Queens Jewish Link
Connecting the Queens Jewish Community 
It takes something really special to fill a beis midrash on a random Tuesday evening in the middle of the summer. The Young Israel of Jamaica Estates did just that, as it inaugurated its newly renovated beis midrash with an exceptional presentation given by powerhouse couple Rabbanit Michelle and Rabbi Seth Farber.
HaRav Dovid Goldwasser leads recitation of T’hilim at the kever of HaRav Yaakov Joseph zt”l, Chief Rabbi of New York, in honor of the yahrzeit, accompanied by Reb Mendel Friedlander, Esq., and Reb Binyamin Pruzansky, at Union Field Cemetery in Queens.
The three-week period that begins with the fast of the 17th of Tamuz and climaxes with Tish’ah B’Av is known as “The Three Weeks.” It is a time of mourning and reflection for the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem as well as many other tragedies that befell klal Yisrael over the course of history. In order to internalize and grow from the memory of these calamities, Chazal instituted increasing degrees of mourning practices during this period.
Following a week of hype amongst the members of Chaverim of Queens and Great Neck, a unique experience was had by all, with a delicious to’ameha this past Friday afternoon, July 22, in the beis midrash of Mesivta Yesodei Yeshurun in Kew Gardens Hills.
The Young Israel of Jamaica Estates recently held its annual anniversary dinner. They feel fortunate to have been able to continue this tradition, that for most organizations came to a halt in 2020 and 2021, to pay kavod to their members who have gone above and beyond to make this k’hilah a home.
The walls of the Emet Center have expanded from Queens to the Land of Israel. That’s what it felt like for students in the Women’s Division who are spending the summer studying at Neve Yerushalayim. In order to ease their transition to seminary, Ms. Adina Fendel, Emet Women’s Director, and Ms. Sara Blatt, Emet Mekareves, traveled to Israel to help guide and unite them. “Our idea was to not only bring an Emet feel, but also to create memorable programming to make their experience in Israel as impactful as possible,” said Ms. Fendel. The result was an amazing week of learning, laughter, and enjoying the land.
