As the coronavirus pandemic took hold of the Queens area the ever-present characteristic of kindness emerged throughout the community. Existing organizations, schools, businesses and everyday individuals materialized in the most astonishing and amazing ways showcasing our inherently Jewish qualities. Distributions helplines were formed for food, medicine, medical equipment and everything in between. The unity of our society continues to be one of the most heart-warming manifestations of mi k’amcha Yisrael; “Who is like Your nation, the Jewish people.”
Sunday, April 12, 2020 was the second day of chol hamoed Pesach, a day often spent on outings with family and friends at amusement parks, the zoo or arena concerts. This year, these plans were replaced by virtual experiences and one very special live mobile concert truck trekking the barren streets of Kew Gardens Hills as onlookers excitedly waved from porches, windows and doorways lightening the mood of a difficult time. The Bukharian Jewish Link in partnership with its sister publication the Queens Jewish Link, the renown Chazaq Organization, Sorolle Idels of Queens Jewish Alliance and Community Board 8 member Meshulem Lisker undertook need to spread a little bit of joy. Yaakov Serle, Queens Jewish Link co-publisher, who has been in self-quarantine since the onslaught of the pandemic commented, “We felt a need to do our part and bring smiles to our readers faces.” For several hours Kew Gardens Hills native Eli Arshadnia, DJ ELI, uplifted residents with a truly upbeat experience. His journey and highlights from the adventure can be found on his social media platforms @djeliexclusive.
Due to the contagion, area hospitals have been overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. Community medical personnel have gone above and beyond to keep the ill safe and comfortable as they nurse them back to health. Local activist Nechemia Hoch saw other communities institute an oxygen concentrator loaner program that prevented hundreds of coronavirus related hospitalizations and sought the partnership of other askanim to bring our community this resource. Longtime community physician Dr. Ellie Bennett explained, “After we conferred with our medical community, we came to a realization that a vast majority of those experiencing coronavirus-related breathing complications could avoid hospitalizations with proper oxygenation in a medically appropriate manner.” Community resident Ari Elbogen worked behind the scenes to ensure the project seamlessly developed. “In under 24-hours we arranged for community members to accrue nearly $40,000 to purchase 44 oxygen concentrators,” stated Hoch. “The Amudim Organization was founded on a pillar of kindness and remains dedicated to serving community members in times of crisis. We used our resources to locate available oxygen concentrator’s vendors and help bring them to a community in need. We as well established a dedicated call-line for the program. It was our zechut to partake in this endeavor,” said Zvi Gluck, Director of Amudim. Moshe Vatch, a Misaskim of Queens Coordinator, was contacted to organize the volunteer distribution effort. “With many of our operations on hold, Misaskim of Queens took on the task of helping those in need. We gathered a task force where protocols were put in place to ensure that the equipment would be used properly and serve its intended purpose,” explained Vatch. FreedomCare, a home care consumer-directed personal assistance agency that allows people to hire and manage their own caregivers was brought in to provide a free visiting nurse service to virtually check in on those with concentrators. “The program experienced overwhelming success and most definitely saved lives,” concluded Bennett. A volunteer mentioned, “It became imperative to ensure we keep our family and friends home and not expose them to other hazards in the overburdened hospital system.”
Queens Borough Safety Patrol Shmira worked with their Brooklyn counterpart, CWSP, to provide pulse oximeters to monitor heart rate and oxygenation levels of COVID-19 patients. “Many devices were loaned throughout Queens to those who called in requesting our help,” stated Shaya Lloyd a local Shmira Coordinator. Medical personnel were recruited to monitor participants and ensure continuity of care.
From a spiritual perspective the Orthodox frum community sought an outlet of inspiration. The Chazaq Organization in partnership with the Queens-based TorahAnytime platform continues to rise to the virtual podium on a near daily basis with a slew of shiurim for men, women and children on varied topics all with acclaimed lecturers. “Rabbi Paysach Krohn, Dr. David Lieberman, Mr. Charlie Harary and Rabbi David Ashear are scheduled among others to lead streaming classes this upcoming week providing a source of chizuk to the Jewish world in this trying time,” detailed Chazaq Events Coordinator Robbie Aboff.
Grocery shopping and medicine pick-ups have been other major obstacles for those held up in quarantine. Three local organizations emerged to assist in dealing with this dilemma. Am Yisrael vs. COVID-19 is a volunteer-based group established by Nicole van Amerongen of Woodmere, NY and Aaron Priven of Manhattan, NY servicing members of the Jewish community throughout New York and New Jersey who are in quarantine due to the COVID-19 virus. They currently boast 10 locations and over 1000 volunteers. They operate locally through a WhatsApp group of 10 administrators and 85 volunteers. Yisroel Zylberberg a resident of both Israel and Lakewood currently is on Spring Break from the University Chicago Business School and was delighted to join the effort. “I was happy to write some computer code for our website and help with the coordination and logistics enabling over 600 tristate residents to receive service in roughly an hour or two from calling in.” Zylberberg noted a case where tefillin were needed to be transported to a hospital and another where a patient needed their glasses. Am Yisrael vs. COVID-19 also set up a fund to help the families who are suffering both from COVID-19 and financial instability during these treacherous times. To volunteer visit www.coronachesed.org and if you seek assistance call 929-J-CHESED, 524-3733 or Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Zeh Lozeh chesed group, originally founded by Mr. Faivy Mund of Toronto, Canada, operates in Queens with a team of nearly 100 volunteers who pick up food items and medicine and deliver them to homes of homebound and quarantined families. Kew Gardens residents and first year beis medrash boys Yisroel Cohen, a talmid of Yeshiva Shar HaTorah and Yeshaya Shuter who attends Senders in Monsey coordinate the local effort. Cohen’s father Sam has an acquaintance in Toronto who inquired abou establishing the Queens branch. With 13 cities operating, the initiative was established as the need of the Queens community increased for families that must stay at home to keep themselves and the public safe. Over 120 requests for help have been submitted to a hotline number via WhatsApp where a symptom-free volunteer has been anonymously matched the same day. Keep in mind all items must be paid for prior to pick up. To receive help from the group or to offer to volunteer, please call 332-217-1718.
Chaveirim of Queens established a grocery, medicine and other essential pick up service after a community supporter reached out to set up a volunteer group. “Our very first delivery was for an Austrailan that reached out for Queens relatives that needed food for Pesach,” said Avigdor Cyperstein the program’s founder. Many calls have been processed to help the community in this time of need. Hershel Praeger, a local volunteer, explained “It is very rewarding for us to be able to help out the homebound during this tough time.” Fran Aschendorf, a local resident of Kew Gardens Hills explained the situation quite poignantly “Just imagine... that all alone feeling... stuck in your home... spouse left by ambulance and admitted to the hospital... Pesach around the corner... that all alone feeling... that panic of getting needed groceries for yourself and your 99 year old mother-in-law... that all alone feeling... and then a friend suggests contacting Chaverim...just imagine... that in a blink, numerous responses saying “just tell me what you need”... and just imagine one responders calling to say I am in the supermarket now. Just tell me if you think of anything else”...and that smile, that wonderful smile as they bring the packages to the porch for you... just imagine... wonderful friends who step up to the plate when late on seder night when you need to walk to your mother-in-law to sleep over so she will not be alone... and imagine the wonderful friends who say that they will stop their seder and pick you up... and walk a safe social distance with you so you need not walk alone... just imagine... my never ending gratitude to the members of CHAVERIM and to my wonderful friend, Rivkie Stahler and to Mordechai and Sarah and Mordechai Schnitzler... And now imagine one day when all this will end... and we will all be together... May that day come soon...” For assistance please call 646-610-3375.
NYC is providing grab ‘n go meals with kosher food provided by Borenstein Caterers under the Volove Kashrus. Meals can be picked up at all the Kew Gardens Hills meal hubs at P.S. 154, 75-02 162 Street, Queens 11366, or at P.S. 164, 138-01 77 Avenue, Flushing, NY 11367, for children and families from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
The Community Steps Up
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