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Dynamic, Daily Learning for Men

Animated and excited chavrusa learning with their partners, and in small groups, are a welcome sight at the new Emet Olami Beit Midrash. Sunday through Thursday mornings at Shaar HaShamayim Synagogue in Forest Hills, this uplifting program marks Emet’s latest effort to bring meaningful Torah study to their students.

The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV) harshly rejected, on both moral and Constitutional grounds, the claim by Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) that “what any religious tradition describes as G-d’s will is no concern of this Congress.” Nadler made this statement on the floor of the House of Representatives last Thursday, rebutting Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) who had said that the Equality Act, which passed the House that day, does not “reflect the standards of G-d.”

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) announced Monday that she has been selected as a Co-Chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism.

It is hard to believe it’s been a year since our world got turned upside down, but that did not hold back the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates from creating a fulfilling Purim holiday.  To get in the Purim mindset, Rabbi Lerner once again captivated the community with his fascinating pre-Purim shiur titled “Esther’s Legacy: Popularity and Power.” There was a lively discussion about leadership and popularity. What does it mean that Mordechai was liked by most? Should good leaders strive to be popular?  Rabbi Lerner seems have both, as he has led the community through this difficult year and has clearly earned a good measure of popularity, as we congratulate him on being unanimously instated in Jamaica Estates for years to come.

The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), representing over 1,500 traditional, Orthodox rabbis in matters of public policy, called for the rejection of the Equality Act as “a direct attack on Jewish religious values and practices.” The Equality Act, HR 5, is slated for votes on Thursday in the House of Representatives.

The 28^th of Adar marks the first yahrzeit of Reb Yaakov Meltzer zt”l. Reb Yaakov, a beloved member of the Kew Gardens neighborhood of Queens, was a brilliant talmid chacham, a tremendous baal chesed, baal t’kiah, and a devoted medical practitioner. He was astute in the laws of taharos, hilchos eruv, and safrus. His priorities were defined by Torah and his chiyus was Torah and mitzvos.