Community Corner

Moving into our newly purchased house on Sunday, June 3, 1973, our first task was to kasher a kitchen that had been used for five years by the previous owners. This activity required rabbinical supervision. I dialed the number of Rabbi Yaakov (Jay) Marcus of the Young Israel of Staten Island (YISI) and explained our predicament. Although we had never met, he said he would be right over. Before I put the phone back into its cradle (pre-cell phones), the doorbell rang and Rabbi Marcus came into our house and, more importantly, into our lives.

Dr. Fred Naider

Moving into our newly purchased house on Sunday June 3, 1973, our first task was to kasher a kitchen that had been used for five years by the previous owners. This activity required rabbinical supervision. I dialed the number of Rabbi Yaakov (Jay) Marcus of the Young Israel of Staten Island (YISI)  and explained our predicament. Although we had never met, he said he would be right over. Before I put the phone back into its cradle (pre-cell phones) the doorbell rang and Rabbi Marcus came into our house and, more importantly, into our lives.

This past Sunday, Pirchei Moshe Nechemia of Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill, named in memory of longtime askan and baal chesed Moshe Sukenik z”l, held its annual Pre-Chanukah Mesibah – and, baruch Hashem, it was a huge success. Over 100 boys from Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, and Kew Gardens Hills joined together for a night full of ruach, leibidikeit, and achdus, making it a truly special evening for everyone.

On Sunday, November 23, the Rabbinical Seminary of America, Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, held its 92^nd Annual Dinner and Chag HaSemichah at Terrace on the Park in Queens, New York. The dinner was sold out with attendance of over 1,200 people. The evening was a tremendous kiddush Hashem, filled with pride in the Yeshiva’s past accomplishments and renewed chizuk to continue its holy mission. This year’s dinner also marked a historic milestone for the Yeshiva, raising the most money in its history to support continued growth in learning and communal impact.

In this week’s parshah, we follow the beginning of Yosef HaTzadik’s challenging journey. From being the beloved son of Yaakov Avinu to being thrown into a bor and sold into slavery, Yosef’s life changes in an instant. Yet the Torah reveals something extraordinary: Even in the darkest moments, “Vayehi Hashem es Yosef” (B’reishis 39:2).

Selected high schools receive annual funding to grant scholarships to designated Gruen Fellows throughout their four years of high school

Marking a major investment in day school education, Yeshiva University has launched the Gruen Fellows Program, a bold new initiative designed to identify, support and develop the next generation of Jewish leaders. Made possible by a generous gift from the Gruen family, the program provides selected high schools across North America with annual fellowship support for one student in each grade who exemplifies academic excellence, Torah values and leadership potential.