By Chanita Teitz

Our community lost an “elder statesman.” Rabbi Elyakim Getzel Rosenblatt, zt’l, was a gem in our midst. He was a rav, a rosh yeshiva, and a father figure to many in the neighborhood. Together with his wife, Rebetzin Trani, ybc’l, he conducted a unique kind of kiruv and hachnasas orchim where everyone felt loved and welcomed. I passed the yeshiva almost every day seeing men coming and going from Shacharis and Minchah. They also had a very late Ma’ariv minyan.

Rabbi Rosenblatt was also known for his beautiful voice and melodies and as a kind and welcoming individual who was very approachable. The community will miss him.

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The former mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said “it’s not antisemitic to hate the Jews of Israel.” What he and others fail to understand is that the Land of Israel, Zionism, and Judaism are intertwined. Zionism and the State of Israel are not only political entities. They are part of the Jewish connection to Hashem, Torah, and our homeland. You can disagree with policies of the Israeli government, but if you hate the people of Israel, you hate Jews. Israelis are Jews. Antisemites want to trick us into thinking that if we denounce Israeli policy, they will like us. Years ago, people thought that if you were more like the Gentiles, you could escape all Jewish persecution. Just assimilate and they will like you and they will accept you. Hitler taught us otherwise.

Hating Israelis is hating Jews. We are one with our people and our land, even if we don’t always act as one. But we are connected through over 3,000 years of history in our land and throughout the world.

That makes me wonder about Ilhan Omar accusing Jews of dual loyalty. It has been said so many times that this is a country of immigrants, and I don’t think there is an immigrant who doesn’t have a connection to their ancestral homeland. The Irish are proud on St. Patrick’s Day, the Puerto Ricans have their Puerto Rican Day parade, the Italians love Columbus Day, and every culture in this melting pot called the United States has dual loyalty to some degree. For a Jew, the connection is part of our lives, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and religiously. But only the Jews get called out on it.

I live here, in the U.S. I was raised here and I am loyal to this country that gave so much to me and to my ancestors. At the same time, I have a spiritual and emotional tie to the place of my birth and to the country of my people.

If you hate my people, wherever they are, you hate me. That to me is antisemitism.

In breaking news I read last night, Kalman Yeger was removed from his committee on the city council as Mayor De Blasio wanted. Kalman Yeger should not have to apologize for saying that there is no Palestine and he should not have been removed from his city council committee. Palestine is Israel. What’s in a name? “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Israel can be called by any name; it is still the land of Israel, G-d-given to the Jewish people. There is no Palestinian nation.

Finally, my two cents on the Joe Biden lunacy. He oversteps some boundaries, but these women are just out to stop him from running for president with a character smear at this time. Isn’t it noteworthy that we can appreciate the halachos set for us in the Torah which explicitly set boundaries between what is allowed and appropriate behavior between the genders.

Have a good Shabbos!

Chazaq Inspires and Entertains Public School Students Prior to Purim

Chazaq’s Jwave Teens Division had several lessons educating local public-school students all about the inner meaning of Purim the programs had many fun activities too.

Chazaq held a special carnival for students of their afterschool programs

In addition, Chazaq held a special carnival for students of their afterschool programs for children. The event took place at Beth Gavriel and attracted students from Chazaq’s Shaping Lives programs that take place weekly at five different locations throughout the Queens community. Hundreds of boys and girls (mostly from public schools) enjoyed the special programs provided by Chazaq.

For more information about the dozens of programs Chazaq holds for public-school students, please e-mail info@chazaq.org.

Upcoming Events

KGH Jewish Library, 71-14 136th Street, KGH, will be open this Sunday, April 7, from 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. That’s it until after Pesach, resuming Tuesday, April 30, from 6–7:30 p.m., be’H.

Books taken out from this Sunday through April 7 will not be due back till Tuesday, April 30. So please do keep your and your family’s reading needs in mind and plan accordingly. There’s no limit on the number of books you can check out. But if you do have books out that are past their due dates, please try to get them back promptly. Someone else might very well want to enjoy them over Pesach!

To borrow books, come by, leave some contact information, and help yourself. The library includes books of Torah values for all ages, children through adults, in sections such as novels, short stories, biographies, true stories, Torah thought, etc. Membership is free and there’s no limit on number of selections. Books normally go out for two weeks (longer at times like this when we have a break coming up) and can be renewed by email or in person. Books can also be returned outside of library hours by placing them (gently) through the outside mail slot, but please ring the bell first.

On your Pesach-cleaning travels please look out for library books that you or a family member might have borrowed that are overdue. Please bring back overdue books (in any condition). It’s never too late, no questions asked. The library doesn’t charge fees, but donations are certainly appreciated.

The library welcomes donations of Torah-type books, especially children’s, also novels, short stories, biographies, etc. (no sefarim please). Monetary donations toward the purchase of books are also appreciated, as are suggestions of what we should buy.

Back issues of the children’s sections of Jewish magazines and Zman magazines are popular. For more information, contact 917-497-7584.

Young Israel of Jamaica Estates Mitzvah Morning, Sunday, April 7 from 9:30–11 a.m. at YIJE, 83-10 188th Street. Join your kids and grandkids in designing superhero capes, masks, and water bottles for “Capes for Kids,” a division of Enchanted Makeovers, a nonprofit in Michigan that helps vulnerable kids in rescue missions and shelters gain an armor of strength, imagination and hope.

Rav Aharon Walkin: Raising Children with Wisdom Through the Night of the Seder, Monday, April 8. Pizza at 8:00 p.m. and lecture at 8:15 p.m. at Young Israel of Briarwood, 84-75 Daniel Street. Presented by Chazaq and the Young Israel of Briarwood. Men and women welcome. Free admission. For more information, call 718-285-9132, email Events@Chazaq.org, or visit Chazaq.org.

KGH Mikveh Tea 2019, Monday, May 20, at 8:00 p.m. at Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills. Guest speaker: Charlie Harary. Lavish dessert, vendors, and raffles!

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 email chanita@astorbrokerage.com

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