Queens Jewish Link
Connecting the Queens Jewish Community My father zt”l would recall witnessing prominent Jews on their knees, being forced by the Nazis to...
Last week was a banner week for me. I had two letters to the editor published. One was to The Wall Street Journal (under a pseudonym, due to its criticism of Arab terror). The other was to Mishpacha magazine.
Dear Senator Stavisky:
Although I have retired and live in Baltimore, I remain in close touch with the leadership in Queens and am keenly aware of what is going on. I am therefore very disappointed in your letter of January 11 to Yeshiva University – the letter in which you and two other state senators accuse Yeshiva University of bigotry against LGBTQ and of misappropriating millions of dollars.
Two issues ago, I wrote an open letter to Senator Toby Stavisky for her damaging letter to Yeshiva University, which was leaked to The New York Times. The letter added fuel to fiery hatred of The Times against Orthodox Jewry (and Israel). It turns out, as documented by Warren Hecht and others, that the charges of financial impropriety were totally unfounded . What really rankled the three Jewish co-signers, including Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Liz Krueger, was YU’s stand against the LGBTQ clubs. Other people privately wrote to Stavisky as well, expressing their dismay with her.
Before I begin writing this article, I must refer to the two great losses the Kew Gardens Hills community suffered last week that were very respectfully covered in last week’s QJL: Dr. Majer Rosenfeld and Dr. Allen Bennett zichronam li’vrachah.
Years ago, there was a member in the Young Israel named Lewis Decter. Mr. Decter was a European Jew who was successful in the textile business (I believe), and was the father/father-in-law to our very special members Shirley and David Lyman a”h.
It has become a routine of mine here in Baltimore to attend the weekly Motza’ei Shabbos history lectures given by Rabbi Dovid Katz in Congregation Shomrei Emunah. Currently, Rabbi Katz is focusing on modern Israeli history. The best way to describe Rabbi Katz is that he is very similar in style and substance to Rabbi Berel Wein. Both are known to be fine talmidei chachamim (Torah scholars) while being experts in Jewish history. Both are as entertaining as they are informative and have a very earthy way of communicating.
