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For over 15 years, Rabbi Reuven Kigel and his wife Devorah have welcomed hundreds of Emet students to their Passaic home for what has become a must-have Shabbos experience. As Emet’s Campus Director, Rabbi Kigel is a fixture for students when they first join the beginners Leaders Fellowship Program, and many have spent and kept their first Shabbos in his home. At a recent Shabbaton, rather than celebrating a beginning, the Kigels celebrated a special ending. “Our first Shabbaton of the summer was in honor of the graduation of many Queens College students including Michael Daniel, who is a devoted Emet student and the president of the Emet Student Association (ESA) at Queens College,” Rabbi Kigel said.

Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), representing over 2,000 rabbis in matters of American public policy, last week welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court decision reversing Roe v. Wade. The organization made the following statement:

The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson zt”l, passed away on the third day of the Jewish month of Tamuz in the year 5754 from Creation (June 12, 1994). Traditionally, this is a day for reflection, learning, prayer, recommitment, and positive action

Photos by Saul Joseph  of Universe Promotions

Summer is officially here, which means schools are closed and the kids are home, getting ready to go to summer camp. In the interim, plenty of families are looking for ways to entertain their kids. So Chazaq, in conjunction with Councilman James F. Gennaro, the Queens Jewish Community Council (QJCC), Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI), and NYC Cultural Events organized a free children’s Jewish cultural carnival at Yeshiva Central Queens this past Sunday, June 26, open to the entire community.

 This past Sunday evening, June 26, the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills held a dinner celebrating its 70^th anniversary and honoring its Rabbi and Rebbetzin, Rabbi Yoel and Peri Schonfeld, for 30 years of service to the synagogue and greater Queens community. This service was attested to by the many elected officials who came to present proclamations to the couple: New York City Council Member James F. Gennaro, Assembly Member Daniel Rosenthal, Assembly Member David Weprin, State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., State Senator Leroy Comrie, and Congress Member Grace Meng through her special community liaison Rabbi Daniel Pollack.

Dianne Lob, Chair, William Daroff, CEO, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Vice Chair, of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, issued the following statement: