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Devastation. Destruction. Unprecedented. These are just a few of the words being used to describe the catastrophic Tropical Depression named Ida that wreaked havoc throughout the tri-state region on the evening of Tuesday, August 31. The historic storm disrupted life for many New Yorkers and caused insurmountable damage, causing Governor Kathy Hochul to declare a state of emergency just after midnight. Travel was discouraged and a broad range of public transportation was halted, stranding commuters.

As we go about our daily lives, we often forget about those who are fighting for us in the halls of our government. The Queens Jewish Alliance, under the guidance of Sorolle Idels, makes it a point to bring light to the complex issues affecting our neighborhoods and ensures that our voices are heard loud and clear on the phones, in the inboxes, and at the podiums of where our elected officials preach.

In front of the ornate aron kodesh of the Sephardic Lebanese Congregation on Avenue T in Brooklyn, and later in the simchah hall downstairs, leaders of the Igud HaRabbanim/Rabbinical Alliance of America and other distinguished guests crystallized the calling of leadership in our day. This has been the Igud’s mission since 1942, when it was founded by g’dolim such as Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l, Rav Gedaliah Schorr zt”l, and Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz zt”l, and later encouraged and guided by the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt”l and Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l. The Igud currently has a growing network of nearly 1,000 diverse rabbanim across the country, as well as a Beth Din led by Rav Herschel Kurzrock, and a robust government advocacy operation.

This past Sunday, representatives from Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill met with the NYPD’s 102^nd Precinct’s new Neighborhood Coordinating Officers (NCOs), who are committed to working on quality-of-life issues in the community.

On Friday morning, August 27, Rabbi Michael Mansour shared a shiur about entering Rosh HaShanah with appreciation. He began with speaking about the mitzvah of Bikurim, which requires us to bring the first fruit, but there is no limit and no set amount. A person brings his first fruits to the kohen and acknowledges that Hashem did this for him. The Torah states, “You will be happy with all the good that Hashem gave you.” The question Rabbi Mansour posed is: “How does the mitzvah of Bikurim make you happy?”

Mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, City Council candidate Timothy Rosen, and President Trump’s former housing official (as HUD Secretary) Dr. Ben Carson, all spoke at the Central Queens Republican meeting at Congregation Havurat Yisrael in Forest Hills on Thursday, August 26.