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For nearly three decades, there’s hardly an event in the Queens Jewish community where one wouldn’t see Rabbi Avrohom Hecht, the sociable activist, working the room among the elected officials, rabbis, and volunteers. Last Sunday, he took the stage in Rego Park to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of Project Lead, honoring local elected officials for providing funding that covers its food pantry, programs for youth, and senior events, in particular for Holocaust survivors. “We assist thousands of clients with human services, distribute over 200,000 pounds of food per year, visit dozens of homebound elderly, and a myriad of other services,” said Rabbi Hecht. “Youth activities, Holocaust survivor services, emigre empowerment, and community development.”

On Sunday evening, September 14, Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser, well-known speaker and author, shared a beautiful shiur on behalf of Chazaq at Kehilat Ohr Ve’achdut in Jamaica Estates.

Kew Gardens Hills is a truly singular neighborhood. It is filled with shuls and chashuve rabbanim, a wide array of chesed organizations, and, above all, a spirit of genuine achdus. In honor of the upcoming 50^th anniversary tribute dinner for Rav Noach Isaac Oelbaum shlita, I had the privilege of speaking with Rav and Rebbetzin Oelbaum about the beginnings, challenges, and growth of their k’hilah over the past half century.

On Sunday evening, September 15, the Kew Gardens Hills community gathered at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills to dedicate the new Congregation Mikveh Israel, the Beverly Blisko Women’s Mikveh. The scene was alive with warmth and an ruach, as neighbors, rabbanim, and supporters came together to mark a true simchah for the community.

On Wednesday evening, October 22, community women of all ages gathered at Ohel Simcha for an uplifting and inspiring Rosh Chodesh shiur hosted by Chazaq and delivered by the well-known inspirational speaker, Charlene Aminoff.

Strolling in the Beis David neighborhood in Yerushalayim, this writer and her husband passed a building with a plaque and stopped to read it. We discovered it was the Rav Kook House Museum. When we stepped inside, we were transported back in time to explore the life of the great tzadik, Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook.