Shabsie Saphirstein

We have a moral obligation to protect Israel. Former Secretary of State and former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Mike Pompeo upheld this duty to the “nth degree.” “I knew that the deeper the ties between the United States and Israel, the more likely I would be at protecting America, American prosperity, and American security,” stated Pompeo.

On Sunday evening, March 13, Dr. Elie and Golda Fried opened their home in honor of Congress Member Grace Meng in what has become an annual event on behalf of NORPAC. Always on the mission to promote and further the US-Israel relationship through fundraising efforts for Senators and Members of the House of Representatives who support the cause, NORPAC keeps its membership alert through emails and their annual Mission to Washington, this year presented virtually on the week of May 9. The May mission, chaired in part by Kew Gardens Hills resident David Steinberg of Summit Funding, will include meetings discussing critical issues affecting the US-Israel relationship with over 400 Congressional offices. Other issues set to be discussed include crucial security aid to Israel, how best to counter Iran, and combating anti-Semitism.

Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation takes pride in the Jewish senior community of Queens. To celebrate the holiday of Purim, the administration of the facility coordinated the distribution of 450 mishloach manos to local seniors. Led by on-site rabbi Rabbi Zavel Pearlman, the staff bagged gifts for the residents of Boulevard ALP Assisted Living, Commonpoint Queens Central Queens (Formerly known as Central Queens Y), Young Israel of Forest Hills Senior Center, and Young Israel of Queens Valley Senior Center. Paul Kershon and his wife are residents of Forest Hills. Paul has a propensity to give back to his community and chose to spend his day assisting in the packaging effort as the best way to share the smiles and joys of celebration.

The Project Inspire Convention held this past weekend at the prestigious Armon Hotel & Conference in Stamford, Connecticut, was in true form inspiring. Project Inspire believes in creating a movement of unity and mutual inspiration by sharing the beauty and wisdom of our common heritage and the gift of the Torah with our fellow Jews by creating one friendship at a time.

On Thursday, March 10, Council Member James F. Gennaro, the Chazaq Organization, and Chaverim of Queens hosted a successful donation drive for Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Dozens of people came out to Chazaq’s Lev Aharon Community Food Pantry, a partnership with Met Council, in Kew Gardens Hills to donate items ranging from food to clothes to children’s toys. The drive is part of a borough-wide initiative spearheaded by Gennaro and Council Member Robert Holden.

At the 1997 Agudah convention, Rabbi Moshe Sherer announced the formation of Am Echad, with the intention to present Israeli leadership with a unified voice from American Orthodox Jewry and counter the propaganda of the Reform and Conservative movements. The rabbi soon led a mission with the theme of geirus. Rabbi Pesach Lerner, then executive vice president of the National Council of Young Israel, was the mission’s co-chairman. Rabbi Lerner has remained an active member and today is the Chairman of the Eretz HaKodesh party in the World Zionist Organization.