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At the Young Israel of West Hempstead, Michal Lobanov Shares Her Personal Story of Tragedy, Strength, and Hope

Michal Lobanov lost her husband to Hamas terrorists and gained a global family that continues to support her and other widows of hostages and fallen soldiers. Last Sunday, she shared her experiences at the Young Israel of West Hempstead.

The once-in-five-years election that represents diaspora Jewry in the World Zionist Congress had a record turnout, with more than 230,000 votes cast, producing a historic result that gave the largest number of seats among the 22 parties to the Reform movement—even as its share of the seats dropped, with Orthodox parties picking up more votes than in the previous election.

Chava Ben-David’s childhood in Queens was unique in some ways, as she was raised by her single father in a neighborhood far from her yeshivah. Determined to give her a Jewish education, her father Zelig drove her to school; but on one occasion, his car was being repaired and I volunteered to pick up Chava.

The Gaza War and accusations of anti-Semitism were repeatedly mentioned at the Democratic mayoral primary debate on Wednesday, June 4, with frontrunner Andrew Cuomo wearing a yellow lapel pin as a reminder of the hostages held by Hamas.

The Nine Days preceding Tish’ah B’Av are a time of introspection with a focus on healing divisions among Jews as we mourn the loss of the Beis HaMikdash. Last Sunday, Rabbi Yaakov Rahimi spoke at the House of Torah in West Hempstead in a lecture organized by Chazaq.

My family is among many from West Hempstead who have sons enrolled at the Yeshiva of South Shore, and every Sunday (when school buses are not available), we take our sons to class. Driving on Peninsula Boulevard, the symbolic gateway to the Five Towns is the railroad overpass followed by the former bank that has served as the Israel Chesed Center since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The row of Israeli flags facing the busy road reassures supporters. Here’s a place where one can physically get involved in packing boots, duffel bags, and other supplies needed in Israel.