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The center of the Queens Jewish community can be mapped in a few precise ways: the Eruv boundary, certain ZIP Codes that match these boundaries, and the legislative districts into which they fit. Following the publication of last year’s nationwide census, the state is preparing to redraw the district lines to reflect shifts in the demographics and population, which could unite some neighborhoods under a single district, and divide others among several representatives, diminishing the clout of a community.

Take a walk on Hempstead Avenue, the main road in West Hempstead, and if the upcoming general election would be determined by lawn signs and banners, the Republicans would have a landslide. Their headliner is Bruce Blakeman, a County Legislator from Atlantic Beach running for County Executive against incumbent Laura Curran.

In the country’s largest town, property taxes take up the largest share in the cost of living and it is the top issue for Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald Clavin, who is running for reelection this year. Having won his seat in 2019 after serving for 18 years as the town’s Tax Receiver, he takes pride in keeping down the cost of governing the sprawling unit of more than 793,000 residents to the east of Queens.

Rabbi Manny Behar, a mentor to many elected officials, candidates, and community leaders, is returning to his roots and reuniting with his family at the end of this month. “We’ve talked about it for many years. Our home will be close to my father and Evelyn’s brother,” he said. “Everybody has his or her own circumstances for returning.”

Throughout history, a great amount of effort has been devoted towards identifying the Lost Tribes of Ancient Israel, descendants of the Northern Kingdom [the Kingdom of Israel] whose inhabitants were deported by Assyrian forces in 722 BCE to lands unknown. One recent example of this search identified the Pashtun people of Afghanistan as likely descendants of these tribes based on their customs.

At the end of each summer, the campgrounds in the upstate mountains fall silent as children prepare for school. But for one such site, there was a last hurrah when young adults spent a weekend in nature to build connections and strengthen ties. A couple of weeks ago, Manashe Khaimov organized a Shabbaton for Mizrachi and Sefardi students and young professionals to network and develop leadership skills.