News

Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, Rabbi of the Chabad of Poway, whose synagogue was attacked by a terrorist gunman on the last day of Pesach, will be the featured speaker at the annual Yom Yerushalayim celebration dinner of American Friends of Ateret Cohanim/Jerusalem Chai. The dinner is the main fundraising event of the American Friends, whose support is critical to the work of Ateret Cohanim in the so-called Muslim and Christian Quarters of East Jerusalem. For nearly four decades, Ateret Cohanim has painstakingly brought Jewish life back (inch by inch) to the areas that became “Jundenrein” after the fall of the Old Yishuv in the 1948 War of Independence. The dinner will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Marriot Marquis in midtown Manhattan on Thursday night, May 30.

For a small country, Israeli society can appear as very divided, with sharp contrasts based on religious and political differences. One such controversy involves military service, which is compulsory for all Jewish citizens with the exception of full-time yeshivah students. Educator Tzila Schneider grew up in the Meah Shearim neighborhood of Jerusalem, surrounded by Torah, mitzvos, and anti-Zionism. “My father was a Slonimer chasid and my other neighbor was Rav Elyashiv zt”l. I feel from my history how this wall grew between the chareidi and secular communities.” Her father taught his children to express gratitude for the Israeli army that protects them from hostile armies and terrorists.

Yachad will be hosting its second annual gala dinner at the Sephardic Temple in Cedarhurst on Wednesday, June 12, at 6:30 p.m. The 2019 Yachad gala will honor Lauri and Lewis Barbanel, Martha and Howard Hershkovich, and Tani Sussman with The UPS Store, Financial District.

In the wake of the Pittsburgh and Poway shootings, Jewish Communal Fund is working with its partners at UJA-Federation of New York and the Jewish Community Relations Council, along with the Paul E. Singer Foundation, to help strengthen the security and safety of Jewish institutions in New York.

The pro-Israel activist effort succeeded. On Monday night, the Board of Directors of the Redeemer Episcopal Church in Astoria voted to postpone “until further notice” the anti-Israel event titled “Celebrating Palestinian Resistance” after an outcry from pro-Israel activists led by local resident Zelig Krymko. “When the pastor saw how much this could hurt the church and how the majority of the board members are against it, he canceled it,” Krymko said.” Apparently, families in the community complained when they learned details about the speakers.”

Jewish community leaders met with Queens Borough President Melinda Katz Sunday to thank her for assisting and supporting many Jewish nonprofit organizations while representing the community as an Assemblymember, Councilmember, and as Borough President. They also discussed current issues facing the Queens Jewish community and how Katz will stand up for her constituants as District Attorney.