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Rabbi Welcher - Chanukah - The Fundamental Lighting Rule - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Chanukah Inspiration - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Mesillas Yesharim 14 - Man's Purpose - The Correct View of Mitzvos - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Mesillas Yesharim 13 - Our Soul is Oriented to the World to Come - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Mesillas Yesharim 12 - Man's Purpose - The Invigorating World To Come Perspective - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Mesillas Yesharim 11 - Man's Purpose - Using Each Day Productively - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - The Uniqueness of Vsein Tal Umatar - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Mesillas Yesharim 10 - Man's Purpose - Our Actions in this World - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Mesillas Yesharim 9 - Man's Purpose - The Constant Battle - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Understanding Kiddush B'Makom Seudah - mp3

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Rebbetizin Tziporah Heller - Chanukah How to Light up OUR Lives and the Lives of OTHERS - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Mesillas Yesharim 8 - Man's Purpose - Our Actions in this World - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Mesillas Yesharim 7 - Man's Purpose - What is Good - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Vayechulu on Friday Night - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Mesillas Yesharim 6 - Man's Purpose - The Necessary Challenges Of This World - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Mesillas Yesharim 5 - Man's Purpose - Accomplishing in this World - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Tosefes Shabbos - Making Kiddush Before Nightfall - mp3

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Dina Hurwitz - Emunah and Bitachon in Difficult Times - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Mesillas Yesharim 4 - Man's Purpose - The Means and the End - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Mesillas Yesharim 3 - Man's Purpose - The True Pleasure - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Halachos of Kabbalas Shabbos - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Mesillas Yesharim 2 - Man's Purpose - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Mesillas Yesharim 1 - Intro and Man's Purpose - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Properly Fulfilling the Mitzvah of Shofar - mp3

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Rabbi Moshe Schwerd on "Rosh Hoshana and Personal Redemption" - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Malchus, Shema, and Aleinu - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Elul and the Tzibbur - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Utilizing Elul - mp3

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Jewish Community Baseball League’s Ahavas Yisroel on Display

On Sunday, June 23, the sun was finally shining, the smell of fresh cut grass was in the air, and the anticipation grew as the Marc Katz Memorial Championship Games for the Jewish Community Baseball League (JCBL) were about to begin. The playoff tournament, named in tribute to the memory of Marc Katz, of blessed memory, our league president of twenty-six years, who was taken from us suddenly just three days before the 2014 championship games. Marc strongly believed in the mission of the Jewish Community Baseball League because it brings Jewish children from varied backgrounds closer to Judaism and to each other through organized sports. Marc’s memory will forever be linked to our league and to the values it promotes.

Since the beginning of April, teams from shuls in Queens and Long Island have been playing youth baseball. This season, though, for the first time in the 60-year history of the JCBL, Ahavas Yisroel (AY) of Kew Gardens Hills earned the right to play for a championship in each of the League’s three divisions, winning the Minor Division and coming within an out of winning the Major Division. Here is a brief recap of these games:

Minor Division
AY-B (5-1) vs Great Neck (6-0)
Final Score: AY 3 – GN 1
Game Balls: Yisroel Henoch Goldberger, Eliezer Jakubovics and Yonah Machlis
Manager: Robert Barnett
Coaches: David Bachayev, Adam Cohen, Gilboa Merdinger



With AY’s Minor Division Championship – History was made again when it became the youngest AY team to ever win a championship by beating undefeated Great Neck 3-1. A scoreless tie entering the sixth and final inning, AY exploded for three runs in the top and nailed down the victory in the bottom. When asked before the game if his players were intimidated playing a bigger, undefeated team, Manager Robert Barnett said “I have confidence in my boys. We have the skill and the talent to beat anyone.” Did they ever!

Major Division
AY-B (6-4, 1-1 in playoffs) vs Mashadi Jewish Center (MJC-A)
Final Score: MJC 2 – AY 1
Game Balls: Yehuda and Reuven Statfeld
Manager: Aaron Laub
Coaches: Lee Gherman, Tzvi Statfeld, Avi Stern



The AY-B Major team consisted primarily of fifth-grade players that played with heart and grit throughout the season, beating older teams along the way. No finer demonstration of that was on full display by everyone until the final out was recorded. A true pitchers’ duel through four and a half innings, MJC pitcher Benjamin Ijadi pitched his way in and out of trouble, twice stranding multiple runners on the bases. Meanwhile, AY pitcher Aryeh Stern pitched a sterling 4 innings. But after a walk and a single in the bottom of the fifth, MJC scored two runs on a triple by Ryan Kashanian. But AY would not go quietly. In the top of the sixth, AY loaded the bases and scored a run on a two-out walk to Moshe Feldman. Despite the nail-biting and heart-breaking loss, they won the hearts of everyone in attendance for demonstrating the utmost of professionalism. They never gave up and never gave in. Manager Aaron Laub agreed. “They gave it everything they had and left it all on the field. I couldn’t be prouder of them!” So are we all!

Junior Division
AY-A (3-3-1, 2-1 in playoffs) vs Young Israel of Woodmere (YIW)
Final Score: YIW 12 – AY 0
Manager: Josh Hartman
Coaches: Adam Cohen, Aviva Gluck


By far, the Junior AY team had the highest mountain to climb. Facing a Woodmere team that was not only undefeated this year but has never lost a game since entering the league three years ago. Earning the third seed in the playoffs, AY convincingly won its quarter-final game over Kew Gardens Synagogue (KGS-A). In its semi-final game against Great Neck on a wet field in Great Neck’s back yard, AY again proved superior beating the second place GN by a score of 4-2. After Great Neck jumped out to a 1-0 lead, Moshe Hartman pitched a gem going five and two-thirds innings giving up just one run and striking out eleven. Chilli Penner later drove in two runs. EmJay Gluck contributed with batting in 1 run while Yaakov Greenbaum scored twice. Down to their last batter, Great Neck made the game interesting scoring a late run but with the bases loaded, entered Sandman Chilli Penner who struck out the final batter. Despite being the heavy underdog, AY was energized to face YIW having only lost to them 3-1 during the regular season. And, for two innings, the game was scoreless. But the big boys from Woodmere proved why they’ve never lost by breaking the game open on their way to an 12-0 victory. The disappointing loss aside, Manager Josh Hartman beamed about his players. “These are a remarkable group of young men who played for each other and epitomized the essence of a team. It’s been an honor mentoring, guiding and managing them. Each of them displayed middos tovos and first-rate sportsmanship.” That said, as he left the field with equipment in hand, he turned back and said with a sparkle in his eye, “We got one more year; we ain’t goin’ anywhere.” We sure hope not!

The 2019 Marc Katz Memorial Championship Games were certainly one for the books. Congratulations to each of the 76 players from AY’s six teams as well as the 23 coaches and managers on their remarkable achievement this season. A heartfelt Hakaras HaTov and Yasher Koach to AY JCBL coordinators, Josh Hartman, Yoni Katz and Aaron Laub for their tireless dedication preparing and organizing the AY Baseball program. And, before you blink, it will be April when umpires everywhere again shout those magical words, PLAY BALL!

Rebbetzin Heller - Responding to Anti-Semitism - mp3

Rebbetzin Heller - Responding to Anti-Semitism - mp3 can be downloaded here.

Rabbi Welcher - The Travails Of Yom Tov Sheni - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Applications of Hoil on Yom Tov- mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Simchas Yom Tov, Cooking, and Achdus - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - The Essence Of Sefiras HaOmer - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Sefiras HaOmer - Complete Days - Missing Days - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Insights into the Haggadah - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - Preparing Your Home For Pesach 2109 - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - "Bedikas Chometz" mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - "Mitzvos of Purim" mp3

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Rabbi Moshe Schwerd on "Finding True Happiness" mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - "Insights Into The Megillah" mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - "Hashkafos Of Shabbos" mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - "Halachos Of Challah Part2" mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - "The Structure, Format and Purpose of the Megillah" mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - "Halachos Of Challah" mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - "Amirah L'Akum" mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - "Halachos Of Neiros (Candle Lighting)" - mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - "The Structure of Shemoneh Esrai - Part 2" mp3

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The Structure of Shemoneh Esrai - Part 1

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Rabbi Welcher - "Purim Katan" mp3

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2019 Ahavas Yisroel Baseball Registration

Welcome back to AY Little League!

AY will be fielding teams for boys in grades 3 – 8 grades.


Linked below are several documents: the AY Baseball registration form, the AY Baseball waiver of liability/assumption of risk form, and the JCLL Parental Code of Conduct (required by the JCLL chartering organization, Williamsport Little League).

Pre-registration will be the same as last year: simply complete and submit the registration, waiver and parental conduct forms along with a check payable to Cong. Ahavas Yisroel, or authorization to bill your shul account (shul members only). Members of CAY and / or returning AY Baseball players are entitled to first priority registration.
In order for me to comply with the JCLL deadlines, I must have your completed forms and payment no later than February 11th. After then, registration will be open to all on a first-come, first-served basis. Please submit all forms sooner than later for both your benefit and mine.

An official registration day will be held on Sunday, February 10th, 2019, between 1:45 and 3:45 PM, at Ahavas Yisroel (147-02 73rd Avenue).

Registration fee: $100 for Shul members and $125.00 for non-members. Uniforms purchased separately. Sample uniforms will be available.

If you will be purchasing a new uniform, samples will be available during registration on February 10th. In the meantime, indicate what you will be purchasing, include your payment but leave the size blank. We will fill it in when you come for the fitting.

Your prompt attention to this is greatly appreciated.

PLAY BALL!

Yoni Katz
2019 AY JCLL Coordinator
Mobile: 631-807-8366
Congregation Ahavas Yisroel


Registration Information.

Registration Form.

Liability Waiver.

Parent Code of Conduct.

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Rabbi Welcher - "TuB'Shevat and Maaser" mp3

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Rabbi Welcher - "The Many Implications of Bein Hashmoshos" mp3

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