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The Queens Jewish Link has had the unique privilege of having Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld serve as our Rabbinical Consultant and esteemed contributor since inception. The rav’s heartfelt advice has made lasting impressions that positively affected the publication, Queens Jewry, and the Jewish community at large. Rabbi Schonfeld was called upon for advice quite often. Each time, he handled the situation with dignity, grace, and in a professional manner.

With the start of this summer in full swing, Rosh HaShanah preparations are far from our minds. However, the scene was quite different one year ago, when more than 30,000 Yidden prepared for the annual pilgrimage known as the Rosh HaShanah Kibbutz to the kever of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, the great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov. Rebbe Nachman spent the last eight years of his life in Bratslav, Ukraine, prior to moving to Uman, where he perished in 1810. His legacy of an intense joyous love with our Creator, which anyone can obtain through his own will, continues today by his myriad of followers.

Last week, the QJL introduced our readership to the holy work of HaGaon Rav Mordechai Jungreis shlit”a, the Nikolsburg Rebbe of the Woodbourne Shul, Congregation Bnei Israel, Zichron Mordechai. Over the past week, the rebbe continued to spread his awe-inspiring love for every Jew who entered the renowned Catskill’s makom kedushah. From a hachnasas sefer Torah and a hachnasas t’filin to the delivery of new seating, and the continued efforts to enhance the shul and its new kollel, the rebbe kept a full schedule, uniting all walks of klal Yisrael. Most notable was the rebbe’s influence on teenagers, filling the beis hamedrash with song and dance on more than one occasion. Some guests included Yisroel Besser, noted ArtScroll author and contributing editor at Mishpacha Magazine; Rabbi Ephraim Glatt, Assistant Rabbi, YIKGH; Chaim Kurz of Windsor Pharmacy; Shea Rubenstein, Executive VP, JCCMP; and Elie Rowe, President, Hatzolah Emergency Air Response Team.

On Sunday morning, June 26, the weather in Forest Hills was picture-perfect for a lavish hachnasas sefer Torah celebration. The Chabad of Forest Hills North, under the direction of Rabbi Mendy Hecht and his wife, coordinated the grand event held in an expansive tent at the Touro College/Bnos Malka parking lot on 112^th Street. A delicious hot dairy buffet was catered by Main Street Appetizing. Friends and relatives came from far and wide to celebrate alongside the Fischman family for the festivities.

The safety of our community always comes first. The safety of our children and the educational institutions built to disseminate Torah is paramount. At Bais Yaakov Academy of Queens, the safety of the girls has long been discussed when entering the Kew Gardens campus at 85^th Road and Metropolitan Avenue.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson zt”l was niftar 28 years ago. The Rebbe’s final resting place is a short 12 ride from Kew Gardens Hills, at Old Montefiore Cemetery, in Springfield Gardens. I know this trip, as I have visited the site at the oddest of hours as a volunteer provider of vehicle services on behalf of Chaverim of Queens, and have taken the time to engage in personal reflection at the kever. The Rebbe left no will and as such, no predecessor was ever named. To mark the yahrtzeit, tens of thousands of his Lubavitch followers descended on the site to pay their respect.