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I know many of our readers enjoy the articles published in the Queens Jewish Link written by the elder law attorneys at Ronald Fatoullah & Associates. Twice a month, various elder care topics are discussed, including information on trusts and estates, the importance of preparing advance directives, planning for long-term care, and applying for Medicaid.

On Thursday night, May 23, the community of Kew Gardens Hills was privileged to host Jason Greenblatt, President Trump’s special adviser for Mid-East affairs. The gathering was hosted by The Coalition for Jewish Values, Jexodus, and the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills. The event drew about 150 invited guests. Mr. Greenblatt took questions from the audience for over two hours and answered with full candor. Also speaking was Richard Kemp, retired colonel in the British army and outspoken defender of Israeli Defense Forces. Jeff Ballabon, co-founder of Jexodus, an advocacy group for Jewish causes, moderated with both Rabbi Pesach Lerner and Rabbi Yaakov Menken of CJV offering words, as well. Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld of the Young Israel and Vice President of CJV welcomed those in attendance.

“Why don’t you produce an ArtScroll Siddur for the Sephardic community?”

The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) last week sharply criticized Stephen William Thrasher for his anti-Semitic and anti-Israel histrionics in his address at the doctoral convocation ceremony for New York University’s (NYU) Graduate School of Arts and Sciences on Monday, May 20.

Last week, men, women, and teenagers from New York and New Jersey took the day off from school and work to get on a bus for NORPAC’s annual Mission to Washington, DC. This non-partisan organization sends over 1,000 volunteers to meet with 90 percent of Congress every year, but this year felt different. The recent comments by the newcomers to the House of Representatives, and the lack of admonishment from the veterans of that House, provided the volunteers a new sense of drive and purpose.

Echo Institute for Health held its annual fundraiser at the home of Mrs. Lisa Reichmann on Sunday evening, May 19. Echo National Institute for Health acts as a resource center, providing effective, personal, and caring guidance to people who face critical medical problems. It places patients and their families into contact with medical practitioners and acute care. Echo has provided medical referrals for over 30 years. Echo receives 150 calls per day, on average; that is over 30,000 calls per year. Each call generates other calls. There is a whole network going on. Echo has a database of over 14,000 doctors. There is no fee. It operates on contributions alone. Echo counselors demonstrate tremendous caring for each caller. Finally, Echo appreciates follow-up calls to see how their referrals helped.