From a Singles Shiur to Torah & Judo: What’s On at the BJCC in Forest Hills This Week

The Bukharian Jewish Community Center (BJCC), home of Congregation Kanisoi Kalon at 106-16 70th Avenue in Forest Hills, lists a full week of programs on its official events page. They include Torah classes, a singles shiur, a couples class and youth programs, and most of the listings say no RSVP is needed.

Several of the evenings are led by Rabbi Asher Vaknin, who runs the youth minyan at Kanisoi Kalon, and by Rabbi David Shushan, who leads the center’s teen minyan, according to The Bukharian Times. Here is the week as the BJCC lists it.

Monday: Singles night

Monday Nights for Singles meets every Monday with Rabbi Vaknin and is open to single men and women. Dinner is at 7:45 p.m. and the shiur starts at 8 p.m. on the second floor. The center says the evening is meant to strengthen emunah and bitachon, help participants meet new people and “step close to finding your zivug.” No RSVP is required. A public events listing also shows tonight’s session, Monday, Oct. 19, at 8 p.m.

Tuesday: Netivot Shalom and chavruta learning

Rabbi Issac Ambalu teaches “Light Up Your Soul,” a weekly class on the teachings of the Netivot Shalom, on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. on the second floor. All are welcome.

Also on Tuesday nights, the Chavruta Program pairs people for Torah study. The center says it is built on the teaching of Pirkei Avot 1:6: “Make for yourself a teacher and acquire for yourself a friend.”

Wednesday: Torah & Judo, and a couples class

Torah & Judo runs from 7 to 8 p.m. on the lower level. The free class combines professional judo instruction with a short Torah lesson. It is for high school boys only, in grades 9 through 12, and no RSVP is required. Rabbi David Shushan is the contact for the program.

Rabbi Vaknin’s weekly Couples Class also meets Wednesday nights on the second floor. The center describes it as Torah wisdom for building stronger relationships, for newlyweds and longtime couples alike. No RSVP is needed.

Thursday: Zera Shimshon

Rabbi Vaknin teaches a Zera Shimshon class on Thursday evenings that is open to men and women. Dinner is at 7:45 p.m., followed by the shiur at 8 p.m. on the second floor.

Teens Lounge and Shabbat learning

The center’s Teens Lounge for teen boys opens Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. in the basement, with food, games and a hangout space. A Sunday program at 9:30 a.m. adds tefillah, breakfast and a money raffle. The BJCC asks those planning to come to send a message first.

On Shabbat, the Shabbat Learning Program meets at 4:30 p.m. on the third floor, with a choice of classes.

CPR training

The BJCC also advertises CPR and first-aid training. The course covers adult CPR, AED use, child and infant CPR and how to respond to choking. No session dates are posted, so contact the center for the schedule.

Program contacts are listed on the center’s events page. The BJCC’s main number is 718-520-1111. Rabbi Vaknin also wrote a recent Parashat Noach column for The Bukharian Times.

Details of the rabbis’ roles were translated from Russian by Bukharian Jewish Post from coverage by The Bukharian Times.

Sources: BJCC Events & Programs page; BJCC CPR Training page; Outgoing listing for the Oct. 19 singles session; The Bukharian Times, Kanisoi Kalon Simchat Torah report (Oct. 8, in Russian), for the rabbis’ roles.