Community Corner

On Sunday evening, March 7, Let’s Get Real with Coach Menachem featured its 44^th shiur. Rabbi Naftali Horowitz shared wise advice on all aspects of finances and the proper Torah perspective on money. Rabbi Horowitz shared his own background and how he moved into the job he does currently. He works as a manager at JPMorgan and advises people who are wealthy. He noted, “The money aspect is the easiest part of the job. The real challenge is the emotional and psychological things that money does to people.” He shared something that we all know, which is that money does not correlate to happiness and fulfillment or peace of mind. The Gemara teaches that thousands of times.

On Tuesday evening, February 9, Chazaq and Chickens for Shabbos held another beautiful distribution at Congregation Ner Mordechai in Kew Gardens, this time dedicated l’zeicher nishmas Zalman ben Yosef. The focus this time was on m’lamdim, moros, and g’rushos. Chazaq worked with Sister to Sister, a comprehensive resource and support network for Jewish divorced women, and invited women from this network to attend. We have written about the details of the distributions in previous articles. This article will focus on the way this help is offered. The volunteers spend hours unboxing and sorting donated items by size and item. On the day of the distribution there is a volunteer for every table. This makes it possible for each person who comes to be greeted with a smile. Robbie Aboff, Chazaq Events Coordinator, explained, “We want people to be excited to come. We want to give back to the community.”

On Wednesday evening, March 8, Chazaq and TorahAnytime hosted a virtual yahrzeit event in memory of Rabbi Elyakim Getzel Rosenblatt zt”l, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Kesser Torah. Although this was the Rosh Yeshiva’s second yahrzeit, it was the first commemoration because of the COVID emergency.

On Wednesday evening, February 17, Rabbi Daniel Glatstein, rav of Kehilas Ahavas Yisrael (of Cedarhurst), author, and speaker, shared part two of a fascinating virtual shiur on accessing the power of Purim. This shiur is part of Chazaq’s program of inspiring speakers every Wednesday night at eight p.m. The shiur was hosted by Chazaq, TorahAnytime, and Chickens for Shabbos.

On Tuesday evening, March 2, Chazaq and TorahAnytime hosted a virtual shloshim event in memory of Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski zt”l. Rabbi Twerski was a pioneer in psychiatry, a giant in Torah, and a giant in all that he accomplished for klal Yisrael and the world.

On Tuesday evening, February 9, the Navigating the Medical System Lecture Series featured a virtual lecture on diabetes and diabetes prevention. Dr. Mel Breite, Founder and Director of the Navigating the Medical System Lecture Series, introduced the speaker, Josef Tibaldi, MD, FACP, FACE, Chief of Endocrinology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Queens. The lecture series is hosted by Congregation Etz Chaim of Kew Gardens Hills.