The Queens Jewish Link and Bukharian Jewish Link have been very fortunate to have Shabsie Saphirstein work on our teams. Three weeks ago, many of our readers were alerted that Shabsie was in a serious car accident in the Catskills. The request for t’filos and T’hilim went viral through WhatsApp and other media, leading many to pray for Shabsie’s recovery, including those who are not often accustomed to joining such chats.
This past Friday, there were more than 55 women baking challah for Shabsie to have a r’fuah sh’leimah, an initiative of Suri Perkelvald and Elisheva Zicherman. Miraculously, his life was saved, and he is now home recuperating and rehabilitating.
I want to express my sincere thanks to HaKadosh Baruch Hu, and those in our community and beyond for their prayers. The complete emunah of everyone davening and taking on additional mitzvos for such an individual is commendable.
I think the reason for the outpouring of care is because Shabsie is a person who would never refuse someone in need in our community, and who believes in the unity of Queens Jewry.
Robbie and Natan Aboff of Chazaq shared with me that they have conducted many community events, and the last person to leave has always been Shabsie. The rest of the crowd participates and departs, but Shabsie stays on or returns long after the people have disbursed to ensure that the venue is returned as it was received – even if it means staying until four a.m. Shabsie did the same for my events, and takes on these tasks with a full heart, asking for nothing in return. Aside from the aforementioned, Shabsie is a volunteer for Chaverim of Queens and Great Neck, Queens Misaskim, QBSP-Shmira, TorahAnytime, is on the board of the Queens Jewish Alliance, and is Secretary of the Agudath Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, where he has davened since birth.
Shabsie is one individual who always places community interests above his own. He confided in me that the t’filos and T’hilim was so much appreciated, but he was concerned that he was using up all his z’chuyos and now couldn’t share them with others.
The following is a quick story that epitomizes Shabsie’s character and may be one of the reasons he was saved from the terrible crash.
A few weeks ago, Shabsie was distributing our newspapers when he came upon a young man wandering on 108th Street in Forest Hills very late at night without a soul on the streets. The man mentioned that he had encountered police officers who provided little help and did not take his plight seriously.
Shabsie felt it was his obligation to assist, so he asked the young man where he was going. The man explained that he was trying to find his apartment building in Rego Park. Shabsie proceeded to drive him home, while explaining to the young man how he should stay away from people who may lead him on the wrong way of life. I mention this story of Shabsie helping a stranger because, at the time of his accident in the Catskills, a complete stranger heard the sound of the wreck and came out of his house to help Shabsie. This person made sure the State Police and medics were notified. It turned out that he needed to be airlifted to Westchester Medical Center for an emergency operation.
Just think of how Hashem was there for Shabsie since he is always there for others.
We wish Shabsie a complete and speedy recovery, and he has already made incredible progress – from the ICU to home in a little over two weeks. Now, he needs our continued t’filos for a complete recovery.
Yaakov Serle
Co-Publisher
