Community Corner

Teach NYS, a project of the Orthodox Union, commended New York City’s Department of Education (“DOE”) Monday for moving to offer kosher and halal options during all three daily “grab and go” meal pick-ups. The organization also thanked Councilman Mark Tregyer, Chair of the Council’s Education Committee, Councilman Chaim Deutsch, chair of the Council’s Jewish Caucus, Councilman Kalman Yeger, and Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein for their leadership. 

From grocery pickups to delivering medical supplies, here’s how you can help (or get help)

As the coronavirus pandemic took hold of the Queens area, the ever-present characteristic of kindness emerged throughout our community. Existing organizations, schools, businesses, and individuals materialized in the most astonishing and amazing ways, showcasing our inherently Jewish qualities. Distributions helplines were formed for food, medicine, medical equipment, and everything in between. The unity of our society continues to be one of the most heart-warming manifestations of mi k’amcha Yisrael, “Who is like Your nation, the Jewish people?”

On Tuesday, in a third round of emergency funding, UJA-Federation of New York (UJA) announced nearly $9 million in new Covid-19 relief grants to support newly vulnerable families seeking to access Jewish life, front-line workers, and needy Jewish congregants in the New York region.

Survivors of COVID-19 seek a way to help those suffering, often feeling a sense of obligation. Blood plasma from rehabilitated COVID-19 patients has emerged as a promising treatment option to aid COVID-19 patients fighting for their lives. Those who have recovered from COVID-19 have built up antibodies in their bloodstream that can now follow its path and subsequently neutralize the virus in others. On March 24, the FDA released guidelines as an investigational new therapy whereby a recovered patient would donate his or her blood plasma in a process typical of an ordinary blood donation. “With few treatments available for COVID-19 patients, Agudath Israel of America was eager to explore options and see what could be done to help the many suffering,” says Avrohom Weinstock, Chief of Staff and Associate Director of Education for Agudath Israel. “After speaking with infectious disease experts, we were advised that the downsides of plasma donations are minimal and, with drugs and vaccines far from development, plasma therapy seemed logical to pursue. With that, we began encouraging our eligible constituents to donate plasma on [Wednesday,] April 1.”

It is a mitzvah of the Torah to count the days between Pesach and Shavuos – for Shavuos marks the calendar date when Hashem gave us the Torah. Although Iyar does not contain many holidays, every single day of the month is included in the S’firas HaOmer counting. S’firas HaOmer is a period of serious introspection and self-refinement, as we prepare ourselves to receive the Torah anew on Shavuos. Each day of Iyar represents another step in this spiritual journey toward Sinai.