Community Corner

If Agra D’Pirka is one of the Torah world’s great success stories, then certainly the program’s maggidei shiur are among the heroes of that story.  They deliver their thought-provoking and well-prepared shiurim in various locations consistently and reliably on a regular basis.  And they manage to keep the participants, many of whom are themselves Torah scholars, intrigued and engaged.  It may not be easy to give a shiur for Agra D’Pirka, but most maggidei shiur will tell you that it’s one of the highlights of their week.  And there’s no place else they’d rather be than at Agra D’Pirka.

Kedem Provides $200,000 Grant to Launch New Program

The Orthodox Union (OU) – the nation’s oldest and largest umbrella organization for the North American Orthodox Jewish community – has established Kosher Food Lifeline (KFL), a new division created to help existing food pantries, Tomchei Shabbos programs, and related social service agencies throughout the United States to provide nutritious kosher food to Jews in need. The new division offers need-based food programs assistance with procurement, kosher food distributor relationships, government grants, and other logistical support that will improve their ability to meet the needs of their constituents.

The Queens Jewish Link Communal Cholim List is a beautiful way to include our loved ones in our prayers while bringing merit, comfort, and restored good health to those who are not well. Our Sages teach us that there are auspicious times for us to pray for special requests, such as requesting health for those needing refuah. Such times include hafrashas challah, bris milah, chupah, and during labor). We are taught that, in the merit of praying for others, our own prayers are answered and we fulfill the mitzvos of “Love your neighbor as yourself” and chesed.

Thirty years ago, I handed the Rabbi the keys to the shul and his office, not knowing then how the Rabbi and Karen would impact the lives of the people in the community. Over the years, his guidance and spiritual leadership has raised the k’dushah of everyone that he and Karen touched. Thirty years ago, barely knowing my father, he would visit him in the hospital after he had an operation, and the bond between my parents and the Rabbi grew closer, and my father had said to me, “Always turn to Rabbi Hochberg for guidance and always follow his words.” This past year, we honored the Rabbi and Karen at the shul dinner for their 30 years of selfless devotion to the community, but my dear Rabbi and Karen, it is you who have honored us with your leadership and devotion and, most of all, your presence in our lives. We will love you always. – Hilton Blachman

Hundreds of strangers instantly became brothers and sisters to Marianny and Julio last Thursday in the Young Israel of Forest Hills. After two years of learning and preparing, Julio Salazar (now Yaakov), and Marianny Loveras (now Leah), completed their conversion process to Judaism, and celebrated their wedding together on Thursday, June 20, in the Young Israel of Forest Hills.

How do you honor and pay tribute to true pillars of a community? To properly thank leaders who have dedicated the past 30 years to an extended family of over a thousand? To capture the heartfelt emotion and feelings of generations of families? The Young Israel of Jamaica Estates decided to plan a Shabbos filled with programming and events designed to express the community’s love and appreciation to the Hochbergs. The name “YIJE Family Reunion Shabbat” was chosen to depict the sentiment of the weekend.