News

In this week’s parshah, Parshas Balak, we read about the plot of Balak, the king of Moav, who sought to harm klal Yisrael by enlisting the services of the rasha Bil’am. Recognizing that physical warfare would be futile against the am s’gulah, Balak attempted a spiritual attack, hoping Bil’am’s curses would succeed where swords could not.

Emet kicked off the summer with an unforgettable Shabbaton in Passaic, as a group of dedicated jHealth students from Queens College and Adelphi University joined staff for a memorable Shabbos experience. They were welcomed by Emet’s Campus Director Rabbi Reuven Kigel and his wife Devorah, who have been sharing the beauty of Shabbos with Emet students for over 18 years. “The summer Shabbatons are always my favorite, since they are not centered around a mandatory Fellowship program, but participants come simply because they want to experience a Shabbos with us in Passaic. It’s totally lishmah, and as a result, there is always tremendous growth for all those involved – students and staff alike,” Rabbi Kigel said.

Rabbi Shlomo Goldfarb, a Major in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), spent 22 months on the front lines and in Lebanon, offering spiritual support and guidance to Israeli soldiers. On Thursday, July 3, he spoke at Congregation Machane Chodosh in Forest Hills about his experiences and insights.

In a powerful display of unity, tradition, and song, Ohr Natan and the Queens Jewish Community Council (QJCC) hosted the 34^th Annual Salute to the Russian-Speaking Jewish Community Festival on Sunday, June 29. The event took place at Ohr Natan’s Briarwood shul, drawing a spirited crowd from Queens’ deeply rooted Bukharian and Russian-speaking Jewish communities.

Misaskim recently hosted a moving ribbon-cutting ceremony in Lawrence celebrating the dedication of a new van that will strengthen the organization’s growing efforts in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway communities. The June 4 gathering, hosted at the home of Michael and Michelle Edery, brought together donors, volunteers, and supporters for an evening of gratitude, unity, and chesed.

When life-and-death decisions are on the line, who guides us through life’s hardest medical choices—in real time? How does halacha respond to the complex realities of modern medicine and today’s increasingly fraught healthcare system?