News

With stories compiled by BYQ staff and students, past and present

 Sometimes a gem lies in our midst for so long that we grow accustomed to its glow; only when its setting stands empty do we recognize the full brilliance it cast all along. Queens has been crowned with a jewel so dazzling and radiant that its light continues to shine – not despite her absence, but because her brilliance was powerful enough to leave a lasting glow. Queens, and more specifically the Bais Yaakov Academy of Queens, was blessed with the presence of Morah Binah Kasirer a”h for nearly four decades. During that time, countless students, teachers, and staff members were uplifted simply by standing close to her warmth, clarity, and sparkle.

Moving into our newly purchased house on Sunday, June 3, 1973, our first task was to kasher a kitchen that had been used for five years by the previous owners. This activity required rabbinical supervision. I dialed the number of Rabbi Yaakov (Jay) Marcus of the Young Israel of Staten Island (YISI) and explained our predicament. Although we had never met, he said he would be right over. Before I put the phone back into its cradle (pre-cell phones), the doorbell rang and Rabbi Marcus came into our house and, more importantly, into our lives.

Every Friday morning, after davening in Morah Kasirer’s homeroom class, was set aside as a time for all of us to share hashgachah pratis stories that we experienced over the week. Our class enjoyed this time a lot and naturally began to look out for and notice the hashgachah in our lives so we could share it with the class – and, of course, take as much class time as we could doing so. Morah Kasirer always patiently gave us all the time we wanted, because to her — and eventually to us as well – talking about Hashem’s hashgachah was never a waste of time.

This past Sunday, Pirchei Moshe Nechemia of Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill, named in memory of longtime askan and baal chesed Moshe Sukenik z”l, held its annual Pre-Chanukah Mesibah – and, baruch Hashem, it was a huge success. Over 100 boys from Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, and Kew Gardens Hills joined together for a night full of ruach, leibidikeit, and achdus, making it a truly special evening for everyone.

It’s been a full year since you’ve left,

Got called to Shamayim, the Olam HaEmes.

You thought your absence wouldn’t be felt,

But the weight of your loss is strongly dealt.

In this week’s parshah, we follow the beginning of Yosef HaTzadik’s challenging journey. From being the beloved son of Yaakov Avinu to being thrown into a bor and sold into slavery, Yosef’s life changes in an instant. Yet the Torah reveals something extraordinary: Even in the darkest moments, “Vayehi Hashem es Yosef” (B’reishis 39:2).