Queens Jewish Link
Connecting the Queens Jewish Community 
I received a beautiful Chanukah gift this year from Emet Outreach’s Learning Program. It was a new sefer by Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, Founding Rav of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere. There was so much inspiration packed into this sefer, that this writer felt compelled to share some of the beautiful ideas with our readers. The sefer is titled By the Light of the Fire.
When we feel darkness and sadness, it’s hard to go on. That’s when we need to feel that Hashem is with us in our pain. Mrs. Sipy Nissanian, beloved Bais Yaakov of Queens pre-school teacher, shared how painful it was when she and Rabbi Avraham Nissanian of Eshel Avraham, lost their dear son Yaeer a”h in 2002, at age 19. It was too hard to go on, she confided, but with help from Chai Lifeline Bereavement and Dr. Norman Blumenthal, she was able to live through this horrible grief, and she and her husband have helped other parents who had to deal with this type of unspeakable loss.
On Wednesday evening, December 13, community women gathered at Congregation Ohel Simcha for the Annual Night of Gratitude hosted by Chazaq, Amudim, and Emet Outreach. The program was in memory of Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein zt”l.
This writer had the honor to interview Rebbetzin Sheva Turk, who has been the kiruv rebbetzin along with her husband Rabbi Moshe Turk, Director of the Jewish Heritage Center of Queens and Long Island, for the past 35 years. The Turks are moving to East Meadow after Chanukah, but they will continue to come back to Kew Gardens Hills for a monthly get-together with Jewish Heritage Center alumni, and Rabbi Turk will continue to come back to teach his shiurim. They also have children living here, so that is another reason they’ll be back often.
On Wednesday evening, December 6, Jackie Bitton, a well-known speaker, spoke at Ohel Sara about Chanukah. The shiur was titled, “Time to Bring More Light into the World,” and was hosted by Chazaq in memory of Eliezer ben Bella Bracha a”h.
On Sunday evening, November 26, Charlie Harary, well-known inspirational speaker and author, shared an inspiring Zoom shiur on behalf of Let’s Get Real With Coach Menachem. Mr. Harary began by sharing how we’re about to enter Chanukah, and it’s an incredible holiday.
