Community Corner

Saving Orthodox Women

Rabbi Zechariah Shimon Wallerstein z”l was the founder of Ohr Yitzchak, Ateres Naava Seminary for Girls, and Ohr Naava Women’s Institute in Brooklyn. Ohr Naava is a unique program designed for women who are interested in furthering their Torah experience. The program started as a Wednesday evening lecture in a small classroom known as a chaburah. It brought together girls who had just returned from studying in Eretz Yisrael, college students who needed a weekly moment of inspiration, and most of all, Jews of different backgrounds with one common goal: to grow and change. The Center always stood true to its mission of providing a multitude of programs, free of charge. Ohr Naava perpetuates the legacy of a man who saw the potential in each girl, treating everyone like a daughter.

Inspector Richie Taylor, Commanding Officer, Community Affairs Outreach for the NYPD organized the Annual NYPD Pre-Passover Security Briefing held this past Wednesday, March 29, at One Police Plaza, with the participation of Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell. The 45^th consecutive event, though smaller than previous years, drew ranking brass and NYC community leaders involved in local civic and quality of life concerns. Queens was well represented, with contingents from the 102nd, 107th, and 112th precincts attending.

Flushing Meadows Hate Crime Assault Victim Saw Death And The Hand Of Hashem During Attack

“A park is a criminal’s turf,” declared Sam Levy, a proud Kew Gardens Hills resident currently serving as a manager at King David Architecture PC on Main Street, where he brings expertise in designing buildings, homes, factories, schools, complexes, and malls. As previously published in the Queens Jewish Link, Levy was the victim of a brutal gang assault by six assailants in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in February that progressed into a hate crime and has resulted in the arrest of the pack leader, Christopher Martinez, a 16-year-old teenager, who is currently held without bail and faces a maximum incarceration of four years. Sentencing is on May 15, following a unanimous grand jury decision of guilty on all ten counts.

Leading elected officials visit the 200th Met Council distribution, an expansive undertaking feeding needy locals for Yom Tov

Hundreds of Pesach food packages were packed and distributed in Forest Hills this past Sunday afternoon, April 2, under the guidance of the Queens Jewish Community Council (QJCC), now entering its 55th year of service, for their annual pre-holiday distribution, a long-established resource for struggling Queens families. For the second year running, the Forest Hills Jewish Center hosted the monumental effort, feeding over 1,000 individuals, giving some 350 Queens families peace of mind ahead of Pesach. The day began early on Queens Boulevard just in front of MacDonald Park with a curbside drop off of pallets including holiday food staples: matzah, grape juice, and macaroons, as well as kosher for Passover cooking essentials like sugar, oil, and eggs that have notably skyrocketed in price. Frozen chicken and tuna were proteins provided, and produce including potatoes, onions, apples, and cabbage were all available courtesy of Met Council.

Promoting aliyah in Orthodox Jewish communities highlight visit
for Religious Zionist Party minister

Optimism for new joint ventures between America and Israel continue to dominate conversations barely a week after Religious Zionist Party MK Ofir Sofer, Israel’s Minister of Aliyah and Integration, made his first-ever visit to the States. Sofer, 47, whose appointment has a tremendous impact for the religious community resulted from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition. The reserved minister met with the leadership of the New York and Toronto Jewish Federations, notably joined the Orthodox Union in a touching Times Square Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony, participated in events and meetings organized by Nefesh B’Nefesh and the Jewish Agency, and visited several Orthodox Jewish communities including a number in the Tri-State region.

Tomchei Shabbos of Queens saw an increase of over 200 families from last Pesach, due to rising costs forcing working families to seek supplemental assistance.