Shabsie Saphirstein

Last Tuesday, I crisscrossed Queens for the 42^nd National Night Out Against Crime, an annual community-building campaign that strengthens police-community partnerships. Citywide, agency commissioners joined precincts across all five boroughs to honor community councils and commanding officers for their commitment to public safety. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz summed it up perfectly: “National Night Out was a huge success once again! Members of my office staffed every #NNO location across the borough.”

This past Sunday, July 6, the Hillcrest community came together in a remarkable display of kavod haTorah as the Manshary family dedicated a new sefer Torah to the Young Israel of Hillcrest in memory of their loved ones, including their grandmother, Tziporah bas Esther a”h, fulfilling a dream she had always hoped would come true.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz’s year-long push for sustained resources to fight crime and modernize her office reached a milestone this week, as Mayor Eric Adams announced the largest-ever citywide investment in local prosecutors: a combined $633 million for the city’s five district attorney offices in Fiscal Year 2026. The plan includes more than $17 million in new citywide funding this year, with Queens slated for targeted support to hire experienced prosecutors, strengthen technology, and expand capacity for complex cases – priorities Katz first pressed for publicly in March 2024.

On Sunday evening, June 22, Chaverim of Queens & Great Neck hosted its annual Members Appreciation Barbecue, celebrating the tireless dedication of its volunteers and dispatchers.

The smell of sizzling burgers wafted through Alley Pond Park as families gathered for the Queens Village Republican Club’s annual “Family Fun Day & BBQ” on Sunday, August 10. Kids raced in potato-sack relays, battled in tug-of-war, and lined up for face painting, while a DJ kept the music upbeat and balloon animals bobbed above the crowd. Under red, white, and blue tents, vendors served hot dogs, salads, kosher treats, and even offered a cheeky T-shirt reading, “Only You Can Prevent Socialism.”

On Wednesday evening, June 11, at Passaic’s elegant Brookhaven Boutique Event Space, TorahAnytime celebrated its 20th anniversary with an Appreciation Evening recognizing the team behind its mission—those who have brought Torah to every corner of the globe.