View 29, Vol. 17

VOLUME 17 NUMBER 29 MAY 10, 2019 5 IYAR 5779

UPCOMING Parshat Kedoshim By: Rabbi Landsman
EVENTS
This week’s parsha contains the command to “love your neighbor as yourself” [Vayikra 19:18]". There is a very
Candle Lighting: 7:42 famous Medrash (Sifra) that states: “Rabbi Akiva said that the mitzvah to love your neighbor as yourself is the fundamental
Havdallah: 8:48 principle of the Torah.” There is a similar Talmudic passage [Shabbat 31a] concerning a gentile who was interested in
converting to Judaism. He asked Hillel to teach him the whole Torah “while standing on one foot”. Hillel instructed him,
Sunday, May 12 "what you would not want done to you, do not do to others."
Mother’s Day
It is obvious to us that it can be very hard to observe this mitzvah properly. Why is it specifically Rabbi Akiva who
Tuesday, May 14 can justifiably preach to us the importance of this mitzvah? Rabbi Frand explains that this time of year between Pesach and
PTO Supperette Shavuot is the period of the Omer Counting, when we observe certain mourning customs in memory of Rabbi Akiva’s
students. Rabbi Akiva had 24,000 students and was a great Rosh Yeshiva. Yet during the Omer period, his 24,000 students all
Tuesday, May 21 died. If we were Rabbi Akiva and we had a Yeshiva with 24,000 students and our whole Yeshiva died due to some character
Transition Night flaw, what would our reaction be? Most people’s reaction would no doubt be, “I am not cut out to be a Rosh Yeshiva. I must
be doing something wrong.” This must have been a devastating experience for Rabbi Akiva. This was his life’s work and they
Grade 5 all died!

Wednesday, May 22 What, however, does the Talmud tell us? “When Rabbi Akiva’s students died and the world was desolate, he got up
Philadelphia Trip and went to the south of Eretz Yisroel and started over again!” [Yevamot 62b] It seems evident that Rabbi Akiva had
Grade 7 unbelievable resilience. He was the type of person who, despite experiencing the biggest disaster, could find something
positive within that disaster, providing him with the ability to continue onward. He had an incredible ability to be able to
Thursday, May 23 evaluate the worst of situations and believe that “all is not lost."
Lag B’omer
Another example of Rabbi Akiva’s resilience is evident from an incident that occurred following the destruction of
Monday, May 27 the Beit HaMikdash. The Talmud tells us [Makkot 24a], that several Tanaim were walking near the area that was once the
Memorial Day Holy of Holies. There was total destruction surrounding them. When they saw a fox emerge from the site of the Holy of Holies
they all began to cry, except for Rabbi Akiva, who began to laugh. Rabbi Akiva saw the positive in the situation: If the
No Sessions prophecy which predicted the destruction came true literally, then the prophecy which predicted the redemption will also
come true literally.
YCQ Family News
Rabbi Akiva tells us [Yoma 85b] “Happy are you Israel Who purifies you? Your father in Heaven." Rabbi Akiva
Mazel Tov to personally experienced Yom Kippur when the Beit HaMikdash was still standing. He experienced the Kohen Gadol doing the
Morah Adi special service of the day, as well as the instant knowledge of whether it would be a good year or a bad year. There was noth-
ing more beautiful than the radiance of the Kohen Gadol when he emerged from the Holy of Holies. Rabbi Akiva had to deal
Arshadnia (JHS with the generation that had to experience a Yom Kippur after the Temple’s Destruction, when there was no Kohen Gadol.
Assistant Morah) Imagine how the people felt! This is a Yom Kippur? Rabbi Akiva went to them and convinced them that Yom Kippur was still
on the birth of a beautiful. We are now purified directly by Hashem Himself.

grandson! Rabbi Akiva’s strength was that he always saw the positive in every situation. That is why he taught: “Love your
neighbor like yourself." Every person has SOME positive aspect. The Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760) interprets the word
Condolences to “Kamocha” in this pasuk as follows: When a person gets up in the morning and looks at himself in the mirror he thinks, “I am
Morah Dina basically a good person. I have my faults and foibles; I am not perfect. But I am more good than bad.” This, the Baal Shem
Winchester Tov says, is how we must evaluate our neighbor: He is basically good; I will overlook his faults. This is not always easy. It
requires us to focus on the good, rather than the bad, to always see the glass as half full rather than half empty. That was the
(2-204) on the power of Rabbi Akiva and this is the key to the fulfillment of the mitzvah that is called “The fundamental rule of all of Torah."
passing of her
Have a great Shabbat!
brother.
CLASS PLACEMENT FORMS
Class placement forms have been emailed out and posted on
YCQWEB.com for the 2019-2020 school year. Please submit this

form as soon as possible.
All Forms are Due By Monday, May 20.

YCQ Parent Teacher Organization’s Shlissel Challah Bake

On Wednesday evening, May 1, the PTO organized a Shlissel Challah Bake. Many people have the minhag to bake a shlissel –
key challah, for the first Shabbat following Pesach. Renowned spiritual and motivational speaker, Charlene Aminoff, told her
story of how challah brought her closer to HaShem and her Y iddishkeit. She discussed why she began baking challah and the
meaning it still has in her life. When the challah dough was complete, she taught the participants ways to braid it, including
making a challah in the shape of a key – shlissel challah. Then in a meaningful moment, the entire room in unison made the
Hafrashat challah bracha, bringing a spiritual feeling of unity and understanding. Over the years, Mrs. Aminoff’s words have
inspired thousands and on this night for those in attendance at the YCQ PTO event, her words gave inspiration and a
connection to HaShem. For those in attendance, this night was truly different than all other nights. Thanks to Julie Faska,
Daniella Gemal, Keren Birnbaum, Daniella Dykman, Valerie Olsen, and Rachel Stern for the time put in to making this event an
experience to remember and to encourage others to continue baking challah and davening to HaShem with kavanah A special
Hakarat HaTov to Aron’s Kissena Farms for donating the supplies and to Chazaq for their help with promoting the event.

Last week, our YCQ students participated in a meaningful assembly led by Rabbi Landsman to
commemorate Yom HaShoah. The students in grades 3, 4, and 5 watched “Daniel’s Story”.
Afterwards, there was a very inspiring candle lighting ceremony. Several YCQ students
attended the program with their relatives who are Holocaust survivors. After each candle was
lit, a student shared a personal story about a survivor. The JHS watched a selected part of our
Names, Not Numbers film followed by a candle lighting ceremony with students and survivors.
Rabbi Nat and his eighth grade choir performed inspirational and meaningful acapella songs in
both ceremonies. In the early childhood, Morah Sharon shared the story of Anne Frank with
the kindergarten. She used the smartboard to show them what Anne and her family looked like
and where they lived. She also showed them the bookcase and the diary that Anne actually
wrote in. It was a very moving and important day for our students as we never forget the
immensity of this tragic event in our Jewish history.

YCQ Commemorates Yom HaZikaron

Members of Bnei Akiva visited YCQ for Yom HaZikaron. In order to teach students about
the daily struggles faced in Israel and to help students create a greater connection to
fallen soldiers and terror victims, Bnei Akiva set up multiple stations giving the student
a more meaningful understanding of this special day. In addition, our students paused
for a moment of silence as is done annually in Israel to honor those who died while
defending our beautiful country! May we merit to see the complete yeshua and see
Mashiach speedily in our day! The fourth grade choir led by Morah Tali Spector, our
music teacher, performed beautiful and meaningful Israeli and Jewish songs for their
parents and participants at Congregation Etz Chaim during their Yom HaZikaron
program. Special thanks to Rabbi Ribalt and Morah Tali for coordinating this event.

The PTO would like to invite you to our

Annual Supperette

Magician Shlomo Levinger
Dinner by Colbeh

IN HONOR OF

Rabbi Chaim Pearl & Morah Rivka Weinberg
Upon their retirement

TUESDAY, MAY 14 AT 7:30PM
IN THE YCQ DINING HALL

COUVERT $36
STAFF & ALUMNI $25
GOLD PATRONS $180

PATRON $100
DONOR $72
SPONSORS $54
DONATION $18 (NAME ON SCROLL)
RSVP TO Ycqweb.com/PTO-supperette

You may also fill out below form and bring check to business office by May 10
____ I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND. ENCLOSED IS $_______ # OF GUESTS________
____ I AM UNABLE TO ATTEND BUT ENCLOSED IS $___________ DONATION
NAME_____________________________________________
EMAIL_____________________________________________

May 13-May 17

There are a Minion things we love about our
teachers: write a list of all the things you like
about your teachers.

Let’s get Goofy and make our teachers laugh!
Bring in a joke to share with your teachers.

Our teachers are Incredible! Give your teachers
something to give them a boost!

Teaching is a Monster of a job! Prepare a short
video thanking your teachers for all their hard
work!

Our teachers put in a Royal effort, and deserve
some pampering! Give them something to help
them relax and rejuvenate!

WE THANK THIS WEEK’S SPONSORS
FRIDAY, 5 IYAR

IN MEMORY OF OUR BELOVED MOTHER,
GRANDMOTHER, AND GREAT-GRANDMOTHER

DOROTHY RITHOLTZ Z"L
DUBBA CHAYA BAT YOSEF

DEDICATED BY:
DR. HOWARD AND STACEY NATHANSON

AVINOAM AND MELISSA COHEN,
EITAN, ARIELLE, & ERIN

DOVID AND REBECCA BLUM
NOAH, AVA, & ALLIE

KENNY AND BONNIE SICKLICK
EZRA, ATARA, LEAH, & AVI

YESHIVA
OF

CENTRAL QUEENS
Celebrate Israel Parade
Sunday, June 2, 2019

28 Iyar 5779
Yom Yerushalayim
Mandatory attendance for all
students in grades 4-8
schedule and location
information coming soon!!!!

Yeshiva of Central Queens

Parade Sign Up

All participants in the Israel Day Parade must wear this year’s YCQ T-shirt. T-shirts are
$5 per person. Special thanks to YCQ and the PTO for subsidizing the cost of
transportation.

Pease fill out the form below and submit it with the total payment to Mrs. Liron Friedman no later than,

MONDAY, MAY 20, 2019

Name Indicate Class Going to Not going Not returning
parent or parade
with YCQ with YCQ Returning with YCQ bus
student (for Adult Sizes bus but with YCQ bus (will pick up
bus meeting us in child at end of
student)
the city parade route)

Last First Parent Student

S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL
S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL

S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL

S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL

S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL

S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL

Attendance is mandatory for all students in grades 4-8. A signed note requesting to be excused from the parade must
be given to Rabbi Landsman. More information will follow in the next few weeks. If you have any questions please call

Mrs. Liron Friedman at 718-793-8500 ext 330.

Enclosed please find $___________ for _________________ Parents who join YCQ’s group for the
parade are requested to please march in the
(Number of people) area designated for parents. Thank you for

Signature _____________________ your cooperation.



YESHIVA OF CENTRAL QUEENS

URGENT MESSAGE FOR PARENTS WHO RECEIVE
SERVICES FROM THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

If your child receives SETSS (NYC Department of
Education Resource Room), speech and language,
occupational therapy, physical therapy, or counseling,
you will receive a “Parent Notice of Intent” letter in the
mail. If you would like to continue the services in
September, you must do the following:

1. Sign the letter, write in the school name, and write
that the school is in District 25.

2. Take a picture of the letter and save it on your
phone in case there are issues in September.

3. Mail it return receipt to the CSE address included
in the letter.

4. If you do not receive a letter by the middle of May,
please contact Din Lu-Berio via email:
[email protected] or at 718 281-3479

FAILURE TO SIGN THIS LETTER WILL RESULT IN DELAYED
SERVICES IN SEPTEMBER.

.

NORPAC Mission to Washington

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Anti-Semitism is at a dangerous high. Israel’s critics are becoming bolder
and louder; we can’t afford to sit on the sidelines.

Come make a difference on NORPAC’s Mission to Washington D.C.

Roundtrip transportation to DC from NY-NJ. Glatt Kosher meals included.
Additional Information and Registration at NORPAC.net or call (201) 788-5133

REGISTER BEFORE MAY 11TH
Adults -- $185, Students/Young Professionals (Under 30) -- $125

Call about special Clergy and College Student rates. Minimum age: 12

Paid for by NORPAC





YOM HASHOAH PROGRAM

CHALLAH BAKE