Why Were So Many Yeshivos Missing From The Parade?
Dear Editors:
If you were expecting a funny and sarcastic letter, FUGGHEDABOUTIT! (Brooklyn spelling.) I know I usually get into trouble when I get serious, but here it is. Despite the fact that it was a beautiful day and the turnout for the Israel Day Parade was supposedly the best in years, I am upset. I remember when the crowds covered both sides of Fifth Avenue, and it took half an hour to crawl up one block. What I saw at the parade were marchers from YCQ, Har Torah, Ramaz, SAR, and many more yeshivos in the metropolitan area. What I didn’t see were marchers from the more right-wing yeshivos. Why is that so?
True, Israel is not a perfect state. Nevertheless, we are so fortunate to have it. Ask the olim from Australia, France, England, and the U.S. if that is a fact. Had we had the State of Israel in the ’30s and ’40s, possibly millions of Jews would have been saved.
You all send your kids to seminaries and yeshivos to learn, so why skip the parade? Are you not Zionistic? Is the parade not tzniusdik enough? I just don’t get it. Those yeshivos that don’t send their students to the parade have no trouble asking me, a Zionist, for a contribution. Please think about what I’ve said, and even if your school doesn’t march next year, you show up and be counted.
Debbie Horowitz
Letitia James Is No Friend Of The Jewish Community
Dear Editor:
While reading the recent issue of the Queens Jewish Link, I was disappointed to see one of the columnists praising Letitia James for fighting antisemitism.
There is much more that she could be doing to keep our community safe, yet she appears unwilling to take action. Instead, she seems more focused on fighting Donald Trump than on addressing the concerns of New Yorkers. She has also aligned herself with Zohran Mamdani, whose positions have raised concerns among many in our community. Letitia James is not a friend of the Jewish community.
Under Letitia James’ leadership, antisemitic incidents in New York have risen dramatically. According to the ADL, antisemitic incidents are up 234% since she took office.
New York law already criminalizes interference with religious worship as a Class A misdemeanor and establishes a 300-foot buffer zone around religious services. As Attorney General, Letitia James has the authority to help prosecute hate crimes and support stronger enforcement, yet nothing is being done about it.
It is time for our community to rally around her opponent, Saritha Komatireddy, who is committed to putting New Yorkers first and making our state safer for everyone.
I invite everyone to attend the Kew Forest Republican Club meeting on June 15 at 7:00 p.m. at The Pinnacle, 112-01 Queens Boulevard, side entrance, first floor. You will have the opportunity to meet Saritha, ask questions, and discuss concerns about the safety and future of our communities.
Tzippy Feldman
Letter To Nowhere
Dear Editor:
It seems that Jews have a lot of work to do within themselves before criticizing non-Jews, or at least along with criticizing others about antisemitism.
I think that a voice like Rabbi Schonfeld’s is gravely needed within the Chareidi population to create Jewish unity and support for Israel. We have to raise awareness among the Chareidi to be more cognizant of the world around us and the critical support that Israel needs in the halls of Congress. We have to show that Jews care for each other regardless of their Jewish affiliations. I’ve often wondered why yeshivah young men are not encouraged to go out and vote, even at the expense of missing Torah study time.
There needs to be more cooperation between different segments of Judaism to whatever extent is possible. I understand that the Coalition for Jewish Values is working to make Jewish Orthodox needs known to the outside world, but I believe that there is a definite lack of coordination and unity within the different branches and segments of Jewish groups. We look to our great Torah scholars to be those forces to unite us, but perhaps it is someone with more worldly knowledge and exposure, such as our own Queens Jewish Link spiritual advisor, Rabbi Schonfeld, along with others of his spiritual and cultural mindset, who are actually most suited for this leadership role.
Abe Fuchs
America Must Get Serious About Iran And Election Integrity
Dear Editor:
I did not care that President Trump was attending Knicks Game 3 at MSG until Sunday afternoon came. As soon as news broke Sunday that Iran attacked Israel again, President Trump needed to focus on defeating an enemy once and for all, not attend a basketball game. I don’t care how pumped-up New Yorkers, including the President, are about the Knicks. Enough with the wasting time and stupid negotiations. This regime needs to be wiped out. I don’t know who is advising the President, but I fear he is not getting sound advice. The full might of the American military needs to be unleashed on Iran now.
The Republican Party is due to lose the midterm elections. I fear what this country will become with Democrats in power. Weak, pathetic leadership without the proper messaging leading up to this election is going to doom us.
Republicans, such as Lisa Murkowski, have no principles. They stab the President’s agenda in the back. Look what is going on in California. It’s been six days since the primary elections, and they are still counting mail-in ballots. While Steve Hilton has a comfortable enough lead over psycho Tom Steyer for governor, Spencer Pratt is about to lose his spot on the November ballot for L.A. mayor. It’s a travesty. And those in Congress, like Murkowski, refuse to pass the SAVE Act, requiring voter ID and no counting mail-in ballots past Election Day.
There are no Jewish Democrats anymore. Their mothers may be Jewish, but they have converted to the religion that is the Democrat Party. They are all in for a self-proclaimed communist with a Nazi tattoo running for Senate in Maine. All because power is what’s important. They are not alone. Other than John Fetterman, can anyone name one Democrat who has denounced Graham Platner? Any Jew who is still a Democrat should be ashamed of him/herself.
It goes even further. The Democrat Party is now the vessel by which Marxists and Islamists are using to take power. The Democrats created an entire month, “Pride Month,” dedicated to what the Torah describes as an abomination. New York just passed a law that wipes away “mother” and “father.” Democrats continue to elect those who are pro-Hamas and antisemitic. They hate America and are doing everything they can to destroy Western values. I fear November. We are in deep trouble.
Shalom Markowitz
Will You Ignore This?
Dear Editor:
I came across this story twice in two days, and I could not ignore it. I know people are inundated with emails, papers, phone calls, dinners, and outings — could someone please explain why all the outings are in June? — and there are only so many causes a person can give to. Still, this one stayed with me. So why am I writing about it? Read on.
Last week, Raizel Blesofsky of Brooklyn, a pregnant first-time mom, tragically passed away. She was only 23! She was a very special person who had a way of taking care of people, feeding them, making room for them, and giving from a kind and open heart. Raizel genuinely saw the good in everyone and always made people feel cared for and accepted. She had a true simchah that people could feel just being around her.
First, Raizel died of an aneurysm, and it brought back painful memories. Back in eighth grade, one of the best and kindest students keeled over and died a few days later of an aneurysm. I spent months trying to figure out how such a young bochur, a very good five-star bochur and a very good son, could just be here one day and gone the next. My dad was my therapist for months. I couldn’t stop crying, and it took a long time, a really long time, to get over it.
Second, Raizel feeding everyone was reminiscent of my mom, who fed everyone on this planet. Mom, like Raizel, fed the whole building where I currently live, the YMHA on 108th Street in Queens, the center on Yellowstone Boulevard, and I’m sure I left out places, too. Her kitchen was the size of a shoebox, yet her heart, like Raizel’s, was enormous. Raizel, like my mom, made everyone in the Y happy, and I heard stories about Mom just recently from an intern who now works there full-time in the Y. When Mom walked in, everyone smiled. She made everyone feel like a million dollars.
So, if you feel for Raizy, who leaves behind a son she never met, the bills in the NICU are high. You can contribute at charidy.com/forRaizel.
Israel Root