A Shabbat in Queens After 21 Years

By Shmuel Sackett

This article was published in the Summer 2008 edition of Choices Magazine

I moved to Kew Gardens Hills (Queens, NY) when only two pizza shops were there. Gift World was near Melbourne Ave, Brach's was a small butcher shop, YCQ was under construction and a grand total of five shuls existed in the entire neighborhood! 1874 you guess? Not quite - it was 1974.

Even back then, when Richard Nixon was president of the USA, KGH was "the place to be". We used to hang-out at Shimon's until very late Motzei Shabbat and play basketball in Flushing Meadows Park. I still remember how KGH became the first community to get an Eruv. Rabbi Schonfeld was a little worried about misuse of the Eruv, since people were simply not used to having one. He spoke, at length, about making sure it helped the sanctity of Shabbat and not the reverse. Baruch Hashem things worked out and today, KGH is a gigantic Jewish community that is full of Chessed, Ahavat Hashem and Torah learning.

Shortly after leaving KGH, I made aliyah to Netanya, then Neve Aliza (Ginot Shomron) and finally to Ra'anana, where I live today with my family. And then, after 21 years I made it back to the "old neighborhood" for Shabbat.

While walking on Main St was fun and reminiscing about how things have changed was amusing, that was not why I came. My purpose on this Shabbat was focused on one thing: To explain to the Jewish community of KGH what lies at the root of Israel's problems and how to - once and for all - solve them!

As you know, this wonderful town is full of love for Atrzeinu Ha'Kedosha. Over the years, many good Jews of KGH have given of themselves to help Israel. Many have moved there, more have studied there and even more have donated large sums of money towards various important causes in our one-and-only Promised Land. Many young men from KGH have even served in the IDF! In short, the KGH community is famous for its love and dedication towards Israel.

The problem is that today - that love and dedication - produces pain, frustration and many times even depression, when thinking about our homeland. We read about non-stop rocket attacks on Sderot and Ashkelon. We watch the TV and witness beautiful IDF soldiers - following orders by the Israeli government - ripping fellow Jews out of their homes. A few hours later that same TV station shows Jewish bulldozers destroying Jewish homes, smashing Jewish businesses and digging up Jewish graves - heaven help us! We talk to our friends who live in Israel and hear about stonings and drive-by shootings. We vacation in Israel and experience passing metal detectors as we enter coffee shops and shopping malls. We hear radio reports about kidnapped soldiers and pray that they are still alive.

The biggest problem of all is that nobody ever speaks of solutions. All speakers who come from Israel focus on the problems I just listed, or mention even more! They ask for assistance in helping them cope, getting them through the day or building some kind of hospital for the wounded. Every once in a while a temporary "band-aid" is proposed but never a cure for the sickness. The disease continues and since KGH loves Israel, your pain continues as well.

I came to spend Shabbat in KGH because you needed to finally hear a positive message - one of hope and optimism! You were thirsty for solutions and I tried my best to describe it to you. In a word, that solution is leadership and in the three shuls in which I spoke, I explained how the religious Zionists need to build strong leadership for the State of Israel that is based exclusively on Torah concepts and values, Emunah in the Jewish people and Bitachon in the One above.

I described how my group, Manhigut Yehudit (Jewish Leadership), is building that exact leadership and how it plans on succeeding. The religious Zionist camp has done great things in Israel. We have built communities, mikvahs, shuls and Torah centers. We are the champions in Chessed and first in all IDF combat units - but absolutely dead last when it comes to leading the nation. I spent an entire Shabbat explaining how this must change and, thank G-d, my message was received with great excitement and enthusiasm.

Yes, it is a bold goal but one that must succeed. It would be much easier to talk about building a new Yeshiva in Jerusalem, helping victims of terror or caring for the sick. Of course, all of these things are very important, but we cannot afford ourselves the "luxury" of overlooking the #1 most important goal; Taking away the reins of leadership from those who cannot explain the reason to live in Israel to their own children! The days of Shimon Peres and Co. - who focus on "The New Middle East" and dream of Israel as a "Hebrew speaking Singapore" - directing Israel cannot continue. Only those deeply connected to our Father in heaven, who pray daily for His people's return to Zion and yearn for the rebuilding of the Bet Ha'Mikdash are worthy to lead.

This is what I spoke about on my first Shabbat in KGH after 21 years, and if you didn't hear me, please visit my organization's website which explains our program in great detail. It's simply called www.JewishIsrael.org because that is the goal: Leading Israel based on Jewish values and making Israel proud to be Jewish! I urge you to help me turn the state of the Jews into the Jewish State.

Ultimately, every one reading this article will live in our wonderful land and that will be a great day. In the meantime, take your slice from Benjy's, your ice-cream cone from Max and Minna's and your humus from Ha'Pisga and get involved in bringing authentic, strong and Jewish leadership to Eretz Yisrael! Learn more at: www.JewishIsrael.org and help change Israel's leadership forever!