Dear Editor:
A few points about your August 25 edition:
One addition to your “Jewish Streets of Queens” article would be Sheila Pecoraro Way at the corner of Huxley Street and 147th Avenue in Rosedale. She was the first woman honored with a street co-naming in Rosedale for her work as a long-time community activist, including service as a PTA President, School Board 29Q member, and President of the 105th Precinct Council. My Mom passed away in 2014, and this 2015 ceremony was held on what would have been her 75th birthday. We were honored to have my Rabbi Steven Graber in attendance, along with our then-Councilmember (and current Queens Borough President) Donovan Richards.
Second, while I usually find Moshe Hill’s views counterfactual (like when he fantasizes about a victory for Zeldin when he trails by double digits, blames President Biden for the Trump agreement with the Taliban that released 5,000 Taliban prisoners, while excluding the Afghan government, or when Moshe pulls 87,000 IRS agents out of thin air), as a former UFT building rep and member of the contract negotiating committee, I agree that any layoff criteria based strictly upon race is unacceptable.
David S. Pecoraro
Former UFT Chapter Leader & negotiating team member
Dear Editor:
In Shmuel Alef, we are introduced to Shaul, and the description loosely translated is that he was a good guy, and that he was taller than anyone else. In other words, he was not only a great person, but he was physically outstanding. This made me think about Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld z”l, who was an outstanding individual in all aspects. The Rabbi was a “Rabbi’s Rabbi.” The Rabbi installed my father a”h in his first rabbinical position in New York, and I remember having been impressed by him back then, when I was merely a child.
When I attended Stern College, I had the privilege of taking Rabbi Schonfeld for the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah. Even as a student, I could sense the Rabbi’s ardor for the Rambam and his Hakdamah to the Mishneh Torah. A couple of years later, when my husband and I were deciding where to live (he wanted Brooklyn – no way!), I said we were moving to KGH because Rabbi Schonfeld was there.
In addition to all the wonderful qualities of the Rabbi, I will never forget his greatest one – Bikur Cholim. When I was recovering from back surgery, the Rabbi drove from his bungalow in the country to Columbia Presbyterian, a two-hour drive. I was in such pain that I told my mother a”h that I couldn’t see him. The Rabbi then turned around and made the trek back to the Catskills without a word of complaint.
There were the numerous pre-Yom Tov calls that the Rabbi made and the personal visits to make sure I was taking my pills, even on a fast day. In short, they don’t make rabbis like Rabbi Schonfeld and my father anymore. It was a z’chus for all of us to have had him as our rav. We should be grateful to all of those who worked so hard to have the street named in the Rabbi’s honor.
Debbie Horowitz
Dear Editor:
We would like to express a note of appreciation to the Queens Jewish Link for publishing an article detailing our mother’s strides at Avnet Country Day School over the past 28 summers. Her dedication to the pre-school-aged girls knows no bounds, as is evident by the endless stream of graduates who return to say “Hi” many years later.
Thank you to Camp Director Daniel Strook and Michelle Zimmerman for organizing the article content.
Shabsie Saphirstein
Elisheva Saphirstein
Dear Editor:
The 2022 Democratic and Republican Party Congressional and State Senate Primary Election Day has come and gone. This reminds me of “The Outer Limits,” a 1960s television show. With the end of round-the-clock commercials by politicians, political action groups, and pay-for-play special interest groups, we now return control of your television back to you until the November General Election cycle. No more candidates campaign mailings clogging mailboxes and weighing down our hard-working postal employees. Finally, some peace and quiet!
Now if only all the winning and losing candidates would pick up all the thousands of campaign signs that litter our roads and highways to clean up our environment. Candidates campaign volunteers and paid staff who placed campaign signs can collect and properly dispose of them. Why not also have some who have been sentenced to community service by judges help out, as well?
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Dear Editor:
Warren Hecht can make all of the lame excuses he wants for having quite a serious case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. Because had Mr. Hecht not had his views skewed from his watching TV and reading The New York Times, then he would otherwise be happy about how Donald Trump was the only US President to attain the courageous conduct to consistently hurt the feelings of both the Amalekites and the Eirev Rav.
Choni Herschel Kantor
Kew Gardens, New York
To the Editor:
I agree with Larry Penner that perhaps AARP could make better use of its members’ dues money than paying for an advertisement for an entrenched incumbent with a huge war chest (8/25/2022 QJL). But...
Did the author read all of his membership agreement with AARP before signing it? I doubt AARP would have spent whatever it cost to run the ad thanking Schumer if it wasn’t authorized to do so. If the author did not read the membership agreement, is it the fault of AARP or the author?
Did the author try calling AARP customer service in an attempt to get back a pro rata share of what the ad cost? Has the author written anyone at AARP to express his displeasure? Has he tried disputing the charges on his credit card? Will the author renew his membership in AARP (my personal philosophy is: Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me)?
A quick search on the AARP website reveals at least a dozen local chapters in the New York City area and surrounding suburbs. Is the author active with any of those chapters?
Or is it more fun to complain to the Letters sections of the newspapers?
Nat Weiner
Bronx, New York
Dear Editor:
I’m still searching Mr. Hecht’s column for a criminal statue. Improper is not criminal. Additionally, using January 6 as evidence of anything is ridiculous. There were no Republican committee members and no rebuttal witnesses. The impeachments of President Trump were a joke. Nothing he had done rose to that level. I’m sure he spoke aggressively with the leaders of Communist China, Russia, Iran, just as he spoke aggressively with the climate change appeasers in Europe. He was definitely abrasive to subordinates in his staff and cabinet, but that can be attributed to the fact that he ran a successful real estate business in the private sector.
Now, the current occupant of the White House has violated his oath of office and has not faithfully executed the Constitution. He is not upholding our immigration laws and has allowed five million illegals into our country. He has unilaterally forgiven federal student loans, which the Executive branch has no authority to do. He has weaponized the FBI and DOJ. And all the criminal activity on the laptop, including taking money from foreign governments, is factual.
So, since the Democrats have lowered the standard for impeachment, don’t be surprised if, come January, impeachment of President Biden comes to fruition.
Shalom Markowitz