News

On Sunday, December 18, the Young Israel of Hillcrest opened its doors to the Queens Jewish community with a phenomenal addition to its youth programming: a Pre-Chanukah Extravaganza. Renowned entertainer Jester Jim performed for a standing-room-only crowd in the YIH social hall. Children of all ages, together with their parents and grandparents, filled the shul with a spirit of excitement and laughter, as they were amazed by Jester Jim’s juggling tricks and non-stop humor.

“I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek out Your servant” (Psalms 119:176).

Hashem’s way is to call a person the moment He sees him straying from the path of good sense, asking him to turn back. He calls each person in the way most suited to him. To some, He beckons with a hint. To others, the summons is literally a cry. Some people kick, and He must strike them in order to call them. The Torah is Hashem’s voice calling and begging those who sin to return to Him.

BIRTHS

Dovid and Tzippy Berglas, and Binyomin and Chanie Perlstein on the birth of a grandson, born to Moishy and Hindy Perlstein of Lakewood

Doni and Rochel Leah Blumenthal on the birth of a daughter. Mazal tov to the grandparents, Dean and Gale Blumenthal.

The Queens Jewish Center honored the memory of Rabbi Joseph Grunblatt with their annual memorial lecture, held on Zoom, on Sunday, December 11.

Rabbi Grunblatt was one of the giants of his generation, and “a rabbi’s rabbi,” said keynote speaker Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander.

Large amounts of emergency food, including ingredients to make Chanukah latkes, for 5,000 families to be distributed by Masbia Soup Kitchen Network. While high-end food costs are starting to come down, poor people’s food - or basic household ingredients - is still going up. The cost of ingredients to make latkes, such as potatoes, eggs, and oil, are up more than 300% from last year.

In a unique collaboration between YU and the Jerusalem-based World Zionist Organization (WZO), Azrieli’s expert teaching faculty hosted a day of professional enrichment for 85 Israeli educators serving in Jewish communities throughout the Diaspora. During the event, which was set on YU’s uptown campus, faculty presented teaching strategies and skills that will help participants convey the beauty and spirit of Israel and Judaism to American students.