Shabsie Saphirstein

A Gentle Soul With An Eye For Hashem’s Creation

With profound sorrow, the Queens Bukharian Jewish community joins in mourning the tragic and untimely murder of Yitzhak Alishayev z”l (Yitzchak ben Mazal)—known legally and occasionally as Igor—who was killed on Shabbos, May 3, during a nature photography trip in Turkey. He was 45 years old.

MHelen Hoffman (née Kurz), born in a displaced persons’ camp after the Holocaust, is a distinguished member of both the Holocaust Museum’s Speakers Bureau and Torah Umesorah’s Holocaust Speakers Program. She is among the first participants in the Names, Not Numbers® oral history project.

As Queens prepares for the most significant overhaul of its bus system in nearly 70 years, local residents are facing a mix of opportunities and challenges. New routes, faster trips, and major service changes go into effect starting June 30. With sweeping updates set to reshape daily commutes, we explain how the new network will affect your ride, your routine, and your neighborhood—and what you need to do now to stay ahead of the curve.

It was supposed to be just another night – a routine patrol along Queens Boulevard – part of my regular rounds through Forest Hills and Rego Park, while also delivering the Bukharian Jewish Link to our loyal readers. But then, the ordinary took a sharp turn.

In a major step for Queens, the City Council has officially approved the Metropolitan Park proposal, marking progress toward the transformation of the Citi Field parking lot into a vibrant $8 billion development. Spearheaded by Mets owner Steve Cohen in partnership with Hard Rock International, this ambitious project promises a casino, hotel, live entertainment venues, and a 25-acre public park.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards delivered his 2025 State of the Borough Address at the Queens Theatre on April 25.