Community Corner

After a successful launch of the Purple Fellowship last year, Shalom Task Force (STF) is excited to announce that applications are now open for the next cohort of fellows. The Purple Fellowship is open to high school juniors and seniors interested in growing into leadership roles in the Jewish community. Fellows attend nine-week intensive training programs that cover important topics including domestic violence, abuse in the Jewish community, boundaries, and being an upstander, as well as advocacy and fundraising skills. Students develop skills to become active community leaders. One fellow shared that “the Purple Fellowship taught me so much about a topic I knew nothing about. It has inspired me to continue to spread awareness and the importance of being a leader in my community.”

Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation continued their summer tradition of including a party for the Candy Striper volunteers in their programming. The volunteers constitute students who give of their time to enhance the stay of residents. Hosting this program, as well as others, continues the Margaret Tietz commitment to compassion and customized care for their residents. The pupils this time around were a wonderful group from top high schools around New York City. They readily helped in many departments throughout the facility, bringing special care that brought joyful smiles to the residents.

The start of the 2021/5782 school year saw the inauguration of the first two classes at The Queens Cheder in Forest Hills. What began as a mere dream for a Sephardic community desperately seeking a higher Judaic educational standard for their youngsters quickly turned to reality over a few short weeks. The unique institution will follow the strictest of Sephardic standards and radiate as a beacon of Torah education in New York while living in the eye of the Sephardic sages of yesteryear and being a pride for Queens Jewry.

David HaMelech said: “Va’ani kirvas Elokim li tov” (As for me, being close to Hashem is what’s considered good). What King David (David HaMelech) desired was only one thing: to be close with Hashem.

Jewish Orthodox volunteers spanning the breadth of Queens community organizations visited the World Trade Center Memorial this past September 11. The group gathered to pay respects on behalf of the thousands of volunteers across the nation who sacrifice their time and energy each day and for those who gave their lives during the attacks and those who succumbed to illness thereafter.

The time surrounding the Yamim Noraim is filled with well wishes, blessings for peace and prosperity, success, and security. But this same period is one of deep concern for families that struggle financially. Sitting in elegance with our family at a Yom Tov table is a luxury not every family in our neighborhood is privileged to have. Leading up to the High Holidays, we open our wallets and dig deep to support local organizations in our midst that help feed those less fortunate. All hope is not lost.