Community Corner

On the 14th of Iyar, we commemorate the yahrzeit (hilula) of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNeis, a day imbued with the potential for miracles and divine intervention. This date also coincides with Pesach Sheini, a holiday symbolizing second chances and spiritual renewal. By examining a famous story about Rabbi Meir, we can appreciate the extraordinary significance of this auspicious day.

The Coalition for Jewish Values, representing over 2,500 traditional, Orthodox rabbis in American public policy, Monday expressed strong support for the Israel Security Assistance Support Act, introduced over the weekend by House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA). This bill will block efforts by the Biden administration to withhold key weapons systems from Israel if it conducts large-scale operations in the Gazan city of Rafah. Israel has said that entering the city is required in order to dismantle the remaining Hamas battalions holed up in tunnels beneath it.

On Tuesday, May 7, Yeshiva University’s campus witnessed an outpouring of solidarity and support as over 150 students gathered to hear the harrowing tales of two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers who bravely served their country. Organized by Agam Halperin, a dedicated member of the Israeli Club at the university, the event aimed to shed light on the indomitable spirit of those who have sacrificed for the sake of peace and security.

Jews lived in a beautiful bubble, thinking we were not subject to anti-Semitism. The Holocaust seemed “like it was a world away.” “We have been proven wrong,” said Dr. Henry Abramson at the Queens Jewish Center’s annual Israel Memorial and Independence Day Commemoration on Monday, May 13.

Chabad on Campus of Queens hosted an evening for women that was both holy and intimate. Noted author and lecturer Mrs. Rivka Slonim addressed the topic of mikveh and intimacy. Her lecture was clear, down-to-earth, Jewish, and utterly genuine. Slonim touched on the great sacrifices that Jewish women have made through the ages for mikveh, from the times of Masada to modern-day Israel.

On Sunday, May 10, Project Lead held an extremely uplifting and successful couples event at Simcha Palace in Kew Gardens Hills. Several dozen couples from the Bukharian Jewish community participated in the event. The featured speaker was Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, a noted clinical social worker, college professor, and author, who presented his 13 Beliefs in maintaining marital harmony. He urged couples to be more sensitive to their spouses and other family members and provide praise and positive reinforcement on an ongoing basis. The evening included a four-course dinner, special Mother’s Day gifts, and a photo booth that provided color photograph mementos. The event was coordinated by Naama Asherova, a Family Services Coordinator at Project Lead.