Community Corner

A sizeable showing of volunteers participated in the annual Tomchei Shabbos of Queens (TSQ) volunteer appreciation night held on Monday, August 22. This year, due to recent orders filling up their warehouse, TSQ held the event in the Simchah Hall at the Bais Yaakov Academy of Queens in Kew Gardens. The program included an inspiring lecture by noted orator Rabbi YY Rubenstein, a remarkable performance by seasoned juggling professional Michael Karas (@nycjuggler), table magic by Yoel Spielman, and of course included an array of delectable fleishig options, along with copious amounts of tasty sushi.

Rabbi Joey Haber, rav of Congregation Magen David in Brooklyn, visited Queens earlier this summer for a special night of inspiration on the life-altering topic of technology today. “Our job tonight is not to recite a token chapter of T’hilim. I need to shake your core. All of us must recognize and admit our weaknesses. Say no to the smartphone, and yes to a smart life.”

The public came out in droves to Cunningham Park this past Wednesday night, August 24, for the annual Queens Jewish Community Council (QJCC) concert at the park. One thousand is a conservative estimate of the number of attendees at Jewish Music Under the Stars, featuring international singing sensation Avi Peretz.

Rav Gav Friedman, an educator at Aish HaTorah Jerusalem, brought out the Orthodox Jewish young adults of Great Neck this past Wednesday, August 10, on behalf of the Chazaq organization.   The program, entitled “The Power of Tu B’Av,” was perfectly suitable for the eager audience seeking inspiration from the rav who had made a trip to the States for Tish’ah B’Av programming.

Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld Way, a pledge announced at the recent Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills (YIKGH) dinner, was brought to fruition this past Sunday morning, August 21, at 150^th Street and 70^th Road, outside of the doors to the iconic shul that its namesake built. The street co-naming memorializes the Schonfeld family name in Kew Gardens Hills, giving a lasting legacy to the Queens Jewish community pioneer who broadly envisioned the flourishing frum neighborhoods of today’s Queens.

Earlier this month, Congress Member Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), the Republican Party and Conservative Party designee for Governor for the State of New York, met with an array of local political activists and concerned community members at the Kew Gardens Hills home of Shimmy and Sorolle Idels.