Community Corner

At a time when the news is filled with future members of the Trump Administration, the most effective former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, spoke at the Great Neck Synagogue to a packed audience of almost 500 attendees. Organized by Marc and Davida Yehaskel, the nephew and niece of Ambassador David and his wife Tammy Friedman and grandchildren of philanthropists Jean and Eugen Gluck, the event featured a lineup of distinguished local figures, and underscored the pressing challenges and opportunities facing Israel and the broader Jewish community during these tumultuous times.

Chazaq, a leading Jewish organization dedicated to strengthening Jewish identity and enriching Jewish education, had the distinct honor of hosting Rabbi David Lau, former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, at its headquarters in KGH.

On Wednesday evening, November 13, Chazaq hosted its highly anticipated Mega Challah Bake at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, in partnership with the global Shabbos Project. Hundreds of women of all ages attended this uplifting event, designed to celebrate and rediscover the beauty of Shabbos. The evening featured words of inspiration from Mrs. Jackie Bitton and an exclusive challah-baking demonstration by Mrs. Dalia Cohen, creating a night filled with meaning, connection, and tradition.

The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), representing over 2,500 traditional, Orthodox rabbis in American public policy, responded to the quote attributed to Pope Francis that “According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide.”

When it isn’t a game day, the Mets-Willets Point subway station on the 7 Subway Line sees few passengers, and the owners of the Queens baseball team have dreams of a casino, or at least an entertainment complex on the massive parking lot next to Citi Field. Among the advertisements on the platform wall is for The Amazing Alan Malakov: Magician, Mentalist, Hypnotist. While a casino at Willets Point is only an illusion for now, this Bukharian magician has experience in casinos, among other venues.

This year, the Rabbinical Seminary of America / Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim is privileged to honor a unique couple, Dr. Andrew and Dr. Alma Klein. For over 35 years, their pediatric practice has been the backbone for so many in our community.