Community Corner

Emet’s Women’s Division rose to the occasion with a motivational and meaningful challah bake. Over 150 mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends gathered in solidarity to “knead, connect, and pray” for Am Yisrael. Held at the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates, the décor featured a Kotel backdrop to evoke Yerushalayim and there were many impactful touches that added to the emotion of the night. It was clear that this was not a typical challah bake since, aside from ingredients, each table displayed framed photos of chayalim who lost their lives in the war.

Shuva Israel Queens Celebrates 16 Years Of Service

Shuva Israel of Queens welcomed Admor Rav Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto shlita, the famed kabbalist, Chief Rabbi of Morocco, and president of their synagogue. The rare gathering filled the newly expanded beis ha’k’neses at the corner of 70^th Road and 147^th Street in Kew Gardens Hills to capacity, with many standing in the vestibule. This marked the 20 Teves hilula of two Moroccan g’dolim of yesteryear, Rav Yaakov Abuchatzera “the Abir Yaakov” z”ya (d. 1880), and Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon “The Rambam” z”ya (d. 1204). Admor Pinto is a direct descendant of the Abir Yaakov. The Rambam, a 12^th-century physician, astronomer, and philosopher, left a legacy of halachic teachings and insight into shidduchim included within his works on Jewish law and ethics.

In Parshas VaEira, Hashem commanded Moshe to first warn Pharaoh about the impending plague. Moshe told Pharaoh that if he refused to free the Jews to serve Hashem, “So said Hashem, ‘In this you shall know that I am Hashem.’ Behold, I am going to strike with the staff that is in my hand upon the water that is in the river and it shall turn to blood.” After warning Pharaoh, Moshe is then commanded, “Tell Aharon, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt…’” Why does Hashem specify that Aharon should be the one to initiate the plague? In addition, this pattern is repeated with the next two plagues – frogs and lice.

On Thursday, December 14, Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15) basked in a new bill of the creation of a new Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords, which he introduced and passed through the House of Representatives with fellow New York Congressman Mike Lawyer (District 17). The bill has since passed through Congress through the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024. “The Abraham Accords are an affirmation that peace is possible, which must be protected and strengthened,” wrote Torres in a statement.

Rabbi Pesach Lerner, Chairman of Eretz HaKodesh, pictured on the left, met with Aviv Ezra, Acting Consul General of Israel in New York. Recently, Rabbi Lerner met with Tzipi Hotovely, Ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom, at her London residence. The dignitaries shared meaningful talks on advancing the causes and values sacred to the religious Jews.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday, January 2, by Supreme Court Administrative Judge Donna-Marie Golia. The ceremony, held in the Helen Marshall Cultural Center at Queens Borough Hall, was attended by some 200 staff and justices. The DA’s youngest son, Hunter, held the copy of the Old Testament used for the swearing in.