Susie Garber

The weather was perfect on Sunday, May 26, as runners and walkers gathered in the public school yard near the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates for the 22^nd annual L’Chaim 5K Run/Walk for Israel. The Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center was the main sponsor, as always. Boots for Israel, a chesed organization that has sent 52,000 pairs of new boots with personalized notes to Israeli soldiers, was set up next to a table for the organization Israel Chesed Center, which also sends gear to soldiers.

On Sunday night, May 19, Rabbi Joey Haber, Rav of the Magen David Shul (in Flatbush) and well-known speaker, spoke on behalf of Chazaq at the Torah Cener of Hillcrest on the topic of “Anti-Semitism, the Jewish Perspective.” The shiur was l’ilui nishmas Eliyahu ben Stam, Liza Brachah bas Ketziya, Rabbi Michael Haber z”l, and HaRav Menachem ben Chanah.

On Wednesday evening, May 29, community members gathered at the Schwartz Brothers-Jeffer Memorial Chapels for a fascinating lecture by Nick Hirshon, author, journalism professor, and media historian.

On Sunday evening, May 12, community members gathered at Congregation Etz Chaim for a special Yom HaZikaron event. Rabbi Moshe Rosenberg, Rav of the congregation, welcomed everyone and outlined the program.

Can you imagine adopting six babies with Down syndrome?

On Sunday night, May 19, an overflow crowd of community women gathered at the home of Sima Mandelbaum to show support for the Erna Lindenfeld Hachnosas Kallah Fund of Queens and to hear an inspiring lecture paying tribute to the beloved mothers in our lives. Mrs. Brenda Katina, a mother par excellence, shared her experience of raising six special-needs children with Down syndrome.

On Monday, May 6, the Young Israel of Holliswood hosted a virtual Rosh Chodesh Iyar women’s shiur featuring Mrs. Chani Juravel, LCSW and popular lecturer. She spoke about S’firas HaOmer and the idea of counting seven weeks in a way that is complete. She shared that we need to ask ourselves as we count, did I make it a complete week? Did I really live every day in a unique way? We should try to experience deep appreciation for what we have. When we come up against difficulties, we should tell ourselves that today I’ve become that much more complete.