Attacker Of Rabbi David Shushan In Court On March 16
Dear Editor:
On Monday, March 16, at 9 a.m., Eric Zafra-Grosso, who viciously assaulted Rabbi David Shushan, is scheduled to appear in Queens Supreme Criminal Court at 125-01 Queens Blvd., TAP-A2, before Judge Germaine Auguste.
It is important that as many people as possible take seats in court that morning to make it clear to the judge and the Assistant District Attorney that this was an assault on the entire Jewish community. We should fill the courtroom with members of the Jewish community.
On January 28, Rabbi David Shushan was viciously assaulted on Queens Blvd. and 71st Ave. by Zafra-Grosso, a Jew-hating attacker. Rabbi Shushan was on his way to the Bukharian Jewish Center, where he serves as a youth leader and mentor.
Zafra-Grosso screamed, “[expletive] Jews” before punching Rabbi Shushan in his chest. Responding to Rabbi Shushan’s effort to defend himself, Zafra-Grosso struck Rabbi Shushan in the face, bruising him and causing him to crash into the snow and icy pavement, which caused him to hurt his knee. Someone who recognized Rabbi Shushan intervened and managed to pull Zafra-Grosso away, most surely saving Rabbi Shushan from more severe injury.
Rabbi Shushan immediately contacted both the NYPD and the local Shomrim volunteer organization and used his cellphone to bravely photograph Zafra-Grosso before he fled down Queens Blvd. The attacker was arrested by the police on the subway platform before he could board the train.
The suspect, of Corona, was arrested and charged with assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment as a hate crime. He pled not guilty. He has no prior criminal history. The D.A.’s office requested bail in the amount of $40,000. This was denied, and the judge released Zafra-Grosso on “supervised release.”
Rabbi Shushan was attacked on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. As Rabbi Shushan said, “We know all about the dark years and what happens if we do nothing.”
Silence is not an option, and doing nothing is not an option. What we can do now is be in court on March 16. Our presence will express our concern that we want this case prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Lynne Bursky-Tammam and Nessim Tammam
Yom HaShoah Mobilization Committee
Solution To Squirrels Chewing Through Outdoor Furniture Cushions
Dear Editor:
We have a porch swing and have had issues with squirrels tearing up the cushions for nest stuffing. We searched for some eitzos, and one fellow writes that he tried everything (coffee grounds, etc.), then came up with the idea to give them an old pillow cut open, in the hopes that they’d take that instead of the cushions, and it worked!
The squirrels like the stuffing for their nests (they have nests like birds). I’ve also seen them ripping off strips of cardboard for that. He says they went for the readily available stuffing instead of chewing through the harder outer covering of the cushions and that it’s been years since his cushions have gotten chewed.
I guess the stuffing can be placed into an empty flowerpot near the swing so it will look neat.
There are also cushions that have stronger outer material that is squirrel resistant, which can help to a degree.
Much hatzlachah, enjoy the summer,
N.S.
Trump’s Defining Test Of Leadership
Dear Editor:
President Trump’s critics often refuse to acknowledge the significance of his decisions in global affairs. In his column last week, Warren Hecht failed to credit President Trump for ordering the joint U.S.–Israeli airstrikes against Iran. Great leaders are remembered for their willingness to make extremely difficult decisions in moments of crisis. For this reason, President Trump may ultimately be remembered alongside figures such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman, and Ronald Reagan—leaders who made controversial choices that shaped history.
Trump’s strategic approach to international politics resembles a high-stakes chess match. He has frequently invoked the spirit of the Monroe Doctrine, arguing that hostile powers should not gain influence in the Western Hemisphere. His “America First” policy also aims to weaken adversaries by restricting their access to vital energy resources. For example, China has relied heavily on oil imports from countries such as Venezuela and Iran. Recent military and economic actions against these regimes have weakened China’s strategic position.
Critics on the left often claim that Trump acts as a puppet for foreign leaders—sometimes accusing him of serving Israel’s interests (Netanyahu’s puppet) while previously claiming he was beholden to Russia (Putin’s puppet). Trump pursues a strategy designed to protect American interests.
At the same time that the United States and Israel conduct military operations—referred to as Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion—Democrats at home are undermining the broader strategic effort. European leaders are quislings, as they have been reluctant to confront regimes that threaten Western values, instead pandering to their Islamist constituents that now occupy London, Paris, and Berlin. With the U.S. and Israel totally annihilating Iran, now U.K. Prime Minister Starmer has offered military assistance. President Trump has responded that it is too little, too late.
Here in America, Democrats cry that this war is unconstitutional and illegal. Either they are ignorant of the Constitution, or they are pandering for votes. If the latter, it’s grotesque that they would politicize this battle between good and evil. After all, they all claimed that Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon. So which is it? Now that a president whom they despise with all their being has taken bold action against the enemy, they cry foul. All the Democrats have done when they had the presidency was give Iran cash and a path to nuclear weaponry. President Trump called their bluff. Now the Democrats root for our enemy just like they root for illegals and criminals.
Shalom Markowitz