Community Corner

This past Sunday afternoon, April 23, the Kew Gardens Hills community gathered to give their kavod ha’acharon to a beloved member of the community, Akiva Fogel z”l. During the week of shiv’ah, it was constantly mentioned how the crowd at the l’vayah was comprised of all ages. Everyone, whether they were 20, 40, 60, or 80, felt a special connection to Akiva, and his loss was deeply felt by all.

Those who have attended hearing after hearing in the cases against five of the six attackers of Joey Borgen understand viscerally the frustration expressed by his father, Barry Borgen, at the April 17 House Judiciary Committee hearing in New York.  Indeed, it has been almost two years since Joseph Borgen was attacked on May 20, 2021.  However, there is significant movement forward in these cases, for which there is no lack of evidence. 

Lag BaOmer, which is the 33^rd day of S’firas HaOmer, and the 18^th of Iyar, is a festive day celebrating two prominent, yet connected events:

The Ohr Natan Youth Minyan, based in Rego Park, visited Williamsburg admurim during Chol HaMoed Pesach. Led by Rabbi Natan Kaziev of Ohr Natan, members of the weekly Chavruta program received brachos and words of encouragement from the esteemed Chassidic visionaries, including the Dinov Rebbe, the Kaliver Rebbe, the Krula Rebbe, and the Pupa Rebbe. The delegation was joined by Rabbi Naftali Rosenbaum, Chavruta Program founder. The group also spent time studying in the grand Satmar shul, and concluded the visit at a Vach Nacht for the newborn son of one of the Williamsburg community members that attends the weekly Ohr Natan Chavruta Program.

“The whole world is really interested in Jewish suffering. I wanted the whole wide world to be interested in Jewish strength,” said B.A. Van Sise of his book, Invited to Life: Finding Hope after the Holocaust.

Monday nights just got more meaningful for Emet’s Couples Division with the launch of a new series of classes. Held at the Emet Center, these lectures are geared towards smaller groups than the popular monthly workshops and are part of the continually expanding offerings for couples at all stages of marriage. While Emet hosts programs at shuls and college campuses throughout Queens, situating this initiative at the organization’s more intimate space was essential. “The idea for this class came about because we’re always looking for ways to connect more meaningfully with our couples and to allow them to connect with one another,” said Sara B., Program Director. “We wanted to give them a class that they would not only look forward to, like a date night, but that would also allow them to learn and grow together. We already have women’s classes, men’s classes, couples workshops, and Zoom classes, but it was time for something more consistent and personal for our couples.”