News

US Representative Grace Meng announced last week that she is addressing the recent spike in mail theft occurring across Kew Gardens Hills.

On Wednesday, August 6, Orot hosted a one-of-a-kind challah bake in honor of Tu B’Av, and the evening carried a spirit unlike any other. What made this program so meaningful was its heartfelt mission: Each girl who attended was paired with a sponsor – someone single, whether a man or woman – for whom she would daven as she kneaded the dough, recited brachos, and whispered personal prayers to Hashem for their future zivug.

At Emet Outreach there is always time for Torah, and sometimes that includes toddlers, as well! On Wednesdays this summer, the Emet Center has been home to the boisterous sounds of “Mommy & Me.” More than a cute program, this learning opportunity has become a haven for women at all stages of life: mothers, wives, newlyweds, and those preparing for the next chapter of family life. Each week, an average of 15-20 women gather to bond, learn, and recharge both emotionally and spiritually. A delightful bonus are the special guests, from newborn to age 11, who bring their cuddles and giggles to the mix.

Parshas R’ei begins with the words: “R’ei anochi nosein lifneichem hayom brachah u’klalah – See, I place before you today a blessing and a curse.” The Torah reminds us that every choice we make has power: to bring blessing, or, chas v’shalom, the opposite.

Since Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the June 24 Democratic Primary for New York City mayor, talk of leaving the city has grown louder in Jewish circles. An aliyah assistance group reports a surge in applications from New York State. Realtors in Queens, Nassau, and Florida say they’re fielding more calls from clients exploring a move – whether to Israel, South Florida, or simply out of the five boroughs. For some, the decision is driven by opportunity. For others, it’s about safety, politics, and the future of Jewish life in the city.

In Queens, the small things haven’t felt small: a car with no plates that never moves but always eats a parking spot, mopeds slicing down the sidewalk as parents yank strollers to safety, music that doesn’t quit (even when the block is begging for sleep), sidewalks bottlenecked by encampments. Even as violent crime fell to record lows, day-to-day frictions mounted. City numbers tell the story: Since 2017, panhandling complaints soared nearly 2,800 percent, calls about homeless encampments rose more than 500 percent, noise complaints nearly doubled, illegal-parking complaints more than doubled. The unspoken feeling across the borough was that unless it was violent crime, help might not come.