COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

Community Highlights 

JCCMP Girl’s Sunday Program Teams Up with Rena Talent Club

Because of the  pandemic, the popular JCC of Marine Park’s Girl’s Sunday Program has  gone Zoom, teaming up with the Rena Talent Club to offer girls of all ages in our community the chance to learn culinary, art, and dance skills. The nine-week Sunday program begins on November 29 and concludes on January 31 (no class on December 31, Chanukah) in the comfort of your own home. Girls can choose from courses including cupcake cake decoration, creative kitchen, dance, and art.  For more details and pricing information, please email Mendy@jccmp.org. 

Klal Yisrael Mourns the Passing of Rav Dovid Feinstein, zt”l 

For months, Jews around the world recited tehillim for the speedy recovery of Rav Dovid Feinstein, zt”l, America’s leading halachic posek, Rosh Yeshivah of Mesivta Tiferes Yerushalayim, and a longtime member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah in America. The son and successor of Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, Rav Dovid was a lifelong resident of the historic Lower Eastside of Manhattan. Despite his greatness in both Shas and Halachah, he tried to hide his gadlus while making himself always available for both Torah scholars and simple baalei batim who called him at all hours of the day with sheilos and requests. Rav Dovid was niftar on Shabbos, Parashas Vayera at the age of 91. May his memory be a blessing for all who were privileged to know him.

Continue Testing for COVID-19 to Avoid Shutdowns

The need continues for members of our community to continue testing for COVID-19 to prove that there is no need for the State or City to continue draconian shutdown measures for businesses that have already suffered severe financial setbacks. These shutdowns have also hurt our synagogues and yeshivos. Free and convenient testing is available throughout the community and has been streamlined to make it quick and easy. For an updated list of testing sites, visit www.flatbushjewish.com.  The FJCC is offering legal services at no charge for businesses that may have received zone enforcement violations.

Chasdei Avos Seeks Volunteers to Learn with the Homebound 

Chasdei Avos has for many years paired chavrusas with homebound Yidden who wish to enjoy learning Torah as they did for decades before they became physically incapable of leaving their homes for shiurim. To become a chavrusa and give joy and a new life to a homebound Yid, please call (732) 901-9935.

Maimonides Blood Drives Offer Donors a Safe Opportunity to Save Lives

The Jewish community has been at the forefront of the lifesaving campaign to donate blood. Many blood drives in community shuls have been curtailed due to COVID-19, but the need for fresh blood donations continues. Bikur Cholim  continues to assist Maimonides Hospital in arranging  blood donations at the hospital’s donor room, Monday through Thursday from 8 A.M. – 7 P.M., by appointment only. Strict safety measures have been instituted for blood donors including social distancing, mask wearing, and frequent hand washing. Refreshments and restaurant coupons will be distributed to all donors. For more details, please call (718) 438-2020.

Do You Need Help Selecting the Right Health Insurance?

Open enrollment for health insurance began November 1 and continues until January 31. If you are confused about which plan is best for you, Yeled V’Yalda offers application assistance free of charge through the New York State of Health. You can get advice for Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan, and qualified health plans. To schedule an appointment for open enrollment, call Yeled V’Yalda at (718) 686-2188 or the Flatbush COJO office at (718) 377-2900, Ext 7620.

Thursday Night Halachic Insights on the Weekly Parashah 

Would you like a fascinating, relevant, and engaging shiur that offers the halachic side of the weekly parashah? Rabbi Daniel Osher Kleinman, Rav of K’hal Nachlas Dovid and mechaber of Sifrei Kovetz Halachos delivers a one-hour lecture at Agudas Yisroel Bais Binyamin at 8:30 P.M., followed by Maariv. Recent shirium have been on topics such as “Staying Safe – Masks, Social Distancing…and Sh’nayim Mikra,”; “Borrowing Someone Else’s Tallis and Tefillin without Permission,”; “Do You Lie to Your Spouse?”; and “Giving Accurate Shidduch Information.” Past shiurim are available on TorahAnytime.com.

Klal Yisrael Mourns the Passing of Former Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, zt”l

Our community was shocked and saddened to learn of the untimely petirah of former Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, Rabbi Dr. Lord Jonathan Sacks, zt”l, who succumbed to the dreaded cancer at the age of 82. Inspired as a young college student at Cambridge with no formal yeshivah education, the future Rabbi Sacks came to America and visited prominent rabbis. His encounter with the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1967 changed the destiny of his life as he was encouraged by the Rebbe to study and become a rabbi. Twenty-four years later after teaching at Jews’ College in London and serving as a pulpit rabbi in London, Rabbi Sacks was chosen to become the Chief Rabbi of the U.K. where he inspired a new generation of Jews. After becoming Chief Rabbi Emeritus in 2013, he became a professor at Yeshiva University, New York University and King’s College in London. A prolific author of more than 35 books, Rabbi Sacks was a popular lecturer to both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences around the world.

Touro Honored with Social Work School of the Year Award

Touro College Graduate School of Social Work was recently honored by the National Association of Social Workers-New York City Chapter as the Social Work School of the Year in recognition of Touro’s leadership and contribution in building the profession of social work. The award cited Touro College for its commitment to social justice through its teaching, advocacy, and clinical excellence. Touro College Graduate School of Social Work was launched in 2006 by Touro’s founding President Bernard Lander, under the leadership of founding Dean Dr. Steven Huberman, with 60 students. Today the school’s enrollment has grown to 325 students.

Rav Dovid Hofstedter meeting with HaRav Dovid Feinstein in

advance of the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha Program.