Community Corner

(Courtesy of NechamaComfort)

 Reva and Danny Judas were away from home when their newborn son died suddenly after living only 12 hours. No one knew what do. “I was in shock, devastated. My father is a rabbi, but this was never something that was covered in his training,” said Reva. “The rest of our family, friends, the community—no one had ever experienced this before. They didn’t know what to say or do.” Together, Reva and Danny navigated the difficult choices of choosing a name for the baby and arranging for burial. Then they returned home to grieve alone.

There are few times during the year that are busier for Roshei Yeshiva and Poskim than the week before Rosh Hashanah. Nevertheless, leading luminaries such as HaGaon HaRav Yeruchem Olshin, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govohah of Lakewood, shlita, the Biala Rebbe, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Mir Yerushalayim, the well-known Sephardic Rosh Yeshiva and Mekubal, HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Hillel, shlita as well as the children and talmidim of HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Wosner, zt”l, and HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, zt”l, cleared their schedules and opened their homes the week before Rosh Hashanah to participate in the siyum of Chelek Daled of Mishnah Berurah and the start of Chelek Hei.

In the summer, community women approach Mrs. Shifra Witty, President of the Erna Lindenfeld Hachnosas Kallah Fund, to ask when the Hachnosas Kallah Tea is going to take place this year. All year long, women anticipate this exciting annual event in Queens. The event always takes place at the Electchester Electrical Building, which is the only place large enough to accommodate the 500 women who attend each year. As always, women of all ages come together to support this worthy organization and to enjoy a fun evening of entertainment, as well.

The autumn rain did not deter 150 runners from circling the Unisphere globe in Flushing Meadows Park last Sunday in a 5K challenge benefiting families in need. “It was insane, really wet,” said Laura Schutzman, whose daughter attends fourth grade at the Yeshiva of Central Queens. “There was so much school pride to run for three miles in pouring rain, and people on the sidelines offering doughnuts and coffee.”

To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s Communal T’hilim List, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  and complete the Google form.

The General Election this Tuesday does not involve the highest offices in the country, state, or city, but it offers voters an opportunity to alter the city’s “constitution” with five questions concerning conflicts of interest, community-police relations, voting, budget, and land use. It also offers a final say on the full terms ahead for Public Advocate and Queens District Attorney.