Community Corner

We are currently commemorating a period of mourning for the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva who perished during this time. The Talmud tells us that this tragic incident occurred because Rabbi Akiva’s students didn’t  accord each other appropriate honor. In turn, it has become the custom for us to try to utilize this time period between Pesach through Lag B’omer to focus on growing in all of our relationships.

Rabbi Mayer Waxman, a 26-year Queens resident serving in his second year as Executive Director of the Queens Jewish Community Council, has been appointed to serve on the Borough President’s General Assembly.

Right after the first day of Pesach, we enter a seven-week cycle known as S’firas HaOmer (the Counting of the Omer). The 49 days from Pesach to Shavuos really represent a journey of 49 steps to spiritual growth and emotional refinement that help us renew our acceptance of the Torah on an individual level.

Sunday, April 2, Yud Alef Nissan, marked 121 years since the birth of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. In honor of the celebration, Rabbi Mendy Hecht, shliach at Chabad of Forest Hills North on behalf of Chabad Lubavitch of Queens, was honored with accepting a proclamation from the office of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. The certificate proclaimed the day as  "Education & Sharing Day," a distinct honor for the Rebbe's birthday in the world's most diverse borough. Rav Menachem Mendel Schneerson reached every human being, regardless of race or religion, for the sole purpose of bettering this world in preparation for the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days.

The Chazaq Shaping Lives program held some very successful programming preparing children for the upcoming Passover holiday across their 15 locations. 

The Masbia of Flatbush located on Coney Island Avenue, which serves hot meal kosher meals to the needy free of charge throughout the year, will convert its kitchen for the first time to serve in-house Kosher for Passover meals for the upcoming eight days of holiday.