Susie Garber

 On Monday night, the sixth night of Chanukah, December 30, community members gathered at the Young Israel of Hillcrest to hear a shiur titled “Chanukah: Finding Clarity,” delivered by Rabbi Jonathan Rietti in memory of Sarah Belka bas Reuven Serle, as well as “Brachah bas Yevel,” “Yosef Chaim ben Bity,” and for a r’fuah sh’leimah for “Nekadam bas Bonu,” and for a shidduch for Yonatan ben Osnas. The shiur was hosted by Chazaq.

 Bikur Cholim of Queens featured Mrs. Dina Schoonmaker on Sunday night, December 8, at Congregation Ahavas Yisroel. Community women gathered to hear an inspiring shiur on the attitude of gratitude during challenging times and during wartime.

On Monday, January 1, Rav Noach Isaac Oelbaum shlita, Rav of Khal Nachlas Yitzchok, delivered a beautiful shiur on this legal holiday to the community. The Greeks wanted to stop B’nei Yisrael from learning Torah; and yet, because of the Greeks, so much Torah is learned on Chanukah. The Chasam Sofer encouraged everyone to learn more Torah on every day of Chanukah. It’s a time of thanks and praise. Chanukah was the time when Hashem revealed the secrets of the Torah to Moshe Rabbeinu. We see how special it is to learn Torah and to do avodas Hashem during Chanukah.

The Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld Adult Education Center featured a virtual talk on “Scams and Frauds” on Wednesday evening, December 11. Rabbi Stuart Verstandig, former president of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, welcomed everyone. He shared how this time of year anyone can become a victim, so the shul wanted to sponsor this talk to help protect our community from scams and frauds. Dimitris Gizas, Assistant District Attorney in the Queens District Attorney’s Office, shared some of the most common scams and frauds we are seeing in Queens. He said, “Be aware and be empowered to protect yourself and your family and friends.”

On Tuesday evening, December 17, the Navigating the Medical System Lecture Series spotlighted a semi-annual virtual lecture on the newest things in medicine, hosted by Congregation Etz Chaim. Dr. Mel Breite, Founder and Director of the lecture series, was the featured speaker. He greeted everyone and shared that the lecture would be partly a musar lesson.

On Wednesday night, December 18, the Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld Adult Education Center of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, featured a vital virtual talk on the problem of anti-Semitism at Yale University and across the country on college campuses.