Community Corner

The Women’s Division of Emet Outreach kicked off their fall programming with an evening of timely inspiration. Over 100 young women packed the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates to hear from renowned speaker Mrs. Jackie Bitton. The relevant theme of the night was “Back to Routine…Now What?” Ms. Adina Fendel, Emet Women’s Director, explained, “The idea was to get right back into consistent Torah learning the first week after Yom Tov, as everyone once again juggles school, work, and family.”

On Tuesday evening, October 5, Navigating the Medical System began its tenth year with a virtual lecture on COVID updates. It was hosted by Congregation Etz Chaim. Dr. Mel Breite, Founder and Director of the Navigating the Medical System Lecture Series, welcomed everyone. He stated, “Here tonight, you will hear the truth about what we do know about COVID and what we don’t know about COVID.”

The Queens Jewish community held a successful fundraiser lending support to the Honorable David J. Kirschner, a candidate for Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. Held on Wednesday evening, October 6, at the home of David and Paula Berger in Kew Gardens Hills, elected officials, community leaders, and old and new friends gathered to wish Kirschner a special happy birthday. With barely two weeks until early voting opens statewide on October 23, and absentee voting already underway, Kirschner has shown that one can serve with distinction.

More than four in ten Americans (41%) say they are more anxious than last year, according to a report by the American Psychiatric Association in May 2021.

OU’s Maury Litwack Introduces Gov. Hochul Ahead of Her Announcement of Much-Needed Package to Fund 872 Grants as Part of New York’s Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes Grant Program

Teach NYS, a nonpartisan project of the Orthodox Union that advocates for government funding for the state’s nonpublic schools, praised N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday for announcing the recipients of $43 million to fund 872 grants at 362 Jewish and other nonpublic day schools, houses of worship, summer camps and an array of other nonprofits as part of the state’s Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes grant program. The governor also announced the availability of $25 million for the grants in the coming year.

At the behest of Queens Jewish Link co-publisher Yaakov Serle, I attended the first part of a special series The Emunah Tool given by noted author, lecturer, and columnist Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier at Forest Park Jewish Center.