Queens Jewish Link
Connecting the Queens Jewish Community 
Over the last few years, there has been a growing movement and trend called “Thank You, Hashem.” I applaud the work they have done; but, sadly, there has been a major part that has been forgotten. It’s called thanking Hashem on the national level. Allow me to explain what this means.
A friend of mine, visiting from New York, came to my shul on Shabbos and asked where our rabbi was. Innocently, and without giving it any thought, I answered that he is in “miluim” (IDF reserves). Like tens of thousands of Israeli men, he is part of the war being fought against evil. What blew my mind was my friend’s comment – which I was not expecting. “He is in the army now? That’s funny… My rabbi from New York is in a bungalow colony in the Catskills with his family. Pretty big difference!”
This past Shabbos, my shul in Herzliya was all over the news – but not for anything we did. We were on the receiving side of anti-government demonstrators breaking illegally into our locked building to distribute their hate-filled propaganda. Let me explain what happened.
Everybody knows that arguments within families are the hardest ones to resolve. More often than not, disputes regarding inheritance cause irreparable damage. How sad that brothers stop talking, cousins never get to know each other, and families are literally broken apart.
As we leave the month of Av, there is one thing I need to get off my chest. During the Nine Days, Tish’ah B’Av, and even afterwards, I watched many videos that focused on the challenges we are currently facing. These were all amazing productions, and I thank each and every one who was involved in bringing these projects to life.
I have spoken in over 500 Jewish communities in the United States and Canada and love the Q&A session that follows my presentation. This is where people get to ask what is truly bothering and/or confusing them. Once – at a hotel in the Catskills – a young woman gave an introduction to her question by asking a pre-question: “Is it okay if I ask something that might offend you?” My answer was simple and to the point; “Of course you can. Ask whatever you want. But is it okay if my answer offends you?” She decided not to ask her question. Oh, man! I was actually looking forward to that one.
