Khal Adas Yereim of Kew Gardens marked its 77th annual Tu BiShvat mesibah on Sunday evening, February 1, in the Bais Brachah Simcha Hall: a gathering that felt both familiar and deeply meaningful, as generations of mispalelim came together to perpetuate a mesorah their fathers and grandfathers have cherished for decades.
Long tables set with an array of fruits, pastries, and refreshments filled the room in keeping with Tu BiShvat, the Rosh HaShanah LaIlanot. B’nei Torah of all ages – longtime members, younger families, and guests – sat side by side in a spirit of kavod and achdus, engaged in quiet conversation and Torah discussion. The atmosphere reflected what Khal Adas Yereim has long been known for: seriousness in avodas Hashem, warmth in derech eretz, and a palpable chashivus for tradition.
Rav Avrohom Moshe Chaim Wolpin, mara d’asra of the shul, presided from the head table. His very presence set the tenor of the evening: dignified, measured, and firmly rooted in Torah values. The Rav framed the mesibah not as a mere seasonal observance, but as a moment of chizuk: a time to reflect on growth, patience, and the responsibility of building something enduring in a Torah community.
The guest speaker of the evening was Rabbi Naftali Reich. Rabbi Reich serves as a Torah educator and faculty member at Ohr Somayach Tanenbaum Education Center in Monsey, New York. A graduate of Gateshead Talmudic College, he received s’michah from Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood and is widely known for his teaching and written Torah commentary through Ohr Somayach’s Legacy program and Torah.org platforms. In his address, Rabbi Reich drew powerful parallels between the growth of trees and the growth of a k’hilah – emphasizing that deep roots, consistent effort, and faith in Hashem yield lasting fruits, both personally and communally.
The night’s honoree was Mr. Nigel Collins, who was recognized by the shul at the mesibah in appreciation of his connection to and support of the Khal Adas Yereim community.
In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Collins cited the legendary maggid, mohel, author, and longtime Kew Gardens resident Rabbi Paysach Krohn, who is fond of saying that “the greatest city in the world is Kew Gardens.” In a room filled with generations of devoted mispalelim, the truth of that sentiment was vividly apparent.
What perhaps stood out most about the evening was its intergenerational feel. Grandfathers sat with sons and grandsons; veteran members warmly welcomed newer families; familiar faces filled familiar seats. In that sense, the mesibah itself became a living lesson in continuity – a reminder that Torah communities grow strongest when each generation stands shoulder to shoulder with the next.
As the program concluded, Rav Wolpin offered a heartfelt brachah that the k’hilah should continue to flourish like the trees of Eretz Yisrael: deeply rooted, steadily growing, and bearing sweet fruit for the future.
For 77 years, this Tu BiShvat Mesibah has been far more than a date on the calendar. It has been a yearly affirmation of what Khal Adas Yereim represents: enduring mesorah, steadfast Torah values, and a community bound together by emunah and m’siras nefesh.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
