Community Corner

US Rep. Grace Meng, New York’s senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, recently visited Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services’ residence for the developmentally disabled in Kew Gardens Hills to commemorate the $233,000 she secured for upgrading the site.

On Sunday morning, while most people were stretching out with their cup of coffee, the Beth Gavriel Community Center was filled with eager voters looking to hear from Lee Zeldin, candidate for Governor of the State of New York. The Forest Hills community, which has been hit with increased crime and financial hardships in the past few years, eagerly listened as the Republican challenger laid out his agenda for the Empire State.

Our Sages teach us that there are auspicious times for us to pray for special requests, such as requesting health for those needing r’fuah (e.g., hafrashas challah, bris milah, chupah, and during labor). The Talmud also teaches us: “Whoever prays (to Hashem) for mercy on behalf of his friend, while he himself is in need of the same thing, he will be answered first.” We are taught that, in the merit of praying for others, our own prayers are answered, and we fulfill the mitzvos of “Love your fellow as yourself” and chesed.

A special Simchas Beis HaShoeva was held on Wednesday, Chol HaMoed, for the broader Jewish community of Holliswood at PS/IS 178 – The Holliswood School. In conjunction with the slew of Hakhel events spearheaded by Chabad Lubavitch this past Sukkos, Rabbi Yerachmiel and Chanie Zalmanov of Chabad of Eastern Queens were the principal visionaries and organizers behind the Holliswood unity event.

The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), representing over 2,000 traditional, Orthodox rabbis in matters of public policy, last week called for ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt to resign, after the ADL retweeted and seconded a statement that “Tucker Carlson went full nazi [sic],” accusing Carlson of “us[ing] his platform to stoke racial tensions.” The rabbis called this “minimizing the Holocaust,” a form of anti-Semitic bigotry, which the ADL would have excoriated rather than endorsed were it “even minimally competent” to fulfill its mission.

Rosenthal secures funding for NYPD vehicles through state grant program

Assemblymember Daniel Rosenthal joined officers from the 107th Precinct this week for an unveiling of a brand new police van for the New York Police Department obtained through capital funding that Assemblymember Rosenthal was able to secure has hit the streets to serve and protect the Kew Gardens Hills, Pomonok and Fresh Meadows communities.