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On Tuesday night, November 30, the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills held a Siyum HaMishnah in commemoration of the first yahrzeit of Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld, HaRav Mordechai Shraga Feivel ben Shmuel Shabsai HaLevi. Eighty-five people, including several of Rabbi Schonfeld’s children, grandchildren, and other relatives attended in person. More than 60 participated by Zoom. The event was chaired by Dr. David Levenson, who also coordinated the learning of Mishnah of Seder Moed Maseches Chagigah by 58 men, some of whom told him, “Even though I don’t usually learn on a regular basis, I want to do this to show hakaras ha’tov to Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld.”

A WhatsApp group of eight-to-ten minutes a day completed the Talmud tractate of Megillah. The Young Israel of Forest Hills celebrated with a siyum and a Chanukah party on Wednesday, December 1. Rabbi Shmuel Marcus of the Young Israel of Queens Valley, who is president of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, was the guest speaker.

The National Council of Young Israel issued the following statement congratulating Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt, who was selected by the White House to light the Chanukah menorah last Wednesday evening alongside President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff. Rabbi Dr. Glatt is Associate Rabbi at the Young Israel of Woodmere, and he is an expert in infectious diseases. He serves as a professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau (New York).

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“It is wonderful to see a renowned Jewish community leader and accomplished medical professional who is also a distinguished rabbi at one of our branch synagogues being honored to light the Chanukah menorah at the White House. Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt has been a valuable medical advisor to the greater Jewish community throughout this pandemic and was at the forefront of our community’s COVID vaccination efforts. His wisdom and insight helped guide the Jewish community through an extremely turbulent time and helped us skillfully navigate complex issues pertaining to the virus and its proliferation.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt for all that he has done and for all that he will undoubtedly continue doing for the health and welfare of the greater community, and we wish him Mazal Tov on the tremendous honor that has been bestowed upon him by the White House. We also offer our thanks to the President and First Lady and the Vice President and Second Gentleman for recognizing the critical role that Rabbi Dr. Glatt plays in the American Jewish community by inviting him to kindle the White House menorah.”

The Young Israel of New Hyde Park celebrated simchas Chanukah with holiday treats and divrei Torah. The shul also hosted a Sunday morning breakfast to coincide with Rosh Chodesh. At the program, a siyum on the first volume of Talmud Yerushalmi Masekhes Sheviis was recited. This celebration culminated the most recent portion of the shul’s longstanding “Sunday-morning Shiur.” This week, the shul’s rav, Rabbi Lawrence Teitelman, also led the “4 Minutes of Torah” series recently established by the Department of Synagogue Services for the National Council of Young Israel. These classes include a short four-minute thought on the parshah or inyanei d’’yoma shown via video led by a rabbi of Young Israel’s network of branch rabbanim. Join close to 20,000 Young Israelites in learning and enjoying these classes by signing up at www.youngisrael.org/signup4minutestorah.

On Sunday, November 21, The Rabbinical Seminary of America-Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim held its 88^th Annual Dinner and Chag Hasemicha. The Dinner took place at Terrace on the Park in Queens and was attended by close to 800 people. The evening was a tremendous kidush Hashem. The event was charged with feelings of pride in the Yeshiva’s past accomplishments, and inspiration and chizuk to continue the holy mission of the Yeshiva. 

On the final day of Chanukah, Project Lead, under the helm of Rabbi Avrohom Hecht, uplifted 94 Queens children on the afternoon of Monday, December 6, for a fun-filled ice skating trip sponsored by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. Here, a school bus of youth is seen boarding at K’hal Adas Yereim, Rav Wolpin’s shul.