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The family fun has been ongoing all winter long at the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates. This past Motza’ei Shabbos, they wrapped up their winter season of Parent-Child Learning. Parents and grandparents come with their children and study in the newly refurbished beis midrash. Source material for the parshah is provided for those looking for deeper meaning, while others bring this week’s assignments. YIJE’s mara d’asra, Rabbi Dov Lerner, is on hand for anyone needing assistance or insight. The evening highlight is the pizza and raffles afterwards, where everyone is a winner!

A Saturday night out celebrated the beauty of a budding community when over 75 couples gathered for Emet’s Fellowship Alumni Couples Melaveh Malkah. Held at the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates, there was a feeling of family and friendship in the packed room. The warmth and connection came from years of building relationships between Emet’s students and staff.

Last week, the New York City Council made history and voted to pass a bill that will phase out the use of No. 4 heating oil by 2025 for schools and City-owned buildings, and by 2027 for private properties. This newly passed legislation fast-tracks the 2030 deadline for private and public buildings established by Local Law 38 in 2015. Intro 0470, authored and introduced by New York City Council Member James F. Gennaro, Chair of the New York City Council’s Committee on Environmental Protection, will also raise the minimum and maximum penalties for burning a prohibited fuel oil after the phase-out dates.

Tucked away on the corner of Daniels Road in Briarwood, Yeshiva Etzion fills with young men arriving for night learning with Rabbi Avraham Gaon.  Twenty years ago, Rabbi Gaon began the yeshiva as a place for anyone who wanted to learn and grow in their Judaism.  Today, two decades later, its original mission statement of “No Jew Left Behind” hasn’t changed; their purpose is to inject of love of Torah and learning into everyone not in yeshiva - yet.   “I meet people where they are,” Rabbi Gaon explains.  “So, the yeshiva doesn’t give a bechina (entrance exam) as a prerequisite of entry. Coming every day to learn, coming on time, that’s the bechina.”

This week, Agudath Israel led a delegation of Orthodox Jewish advocates from the Long Island and Queens areas to Albany to advocate for our community’s needs. This was the second installment of Agudath Israel’s three annual advocacy missions to Albany, which give community representatives the opportunity to speak to their legislators about issues of concern to New York’s Orthodox Jewish communities.

(Courtesy of YU) As eighth graders eagerly await acceptance letters, The Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy/Yeshiva University High School for Boys is gearing up for a busy spring recruitment season.