By Chanita Teitz

I have been vacillating about Donald Trump since he entered the Republican presidential race. I have always seen him as a showman and business mogul, but as time goes on he has come across as a blustering fool, exploitive, and using others for his personal gain–and he has an ego that is inflated to infinity.

Yet because he is independently wealthy and does not have any commitments to financial supporters, he can say whatever he wants, and many people agree with what he says. It’s not what he says that is objectionable, but how he says it. The man needs to tone himself down, present a more refined articulation of his plans and opinions, and act in a more presidential manner. If he wants to make America great again, he will have to interact with other heads of state and he can’t call them names and expect to win their alliance.

As of this writing, Cruz is running ahead of Trump in the Iowa opinion polls, with Rubio and Carson at a tie and Bush trailing. Huckabee, Fiorina, Paul, Kasich, Pataki, Santorum, and Graham clearly need to do well in the debate to move up in rank. I am waiting to watch the debate and hear the commentaries afterwards. The most important issue in this debate is to determine who among the contenders is strong enough to beat Hillary Clinton. All the other issues, such as keeping us safe and fighting terrorism around the world, are definitely of the highest importance, but first we need a leader strong enough to win the election.

The news from Israel today was frightening, with a major car attack at the Chords Bridge in Yerushalayim. So many injured, including a young baby. The bridge is a landmark that you can see from all over Yerushalayim. I have been there, crossed it, and stood under it, and I know the bus stop. Wherever an attack happens it is horrifying, but when you know the place personally it is even more frightening. I would just like to wake up one morning to no bad news. Like they say, no news is good news. I’ll take a boring, ordinary day anytime.

Chazaq: Changing Lives
Of Local Students

There are thousands of Jewish teenagers who have no Jewish education. They have never experienced the beauty of Shabbos. They don’t know what tefillah is all about. They have never heard a shiur on the parashah, let alone a shiur in Gemara. To them, life is about now; there is no awareness of Olam HaBa.

Who are these boys and girls? Where do they live? Minnesota? Haifa? Tel-Aviv? Unfortunately, they are in our own backyards. Thousands of them are here in Queens, losing their Jewish identity before our eyes. What are we doing to save our fellow Jews? What if one of them were your relative–a brother, sister, or even your own child? Would you want him or her to be forgotten? Wouldn’t you go the extra mile to bring them back to Hashem and guide them to a life of purpose?

Baruch Hashem, in recent years Chazaq has had siyata d’Shmaya in inspiring thousands in the Queens community (and beyond) via their year-round shiurim, benefiting men and women of all ages and backgrounds. What is not known, however, is the tireless work the young men and women from the Chazaq staff dedicate in guiding Jewish boys and girls who attend local public schools. Thanks to their dedication, hundreds of teenagers have been given the opportunity to learn about their rich Jewish heritage. They have been given the chance to experience the beauty of Shabbos. They are learning about tefillah. They get to hear a shmuz on the parashah. They are delving into the depths of Gemara. They now realize that life is not just about now; there is an Olam HaBa.

On the last day of Chanukah, Chazaq held a special 24-hour campaign, during which all donations made our community a partner in Chazaq’s tremendous work in bringing Jewish teenagers back home.

Kol Yisrael areivim zeh la’zeh, the Jewish people are bound to each other and are responsible for one another. This is especially true when these fellow Jews are in our own backyards. May we all be zocheh to see the geulahshleimah bimheirah, Amen!

Visit www.Chazaq24hours.org for more information.

Rabbi Benzion Klatzko Lectures At Chazaq Event

By Natan Alper

On Sunday night, December 6, Rabbi Benzion Klatzko delivered an inspiring lecture about relationships using metaphoric terms of first and second light. Rabbi Klatzko, an inspirational speaker, is the founder of Shabbat.com. The event was hosted by the Chazaq organization at the Beth Gavriel Center in Forest Hills.

Rabbi Klatzko began by differentiating between first and second light in terms of marriage. First light is bright, exciting, wishful, and merely a gift. It is the feeling we conjure when receiving a positive first impression. When meeting a girl or guy that one likes for the first time, it can be exciting and sometimes labeled as “love at first sight.” Second light is the relationship one maintains with a spouse throughout life. This second light needs to be earned and is not easy, for one feels obligated to satisfy the needs and wants of the spouse, which can be difficult at times.

We can understand that second light is more important than first light, for first light is only short-term. Second light is what a person has to invest in to maintain a positive and loving relationship for the long term. This light is more calming, mature, and real.

So why do we have a first light at all? The purpose of the first light, that new, exciting feeling for someone whom you like as a potential spouse, is to create an opening for the second light. Without that first feeling, it is highly unlikely that the second light would be achieved.

We can use this metaphor not only for relationships, but also with lessons that we learn throughout our lives. Many times, one will receive inspiration, whether from a great speech, a deep quote, or an intriguing book. That is all the first light, the feeling of inspiration. However, that first light is only worth its power if we apply and achieve the second light, which is to act upon our inspiration.

May we all receive inspiration from the many valuable lessons in our lives and achieve the second light by applying and establishing these lessons to reach great heights.

L—R: Rebecca Gottesman, Limor Brody, Michael Benzaken, Jason Geller, and Rabbi Robby and Mrs. Shoshana Charnoff
L—R: Rebecca Gottesman, Limor Brody, Michael Benzaken, Jason Geller, and Rabbi Robby
and Mrs. Shoshana Charnoff

Tehillim Memorial Assembly At Queens College

Over 100 students attended a Tehillim memorial on December 9, organized by Limor Brody, who is also a student senator at the college. The event was in memory of Ezra Schwartz, Hy’d, recently murdered on the way to distributing food packages to Israeli soldiers at the Gush Etzion junction, and Rabbi Yaakov Don, Hy’d, a seminary teacher. The assembly was held under the auspices of the OU-JLIC, directed by Rabbi Robby and Mrs. Shoshana Charnoff. Rebecca Gottesman assisted by arranging for Ezra’s roommates at Yeshiva Ashreinu, Michael Benzaken and Jason Geller, to address the overflowing audience. They were in the van at the time of the terrorist attack. Ms. Brody was initially motivated to approach the Charnoffs to hold a Tehillim assembly since Rabbi Don had been her seminary teacher at Emunah V’Omanut.

Hills - BYQ Heart 2 Heart 2 Hills - BYQ Heart 2 HeartBYQ Girls Spread Simchas Chanukah In Israel

Heart 2 Heart continues to thrive at Bais Yaakov of Queens, during general studies, as the junior-high students show how much they care about the people of Eretz Yisrael. Incorporating the feeling of achdus towards acheinu beis Yisrael continually modeled by Rabbi Mordechai Gewirtz, the dean of BYQ, culinary arts and science classes became platforms for raising awareness of the matzav in EretzYisrael. This time, the older girls jumped at the opportunity to be actively involved in bringing simcha to others in EretzYisrael, and the money they raised went toward funding special Chanukah programs for the children in Hebron.

In a special program funded by the PA for the seventh-graders, the girls baked delicious chocolate-chip cookies, packaged them, and sold them in school during recess. Mrs. Sarah Bergman, exhibiting great emotion as she observed the group, said, “I am so proud of our girls!” Mrs. Chanie Goldberger, the culinary arts teacher and owner of Entree, creatively demonstrated how to make the most delicious cookies. The girls had a great time, with the help of their devoted teachers, rolling the cookies out and baking them in school.

The other students lined up to taste the treats they had purchased, as the seventh-graders in charge of sales hawked their wares in the hallway. They were completely sold out in no time at all!

Eighth-grade science class decided to make no-bake Rice Krispies treats to raise money and bring simchasChanukah to children in Israel and memorialize victims of terror. After a brief discussion between students and Mrs. Reisbaum, Mrs. Rina Korman devoted class time to teach the science, mathematics, and business of yielding the huge quantity of a product to raise money for a cause. The classes made more than 500 treats. Tizku l’mitzvos, BYQ!

Upcoming Events

Hachnassas Kallah of Queens Paint Night. Sunday, December 20 at Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim, 76-01 147th Street at 8:00 p.m. The event is for women of all ages, singles, young marrieds, and anyone who wants to be creative. There is a minimum donation of $36 and reservations are preferred via HKofQueens@gmail.com. There will be a coffee bar, desserts, and an opportunity to bring home your own masterpiece. v

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.

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