush as a tremendous hakaras ha’tov for the fact that he walked to the same shul as the man who made the kiddush the week before and for the previous 20 years that he always arrived safely and was never hit by a car.