by Susie Garber

On Monday, May 1, community members gathered at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills for their annual Yom HaShoah program. Rabbi Moshe Rosenberg, rav of Congregation Etz Chaim, led T’hilim and spoke briefly about the recent shooting at the Chabad of Poway. He shared that we learn multiple lessons from Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein. Each of us, in our own lives, will have our own moment of kiddush Hashem. We hope it will be though living and setting an example. “I pray that we are inspired by the survivors; and I hope that when we will be called upon to sanctify G-d’s name, it will be through living.”

On Tuesday evening, April 9, members of the community experienced a comprehensive important lecture from the Navigating the Medical System Lecture Series at Congregation Etz Chaim on the topic of Understanding Heart Arrhythmias, Valve Replacement, and Updates in Treatment. David Slotwiner, MD, FACC, FHRS, Chief of Division of Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell, shared lots of valuable information about the latest in treating arrhythmias. He pointed out, “There are a lot of new treatments in arrhythmia and valve replacement.”

When we come out of Yom Tov, we should feel that we are on a higher spiritual level – different from when the Yom Tov began. We were fortunate to have so many beautiful shiurim about Pesach presented to our community that helped us all to grow spiritually. Reviewing the important lessons of Pesach now is a perfect time to help us carry them into the rest of the year.

A student and shamash for seven years of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l and a close talmid of Rav Henoch Leibowitz zt”l, Rabbi Elyakim Getzel Rosenblatt had the promise of just following a brilliant learning career, but he chose a different direction.

On Monday evening, April 8, the Bukharian Jewish Congregation of Briarwood, along with Chazaq, hosted a shiur with Rabbi Aharon Walkin, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Gedola Beis Nosson Meir of Queens, the Chazaq kollel.