Shabsie Saphirstein

Beautiful evenings of achdus and learning were held at the Young Israel of Hillcrest on consecutive Motzaei Shabbosim last month. The sessions saw the greater Hillcrest Jewish community turn out in significant numbers for these events.

The p’tirah of Rav Matisyahu Chaim Salomon, ztk”l, 86, Mashgiach Ruchani of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, New Jersey, will undoubtedly shake the Torah world in the weeks and months ahead. It was barely a year ago, on January 23, when urgent calls were put out for T’hilim on behalf of the gadol, sadly the same calls went out this past Tuesday evening after he went into cardiac arrest. Hatzalah volunteers revived the rav at his home, steps from the yeshivah where he left such a profound impact.

I was privileged to join fellow Queens Shmira members this past New Year’s Eve and the following afternoon to bring smiles to our local police officers in a small but touching tribute on this legal holiday. In coordination with donations from the local Jewish community, we gave thanks to the police officers of the 102, 107, and 112th New York Police Departments simply for being on duty over New Year’s celebrations and providing necessary law enforcement to our communities. Despite the festivities, we encountered the Commanding Officers each at their posts, ready to serve if needed. We commend Kew Gardens’ Deputy Inspector Jeremy Kivlin, Kew Gardens Hills’ Capt. Mo C. Tsang, and Forest Hills’ Capt. David Cordano for running stellar operations. We also welcomed rookie officers beginning their first tours with the start of the new year.

Assemblymember Nily Rozic, Deputy Consul General of Israel Tsach Saar Host Fresh Meadows Gathering

A hastily arranged meeting with family members of hostages and survivors of the fateful massacre in Israel on October 7 was convened by Assemblymember Nily Rozic at the behest of Israel’s Deputy Consul General in New York, Tsach Saar. The private gathering, held at Rozic’s Union Turnpike office, attracted a wide range of elected officials spanning Queens politics. The meeting lasted only an hour but made a tremendous impact, opening the eyes of many in attendance to the horrors that led Israel to embark on their unprecedented war.

Queens Shmira, in coordination with the local Jewish community, extended a note of appreciation to the hard-working service members within the Jewish communities of Queens. Coordinator Avraham Pinkhasov and I delivered meals on the eve of the holiday and this past Monday for breakfast and lunch to recognize those who left their families on the holiday to serve our community, providing essential public safety services. We noted this sacrifice when friends and colleagues are surrounded by loved ones.

I was a proud guest of the New York City City Council’s inaugural Chanukah celebration held on Monday, December 11, in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The festivities, overshadowed by the war against Hamas in Israel and the widespread anti-Semitism worldwide, featured City Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams and co-hosts The City Council’s Jewish Caucus, represented in Queens by Council Member Lynn Schulman. Chair Eric Dinowitz joined Ari Kagan, Julie Menin, and Lincoln Restler, while Inna Vernikov and Kalman Yeger had previous engagements. Council Members Gail Brewer, Natasha Williams, and Marjorie Velázquez also joined. The program, co-organized by Pesach Osina of the Speaker’s Community Outreach Unit, and Madison Rosensaft, was kicked off by a delicious kosher reception and culminated with a variety of donuts as a parting treat.