The Queens Jewish Community Council conducted its annual High Holiday Food Distribution on Sunday, September 10, at their current Forest Hills office located in the Ezra Academy facility.
Moved by the QJCC’s efforts with Queens Jewry, I have made it a custom to lend a hand at this event. As the Community Outreach Coordinator for Queens Borough Safety Patrol-Shmira, I, along with our Co-Publisher Yaakov Serle, joined a remarkable group of legislators who have been of notable assistance to the longstanding communal organization. Leading the way was QJCC Executive Director Rabbi Mayer Waxman, alongside a number of able-bodied volunteers of all ages, including his esteemed wife Estee and their children Barak and Shana. Seeing this wonderful Jamaica Estates family in action goes hand-in-hand with the spirit of the Yamim Nora’im.
The volunteers selflessly assembled packages of nourishing food, courtesy of Met Council, set to feed an astounding 1,000 individuals for the upcoming Jewish New Year. Notwithstanding a rainy day, customers steadily made their way to the Union Turnpike site.
Amongst the volunteers present were Rep. Grace Meng and her Jewish liaison Rabbi Daniel Pollack; Assemblymember David Weprin; Judge Karen Lin; Aaron Cyperstein, Managing Director of Legal & External Affairs of Met Council; Ben Zaientz, Agency Relations Manager at Met Council; Israel Peskowitz, Chazaq’s Director of Community Affairs. Also on hand were QJCC President Michael Nussbaum, Vice President Linda Spiegel and husband Ted, Corresponding Secretary Jay Goldberg, Director and Past President Warren Hecht, and Directors David Aronov, Barry Grodenchik, and Arlene Ross.
As the QJCC nears completion of its forthcoming Kew Gardens Hills headquarters at the crossroads of Main Street and Jewel Avenue, options are being weighed to ensure that the roster of underprivileged families continue to receive vital kosher food services. Since last Rosh HaShanah, the QJCC has provided social services to some 5,000 Queens residents. Their weekly free kosher food pantry is one of these standout resources, as well as case assistance, benefits enrollment, medical insurance facilitation, and immigrant services.
The QJCC continues to actively advocate on behalf of Jewish concerns and on behalf of Israel, both on a local and statewide platform. Chiefly, the group has spoken out against anti-Semitism and moments of hate. During the previous year, the QJCC partnered with Queens synagogues and organizations to provide some 20 cultural and anti-hate events that served more than 5,750 individuals. We wish the QJCC much hatzlachah as they establish their new headquarters.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
