Queens Jewish Link
Connecting the Queens Jewish Community 
In this week’s parshah, Parshas Balak, we read about the plot of Balak, the king of Moav, who sought to harm klal Yisrael by enlisting the services of the rasha Bil’am. Recognizing that physical warfare would be futile against the am s’gulah, Balak attempted a spiritual attack, hoping Bil’am’s curses would succeed where swords could not.
The Orthodox Union Advocacy Center (OUA) celebrated the Senate’s historic vote Tuesday to include the revised Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) in the “one big beautiful bill,” marking the most significant federal action ever taken to make private education more affordable for American families.
In a spectacular display of achdus and appreciation, Emet Outreach recently held its largest Charidy campaign to date and successfully raised over 1.5 million dollars. The campaign showcased the “Emet Effect,” the incredible impact the organization has had on individuals, families, and the Bukharian community for over 21 years. “We would like to thank our devoted students, alumni, community partners, family, and friends,” said Rabbi Akiva Rutenberg, Emet Co-Founder and CEO. “In true partnership, the campaign had 215 teams and over 2,300 individual donors. This unwavering support for Emet’s work enables us to continue igniting the sparks of Jewish identity that set in motion a strong Jewish future.”
There are 12 Chabad-led congregations in Queens, including one at Queens College. But perhaps most significant is that Queens is also home to the Ohel, the resting place of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. As the Jewish world marked the Rebbe’s 31st yahrzeit on 3 Tamuz (June 29, 2025), three Queens-based Chabad rabbis reflected on his enduring legacy and how his teachings continue to guide their lives and work today.
The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), representing over 2,500 traditional, Orthodox rabbis in American public policy, applauded the formal Notice of Violation from the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) against Harvard University. The OCR concluded that Harvard permitted a hostile environment to persist on campus marked by anti-Semitic threats, intimidation, and violence, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The finding follows a 19-month investigation and underscores the university’s failure to protect Jewish students from discrimination and harassment.
