News From The Hills

By Chanita Teitz

Main Street is a “happening” place. Yesterday I stopped into Avraham’s Bakery, now on Main Street. This is one of the businesses and stores that were destroyed in the Friday-night Shabbos Chanukah fire on Vleigh Place. I’m glad that they were able to relocate, and I hope the other business owners are able to relocate to keep their businesses open.

On the block of Main Street where our office is located, we were the renting agents for two longtime establishments–the former Towne Variety, which will become a daycare center, and the former Epicure Cleaners, which will become The Baby Store.

Over the years, we’ve seen Main Street change. Businesses and stores that were neighborhood icons eventually closed and other businesses opened. The neighborhood keeps growing and has become one of the premier Orthodox neighborhoods in the city.

Food establishments play a big role here. So many groceries, supermarkets, bakeries, bagel stores, candy stores, fish and sushi stores, restaurants, and pizza shops line Main Street. And now, before Purim, you can see mishloach manos baskets in almost every store window.

I also remember and miss the Purim Parade. What a crazy, noisy Sunday it was. But the kids had a great time, and the camaraderie and neighborhood unity it brought was worth it.

We live in a world today that lacks unity, respect, mentchlichkeit, and just plain decency. Let’s hope that the spirit of Purim crosses all barriers and brings joy and peace to our world.

BYQ Middos Program

The stellar middos program at Bais Yaakov of Queens focuses on nurturing the potential in every student. Building on the dynamic classroom experience, the program fosters spiritual growth in an exciting, creative, and interactive way. The school is still reverberating with the positive energy generated by their recent two-week kibbud av va’eim At Your Service Program. The students were stunned to arrive at school and find it transformed into Café Cavod, a colorful, true-to-life café. Each teacher, dressed as a waitress, wore an apron and visor with the program’s logo. The program was introduced at a schoolwide assembly where the talented moros of BYQ performed a humorous, thought-provoking play, which taught the girls the importance of appreciating their parents. Through a mashal of a restaurant, the girls learned the proper way to serve parents versus the incorrect way. After the play, the eighth-graders performed the catchy At Your Service theme song which was then taught to everyone. Following the assembly, each student received a cup filled with a logo straw, mini saltshaker (your father is like a “melach”–treat your parents royally), and a Danish. Each student also received a special program placemat stating the halachos of kavod and yir’ah.

Each day, the students were taught an important lesson on kibbud av va’eim by their homeroom teacher. Some topics covered were hakaras ha’tov to parents, serving parents b’sever panim yafos, tremendous rewards for kibbud av va’eim, your parent’s will is the way, the halachos of kavod, and the halachos of yir’ah. During each lesson, students wrote inspiring thoughts and stories and drew pictures in their “Menu: Food for Thought” journals.

An exciting facet of the program was the raffle contest. Mrs. Elisa Taub, middos program coordinator, came around each day dressed as a waitress wheeling the “Dessert Cart” featuring an army of scrumptious desserts. The cart stated “Sweet” Service with a Smile–b’sever panim yafos. Mrs. Taub collected students’ “Guest Check” raffle tickets which actually resembled an authentic restaurant guest check. Each grade’s raffle tickets were collected in a different cookie jar. The raffle tickets helped the girls implement their daily lessons by practicing kibbud av va’eim at home and checking off a prepared list of actions.

After a full and rewarding two weeks, the program ended with a schoolwide assembly filled with meaning and ruach. A video presenting teachers sharing their memories and thoughts on kibbud av va’eim, as well as students sharing their impressions of the program, was shown. Raffle winners were chosen and the theme song was sung. The girls stood up to do the motions and there was electricity in the air as the ruach soared higher and higher. The memories of this magnificent program will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the students of BYQ for the rest of their lives.

Upcoming Events

Ladies’ Night. Motzaei Shabbos, March 4, 8:00 p.m. at Thrive Studio. Come for an inspired evening of health and wellness with Holistic Health Coach Mindy Weinstein. Wine, sushi, and refreshments. For more information, call 718-480-6088. $10 charge at the door; $15 in advance.

Awareness Event. Motzaei Shabbos, March 4, 8:30 p.m. at Beth Gavriel, 66-35 108th Street, Forest Hills. Learn how to prevent and detect substance abuse in our community. Sponsored by Chazaq, Amudim, and The Living Room. For more information, e-mail events@amudim.org or call Chazaq at 718-285-9132.

Small Wonder Jewish Puppets. Congregation Ahavas Yisroel and Kehillas Beis Dovid Chofetz Chaim Alumni Minyan present an incredible pre-Purim Puppet Show. Sunday, March 5, 2:45 p.m. For children ages 3 years old through second grade. The show will take place in Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, 76-01 147th Street. The cost is $5 for general admission; $3 for shul members and RSA alumni. For more information, contact Avraham Mitgang at cay.youthdirector@gmail.com.

Queens Kollel Boker. This pre-Shacharis halachah l’ma’aseh kollel is excited to introduce a new incentive program for daily learning. For information please e-mail Rabbi Elan Segelman at rabbisegelman@gmail.com.

Classes for Women. For all ages and all backgrounds. Mondays, 10:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. at YI of Great Neck, and Thursdays 10:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. at YI of Hillcrest. Open to the wider community. No prior knowledge of Hebrew necessary. No entrance fee and no solicitations. For more information, call 347-613-6255.

Ohr Yisrael Presents “Practical Mesillas Yesharim.” Shiur for men. “Life’s Difficulties: Planned or Pointless?” Mondays, 8:55—9:25 p.m. Led by R’ Ilan Feder at Ahavas Yisrael 147-02 73rd Ave. Light refreshments will be served; shiur followed by Ma’ariv. Sponsorships available. Ohr Yisrael promotes the values of classical mussar works using practical and relevant tools, materials, and guidance. For more information, e-mail Rabbi.Zions@OhrYisrael.net or call 732-451-GROW (4769). Ohr Yisrael is a recognized 501(c)3.

Purim shiur by Dr. Michelle Levine. “Revealing and Concealing: The Symbolic Role of Clothing in Megillat Esther.” Shabbos, March 11, 4:00 p.m. at 72-23 139th St., side entrance. Doors will open at 3:45 p.m. Please contact gfrn18@gmail.com for sponsorship opportunities.

Chanita Teitz is a real-estate broker at Astor Brokerage in Kew Gardens Hills, serving the entire Queens vicinity. For all your real-estate needs, call her at 718-263-4500 or e-mail chanita@astorbrokerage.com.