Susie Garber

On Sunday, October 3, Congregation Etz Chaim hosted an important mental health seminar virtually. Rabbi Moshe Rosenberg, rav of Congregation Etz Chaim, welcomed everyone. He shared the genesis of this program, which started with Mrs. Linda Baron Katz, community member and mental health advocate, who had the idea to do something significant during mental health awareness week. This program was dedicated in memory of her sister Susan Baum and her father-in-law Mr. Marty Katz. Malka and Moshe Cohen, community members, joined to help make this happen, and they also sponsored in memory of Moshe’s brother Jack.

On Sunday evening, September 12, Chazaq hosted a backyard parlor meeting in Kew Gardens Hills at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Laub.

This Simchas Torah, the program at Ahavas Torah in Scottsdale, Arizona, was unique, just like the shul and the Jewish community there. This shul hosts a vibrant, young community and many visitors and guests. There’s a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a strong connection to Torah and mitzvos. Rabbi Ariel Shoshan, the rav of Ahavas Torah, led a stirring Hallel that was so beautiful it would be hard to describe in words. I would say that it is worth a trip to Arizona just to hear Rabbi Shoshan lead Hallel.

On Tuesday evening, September 14, Mrs. Slovie Jungreis Wolff, internationally acclaimed speaker and parenting educator – and daughter of the famous speaker and writer Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis – shared an enlightening shiur at Congregation Ahavas Yisroel in memory of Chayah Brachah bas Chaim Yaakov a”h.

Have you ever headed to Kennedy Airport, excited to be going on a trip, submitted to security, and waited patiently at the gate when you found out your flight departure time was postponed? You sat at the gate and watched lightning flash outside the large picture window. Then you waited some more and thought the storm seemed to be passing.

Dr. Meir Wikler, a psychotherapist and family counselor, speaker, and author, shared an important shiur for the Chinuch Vaad in Lakewood on Sunday, August 29. His speech was based on a question posed by a husband and wife who argued a lot and wanted Dr. Wikler’s opinion. The mother felt that it’s okay for parents to fight in front of their children when they disagree, as this will prepare them for real life, and the father felt that disagreements should not be aired in front of their children.