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On Sunday, November 23, the Rabbinical Seminary of America, Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, held its 92^nd Annual Dinner and Chag HaSemichah at Terrace on the Park in Queens, New York. The dinner was sold out with attendance of over 1,200 people. The evening was a tremendous kiddush Hashem, filled with pride in the Yeshiva’s past accomplishments and renewed chizuk to continue its holy mission. This year’s dinner also marked a historic milestone for the Yeshiva, raising the most money in its history to support continued growth in learning and communal impact.

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.

Dr. Fred Naider

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.

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.

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).

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.