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Chabad on Campus of Queens hosted an evening for women that was both holy and intimate. Noted author and lecturer Mrs. Rivka Slonim addressed the topic of mikveh and intimacy. Her lecture was clear, down-to-earth, Jewish, and utterly genuine. Slonim touched on the great sacrifices that Jewish women have made through the ages for mikveh, from the times of Masada to modern-day Israel.

On Sunday, May 10, Project Lead held an extremely uplifting and successful couples event at Simcha Palace in Kew Gardens Hills. Several dozen couples from the Bukharian Jewish community participated in the event. The featured speaker was Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, a noted clinical social worker, college professor, and author, who presented his 13 Beliefs in maintaining marital harmony. He urged couples to be more sensitive to their spouses and other family members and provide praise and positive reinforcement on an ongoing basis. The evening included a four-course dinner, special Mother’s Day gifts, and a photo booth that provided color photograph mementos. The event was coordinated by Naama Asherova, a Family Services Coordinator at Project Lead.

The Coalition for Jewish Values, representing over 2,500 traditional, Orthodox rabbis in American public policy, Monday expressed strong support for the Israel Security Assistance Support Act, introduced over the weekend by House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA). This bill will block efforts by the Biden administration to withhold key weapons systems from Israel if it conducts large-scale operations in the Gazan city of Rafah. Israel has said that entering the city is required in order to dismantle the remaining Hamas battalions holed up in tunnels beneath it.

On Sunday night, May 5, the Lido Beach Synagogue celebrated its 57th Annual Dinner at the Lawrence Yacht and Country Club.  Over 140 people attended to pay tribute to Susan and Michael (Meir) Solomon, and recognize the 10 Shul members, including Mr. Solomon, who served in the IDF. The other nine heroes are: Amir Anah, Yigdal Brucker, Isaac Cohen, Izzy Fried, Paul Grosman, Dr. Rachel Lowinger, Haim Marcovici, Leibi Marcovici, and Jarrod Mittan, whose service to the Jewish Homeland collectively spans 7 decades. Three of the above returned to serve after October 7. The dinner was a resounding success! In addition to Lido Beach Synagogue’s acclaimed diverse membership, many non-members attended as well to support the synagogue and the honorees.

Jews lived in a beautiful bubble, thinking we were not subject to anti-Semitism. The Holocaust seemed “like it was a world away.” “We have been proven wrong,” said Dr. Henry Abramson at the Queens Jewish Center’s annual Israel Memorial and Independence Day Commemoration on Monday, May 13.

It was a welcome break from studying for finals when 130 local college students joined Emet Outreach for a meaningful Shabbaton in Jamaica Estates. Diligently planned by the St. John’s University Jewish Student Association, the annual Shabbaton brought simcha and spirituality in these challenging times. “The Shabbaton was such a beautiful experience and I’m so proud of JSA’s Executive Board for their hard work in making it happen,” said Sara Basiratmand Benyamin, Emet Program Director. “Emet was happy to provide Shabbos programming and support, but this Shabbaton was run by the students for the students. JSA also invited friends from other colleges, which made everyone feel connected.”