A remembrance and candlelight vigil was held this past Tuesday evening, May 14, honoring fallen Detective Jonathan Diller, at the headquarters of Patrol Borough Queens South located at the 107 Precinct in Kew Gardens Hills. Queens Shmira member Patrick Zagdanski and Israel Peskowitz, Director of Government Affairs for Chazaq, attended.

This past Motza’ei Shabbos, the yeshivah world was thrown into mourning for the third time in a week with the petirah of HaRav HaGaon Yechiel Yitzchak Perr, ztk”l, 89. Rabbi Perr was the founder and Rosh HaYeshivah at Yeshiva Derech Ayson, Yeshiva Far Rockaway, my alma mater. Though our interactions were few over my high school career, each was steeped in deep meaning and lesson, be it in the beis hamesdresh or the yeshivah office where I often found opportunities. Rabbi Perr relied on the wisdom and foresight of his partner at the yeshivah, HaRav Aharon Brafman zt”l, the pioneering menahel. Together, they changed the landscape of Far Rockaway and built a community where hundreds of alumni settled. His loss is incalculable for the Torah community and as the preeminent Torah authority at the helm of the Far Rockaway community, Rabbi Perr made an indelible mark influencing thousands of bnei Yisrael with his unmatched brilliance.

The Queens Jewish Community Council (QJCC), 56 years strong, successfully distributed Passover food packages this past Sunday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. Rabbi Mayer Waxman, Executive Director, led the drive from the morning delivery, courtesy of the Met Council, as cases of food were dropped curbside - enough to feed some 1,000 recipients from approximately 300 local families.

On Sunday, Chasdei Lev hosted a Pesach food and supply distribution event at Bais Yaakov Academy of Queens. The event was orchestrated by a local volunteer effort that included the assistance of many elementary-aged yeshivah boys who dedicated their afternoon to the cause. The event honored rebbeim and teachers, celebrating their dedication to education with a show of gratitude.