Local

Promoting aliyah in Orthodox Jewish communities highlight visit
for Religious Zionist Party minister

Optimism for new joint ventures between America and Israel continue to dominate conversations barely a week after Religious Zionist Party MK Ofir Sofer, Israel’s Minister of Aliyah and Integration, made his first-ever visit to the States. Sofer, 47, whose appointment has a tremendous impact for the religious community resulted from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition. The reserved minister met with the leadership of the New York and Toronto Jewish Federations, notably joined the Orthodox Union in a touching Times Square Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony, participated in events and meetings organized by Nefesh B’Nefesh and the Jewish Agency, and visited several Orthodox Jewish communities including a number in the Tri-State region.

Tomchei Shabbos of Queens saw an increase of over 200 families from last Pesach, due to rising costs forcing working families to seek supplemental assistance.

Inspector Richie Taylor, Commanding Officer, Community Affairs Outreach for the NYPD organized the Annual NYPD Pre-Passover Security Briefing held this past Wednesday, March 29, at One Police Plaza, with the participation of Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell. The 45^th consecutive event, though smaller than previous years, drew ranking brass and NYC community leaders involved in local civic and quality of life concerns. Queens was well represented, with contingents from the 102nd, 107th, and 112th precincts attending.

The old World’s Fair grounds at Flushing Meadows Corona Park stands as one of the greatest homages to unity and universal imagination, so much so that our publication has incorporated the iconic Unisphere into our logo. Conceived under the theme of Peace Through Understanding, the globe was in the shadow of a brutal hate attack last month.

Leading elected officials visit the 200th Met Council distribution, an expansive undertaking feeding needy locals for Yom Tov

Hundreds of Pesach food packages were packed and distributed in Forest Hills this past Sunday afternoon, April 2, under the guidance of the Queens Jewish Community Council (QJCC), now entering its 55th year of service, for their annual pre-holiday distribution, a long-established resource for struggling Queens families. For the second year running, the Forest Hills Jewish Center hosted the monumental effort, feeding over 1,000 individuals, giving some 350 Queens families peace of mind ahead of Pesach. The day began early on Queens Boulevard just in front of MacDonald Park with a curbside drop off of pallets including holiday food staples: matzah, grape juice, and macaroons, as well as kosher for Passover cooking essentials like sugar, oil, and eggs that have notably skyrocketed in price. Frozen chicken and tuna were proteins provided, and produce including potatoes, onions, apples, and cabbage were all available courtesy of Met Council.

The annual Passover food distribution hosted by the Chazaq Organization and Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty was successfully held this past Tuesday, March 21, at the Lev Aharon Community Food Pantry on 72^nd Avenue in Kew Gardens Hills. The selfless dedication of these two organizations and their staff and volunteers brings out the best of our community as the Pesach holiday fast approaches. The distribution was once again headed by Aviv Simantov and his devoted helpers.