Local

In the aftermath of October 7, Jews worldwide sought opportunities to help the IDF defeat the enemy and assist the thousands upon thousands of kibbutz residents begin to recover as they return to reestablish their communities. For Kew Gardens Hills resident Dr. Jack Walfish, this journey led to Moshav Naveh, a moshav on the southern border five miles from Gaza and two miles from Egypt in the Halutza Sands desert. Its strictly religious population pays homage to Israel’s first Chief Rabbi, HaRav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook zt”l, and his son, HaRav Tzvi Yehuda zt”l. The consortium was established in 2006 in the aftermath of the Gush Katif disengagement; they settled in Naveh, continuing their belief of mishmar ha’gvul, defending the established borders of Artzeinu HaKedoshah with a peaceful living experience by reinvigorating the sacred soil with farming and agriculture production in regions greatly underpopulated.

The 2024 fiscal year budget cuts have dealt a terrible blow to the Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library systems. The just-announced mid-year budget cuts have sadly eliminated the well-regarded seven-day service citywide. This means that the coveted Sunday service at the vast majority of participating branches has been axed. The library system will also reduce spending on library materials, programming, building maintenance, and repairs. These cuts will be devastating to these essential services provided by the expansive library system.

Due to a rash of car break-ins and thefts, Queens Shmira is providing the following tips to safeguard your vehicle, in coordination with NYPD’s 107^th Precinct, under the stalwart leadership of Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Kevin Chan:

Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation held a festive Veteran’s Day celebration on Thursday afternoon, November 9, commemorating the sacrifice of service members, represented by a handful of resident veterans. The program once again featured the musical delight of The Melodeons, an all-senior, Queens-based chorus. The group enthusiastically sang varied classics from yesteryear, including marvelous solos, while dressed in showy top hats, bowties, cummerbunds, and suspenders. They showed their patriotic colors with the US and Israel national anthems.

The Thank You Hashem brand has successfully found volunteer hosts for their signature Mitzvah Corners to spread the light of mitzvos to all. Queens was proudly added to that list on Sunday, November 5. Naomi’s Pizza and Falafel’s expansive sukkah structure has had new life, first as a collection site for essentials for IDF troops, and now as the TYH Mitzvah Corner for two Sundays running. The Queens organizer, a vivacious young woman, sought to bring the program to Main Street as a way for children to make a profound kiddush Hashem by participating in the merits being stacked up as a z’chus for the chayalim on the frontlines and the citizens of Eretz Yisrael who have been displaced or put at risk of injury.

On Sunday, November 5, an extraordinary hachnosas sefer Torah was held in Kew Gardens Hills. The joy of the mitzvah was enhanced with the energetic music of singing sensation Avi Peretz and his keyboardist Ori Bitan as the joyous parade passed along 68th Drive across Main Street to 147th Street, until reaching 70th Road, where the Torah joined Shuva Israel of Queens. The final letters for the scroll were completed at the home of the rav, Rabbi Shimon Sadon shlit”a, and the celebration included the attendance of Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto shlit”a, the esteemed president and rav of the Shuva Yisrael community.