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OU’s Maury Litwack Introduces Gov. Hochul Ahead of Her Announcement of Much-Needed Package to Fund 872 Grants as Part of New York’s Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes Grant Program

Teach NYS, a nonpartisan project of the Orthodox Union that advocates for government funding for the state’s nonpublic schools, praised N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday for announcing the recipients of $43 million to fund 872 grants at 362 Jewish and other nonpublic day schools, houses of worship, summer camps and an array of other nonprofits as part of the state’s Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes grant program. The governor also announced the availability of $25 million for the grants in the coming year.

At the behest of Queens Jewish Link co-publisher Yaakov Serle, I attended the first part of a special series The Emunah Tool given by noted author, lecturer, and columnist Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier at Forest Park Jewish Center.

On Tuesday evening, October 5, Navigating the Medical System began its tenth year with a virtual lecture on COVID updates. It was hosted by Congregation Etz Chaim. Dr. Mel Breite, Founder and Director of the Navigating the Medical System Lecture Series, welcomed everyone. He stated, “Here tonight, you will hear the truth about what we do know about COVID and what we don’t know about COVID.”

When we are faced with sorrows, we call out and turn to Hashem and His Torah, as David HaMelech stated, “Tzarah v’yagon emtza, uv’sheim Hashem ekra–I will find troubles and sorrows, and I will call out in Hashem’s name” (T’hilim 117:13).  When everything is going well, it is easy to turn to Hashem and thank Him for His goodness. The real test comes when we run into rough waters. How do we react to yisurin – life’s difficulties? We turn straight to Hashem!

More than four in ten Americans (41%) say they are more anxious than last year, according to a report by the American Psychiatric Association in May 2021.

For the 37^th year, the TCS New York City Marathon, on November 7, 2021, will feature morning services at the Fort Wadsworth staging ground for the many Jewish runners expected to compete in the 50^th jubilee edition of this world-famous road race.  The International Minyan for New York City Marathoners, inaugurated in 1983, is the longest established religious service of any kind, at any major sporting event anywhere in the world.