Shabsie Saphirstein

The annual Passover food distribution hosted by the Chazaq Organization and Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty was successfully held this past Tuesday, March 21, at the Lev Aharon Community Food Pantry on 72^nd Avenue in Kew Gardens Hills. The selfless dedication of these two organizations and their staff and volunteers brings out the best of our community as the Pesach holiday fast approaches. The distribution was once again headed by Aviv Simantov and his devoted helpers.

On Purim Day, residents at the renowned Jamaica Hills nursing and rehabilitation center were treated to a lively holiday celebration that included traditional amenities showcasing the devotion of Margaret Tietz’s staff and administration to delivering quality programming and services in an environment steeped with home-like qualities for over half a century. The lively Purim festivities and delectable seudah prepared by the talented on-site kitchen chefs embodied the spirit and foresight that Linda Spiegel, Director of Public Affairs, works to bring onto the facility’s halls daily.

Council Member Sandra Ung, Democrat, District 20, has been a breath of fresh air for the communities of Flushing, Mitchell-Linden, Murray Hill, Queensboro Hill, and the flourishing Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Fresh Meadows. The longstanding John F. Kennedy Regular Democratic Club, serving Kew Gardens Hills, Briarwood, and Kew Gardens, hosted the Council Member as their guest speaker this past Thursday evening, March 16, at their monthly meeting.

The Jewish brethren are a united family – Ha’Shomer Achi Anochi! It is our obligation to demonstrate how we are our brothers’ keepers. This week, we continue our journey into Project Inspire’s recent convention with new insight on the organization’s lasting impact.

Rego Park and Forest Hills were the sites of two instances of anti-Semitic hate this past Monday evening, March 20. Two swastikas were found scrawled on the sidewalk and street at 9:21 p.m. in public view and reported to local elected officials by 9:45 a.m. the following morning. One of the vile drawings was found at 102nd Street near 63rd Drive in the Rego Park section of Queens at Stephen A. Halsey JHS 157, and the second was found etched into a Forest Hills walkway at 110-11 Queens Boulevard. By the afternoon, the markings had been erased.

Rav Uri Tieger shares never-before details of his 20-year friendship With The Sar HaTorah

Shushan Purim marked one year for the Jewish community without its Sar HaTorah, Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l. To honor the yahrzeit, I sat down with Rav Uri Tieger at the Project Inspire Convention for a fascinating conversation on his life and recollections of the gadol ha’dor. Incredibly, Rav Tieger was raised in Tel Aviv as a secular Israeli, rising to become one of Rav Chaim’s closest y’didim and a trusted editor of his s’farim. To date, Rav Tieger has published six s’farim on behalf of the Steipler Gaon’s son and has two others in the works.