Last Wednesday night, the JLBC-affiliated paper The Queens Jewish Link (QJL) celebrated its second birthday with a buffet at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, where copies of the Queens Link and JLBC were distributed to all comers. Advertisers, rabbis, writers, and politicians, members of different parts of the Jewish and secular worlds came together for a singular networking event. The event began when advertisers, who are the lifeblood of the freely circulated paper (with a circulation of 7500), came to the stage to introduce themselves and say a few words about their businesses. Each advertiser was given 20 seconds of free advertising.

“The Queens Jewish Link fills an important need in our community” explained Queens Councilman Rory Lancman.

QJL co-founder and JLBC Advertising Manager, Yaakov Serle, said the evening gave the paper an opportunity to express hakaras hatov to Hashem, everyone present, who make the paper a success. He noted how proud he was of the tangible impact that the QJL has had in Queens, especially in advertising—his specialty. He said that the recently-opened kosher Dunkin’ Donuts in Queens told him a single ad in the paper brought more than 1,000 new customers to the store. He also announced, that like JLBC, the QJL will be going weekly in March.

Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, Morah d’Asrah of Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills and rabbinic consultant to the QJL, noted that he couldn’t believe the paper had only been around for two years and noted that newspapers have always played a vital role in Jewish life. In the world of the shtetl, almost every community expressed its voice through a newspaper. Schonfeld explained that the QJL performs an “invaluable service” by galvanizing the community and publicizing neighborhood events.

Queens Councilman Michael Simanowitz said the paper filled a void in the Queens Jewish community. While there are many Jewish newspapers in New York catering to every stripe—from labor Zionists to Satmar—the QJL was the first to address uniquely Queens concerns as the first and only Jewish newspaper of Queens. Simanowitz said he was tired of Queens being a mere footnot and  joked that he is looking forward to three things: The QJL becoming a weekly, advertising costs going down, and the third anniversary of the newspaper.

Also in attendance was the co-founder of JLBC, Moshe Kinderlehrer. Affiliated with QJL, the JLBC shares ownership but their content and editorial policy differ markedly, reflecting the very different nature of the respective communities. Kinderlehrer noted that he was raised in Queens so the event was a homecoming of sorts. He also added, “Without the team behind the QJL there simply would not be a Jewish Link of Bergen County. Yaakov, Yaniv, and Naftali inspired and guided me in its founding.”

QJL co-founder and editor Naftali Srolovits estimated over 200 people attended the event. “It was gratifying to see the large turnout of the community for a paper which they essentially.”

By Jeff Klapper & Susie Garber