Community Corner

“The whole world is really interested in Jewish suffering. I wanted the whole wide world to be interested in Jewish strength,” said B.A. Van Sise of his book, Invited to Life: Finding Hope after the Holocaust.

Monday nights just got more meaningful for Emet’s Couples Division with the launch of a new series of classes. Held at the Emet Center, these lectures are geared towards smaller groups than the popular monthly workshops and are part of the continually expanding offerings for couples at all stages of marriage. While Emet hosts programs at shuls and college campuses throughout Queens, situating this initiative at the organization’s more intimate space was essential. “The idea for this class came about because we’re always looking for ways to connect more meaningfully with our couples and to allow them to connect with one another,” said Sara B., Program Director. “We wanted to give them a class that they would not only look forward to, like a date night, but that would also allow them to learn and grow together. We already have women’s classes, men’s classes, couples workshops, and Zoom classes, but it was time for something more consistent and personal for our couples.”

Those who have attended hearing after hearing in the cases against five of the six attackers of Joey Borgen understand viscerally the frustration expressed by his father, Barry Borgen, at the April 17 House Judiciary Committee hearing in New York.  Indeed, it has been almost two years since Joseph Borgen was attacked on May 20, 2021.  However, there is significant movement forward in these cases, for which there is no lack of evidence. 

Chazaq hosted a highly successful event at the Beth Gavriel Center on April 18. The event, generously sponsored by Michael and Frieda Babaev family, featured Rabbi Tomer Zino of the Beth Gavriel Netz minyan, renowned author and lecturer Rabbi Paysach Krohn, and Chazaq Director Rabbi Ilan Meirov.

The Ohr Natan Youth Minyan, based in Rego Park, visited Williamsburg admurim during Chol HaMoed Pesach. Led by Rabbi Natan Kaziev of Ohr Natan, members of the weekly Chavruta program received brachos and words of encouragement from the esteemed Chassidic visionaries, including the Dinov Rebbe, the Kaliver Rebbe, the Krula Rebbe, and the Pupa Rebbe. The delegation was joined by Rabbi Naftali Rosenbaum, Chavruta Program founder. The group also spent time studying in the grand Satmar shul, and concluded the visit at a Vach Nacht for the newborn son of one of the Williamsburg community members that attends the weekly Ohr Natan Chavruta Program.

Any time Reb Eli Stefansky delivers a live shiur abroad, there is not a seat to be had. MDY participants visiting Eretz Yisrael often make a pit stop at the Mercaz Daf Yomi beis medrash at Nachal Noam 9 in Ramat Bet Shemesh for their dose of Reb Eli, but the tri-state area is privileged to host a mega shiur for locals when the esteemed maggid shiur’s schedule allows. This past Sunday, April 23 was no exception, as a tremendous crowd flocked to Beth El of Boro Park, requiring many to use the balcony seating. In all, hundreds upon hundreds of frum men spanning all ages listened intently to the rhythm of Reb Eli as he infused humor and passion into his evening discourse, presented in conjunction with the yartzheit of Reb Shaya’le, Rav Yeshaya Steiner of Kerestir, the Kerestirer Rebbe, whose impact is felt just as it had been back at the start of the 20th century. It truly was geshmak to do the daf! Special thanks is extended to Rabbi Nesanel Ganz, who devotes endless hours marketing the MDY brand and uniting its membership whenever possible.