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FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.COURIERSUN.COM SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 • THE COURIER SUN 25 SNAPS QUEENS What do you think about the proposal of building a soccer stadium near the Aqueduct Racetrack? “It’s a wonderful idea. This community has a vibrant soccer culture not typically seen in American culture. Just walk through Corona Park and see.” Andrew Grossman “I coach for the Auburndale Soccer Club so I am for it.” Christina Caravello “I’d rather have a casino. They tried building a soccer stadium at Rikers back then and that didn’t work.” Fred Grauer “It would be a good idea because a lot of kids are into the soccer culture these days.” Jackie Ackley “My answer is going to be biased. I am a soccer player so I am a strong believer for that proposal.” David Lago “I think it’s a great idea and it’s going to be good for the children.” Paola Danalis oped street talk  “I am for it. The soccer stadium would bring job opportunities and it’s good for the city.” Pat Fitzmaurice “The only question I have about the proposal is the increased traffi c, but I was totally into the last World Cup. The stadium would bring an increase of interest and boom to that area.” Jeoffrey Atkin VISIT QueensCourier.com FOR MORE STORIES BY PAULINA TAM Citi Field Photo by Lisa Kest-Fein Send us your photos of Queens and you could see them online or in our paper! Submit them to us via our Facebook page, tweeting @queenscourier or by emailing editorial@queenscourier.com. Rosh Hashanah — more than just a new year BY RABBI YOSSI BLESOFSKY Di rector Chabad of Northeast Queens Throughout the year, the Jewish calendar is fi lled with holidays commemorating key historic milestones. Passover recalls our fl ight from Egypt; Shavuot, receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai; Purim, our deliverance from the threat of annihilation. As Rosh Hashanah approaches, one might wonder, what is happening, what key event in Jewish history do the High Holidays celebrate? The Talmud tells us that Rosh Hashanah is not the anniversary of the creation of the world, it is the anniversary of the sixth day of creation, the day G-d created Adam. Rosh Hashanah thus does not actually celebrate the creation of the physical world, rather it celebrates the creation of humankind. Mystical thought explains that this is a great lesson to us. The date of the Jewish New Year emphasizes the role of people rather than the world in general. G-d did not create the world to have static and lifeless planetary matter. He wanted a dynamic, changeable environment whose material crassness could be transformed into a dwelling place for Him. This is achieved by the actions, thoughts and words of people. Our divine mission is to change the world for good, and make it into a place where G-d and G-dliness is welcome. Furthermore, our sages teach us that the reason Adam was created a single being (unlike other species which were created in large numbers) is to demonstrate how even one person is as valuable to G-d as the whole world. Every single individual has the capacity to attain the highest degree of fulfi llment for his/ herself and the rest of the world. When Rosh Hashanah arrives, we commit ourselves to a more intense bond with G-d, and to a more meaningful and deeper relationship with Him. We don’t need a specifi c historic event to be the focus of Rosh Hashanah, for the holiday commemorates the very purpose of our being. On Thursday, Jews the world over will be “convening” in our own special way to nominate G-d for another yearlong term. With simple acts of devotion, goodness and kindness, and belief in His ultimate rule, we issue our vote of confi dence in the Creator and in return receive another year of life, blessings and the opportunity to draw ever closer to Him. This year especially, this message resonates loud and clear. With the world facing the clear and present threat of ISIS and other forms of terror, we realize the urgent need to transform this world into the place G-d intended it to be — a place of goodness, kindness and decency. May we all merit to be written and sealed in the Book of Life for a happy, healthy and meaningful 5775.


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