The Young Israel of Forest Hills filled to capacity as community members gathered to hear words of wisdom from Rabbi Shalom Arush on Wednesday evening, October 20. Soulful Jewish music played on guitar, and drums created a joyful spiritual mood. The event was hosted by Chazaq. Rabbi Arush spoke in Hebrew with a translator present.

On Tuesday, October 26, Rebbetzin Lisa Septimus, of the Young Israel of North Woodmere, spoke on a Zoom event, titled “Prisms of Positivity,” and hosted by UJA Federation New York And JWLC (Jewish Women’s Leadership Council of the Five Towns). This was part of a six-week virtual program featuring various Five Towns speakers. Each program consists of 15 minutes of inspiration followed by a 15-minute group discussion. Women can register at www.guraljcc.org/prisms-of-positivity/.

Have you ever tried to make a shidduch? It’s not easy. There is someone in our community who has made over 100 shidduchim. Sharon Ganz started her events approximately 25 years ago. She was living in Toronto, and she wanted to find a way to help singles meet new people. The problem with running events in one city was people were meeting the same people at the events. She ran her first Shabbaton in Toronto. This was followed by Shabbatonim in Montreal, Denver, Florida, Memphis, the Catskills, Los Angeles, New Jersey, and New York. Her goal was to bring people from different cities together so they would be new to each other.