Community Corner

Inclusion was the theme this past weekend for the Central Queens Jewish Community Circle (CQJCC).

For 2022, the Internal Revenue Service increased the federal estate and gift tax lifetime exemptions to $12,060,000 per person ($24,120,000 million for a couple). This means that an individual’s estate will not be taxed by the federal government if it is within those limits. Therefore, a couple with assets of under $24.12 million will not have a federal estate tax imposed on their collective estate provided proper planning is done. Further, a gift tax will not be imposed if lifetime gifts are made within those limits. 

The Coalition for Jewish Values, representing over 2,000 traditional, Orthodox rabbis in American public policy, last week condemned Congressman Jamaal Bowman’s (D-NY) decision to withdraw his co-sponsorship of the Israel Relations Normalization Act, and the 29 “progressive” organizations that called for Congress to repudiate the Abraham Accords.

In several places throughout the Torah (Sh’mos 19:5 and D’varim 7:6, 14:2, 26:18), Hashem refers to the Jewish People as an am s’gulah. In this context, it means that they possess certain traits that supersede the rules of creation. For instance, according to Chazal, if a Jew intends to perform a mitzvah and is prevented from doing so, he receives reward as if he performed it. If, on the other hand, he is prevented from performing a transgression, this same principle will not apply. He is not held accountable (Kiddushin 40a).

First person account about Israeli businesses from our ACHI representative on the streets of Jerusalem

Finally we are back in Jerusalem, in our little apartment in Rechavia. My husband and I managed to slip into Israel between lockdowns and have spent most of the past two months enjoying the rain and the unusual snowfall while stuck in said apartment. Much to my delight, we have had some beautiful weather this week and I finally started my favorite pastime—window shopping (and shopping) on the streets I know so well. However, not only were some of my beloved stores closed, but many more businesses were dark and shuttered.

Unprecedented Chizuk at Two Massive Siyumim at Mifal Hapayis Arena

It happened so swiftly, literally from one second to the next. We were about to hear a drasha from one of the Gedolim when suddenly, we saw a commotion. Before we could even process what was happening, we heard the MC exclaim, in a voice shaking with emotion, “With trepidation and with hadras kavod we have the tremendous zechus to welcome and be mekabel panim Maran Sar HaTorah, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita!”