News

Mrs. Hadassah Waxman, Program Director of the Shiur HaChodesh, a monthly program of advanced shiurim for women by women, welcomed an overflow crowd to Congregation Etz Chaim for the first lecture of the season on Wednesday evening, September 18. She thanked all the gracious sponsors of the evening, which included the following: Marshall and Lisa Joffe (in memory of Lisa’s father) and the supporters-in-part, Linda Baron-Katz (in memory of her grandfather) and The Women’s Initiative of the OU, as well as the sponsor of the refreshments: Marilynne Vogel (in memory of her mother).

A large, eager crowd gathered at the Young Israel of Forest Hills on Wednesday night, September 11, to hear Rabbi Ashie Schreier, rav of the Young Israel of Forest Hills, and Rabbi Shay Schachter, Rosh Beis HaMidrash at the Young Israel of Woodmere, speak on emunah in the face of tragedy.

On Wednesday evening, September 4, community members gathered at the home of Michael and Gila Rollhaus in Kew Gardens Hills for a Zionist Organization of America meeting focused on fighting anti-Semitism in Congress.

On Tuesday evening, September 3, Shira Smiles shared an inspiring shiur for women at the Young Israel of Holliswood. She noted how Elul always coincides with the beginning of the school year. The Satan knows we get distracted with technicalities of school so we have no time to focus on Elul. “Coming here tonight for a shiur says I want to learn and grow and come into Rosh HaShanah prepared and ready.”

On Wednesday evening, August 28, community women gathered at Congregation Beth El in Hillcrest for the first of an eight-class series of lectures on the Shabbos home (hilchos Shabbos). The next seven classes will be held at the Emet Outreach center at185-12 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, NY 11366. There will be four or five classes before Rosh HaShanah and the rest will follow after Sukkos.

Why is the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza located in Maseches Gittin? Rabbi Moshe Schwerd, well-known maggid shiur and speaker, spoke to a packed audience on Tish’ah B’Av at Congregation Ahavas Yisroel. He shared many interesting ideas about the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza, and he offered practical take-away lessons. The Churban is like a divorce, so this story is placed in Maseches Gittin. However, it’s not found in the perek with divorce issues, but it is in a perek that tells about how to make restitution for damages. This teaches that the Churban is only a damage. Ultimately, Hashem will make restitution and we will be able to rebuild the Beis HaMikdash, so that is why the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza is in this section of the Gemara.