An extraordinary evening of Torah, inspiration, and communal unity filled Beis Yosef D’Ulem on Sunday night, May 17, as members of the Kew Gardens Hills community gathered for the KGH Rosh Chodesh Yarchei Kallah featuring Rabbi Dovid Schustal, Rosh HaYeshivah of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood.
The evening opened with organized learning and distributed source material, as attendees immersed themselves in the sugya in anticipation of the shiur. Rabbi Dovid Kurz of Yeshiva Ketana of Queens delivered heartfelt opening remarks, speaking about the significance of seeing so many segments of the neighborhood come together with a shared desire to hear words of Torah from one of the generation’s leading roshei yeshivah.
Born into a distinguished Torah family, Rav Schustal is the son-in-law of Rabbi Shneur Kotler zt”l, and grandson-in-law of Rabbi Aharon Kotler zt”l, the architect of postwar American Torah Judaism. Following Rav Shneur’s passing in 1982, Rav Schustal became part of the collective leadership that helped guide Beth Medrash Govoha into a global center of Torah scholarship, shaping generations of b’nei Torah who now serve Jewish communities worldwide.
Interwoven into the analytical portions of the shiur were Rav Schustal’s reflections on the spiritual challenges confronting the Jewish people today. Speaking emotionally about the current state of the world, the Rosh HaYeshivah described a generation witnessing both increasing hostility toward traditional values and unprecedented dedication to sustaining Torah institutions. Referencing major fundraising efforts undertaken on behalf of the olam haTorah, Rav Schustal spoke passionately about the remarkable commitment shown by Jews from across the spectrum who continue stepping forward to strengthen yeshivos during difficult times. He described the present era as one of tremendous tests, but also one marked by extraordinary growth in ahavas haTorah.
For many younger attendees, the opportunity to hear directly from the Rosh HaYeshivah carried particular significance. Numerous local families maintain close ties to Lakewood, with sons and grandchildren currently learning in Beth Medrash Govoha and its affiliated yeshivos. In one of the evening’s most memorable moments, Rav Schustal took time before departing to individually sign end-of-year achievement certificates for all 28 talmidim in Rabbi Dovid Kurz’s seventh-grade class.
Following the shiur, Rav Schustal remained for Maariv. Even afterward, despite the large crowd surrounding him, he patiently greeted those who approached, offering personal brachos, encouragement, and moments of connection to community members young and old. What made the gathering especially striking was the broad coalition of participating k’hilos and rabbanim who joined together in support of the initiative. Represented groups included Agudath Israel of Kew Gardens Hills led by Rabbi Moshe Sokoloff, Congregation Ahavas Yisroel under Rabbi Herschel Welcher, Congregation Charm Circle with Rabbi Yaniv Meirov, Beis Medrash Zichron Shalom led by Rabbi Eitan Tanenbaum, Bet Midrash Ohel Michael under Rabbi Yonah Nisanov, Kehillas KGH led by Rabbi Ilan Feder and Rabbi Yisroel Kramer, Kehillat Ohr HaTorah with Rabbi Rafael Zavulunov, and the Young Israel of Queens Valley under Rabbi Shmuel Marcus.
The diverse assembly put on full display the unique makeup of Kew Gardens Hills: bringing together yeshivah families, young professionals, longtime residents, and both Ashkenazic and Sephardic communities under a single roof. Long after the program wrapped up, groups of people still stood outside on the sidewalk, reviewing the points of the shiur and talking about what a special night it was for the neighborhood.
