News

In a departure from Met Council’s traditional annual legislative breakfast the morning of the parade, this year began with the harrowing personal account of Michal Ohana, a survivor of the Nova Massacre. Michal spoke in tears about the day she was shot and left for dead to a sold-out audience of over 400 leaders, including 75 elected officials at the city, state, and federal levels.

The Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills is pleased to announce the lineup of speakers for the 18^th annual Summer Shabbos Afternoon Lecture Series. All lectures are held in the Beis Midrash one hour before Minchah.

I. Preparing for Shabbos

The key to success in anything you do is preparation. You want to ace a job interview? You need many things to succeed but if you prepare, if you research the company and practice answering common questions, then with siyata di-Shmaya (divine assistance) you have a much better chance of getting the job. You want to cook a fabulous dinner for many guests? Try out different recipes in advance and make sure you have all the ingredients you need. More importantly, in advance of a Yom Tov, prepare by learning the laws, customs and ideas of that holiday. If we all begin preparing thirty days before a holiday, as the Gemara (Pesachim 6a) says we should, we would enter the Yom Tov full of Torah insights, ready to observe the holiday to its fullest.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has heard our concern of rampant illegal scooters borough-wide. Her office partnered with the NYPD on a four-day operation last week and successfully seized unregistered, uninsured, and illegally parked scooters in Queens. This operation resulted in more than 100 scooters being removed as part of the Queens DA’s efforts to enhance community safety. Illegal scooters are an affront to law-abiding New Yorkers who take the time to register, insure, and maintain their vehicles.

In our daily lives, the fulfillment of one mitzvah often paves the way for another. This principle is vividly illustrated in Parshas B’Haaloscha, where the unique mitzvah of Pesach Sheini is introduced.

This past week, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz’s office seized an unlicensed mobile cannabis dispensary, known as “The Green Empress,” on the corner of 43^rd Street and Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside. The confiscated product from the truck was not only unlicensed and unregulated, but it was also heavily marketed toward children with names such as “Skittles” and “Gummy Sharks,” and packaging nearly identical to snacks popular with school children. The vehicle’s owner was charged with unlawful sale and unlawful possession of cannabis for allegedly operating the illegal business.