The annual Queens fundraiser breakfast for Mesivta Tifereth Jerusalem took place last Sunday at the Young Israel of Queens Valley, as it has been the host of the event for more than 40 years. The Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Reuven Feinstein shlita, was in Israel this past week to dedicate the matzeivah for his Rebbetzin Sheila, who provided support for her husband’s learning and leadership for nearly a half century. She was also a devoted daughter-in-law for Rav Moshe Feinstein, who led the Lower East Side yeshivah from 1937 until his death in 1986. His halachic rulings are universally respected.
“We have a Mishnah B’rurah shiur every week in our shul, and we learned that there is no Lag BaOmer s’udah on the night before,” said Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, mara d’asra of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills. “Rav Moshe says that you can get married on the night before. It makes sense to have nisuin on the night before Lag BaOmer. Who else can say this? Who can say this today? That was Rav Moshe.”
In the place of Rav Reuven Feinstein, the drashah was given by Rabbi Chaim Ganzweig, mashgiach ruchani at MTJ. “The shemen for the Menorah had to be the first drop pressed from the olive oil,” he said, describing the procedures of the Beis HaMikdash as they relate to learning and working. “The difference between oil, which is Torah, and lechem ha’panim, which is parnasah, is that parnasah is from the Ribbono shel Olam, but we must do what we can.” While the oil remained fresh in a miraculous manner, the “show bread” was held up by sticks, symbolizing hishtadlus.
In his introduction of the events’ honoree, Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, the present mara d’asra of YIQV, spoke of MTJ as “an immense treasure with an aura and a tremendous z’chus.” Longtime YIQV member George Srolovits was honored at the breakfast in recognition of his service to the shul. In his remarks, he spoke of his pride in keeping the mitzvos and the strong connection between MTJ and Rabbi Peretz Steinberg, the rabbi emeritus at YIQV.
By Sergey Kadinsky