Community Corner

On Sunday, July 15, Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein shared an inspiring shiur on the value of one second in this world. He began by quoting from a mishnah in Pirkei Avos that teaches that one moment of doing t’shuvah and good deeds in this world is better than the Next World. Also, one second of spiritual bliss in the Next World is worth more than everything else in this world. This appears contradictory.

On Monday evening, July 21, Rebbetzin Devorah Kigel, well-known speaker, shared a life-changing virtual shiur on behalf of Emet Outreach.

On Sunday evening, July 11, Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin, former CEO of Agriprocessors, and Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, publisher and editor of the Yated Ne’eman newspaper, shared an uplifting shiur on behalf of Coach Menachem. Reb Sholom began with explaining the essence of emunah. It is not only belief that Hashem is the Creator. Emunah is belief in Hashem’s unity. It means never feeling alone and realizing that everything that happens is from Hashem. We need to know that there is no strength besides Hashem. Avraham Avinu knew that everything was a test and everything that happened was through Divine providence.

Phyllis Blackman, well-known shadchan of Hineni (the organization founded by Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis’ zt”l), has written meaningful songs and performed them on her wonderful children’s CDs, and now she has branched out and published her first picture book for children, ages 3-8.

Sadly, Mashiach is not here yet and we could not celebrate Tish’ah B’Av as a happy holiday. However, It was made uplifting and inspiring by the many wonderful shiurim available in person and online. This year’s Chazaq Tish’ah B’Av Marathon featured the following speakers: Charlie Harary, Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein, Rabbi Akiva Rutenberg, Rabbi Benzion Klatzko, Rabbi Israel Itzhakov, Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier. Rabbi Yaakov Rahimi, Rabbi Jonathan Rietti, Rabbi Ilan Meirov, Rabbi Yitzchok Oelbaum, Rabbi Duvi Bensoussan, Rabbi Paysach Krohn, Rabbi Akiva Klein, Rabbi Yaakov Mizrahi, Rabbi Daniel Glatstein, Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser, and Rabbi Yigal Haimoff. Bukharian Rabbi Yitzchak Yisraeli was scheduled to speak but he was unable to attend.

On Monday evening, June 28, Rabbi Avraham Nissanian spoke on behalf of Eshel Avraham on the subject of wishing to live another person’s life.  He began by speaking about the difficult events recently that all involved choking.  The pandemic involved a deadly virus that caused choking, the people in Meron died of choking, and in the shul in Yerushalayim and now in the building collapse in Surfside.  We are being sent so many reminders from Hashem that we all need to find our own happiness, which is right under our noses. We need to stop thinking that the grass is greener for others.  Lack of achdus causes collapses.