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The Queens Jewish Community Council (QJCC) has been celebrating Jewish culture every summer for a number of years with a free concert series, Jewish Music Under The Stars. This past Wednesday evening, hundreds came out to watch Yoel Sharabi and his band bring forth the ultimate in Jewish entertainment right here in Queens at Cunningham Park.

“Police to the community and community to the police” is the motto at the 102^nd precinct, where the community council has aimed to build bridges between the community and the department. As part of the Breaking Bread, Building Bonds initiative, a gathering was held on Thursday evening, August 17, with representatives from different communities in Kew Gardens, including the Jews and the Sikhs, who have the largest representations in the country right here in New York City.

Chaverim of Queens and Great Neck held a member’s appreciation barbeque last Monday in Richmond Hill, and applause was felt all around for their amazing work. Steaks, burgers, wings, chicken cutlets, franks, fries, and more were in abundance in the backyard of the Love family home, which once again hosted the annual summer event that, for the first time, included live music, waiter service, and a mixologist.

I spoke with Avi Yagudaev, who gave me an inside look into the legendary undertaking of Bike4Chai, a renowned cycling event benefitting Chai Lifeline that has taken place since 2010. This year, a record number of cyclists - more than 675 - united for the largest Bike4Chai experience to date. On Tuesday evening, August 8, the festivities kicked off at the Kalahari Resort with a buffet hospitality dinner where fellow riders of the 14th Bike4Chai ride spent time connecting. When you’re a part of Bike4Chai, you’re a part of a dedicated team making a difference in the lives of children with serious illnesses.

“I am convinced that men hate each other because they fear each other. They fear each other because they don’t know each other, and they don’t know each other because they don’t communicate with each other, and they don’t communicate with each other because they are separated from each other.”

Over $50,000 raised

On Sunday evening, August 6, I joined neighborhood families for the annual Stahler Orchestra Music-A-Thon, now in its sixth year. The program has steadily grown and now welcomed the generosity of the Hershkowitz family, who opened their backyard to the extended Stahler family and friends for this worthy cause. Under the shade of a tent, the Stahlers set up shop and impressed their audience with classic Jewish tunes. Special thanks to Dovid Roberts, Ushi Shapiro, and Rabbi Yehoshua for adding to the entertainment, and to Moshe Finkel for standing on stilts and juggling!