Tov Bet Midrash, under the auspices of Rav Menashe Sadka, held pre-Yom Tov shiurim to inspire the greater Queens Jewish community ahead of the grand opening of their Women’s Center, a unique initiative for the tri-state region to bring glory to Hashem’s name. The presidium of Tov, including its President, Reb Abe Rosenthal, chose to establish this center as song to Hashem and for others to find reason to bring Him honor. After a conversation with Rav Noach Isaac Oelbaum, and other gedolei Yisrael, including Rav Don Segal, ensuring the longevity of tzniut was deemed paramount.
Rabbi Paysach Krohn, rabbinic advisor of Daily Chesed, the shul’s multifaceted organization delivered a profound lecture to a standing room only crowd on Motza’ei Shabbos, erev Rosh Hashanah in conjunction with the Chazaq Organization.
The noted maggid, mohel, and author told over poignant stories and words of chizuk that captivated the audience.
With two days until Pesach any home might be a tad chaotic. Children are home from school, and so are rebbeim and teachers. One Lakewood rebbe beckoned his wife, “What can I do to help?” Without a moment's hesitation, the doting wife suggests, “Take out our six kids for a four-hour outing.”
The father opted to take his clan out to the AirTran at Newark Airport where they took in the sleek design enjoying every second of their two-hour ride.
The family was approached by a non-Jewish gentleman who inquired of their destination. The father explained the purpose of their travels to which the man explained how he had missed out on his child’s milestone events from birthdays to graduations eventually being told by his own child to take his number out of his phone contacts.
“I have travelled everywhere, but gone nowhere,” the man told the father. “I’m telling you, with your kids you are going everywhere.”
Rabbi Krohn stressed the need to connect to our children and grandchildren as this is the fundamentals of building future frum generations and noted that this would be a central theme at the Women's Center.
“We are so disconnected sometimes,” stated Rabbi Krohn. “We must disconnect to reconnect to our families. Texts, emails, and WhatsApps, it is nonstop. However, when we learn, daven, and sit with our cherished children for a meal, we must disconnect.”
The Maggid brought the audience to Ma'ale Efrayim, a West Bank settlement, where a story of hashgachah pratis recently unfolded. There was one local who made it his mission for mispallelim to turn off their devices while in shul and shunned the concept of putting phones on vibrate.
It happened that this individual was returning from a late-night wedding when his wife declared, “We are being followed by a car with their headlights off!” They tried their best attempting to outmaneuver their take when shots began to ring out. They jumped out and rolled off the highway. At the first opportunity, they rang the police and said that they are being chased and are now at the bottom of the hill of Ma'ale Efrayim. The cops were quite skeptical as there is no cellphone reception in that area but agreed to come out anyway. When the Arab terrorists saw the oncoming law enforcement, they quickly vanish. At the seudas hodaah, the man urged attendees to disconnect to connect to Hashem. It was related that as predicted the police had no mobile reception at the extraction point.
The passing of Maran Rav Chaim zt”l shook every Jewish soul. When his wife, Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky a”h passed on Shabbos, the Sar HaTorah’s grandchildren inquired of her greatest mitzvah, to which Rav Chaim responded, “Patience.” The rebbetzin was known to spend endless hours crying, praying, and encouraging women, even those who suffered mental issues. One American woman was known to call Rebbetzin Batsheva every erev Shabbos for a kiss, often requesting a second and third.
Since youth, we have been told that Hashem is our King. Rabbi Krohn was recently in England and witnessed the pageantry held after the passing of Queens Elizabeth. “It was a site to behold that is special to define malchus.” Some Orthodox Jewish fathers even took their children to the funeral procession to witness a king firsthand and made the unique brachah upon seeing King Charles. When we recite HaMelech HaKadosh where are our thoughts; we must stop and think what a melech is?
King Charles invited Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis to a particular meeting. The meeting was specifically arranged for 5:30 p.m. to allow the rabbi time to attend ahead of Shabbos at 6:30 p.m. Midway, the king pointed to Rabbi Mervis and probed, “Don’t you have to leave, isn’t it almost Shabbos?” However, there is a rule that one cannot depart a room before the reigning royal. King Charles understood the importance of Shabbos and how its laws override that of his own honor and sent Rabbi Mervis on his way along with a police escort. We must remember that as Jews, the nations of the world see Hashem’s name within us, and we must respect this notion.
On January 2, 2020, Binyomin Ginsberg was pulled over for weaving through traffic as he rushed along the Garden State Expressway. The officer questioned, “Did you study your piece?” Binyomin replied that he had not done so as it was just 10:30 a.m. The officer told Binyomin that if he promised to do his page, then there would be no summons. The officer went on to explain that he wishes he was Jewish. The day prior was the Siyum HaShas at Metlife stadium, and this officer was assigned to protect the 95,000 participants who enjoyed lively dancing and singing but managed to celebrate without anyone becoming intoxicated and all because they finished a daily page! The siyum may have taken place at the stadium of the Giants, but in reality, it was a stadium filled with giants. Each of us is a giant and if we act our part then the non-Jews like King Charles will show our nation respect.
Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser addressed the community ahead of Yom Kippur. A special Siyum HaShas led by the Teen Minyan of Tov is scheduled for Sunday, October 23 at Ner Mordechai in Kew Gardens. Tickets are available at tovbetmidrash.org/siyum, or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The Daily Chesed Women’s Center is scheduled to include a library. Those with donations for this cause are encouraged to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
By Shabsie Saphirstein
Tov Bet Midrash Gears Up For Women’s Center Opening
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