{"id":146672,"date":"2026-02-26T22:46:25","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T22:46:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/146672\/"},"modified":"2026-02-26T22:46:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T22:46:25","slug":"queens-jewish-link-networking-expo-honors-sid-rosenberg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/146672\/","title":{"rendered":"Queens Jewish Link Networking Expo Honors Sid Rosenberg"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Queens Jewish community turned out in force on Wednesday, Feb. 18, as the Queens Jewish Link hosted its annual Networking Expo at Young Israel of Jamaica Estates. With more than 800 attendees reported last year and another standing-room-only crowd this year, organizers declared the evening a resounding success \u2014 one marked by unity, pride, and unapologetic support for Jewish identity and Israel.\n<\/p>\n

The highlight of the night was the honoring of three prominent figures: radio host Sid Rosenberg, Rabbi Yaniv Meirov, and Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann.\n<\/p>\n

Rosenberg, a Belle Harbor resident, received the \u201cGolden Defender of Israel\u201d award. Over the past few years \u2014 particularly following the October 7 attacks \u2014 Rosenberg has become one of the most vocal media defenders of Israel and the Jewish people. He has since visited Israel three times and has toured the kibbutzim (Jewish settlements) that were attacked. Rosenberg also broadcast his radio show live from Jerusalem last year and is expected to return later this spring.\n<\/p>\n

In his remarks, Rosenberg spoke candidly about rising antisemitism, political divisions within the Jewish community, and what he views as a moral obligation to \u201cfight, fight, fight\u201d for Jewish safety and pride. Known for his outspoken views, Rosenberg told attendees he remains undeterred.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, my job is standing up for the Jewish people,\u201d he said later in interviews during the evening.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cSid & Friends in the Morning,\u201d hosted by Rosenberg on 77 WABC, has been named Barrett Media\u2019s No. 1 Major Market News\/Talk Radio Morning Show of 2025.\n<\/p>\n

Selected from 42 eligible morning shows, the program earned the top spot based on criteria including ratings performance, originality, multi-platform impact, clearance, and industry buzz \u2014 marking the first time a new show has claimed the no. 1 position since the series began.\n<\/p>\n

Steigmann\u2019s honor carried particular emotional weight. A child survivor of the Holocaust who endured a labor camp in Transylvania and medical experimentation, Steigmann was recently thrust into headlines after a Brooklyn middle school initially barred him from speaking, deeming him \u201ctoo controversial\u201d because of his \u201cpro-Israel views.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

His only aim was to educate students through living history \u2014 as both a victim and eyewitness to one of the darkest chapters of humanity, the systematic, industrialized mass murder of six million Jews in the Holocaust during World War II.\n<\/p>\n

The decision sparked outrage from elected officials and Jewish organizations citywide. Following intense public pressure, the school reversed course, and Steigmann ultimately delivered his message to students. During the controversy, he also appeared on Rosenberg\u2019s 77WABC program, amplifying the issue.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tSid Rosenberg (center) is honored by the Queens Jewish Link.
\n\t\t\t\t
<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tSid Rosenberg addresses the crowd.
\n\t\t\t\t
<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tBelle Harbor resident Sid Rosenberg received the \u201cGolden Defender of Israel\u201d award at the Queens Jewish Link Networking Expo. Photos by Robert Pearl
\n\t\t\t\t
<\/p>\n

Moshe Spern, the president of the United Jewish Teachers, who was one of the earliest and most vocal voices in expressing outrage at the decision to ban Steigmann from speaking, was on hand to present the award to him.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not my victory,\u201d Steigmann told the audience. \u201cIt is a victory for truth, for education, and for ensuring that survivors will not be silenced.\u201d He received a standing ovation.\n<\/p>\n

Rabbi Meirov, the CEO of Chazaq and spiritual leader in Kew Gardens Hills, was then presented with the \u201cDefender of the Jewish Spirit\u201d award. Known for strengthening Jewish education and outreach \u2014 including helping move thousands of children from public school into yeshiva education \u2014 Meirov emphasized joy, faith, and communal responsibility in his remarks.\n<\/p>\n

The evening was emceed by Nachum Segal, with musical entertainment by renowned chazzan Nissim Saal, whom attendees described as \u201cfantastic.\u201d Speeches were intentionally brief to encourage networking, a nod to the event\u2019s business-focused mission.\n<\/p>\n

Queens Jewish Link publisher and founder Yakov Serle thanked the \u201chuge crowd in attendance,\u201d calling every participant \u201ca gem.\u201d He credited volunteers and organizers, including Shabsie Saphirstein, Donny Hoschander, Naftali Szrolovits, Natan and Robbie Aboff, and Tzippy Feldman; elected officials like NYC Councilman James Gennaro, NYS Assemblyman Sam Berger, and NYS Assemblyman David Weprin; members of the New York Police Department (NYPD); media personality Zev Brenner; and others who participated.\n<\/p>\n

Deputy Chief Richard Taylor, recognized as the highest-ranking Orthodox Jewish officer in the NYPD, also appeared at the event to show his support.\n<\/p>\n

Sponsors and vendors ranged from Touro University, ZOA (Zionist Organization of America) and Margaret Tietz to Hakerem Wine & Liquor, Boots for Israel, Emissary, The Jewish Star, Power Media, and numerous local businesses and community organizations. Kosher fare was plentiful \u2014 particularly impressive, attendees noted, for a free event \u2014 and security was provided by Shmira volunteers.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThe vendors were thrilled, the energy in the room was powerful,\u201d one attendee said. \u201cI\u2019ve never been in a space where every single person openly shared the same political support. More than anything, it was a strong, proud Jewish event \u2014 with amazing non-Jewish allies \u2014 filled with community and connection.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

As the night concluded, organizers posed a question to the crowd: Should this become an even bigger annual tradition \u2014 and how can it be made even better? If the enthusiastic turnout was any indication, the answer may already be clear.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Queens Jewish community turned out in force on Wednesday, Feb. 18, as the Queens Jewish Link hosted…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":146673,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[9,24,63,122,124,123],"class_list":["post-146672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-queens","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-queens","tag-queens-headlines","tag-queens-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146672","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=146672"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146672\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/146673"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=146672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=146672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=146672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}