Community Corner

The title to this wonderful, impactful exhibit, “Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away.” at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in downtown Manhattan, is somewhat misleading. It is not an exhibit about Auschwitz, although we do get there – seeing a showerhead from the gas chamber, a German gas mask, an empty Zyklon B canister, and a huge cauldron where the watery soup was made for inmates – but that is later.

Reasons for the Jewish people’s suffering and their purpose in exile was the theme of keynote speaker Rabbi Ari Lamm at Holocaust Remembrance Day held at the Young Israel of Forest Hills on Wednesday, May 1.

The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) Tuesday made the following statement in response to the criticism directed towards Israel from some Members of Congress after the latest rocket attacks aimed at Israel from Gaza:

Chazaq collaborated with the Young Israel of Queens Valley on Yom HaShoah for an evening of reflection, where a standing room only crowd gathered for a special viewing of Hidden Face, a documentary about the life of Rabbi Yekusiel Halberstam, the Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, ztk”l, whose wife and 11 children were murdered during the darkest days. Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, Rabbi of The Young Israel of Queens Valley, gave background on the Admor’s struggle and ability to invigorate others throughout his ordeal. Rabbi Marcus pointed out that the Admor established several institutions, most notably the Laniado Hospital in Netanya, Israel, also known as the Sanz Medical Center. This medical facility is a voluntary, non-profit operation in Kiryat Sanz, serving a regional population of over 450,000 throughout Netanya and the Sharon plain.

The Northwell Health System serves a wide range of patients in its 23 hospitals and over 700 outpatient clinics, including many in the Queens area. Understanding the cultural and religious needs of the Jewish community during the Passover 2019 holiday, the Board of Trustees of Northwell Health designated Executive Vice-President Mr. Jeffrey Kraut to effectuate a unique and halachically correct m’chiras chametz under the guidance of Rabbi Simcha Lefkowitz and Rabbi Hillel Fox.

(L-R) Rav Leibel Rockove, R’ Dovid Tropper (host), Raphael Deligdish, Dr. Donny Norowitz, Rav Yechiel Michel Stern, Rabbi Aloni Russek, Reb Aaron Cyperstein, and R’ Gedaliah Bienkiwetz