Community Corner

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.

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

I recently met with Tami Frank, a Queens community member and Circling leader, to discuss something that she discovered that has had a great impact on her life.  The subject she wanted me to share is called Circling (also known as Interactive Talking Meditation).  It is an organic, in-the-moment interpersonal process that’s equal parts art form, meditation, and group conversation – all designed to allow a visceral experience of connection and understanding of another person’s world, celebrating who and where they are right now.

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.

On Sunday evening, June 6, Chazaq hosted a virtual shiur for ladies featuring Sarah Chana Radcliffe, well-known author, speaker, and therapist, on the topic of how to fight right. She shared valuable strategies and insights that can help everyone’s shalom bayis.