Queens Jewish Link
Connecting the Queens Jewish Community 
The ongoing pandemic prevented this publication from hosting its annual Networking Event in person, and one may presume that participants ate heartily at home on the eve of Taanis Esther. As they ate, an impressive lineup of speakers offered insights on faith, marketing, and advertising.
Expectations of never having to experience a blizzard is one reason for moving to Texas, and last week’s deep freeze exposed a woefully unprepared infrastructure that resulted in power outages and burst pipes. Former members of the Queens Jewish community living in Texas spoke about the Arctic blast as an unexpected disaster in a state that is better known for facing tornadoes and hurricanes.
A decade ago, the scene at a Masbia food pantry appeared relaxed in comparison to today. The original Queens location in Rego Park had the look of a restaurant for individuals in need of a meal. They were served in a dignified setting, staffed by volunteers during the afternoon hours. The economic downturn that resulted from the coronavirus pandemic turned a trickle into a flood of demand for kosher meal packages.
The appearance of a small swastika painted on a sign at the Rego Park Jewish Center was quickly addressed last week by Queens Shmira volunteers who had it scrubbed, public officials who condemned the unknown vandal, and the Police Hate Crimes Unit recognizing it as an unambiguous example of anti-Semitism.
With so much happening at this time, it may be easy to overlook that this week’s edition of the Queens Jewish Link is the 400th since the first copy was published in 2012. The month of Adar also marks the 20th anniversary since my parents purchased their house in Forest Hills. Looking back at these two chronological markers, we can see how much our community has matured in developing its voice, and my own personal growth.
Kew Gardens Hills is the home of our publishers, editor, and most of our columnists, but the playgrounds of 11367 are almost entirely flat, better for building an igloo than sledding. In this neighborhood, midblock driveways offer the steepest terrain for sledding. As this calendar year has offered more snow than expected, here are a few of the best slopes in Queens for a snow day:
