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Every Yom Tov, Jews around the world converge with their families to celebrate in a festive environment. The December/January holiday season is often similar for the non-Jewish world. The innate character of a Jewish soul is to be giving and appreciative of those in our midst. In this light, various community organizations rose to acknowledge the hard work of law enforcement. This past Wednesday, December 22, the Queens Jewish Alliance organized a dinner delivery to the hardworking and devoted police officers of the 107th police precinct broadly servicing Kew Gardens Hills and surrounding neighborhoods. The notion for this opportunity was presented by Meshulam Lisker, a QJA member, and the group was quick to arrange the initiative. To show support to a local pizzeria, Naomi’s Pizza was chosen for the order. At the presentation to the officers, QJA chairperson Sorolle Idels expressed, “We are grateful to you for always being there to keep our communities safe and protected. We came over as representatives of our communities to say thank you and to wish you a happy holiday season.” In attendance were group members Jennifer Martin, Rabbi Yaniv Meirov, Rabbi Hayim Schwartz, Yaakov Serle, and Alan Sherman.

Inspired by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Chabad of Rego Park (C.O.R.P.), run by Rabbi Eli and Shulamis Blokh, began operations in 1997 as a means to provide the growing Russian Jewish community of the area with a much-needed infusion of Judaism. The Blokhs moved from Crown Heights, launched a Hebrew school at the Lefrak Jewish Center, and held a public menorah lighting at Mesivta Ohr Torah, now home to the Beth Gavriel Community Center. Soon after, the rabbi took over the third floor of the Queens Jewish Center to operate Yamim Tovim services and head their Talmud Torah; this floor is now home to The Cheder of Queens.

In November, at the annual Kosherfest trade show, the President of Star-K Kosher Certification, Dr. Avrom Pollak, met with Rabbi Menachem Genack, CEO of OU Kosher. During the conversation, Dr. Pollak extended to Rabbi Genack an invitation to visit Star-K headquarters and deliver a shiur for the staff of Kashrus Administrators. Rabbi Genack accepted the offer and, on Thursday, December 16, he arrived in Baltimore and was warmly welcomed by Star-K leadership and staff.

The meteoric rise in COVID cases has shaken New York City and the country at large. In an effort to keep the kol Torah alive on its campus, Yeshivas Ohr HaChaim, stepped up to provide testing prior to entry to its Kew Gardens Hills beis medrash facility. On the morning of Tuesday, December 28, a steady line of young men was seen outside awaiting results of tests being administered onsite. Onlookers were impressed by the adherence to safety that the administration has taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the flu, which have been raging as winter sets in.

If the frigid temperatures this past week are any warning of what lies ahead, we must brace for a harsher winter than last year. Last year’s storms led to many homeowners and motorists being stranded. Streets quickly flooded, causing basements and cars to become overwhelmed by water. Chaverim of Queens was just one of several organizations that stood up in a big way.

In Parshas VaEira, Hashem commanded Moshe to first warn Pharaoh about the impending plague. Moshe told Pharaoh that if he refused to free the Jews to serve Hashem, “so said Hashem, ‘In this you shall know that I am Hashem.’ Behold I am going to strike with the staff that is in my hand upon the water that is in the river, and it shall turn to blood.” After warning Pharaoh, Moshe is then commanded, “Tell Aharon, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt…’” Why does Hashem specify that Aharon be the one to initiate the plague? In addition, this pattern is repeated with the next two plagues – Frogs and Lice.