Three years after the launch of Kehillas KGH, the membership partook in a joyous hachnosas sefer Torah timed to usher in the new year. The beautiful event drew a crowd of 300 to 73rd Avenue between 147th and 150th Streets in Kew Gardens Hills. The story of Queens’ newest shul warms the heart and exemplifies Kew Gardens Hills’ signature growth-oriented atmosphere.
A handful of young couples from the community sought a makom Torah to raise their growing families. The new fathers desired a shul they could call home. Although Queens boasts an array of minyanim, none were designed to cater to post-yeshivah working men who are now raising their budding families. In due time, Rabbis Ilan Feder and Yisroel Kramer accepted the rabbinic leadership of the kehillah that humbly began in the basement of a home a short distance from Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim, where many of the mispallelim attended yeshivah.
Soon busting at its seams, the leadership of nusach Ashkenaz Shabbos minyan pursued a new venue to accommodate its growth. Prior to this past Pesach, Rabbi Ariel Baal Lev of Milhamta Shel Torah had completed construction of Yeshivat Bnei Torah on 73rd Avenue and made available its basement for Kehillas KGH. However, the sefer Torah that had been used at their basement minyan was no longer available, as it was necessary for it to remain in its original location.
Philanthropist Moshe Sdayeb offered the idea for a crowdfunding campaign to garner the necessary funds for a sefer Torah. At the start of September, the fundraiser surpassed its original goal of $150,000 by over $10,000, with over 530 individual donations, and remains live in a bonus round seeking $175,000 at causematch.com/kehillas. The sacred scroll itself was provided for by the shul’s 50+ members, a joint effort that is underlined by the kehilah’s mission of coming together to offer young frum families a place to cultivate our consecrated traditions within a vibrant Torah community. Kehillas KGH prides itself on growth orientation, extending learning opportunities to its membership, including a nightly kollel.
As the Community Outreach Coordinator for Queens Shmira, I proudly worked with Yaakov Katz on logistics for the Sunday program and liaised with NYPD Community Affairs Police Officers Kevin McCarthy and Timothy Gorman to provide a method for the osiyos to be completed at Cong. Etz Chaim, and festively marched across 73rd Avenue into the Shabbos shul, where a lavish catered affair was arranged. The kehillah was joined by rabbonim of the community, including Rav Dovid Harris and Rabbi Shaul Opoczynski, Roshei HaYeshivah of RSA; Rav Shlomo Yonoson Harris, mara d’asra of Chofetz Chaim Alumni Minyan; Rabbi Tzvi Kramer, Rosh HaYeshivah of Metivta Tiferet Torah, Yeshiva Gedola Ateret Gavriel; Rav Yaniv Meirov, mara d’asra of Cong. Charm Circle; Rav Don Pacht, menahel of Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe; Rav Yossi Singer, menahel of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim Mesivta; Rav Herschel Welcher, mara d’asra of Cong. Ahavas Yisrael; Rav Baal Lev; and many other distinguished Torah scholars.
Noted Sofer Stam Rabbi Zvi Chaim Pincus launched Tiferes Stam Inc. on Coney Island Ave. in Midwood in September of 1985. The rav was on hand for the completion. I found deeper meaning in writing my letter, a yud, as I keenly recall my meeting with Rav Pincus when my parents commissioned the writing of my tefilin some 25 years ago.
Kehillas KGH is led by Yaakov Katz, Yitzy Kramer, and treasurer Tzvi Yonie Itzkowitz. Stop by the basement entrance of Yeshivat Bnei Torah at 147-22 73rd Avenue for a Shabbos minyan, have a fresh cup a coffee at the halachah shiur Shabbos mornings at 8:15, 25 minutes before Shacharis, and join the weekly hot kiddush following davening at 10:20. For one hour each evening, Kehillas KGH operates a kollel across the street from their Shabbos shul at Cong. Etz Chaim, 147-19 73rd Avenue, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. where Aron Ezra Stein leads a kinyan hamesechtah.
By Shabsie Saphirstein