Diverse Rabbis And Community At Forest Hills Conference

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Rabbis from across the Orthodox spectrum came together for a Kinus Torah (Torah Conference) on the last day of Shavuot at Machane Chodosh synagogue in Forest Hills.

Bukharian, Georgian, Sephardic, Chabad, and Modern Orthodox Rabbis, all from Forest Hills and Rego Park, gave words of Torah and Chizuk to more than 150 people attending for 2 and ½ hours.

Rabbi Sholem Hecht, Morah D’Asra of the Sephardic Jewish Congregation for the past 46 years, re-started this tradition three years ago. Hecht remembers Rabbi Joseph Grunblatt of the Queens Jewish Center, Rabbi Marvin Luban of the Young Israel of Forest Hills, and Rabbi Yitzchak Sladowsky of Forest Park Jewish Center, having Kinos Torah about 45 years ago.

It’s a tradition Jews in Europe had, said Rabbi Hecht. Community Rabbis traveled to their Rosh Yeshivas during Shavuot, when ritual questions aren’t as numerous as other Jewish holidays, to have a Kinos Torah. Seven Rabbis spoke at this year’s event in Forest Hills.

Rabbi Sholem Hecht spoke about how it says in the Torah, “G-d says these words to Moshe to say,” clearly meaning Torah is intended to be said over to B’nai Yisrael. “Jewish people have to understand, the scope of the Torah is not just to the Jewish people and observance” but to “influence the world and society,” said Rabbi Sholem Hecht quoting the Maggid of Mezeritch.

Hecht pointed out to today’s challenges in society: Heroin and Opioids addictions; legalization of marijuana (a gateway drug to harder drugs); gender and sexuality “being attacked very severely by the Gay agenda;” the Shidduch crisis; the lack of education in yeshivas and public schools.

The Kinus Torah “helps the community see the broad scope of Torah and application to modern life. Shavuot is the perfect time to learn Torah and for the community to see there are a lot of things we can do together,” said Rabbi Sholem Hecht.

“The event has grown exponentially from year to year both with the inclusion of more Rabbis and more attendees,” said Rabbi Yossi Mendelson of Machane Chodosh who was host, MC, and a speaker.

Rabbi Mendelson pointed “to the unity across various communities through Torah.” “While each of us has our own customs and minhagim, when it comes to the study of Torah we all share a common ground.”

Rabbi Shmuel Gold, from Queens Jewish Center, focused on Halacha and why Megillat Ruth is read on Shabbat Chol Hamoed before the Torah reading.

Rabbi Baruch Babayev, of the Bukharian Jewish Community Center, speaking in Hebrew, discussed the importance of showing Kavod–respect to Torah scholars, the Torah itself, and for holy books.

Rabbi Asher Vaknin, Rabbi of the youth minyan at the Bukharian Jewish Community Center, spoke about the importance of making Torah a part of our lives.

Rabbi Aharon Chein, from the Congregation of Georgian Jews, spoke about lessons we can learn from King David and the Ba’al Shem Tov, both of whose Yahrtzeits are on Shavuot.

Rabbi Ashie Schreier of the Young Israel of Forest Hills said, “We are so blessed that every single day, every time we sit down to learn, we have our own personal Maamad Har Sinai. It is not a one-time event that we commemorate like Yetzias Mitzrayim; rather it is something we interact with each and every day. “

“There were so many different styles and uniqueness to each presentation. It was a tremendous Kavod Hatorah, which is what it’s all about. The hope is that our community continues to be centered around the Torah. We may go to different Shuls but we have the same goal of serving Hashem the best we can,” said Rabbi Schreier.

Rabbi Mendelson of Machane Chodosh said, “Shavuot is an ideal time for an event like this, symbolically reenacting the giving of the Torah when all of Am Yisrael camped as one person with one heart. An event like this is such a beautiful example of unity in and through Torah.”

The Kinus Torah was in addition to the all-night learning held throughout the neighborhood during the first night of Shavuot.

By David Schneier