Community Corner

The year of Hakhel will forever be remembered by the countless events that united Jews worldwide. Here in Queens, Hakhel will be highlighted as the year that began a special unity amongst the esteemed shluchim that our communities are privileged to house. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rav Menachem Mendel Schneerson zt”l, who is buried at Montefiore Cemetery on Francis Lewis Boulevard in the Cambria Heights section of Queens, often encouraged symbolic Hakhel assemblies as an opportune time to promote Jewish unity and gatherings despite the Jewish nation not all residing in Eretz Yisrael. It is apropos that such a beautiful display of harmony amongst the Rebbe’s shluchim took place during this auspicious year of Hakhel, as it resides upon the “kings,” or more accurately the leaders – rabbis, shluchim, and communal activists – of each community to make these gatherings a reality.

Council Member James F. Gennaro held a powerful sit-down conversation with Idit Silman, Israel’s Minister of Environmental Protection. The dialogue marked Gennaro’s first environmental input on the world stage. Previously, he gained much accolade for advancements on the city and state levels. The duo was joined by Yuval Laster, Senior Deputy Director General and Policy Planning & Strategy for the State of Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection.

The NYPD and city officials partook in more than 70 citywide events for National Night Out Against Crime this past Tuesday, August 1.

Digital Inspection Sticker Program Is Underway

Since my youth, I have been fascinated by license plates. While traveling, it’s always a delight to track the unique plates and their states. In recent weeks, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder unveiled ten new plates featuring distinct images representing New York State’s ten regions. “Every region of our state has something unique and interesting about it, and we are happy to celebrate that uniqueness by making these new license plates available for New York drivers,” said Commissioner and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

Annually, Rav Dovid Goldwasser, manhig ruchani and longtime Rav of Brooklyn’s Khal Bais Yitzchok, famously visits the Queens tziyun of Rav Yaakov Joseph (Rabbi Jacob Joseph) at the Union Field Cemetery (in Ridgewood, Queens) for New York’s only chief rabbi’s yahrzeit. Last week, Rav Goldwasser, joined by Rabbi Yosef Gesser, a noted tour guide to kivrei tzadikim, was seen accepting names for inclusion in a Mi SheBeirach after the recital of T’hilim. The previous Satmar Rebbe, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum, often encouraged his chasidim to daven at the tziyun as news of salvations were reported. But who was Rav Joseph and what is his legacy?

In recent weeks, the Queens Jewish Link has begun a strong Brooklyn distribution, sharing our material with over 1000 Brooklynites in the Flatbush and Borough Park neighborhoods. To that end, I gladly accepted Shea Rubenstein’s invitation to represent the Queens Jewish community at the 15^th annual Jewish Community Council of Marine Park (JCCMP) legislative breakfast, where he is Executive Director. Held at Kingsway Jewish Center on Sunday, June 11, the gathering was well attended, attracting easily 250 community leaders and elected officials.