News

On Thursday afternoon, July 21, State Senator Leroy Comrie met with the Vaad Harabonim of Queens (VHQ), representing the Ashkenazic rabbinic leadership of Queens, at Congregation Ahavas Yisroel on 73^rd Avenue in Kew Gardens Hills. The District 14 senator first began in the role in January of 2015 and is currently running unopposed for the open seat due to redistricting, to represent parts of Kew Gardens, Forest Hills, and Kew Gardens Hills. Although much of the city is seeing US House of Representatives and State Senate races, there is no scheduled primary for this race in the first of its kind second primary on August 23, as Comrie has no opponents. In the upcoming general election on November 8, Comrie is again running unopposed, as there is no Republican challenger. Since declaring his re-election, Comrie has held a strong presence throughout the Jewish community of Queens, appearing on a consistent basis to meet his new constituents.

Compliments have been pouring in for our Family Fun Day Barbecue on Sunday, July 31, presented by the Queens County Republican Patriots. It was a beautiful summer day, and all the kids had an absolute blast, as well as the parents!

Undergraduate enrollment is set to rise significantly at Yeshiva University in Fall 2022, with new student numbers expected to grow over 10 percent from 2021.

Every Tuesday, Chazaq, in association with the Met Food Council, opens up the Lev Aharon Food Pantry in the heart of Kew Gardens Hills. The pantry, which distributes food to anyone in need, received a special volunteer this week: Republican Candidate for Governor of New York Lee Zeldin.

It takes something really special to fill a beis midrash on a random Tuesday evening in the middle of the summer. The Young Israel of Jamaica Estates did just that, as it inaugurated its newly renovated beis midrash with an exceptional presentation given by powerhouse couple Rabbanit Michelle and Rabbi Seth Farber.

The three-week period that begins with the fast of the 17^th of Tamuz and climaxes with Tish’ah B’Av is known as “The Three Weeks.” It is a time of mourning and reflection for the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem as well as many other tragedies that befell klal Yisrael over the course of history. In order to internalize and grow from the memory of these calamities, Chazal instituted increasing degrees of mourning practices during this period.