Local

BAR AND BAS MITZVAHS 

Mr. and Mrs. Ariel Alayev on the birth of a daughter

Rabbi Shalom and Ruchie Axelrod on the birth of a grandson, Dovid Binyamin, born to Eli and Blumie Axelrod of Yerushalayim

The Coalition for Jewish Values, representing over 2,500 traditional, Orthodox rabbis in public policy, expresses its deep horror at events unfolding in Israel. We pray that the Holy One, Blessed Be He, grants all the innocent peace and security, and pray for the welfare of those putting themselves in harm’s way to eliminate the current threat and protect their fellow Israeli citizens from harm.

Our Sages teach us (see Talmud Bavli, Bava Basra 14b) that King David wrote the Psalms (T’hilim) based on his own experiences, along with the contributions of other great Jewish figures. While the Book of T’hilim was composed mainly by King David, the Gemara (Bava Basra 14b) enumerates ten authors who composed psalms other than King David.

On the third day of Chol HaMoed, Wednesday, October 4, Beth Gavriel brought the greater Forest Hills Jewish community a Simchas Beis HaSho’eivah to remember. The program featured the musical talents of Shlomi Alishaev and Shimon Deri, two well-known stars on the local Jewish music scene who performed in the expansive shul sukkah. Deejay Avraham provided a festive atmosphere for the evening. The world-renowned Twin from France kept the youth spellbound with a fantastic show beforehand in the shul’s ballroom. Words of chizuk were delivered by shul rabbanim Rav Emanuel Shimonov, rav of the main minyan; and Rabbi Tomer Zino, rav of the popular Netz minyan.

More than 200 people attended a candlelight vigil and rally for Israel at MacDonald Park in Forest Hills on Monday, October 9, quickly organized by a former candidate for public office and a lawyer, Ethan Felder, who said that Hamas’ attack on Israel “was an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that bind us together.”

Emergency Fund Launched to Support the People of Israel

Israel is at war, and in response to the overwhelming – and rapidly escalating – scope of the crisis, UJA-Federation of New York is allocating an initial $10 million in emergency funding from its endowment to provide immediate relief to victims of the vicious terrorist attacks.