[VIDEO & PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

This past Wednesday marked the completion of shloshim of Justin Zemser A”H who had tragically passed away in the Amtrak accident in Philadelphia. Dozens of stories, both from the Far Rockaway community and from the naval academy where Justin was enrolled have come forward about the incredible life Justin had led. At his funeral, hundreds and hundreds mourned him and openly wept at the loss of a young man who had the brightest of futures.

Immediately after his petira, under the leadership of Rabbi Yaakov Bender, the office staff at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, undertook to learn mishnayos seder moed in his memory.

On Wednesday, a siyum was held to commemorate the completion of that siyum. Rabbi Potash, longstanding YDT Rebbe, was mesayem. Rabbi Eytan Feiner from the White Shul had befriended the family during this period and read the Hadran.

Mr. Howard Zemser said some brief tearful remarks explaining how the loss of their only child had broken their lives. He then followed with an emotional and moving recitation of Kaddish. This was followed by Tzvi Rubinfeld, who was Justin’s Oorah Torah mate who had regularly scheduled learning sessions with Justin.

The gathering then heard R’ Boruch Ber Bender of Achiezer followed by a closing tribute from Rabbi Feiner. Chazan Chaim Gershon Shindler, who had taught Justin his bar mitzvah davening and laining, recited the Keil Malei. HaRav Yaakov Bender specifically cited the immediate moments after Justin’s death when Chazan Shindler had reached out to Cantor Joel Kaplan, who had then reached out to Boruch Ber Bender and Achiezer and what followed was the remarkable siyata dishmaya and hashgacha pratis that allowed Justin’s body and subsequent steps to all be held in the highest regard of kavod hameis.

This was the only siyum held in Justin’s honor and the tremendous Kiddush Kvod Shamayim was felt by all.

May we only share in simchos and happy occasions.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)