Queens Jewish Link
Connecting the Queens Jewish Community 
On Thursday evening, June 23, Rabbi Yaakov Mizrahi, well-known speaker, shared an inspiring live lecture on behalf of Chazaq at the Beth Gavriel Center to a large crowd of young professionals. Rabbi Mizrahi shared that the three parshiyos we read at this time of the year reveal unfortunate events for the Jewish people. How are the three linked together?
On Sunday morning, June 12, the community gathered for a community breakfast to show support for the Rabbinical Seminary of America – Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills.
On Sunday evening, June 19, Let’s Get Real with Coach Menachem hosted Rabbi Reuven Epstein, CPA, CFF, head of The Marriage Project, for an enlightening inter-active virtual lecture on dating and marriage.
What is the key factor that has brought and continues to bring JEP (Jewish Education Program) so much success in kiruv all these years? Rabbi Yaakov Finestone, Director of JEP Queens, shared the powerful teaching of his rebbe, Rav Henoch Leibowitz zt”l. “Truly care about the whole person in entirety. This can make a difference in someone’s life. A smile, kind words, you have no idea the impact each of you can make. You don’t have to be a professional in kiruv to make an impact.”
“I have something better for you!” On Wednesday evening, June 22, at Congregation Ahavas Yisrael, Rebbetzin Shaindel Simes shared an incredible story of emunah and love: the journey of her whole family as recorded in her new, inspiring book, Rolling Rabbi – The Power of Perseverance: The Story of Rabbi Yehuda Simes.
On Sunday night, May 29, Let’s Get Real With Coach Menachem featured Rabbi Sender Yossi Kaszirer, who has been involved in working with struggling teens for over two decades. Rabbi Kaszirer noted that we recite a special t’filah on Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan for our children that they should go in the proper path. Hashem gave Shavuos to each of us – men, women, and children. Everyone needs to connect to Torah. Torah is for us all. “Every year, we receive the Torah, and every single person has to be m’kabeil the Torah.” He emphasized that every Jew has that special connection, and we have to find the way to help everyone to connect to Torah.
