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The Jewish community of Queens celebrated Lag Ba’Omer with palpable energy. I was privileged to attend a number of festivities alongside City Council Candidate Avi Cyperstein. Our evening of merriment began along 70th Avenue in Forest Hills just off Austin Street, where we thanked Queens Borough Safety Patrol-Shmira for ensuring safety at a bonfire being set up for neighborhood residents to enjoy. We then traveled to Anshe Shalom Chabad JCC, under the direction of Rabbi Mordechai Zev Hecht, where we participated in a joyous and well-attended barbeque under the guidance of master chef Liron Iskhakbayev. It was truly an incredible sight to see so many from all walks of Jewish life united under the light of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

Huge congratulations go to the SKA Mock Trial Team! This year, SKA made history and earned its title of Nassau County Mock Trial Champion of 2021.

The Orthodox Union (OU), the nation’s oldest and largest umbrella organization for the North American Orthodox Jewish community, will bring together Jewish organizations, synagogues, and communities in May to raise awareness and educate the community on the impact of mental and emotional health. May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States.

The little scientists in Yeshiva Sha’arei Zion’s UPK observed how their little caterpillars created a cocoon/chrysalis around themselves. They learned that the four stages of the life cycle of a butterfly are egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly. The children drew and painted the life cycles and labeled each stage. They can’t wait to see the fourth stage, when they turn into butterflies!

Lag BaOmer at the Yeshiva of Central Queens was filled with class trips and Color War. The JHS boys headed off for a day at Sportime USA, where they rode rides, played games, and enjoyed laser tag, while the JHS girls headed to Bounce, a trampoline and zip-line activity center. While the JHS students were out of school, the elementary students competed in songs, cheers, and relay activities during two days of color war. The Red, Blue, Yellow, and White teams showed sportsmanship and enthusiasm as they cheered for their teammates, sang songs, and chanted cheers, which could be heard in the yard and throughout the year.

On Wednesday, April 28, talmidim in the MTA Honors College were privileged to hear from Rabbi Yosef Blau, Rosh Yeshiva and Mashgiach Ruchani at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, who discussed the topic of “Torah U’Madda.” Rabbi Blau began by describing how the study of Madda was originally a practical decision made to enable Jewish immigrants to survive in America. Rabbi Blau then explained how several prominent figures, such as Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, advocated for the value of studying worldly knowledge in addition to Torah. They argued that Madda is necessary to help us appreciate Torah, contribute to society, and improve the world around us. Rabbi Blau shared that while Torah is the ultimate focus, Madda does not diminish it, but rather enhances our learning and appreciation of Hashem’s creations.