Local

On Sunday, June 25, the Queens Jewish Center celebrated 80 years since its founding. More than 100 people gathered for their annual Journal Dinner at Simcha Palace in Kew Gardens Hills.

New York City has been wracked by a double crisis of preventable deaths from opioids and fires. Too many of our neighbors have had to grieve the loss of a loved one due to a deadly fire or an opioid overdose. Whether the cause is faulty e-bike batteries or drug-use, I am deeply committed to combating these preventable tragedies by educating and equipping the public to save lives. 

Touro University Illinois/HTC held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week, dedicating the Rabbi Fabian and Ruth Schonfeld Campus in Skokie, Illinois. More than 200 people attended, including Rabbi Shabsai and Debby Wolfe, who dedicated the campus, Rabbi Yoel and Rebbetzin Peri Schonfeld, Touro President Dr. Alan Kadish, Hebrew Theological College (HTC) CEO Rabbi Shmuel Leib Schuman, and Touro University Illinois Associate Provost, Dr. Chani Tessler. The campus is set to be used as both a yeshivah and a science and research facility.

Chazaq and Congregation Tov put together an inspirational lecture on Wednesday, June 28, with the esteemed Rabbi Yaakov Rahimi of Lakewood. The event, generously sponsored by the Matayev family in memory of Rosa Tzivia bat Chusmi, drew an audience eager to gain wisdom and insights from the revered scholar.

Ruling Provides Greater Protection for Observant Jews and Other Religious Minority Employees; Cites to NCYI’s Amicus Brief

The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) last week applauded the unanimous decision of the United States Supreme Court in Groff v. DeJoy, which more appropriately and fairly interprets a provision of the federal Civil Rights Act that is designed to protect Orthodox Jewish employees and other religious minorities.

The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), representing over 2,500 traditional, Orthodox rabbis in American public policy, last Friday welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling in 303 Creative v. Elenis, permitting business owners free speech in accordance with their religious beliefs. Colorado law would have forced Web designer Lorie Smith to express messages with which she disagrees, or to silence herself.