By Y.M. Lowy

Monday will be a beautiful day, with mostly sunny skies and temperatures reaching a high of 70° and a low of 53°.

Tuesday will be cooler but still mostly sunny, with a high of 62° and a low of 47°.

Wednesday will bring more clouds, with mostly cloudy skies and temperatures reaching a high of 57° and a low of 50°.

Thursday will see a mix of clouds and sunshine, with a high of 63° and a low of 51°.

Yisroel R.

Police are investigating after several OMNY card readers were destroyed and security cameras were covered with paint at the Church Avenue subway station.

The damage was discovered by a transit worker shortly before 11:30 a.m. last Wednesday. Video from the incident showed masked individuals damaging the OMNY readers with a drill and spraying paint over security cameras at the station.

Seven OMNY readers were damaged, causing approximately $18,851 in damage, according to police. The damaged readers have since been replaced by the MTA.

Flyers were also left behind criticizing the OMNY system over privacy concerns and making claims about Cubic, the company behind the system, and its ties to Israel. The flyers included pro-Palestinian and anti-NYPD messages and encouraged riders not to pay subway fares.

The NYPD is investigating the vandalism and is looking for those responsible. No arrests have been reported.

YS GOLD 

Emulating his holy and illustrious grandfather, the Minchas Elozor of Munkatch, who commissioned the writing of his personal sefer Torah in his later years, the Munkatcher Rebbe, shlit"a, privately initiated a new sefer Torah seven years ago, away from the public eye, purely for the sake of fulfilling the mitzvah of kesivas sefer Torah. The sefer Torah is now nearing its completion, and the Rebbe and his chassidim are preparing to celebrate this incredible milestone with great joy and ecstasy. 

According to those in the know, the Rebbe commissioned this sefer Torah seven years ago from a master sofer in Eretz Yisrael, who then toiled meticulously to complete it over seven years. The Rebbe gave the sofer clear instructions in the details of writing the sefer Torah, according to the traditions of his holy forbears, and in keeping with the secrets of kabbalah. 

Now, as the sefer Torah is nearing completion, the Rebbe summoned his children and grandchildren to his home for a private writing of the final letters, finally inscribing the last letters himself, with great joy and emotion--culminating with fervent and joyous dancing at this incredible milestone. 

The official hachnosas sefer will take place in the coming weeks, bringing together scores of Munktacher chassidim and admirers for the celebration of this historic milestone as the Rebbe escorts his personal sefer Torah to his Beis Medrash in Boro Park where it will be treasured for decades to come.

Nearly 60,000 runners are expected to take to the streets of New York City on Sunday, November 1, for the annual TCS New York City Marathon, bringing major road closures, traffic disruptions, and travel restrictions throughout Brooklyn and the rest of the city.

The 26.2-mile race will begin on Staten Island, with runners crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn before continuing through all five boroughs and finishing in Manhattan's Central Park.

Although the marathon route does not pass directly through Boro Park, residents traveling through nearby neighborhoods should prepare for significant traffic disruptions, particularly along Fourth Avenue and major routes connecting Brooklyn to Staten Island.

In Williamsburg, the marathon will pass directly through the neighborhood, with Bedford Avenue and surrounding streets along the race route closed to regular traffic. The closures are expected to affect local drivers, businesses, and residents throughout much of Sunday.

The route continues through Greenpoint before crossing the Pulaski Bridge into Queens, with additional restrictions expected along connecting streets.

Among the major closures will be the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, and the Pulaski Bridge. Additional closures will affect portions of Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx.

The first race division is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m., with professional runners and additional waves starting throughout the morning. The final wave of runners is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.

City officials say numerous street and bridge closures will be in effect from approximately 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., although some restrictions may begin earlier or remain in place longer depending on the location and race operations.

For Williamsburg residents, a designated pedestrian crossing zone will be available at Bedford Avenue and Broadway, allowing pedestrians to cross the marathon route under controlled conditions.

The NYPD will be stationed along the course to manage traffic, maintain security, and assist with pedestrian crossings. Drivers should expect detours and additional congestion on surrounding streets as traffic is redirected away from the marathon route.

The annual event is one of the largest marathons in the world, drawing runners and spectators from across the globe. This year's race marks the 50th anniversary of the marathon's five-borough course.

Residents planning to travel on Sunday, particularly between Brooklyn and Staten Island or through Williamsburg, are advised to allow additional travel time, consider alternate routes, and check updated traffic advisories before heading out.

photo: Shutterstock

By Y.M. Lowy

Assemblyman Lester Chang will hold a community discussion in Boro Park on Sunday, giving residents an opportunity to share their concerns, ideas and suggestions on issues affecting the Jewish community in the 49th Assembly District.

The discussion will focus on several key topics, including yeshiva education and support for local schools and talmidim, the future of Maimonides Hospital, and public safety in the neighborhood.

The event will take place at the Boro Park Center for Rehabilitation, located at 4915 10th Avenue. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the discussion scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.

Residents who have questions or would like more information can contact Assemblyman Chang’s district office at 718-236-1764. The office is located at 6904 Fort Hamilton Parkway.

He was a world-class ga’on who concealed his Torah greatness in a cloak of humility. For half a century, he taught Torah at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas where he shaped thousands of talmidim. Rav Shmuel Yaakov Traube burned with love for Torah—a fact that was evident to all those who came in contact with him. 

Torah Vodaath 

Mesivta Torah Vodaath was a legendary institution in Williamsburg of yore, and this is where Rav Shmuel Yaakov sat down to learn with incredible diligence and hasmodoh—as though making up for the lost years in the camps. 

He was soon noticed by the Yeshiva administration, and he was appointed as the 12th grade maggid shiur in 1954. His entire essence would be poured into his shiurim throughout the next half century, and his entire soul would be given over to the talmidim in whom he displayed a keen interest. 

He kept one foot in the Gerer court, and many recall the great kiruv displayed toward him by the Bais Yisroel of Gur—and he would keep an ardent connection with the later Admorim of Gur as well. Haga’on Rav Elya Fischer, the Gerer Rosh Kollel in America, once remarked: “The pnimiyus of Rav Shmuel Yaakov is something extraordinary for our times.” 

His first shiur in Torah Vodaath was attended by some of the greatest minds of the Torah world—talmidim of Rav Boruch Ber in Kamenitz, and of Rav Elchonon Wasserman, zt”l, Hy”d. At the same time, there were talmidim from South America who were new to the limud of Gemara. To all of them, Rav Shmuel Yaakov would be a loving and devoted rebbi. 

While originally Reb Shmuel Yaakov was advised by Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, zt”l, then the Rosh Yeshivah of Torah Vodaas, to teach his talmidim Chumash with Rashi, “in order that they should at least remain erliche Yidden,” Reb Shmuel Yaakov insisted on teaching the standard limudim of the yeshivos.

When Rav Yaakov came back at the end of the zman to check up on their progress, he was shocked when he heard that they had covered forty blatt Gemara, together with Rashi and Tosafos!

Talmidim Remember

In the following lines, we bring comments from talmidim from throughout the decades. These words express their love and their reverence for a rebbi who taught them so much: 

“He was my maggid shiur over 30 years ago. He was from the old school of Rebbeim who took a personal interest in the welfare of his talmidim. His shmussen were legendary. A Purim spent at his home was unforgettable. He helped me in my development for which no amount of gratitude will ever be adequate,” said one talmid. 

“He gave an interesting shiur to twelfth-graders, and they lapped up every nuance and kvetch. His sharfkeit was typical of a Poilisher Gerrer Chusid and his mussar was accepted by all. When he left Torah Vadaas we missed him dearly. He will always be remembered…,” remembered another. 

Yet another talmid recalled that: He was my Rebbi close to fifty years ago. He took bochurim who were what he called blocks of wood and turned them into beautiful furniture. A very real person, he loved his talmidim. He threw out many words of mussar and hashkofoh in the middle of a gemara shiur, and usually through a sharp incisive Gerrer-style vort.

“I remember when we learned gemara Bava Basra and the beginning of the mashechta had Rashi. In the 20’s it says “kan meis Rashi” and the next piece begins with the Rashbam. He was reading the Rashi and went right into the Rashbam. He suddenly stopped. No one knew why. He waited a bit and then said in an impassioned voice, “Here it says Rashi died and I didn’t hear even one krechtz from anyone…. Where is your heart?”

“We loved Rav Traube, zt”l, so much that we went on strike at the beginning of the 2nd year and wouldn’t leave the classroom. We ended up being in his shiur for two years— the most wonderful two years of my whole Yeshiva life. I have very fond memories of my year in Rabbi Traube’s shiur (25 years ago). His hasbara of the sugyos were extraordinary and his shmuessen were something to look forward to. He was also very approachable and took a keen interest in the bochurim.” 

Rav Shmuel Yaakov was niftar in the fall of 2008 following a lifetime of loving Torah and teaching Torah. 

Seven trustees of Maimonides Medical Center are asking the state attorney general to block a recent decision that will oust them from the board once Maimonides becomes a part of the city’s public hospital system — a change they allege was based on their ongoing lawsuit against the merger.

A lawyer for the trustees sent a letter to New York State Attorney General Letitia James last week after a special board meeting in which members voted to change the hospital’s leadership structure. The vote was in preparation for New York City Health + Hospitals’ planned acquisition of Maimonides, a multibillion-dollar deal that proponents say is necessary to rescue the cash-strapped safety-net hospital. The transaction, which was initially supposed to close on April 1 of this year, has been delayed amid legal challenges from some board members and members of the Orthodox Jewish community.

The trustees, who are all involved in active litigation to block the deal, have been excluded from the board of the affiliated private corporation that will replace Maimonides Medical Center, according to a letter from Akiva Shapiro, an attorney with Holtzman Vogel who is representing the trustees. That board will govern the new affiliate, which will oversee employment and operations once the deal closes. The trustees have also been passed over for officer positions on the board of Maimonides Health Resources, Inc., a separate board, the letter said.

The decision to exclude the seven trustees, who are all Orthodox Jews, from the incoming board was based on their ongoing lawsuits against the transaction, Shapiro wrote in the letter, which is “illegal retaliation and discrimination for engaging in protected whistleblowing activities.”

 “Our clients’ efforts to protect and save Maimonides through salutary litigation is being used as cover to punish them and cleanse the surviving governance structure of dissenting fiduciaries,” the letter said. Shapiro also warned that the removal of the board members would eliminate representation for the Orthodox Jewish community. 

Sam Miller, a spokesman for Maimonides, said “these allegations are incorrect,” referring to the claims that trustees were excluded due to their ongoing lawsuit.

The trustees’ letter urged the attorney general’s office to require Maimonides to refrain from finalizing changes to the post-transaction board, and to consider the alleged discrimination as a reason to oppose the approval of the merger.

The attorney general’s office is reviewing the letter, a spokesperson said. But the spokesperson noted that the approval of the transaction will be determined by the court, not the attorney general’s office. The attorney general decided earlier this year that the transaction should be reviewed by the court rather than an administrative process, due to the merger’s significant impact on the local community.

The changes to the board come amid a drawn-out process to close the city’s planned takeover of Maimonides Health, which encompasses Maimonides Medical Center and its community hospital in Midwood. The transaction was announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul in October 2025, who provided more than $2 billion in grants from the state’s safety-net transformation program. H+H leadership planned to close the transaction before April 1, 2026, which was the start of the following fiscal year. 

Despite the planned closing date, the deal is still pending due to legal challenges and the ongoing regulatory process.

The seven Orthodox Jewish trustees filed a lawsuit to block the merger in Brooklyn Supreme Court last November. Maimonides has filed a motion to dismiss that lawsuit, and the case is ongoing.

 Community groups and Orthodox Jewish congregations have filed two additional challenges to block the merger in Albany Supreme Court. In the first lawsuit, a judge decided that the state’s Public Health and Health Planning Council, which oversees hospital ownership changes, must review the planned merger, and the council approved the deal. The second lawsuit is ongoing.

By Y.M. Lowy

Today will be a great day to get outside, with plenty of sunshine and a high of 62° and a low of 47°.

Shabbos will bring more nice fall weather, with a high of 63° and a low of 50°. Expect sunshine with a few clouds throughout the day.

Sunday will be another sunny day, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures reaching a high of 64° and a low of 52°.

By BoroPark24 Staff

Check in with the BP24 Advisory for direction and guidance as you take to the road. We are here to help steer you in the right direction.

46th Street between 16th Avenue and 17th Avenue will be closed from 8am to 4pm Saturday through October 28, 2026 to facilitate crane operation.

63 Street between 14 Avenue and New Utrecht Avenue will be closed from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday through December 13, 2026 for installing vault and conduit.

Avenue I between McDonald Avenue and East 2nd Street will be closed from 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday through November 4, 2026 for mainline track repairs.

Avenue J between McDonald Avenue and East 2nd Street will be closed from 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday through November 4, 2026 for mainline track repairs.

Elmwood Avenue between McDonald Avenue and East 2nd Street will be closed from 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday through November 4, 2026 for mainline track repairs.

Elmwood Avenue between East 2nd Street and East 3rd Street will be closed from 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday through November 4, 2026 for mainline track repairs.

By Y.M. Lowy

Train riders may notice the outside of subway cars have been looking especially dirty.

F trains are among several subway lines currently running with grimy exteriors as the MTA repairs car washers at two of its train yards. The E, F, L, M and R lines are all affected.

The MTA says the repairs are part of a $73 million project to fix the car washers at Jamaica Yard and Canarsie Yard. Jamaica Yard handles trains from several subway lines, including the F, while Canarsie Yard services the L line.

The Jamaica Yard car washer repairs are not expected to be completed until 2028. The Canarsie Yard washer, which has been out of service since last year, is also undergoing repairs and is expected to be completed next year.

The MTA says some subway cars are being moved to alternate wash locations when possible, but with the work ongoing, riders can expect to see more dirt and grime on the outside of some trains.

That crispness in the air means New York City’s “heat season” is starting.

Starting Oct. 1 each year, landlords are required to keep apartments at 68 degrees during the day when it drops below 55 degrees outside, and at 62 degrees at night no matter how warm it is outside. The rule runs every year until May 31.

Still, every year hundreds of thousands of tenants complain that their landlord never turned the heat on, or kept it too low. Many of those complaints come from city-owned buildings.

Last winter was the busiest heat season ever. From October 2025 through May 2026, the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) received 344,437 heat complaints, up 22 percent from the year before, The Real Deal reported. The city’s latest management report says HPD handled more than 188,000 heat and hot water problems. During a long cold spell in January, tenants made more “no heat” calls than in any month before. On Feb. 8 alone, the city received 6,144 heat complaints, the most ever in one day. Several people died in the cold.

But last year, some tenants who asked for help never got it. The city closed tens of thousands of complaints without sending an inspector. Officials would group many complaints from the same building together and close them all at once, without checking if each apartment actually had heat.

 one person and ask them how the heat was, and if that person had their stove going or their space heater, they might say, ‘Yeah, I think it’s fine.’ And everyone else was shivering, but they just closed down the complaint with no inspection,” said Ellen Davidson, an attorney with the Legal Aid Society’s Civil Law Reform Unit.

“So even though there might be 100 people in the building who were freezing, if they reached the one person who was fine, that was the end of the inquiry,” Davidson said.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration said in its housing plan that it will change that.

Starting this heat season, HPD will try to inspect every apartment that files a heat or hot water complaint, even when the whole building has no heat. Before, the agency only checked some of the apartments in a building with many complaints.

To do it, HPD has added staff. It now has 320 inspectors, about 11 percent more than five years ago, with more coming under the mayor’s Block-by-Block housing plan, HPD Commissioner Dina Levy said

Levy said the agency will look closely at buildings, help owners with repairs

The city is also pushing owners to use the J-51 tax break, which helps pay for heating and energy upgrades. The City Council renewed it for 10 years and raised it to cover up to 100 percent of reasonable costs, up from 70 percent.

“We have new tax abatement programs, we have new capital programs where we can actually make loans to help landlords address conditions,” Levy said. “Landlords who want to do right by their tenants and their buildings should consider HPD an ally and consider our doors open to assist them however they need”

Dear Editor,

I’ve been noticing a trend lately that really bothers me. More and more raffles in our community are being structured in ways that look and feel an awful lot like gambling.

Here’s one example of how it works: You authorize a donation, for example, anywhere from $1 to $500. Then you receive a random number between $1 and $500, and whatever number you get becomes the amount you donate. Each number is assigned only once. In exchange, you get a chance to win a big prize.

The prize itself isn’t what bothers me. It’s the way the whole thing is structured.

Before anyone jumps in with the halachic side of the discussion, I’m not here to pasken whether a particular raffle is permitted or forbidden. That’s a question for the proper rabbonim. My concern is something else entirely.

Even if a particular setup is technically permissible, why are we bringing this kind of concept into our community in the first place?

We spend so much time and effort teaching our children about the dangers of gambling, the excitement of chasing a win, and the idea that money shouldn’t be treated like a game of chance. We know how addictive that mindset can become. So why are we making it part of our fundraising culture?

When the process involves getting a random number, not knowing what you’ll pay, and hoping to win something worth thousands of dollars, it starts to resemble the very behavior we should be careful about normalizing.

Fundraising is important. Our organizations need money, and people want to help. But there are plenty of ways to raise funds without borrowing the excitement and psychology of gambling.

Just because a system can be made to work within certain rules doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good idea to introduce it into our community.

We should be asking ourselves not only whether something is technically allowed, but also what kind of habits and attitudes we’re encouraging. Do we really want the next generation to grow up seeing this as a normal way to give tzedakah?

I think we need to have this conversation before these raffles become so commonplace that nobody even stops to question them anymore.

Yitty Gross

The opinions expressed here are the writer's and do not necessarily reflect the views of BoroPark24.

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By Y.M. Lowy

A new public middle-school building is taking shape on 14th Avenue between 63rd and 64th Streets.

The four-story building at 6303 14th Avenue is being constructed by the NYC School Construction Authority and is expected to be ready for the 2027-2028 school year. According to the DOE, the building will have capacity for 461 students in grades 6 through 8.

The building will become a second location for The Christa McAuliffe School, also known as I.S. 187, which currently operates at 1171 65th Street, about a half-mile away. The plan is intended to address overcrowding at the existing school, which currently serves 919 students in a building designed for 862.

The proposal would introduce a fourth academy, called the Academy of Urban Design, at the new location. Students would explore how cities are designed and built, beginning with design fundamentals in sixth grade and moving into engineering or urban planning in seventh and eighth grades. Students would also develop a portfolio and complete a final design project.

The new academy would include an Autism Nest program, providing an inclusive middle-school setting for autistic students. The DOE says District 20 currently has two Autism Nest programs at the elementary level but only one at the middle-school level, meaning some students must seek placements outside the district.

The new building is planned to include a library, science room, art room, music room, gymnatorium, exercise room, dining room and kitchen. 

The plan is not yet approved. A public hearing is scheduled for Monday, November 16, at 6 p.m. and will be held online at LearnDOE.org/districtplanning. Members of the public can also submit comments by emailing [email protected] or calling 212-374-0208.

If approved, the new building is scheduled to begin serving students in September 2027.

Shabbos shopping just got better! KRM Kollel Supermarket is bringing you another week of fantastic savings on everything you need to fill your pantry, prepare delicious meals, and get ready for Shabbos.

From fresh meats and chicken to grocery essentials, produce, bakery favorites, and ready-to-serve takeout, KRM has you covered with great prices throughout the store.

Enjoy specials on chicken, premium cuts of meat, pantry staples, snacks, fresh produce, and delicious Shabbos favorites, all while keeping your shopping budget in check.

Don't miss this week's deals! Specials are valid through Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

KRM Kollel Supermarket

1325 39th Street, Boro Park
718-436-7701
FREE PARKING right across the store at 1311 39th Street.Shop smart, save more, and get everything you need for a beautiful Shabbos at KRM!

By Y.M. Lowy

The new edition of Dee Voch features extensive coverage of major events that took place over the past week, including the gatherings of the worldwide Torah initiative Veshinantam in Eretz Yisroel and the United States; event for Dirshu learners; the Satmar Rebbe’s opening-the-zman drasha for talmidim of the yeshiva gedola; the yahrtzeit of Ruzhiner Rebbe; and the Bobover Rebbe’s farewell to Bobov bochurim from Eretz Yisroel; the wedding of a grandson of the Rachmastrivka Rebbe; the Bobov-45 Rebbe’s opening-the-zman drasha for yeshiva talmidim; the tena’im of a grandson of the Satmar Rebbe; Governor Kathy Hochul’s visits with the Satmar and Skverer Rebbes; the Stutchiner Rebbe’s visit to Eretz Yisroel; and a hachnosas sefer Torah held in honor of the Zidichover Rebbe.

This week’s Shrift features an in-depth feature presenting candid conversations with five prominent askanim who share, for the first time, their personal experiences of being attacked and persecuted simply for their work on behalf of the community.

The Business Shrift feature highlights R’ Eliezer Levin, who built Elvy Developers into a company that guides clients through every stage of the home-building process, from the initial decision to purchase a property all the way until they move into their completed home.

This week’s Fink Magazine feature explores the difference between helping others for personal benefit and performing acts of kindness with genuine selflessness. Through a conversation between saleswomen in a store, the story highlights the contrast between these two approaches to chesed, drawing a connection to the mesiras nefesh of Mama Rochel. 

The Kinder Shrift is filled with exciting and educational content for children of all ages!

Get your copy at grocery stores and local retailers, or subscribe via WhatsApp or the website!

By Y.M. Lowy

If you want a say in what happens in your neighborhood, now’s your chance. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso has opened applications for residents to join Brooklyn’s 18 community boards.

Community boards are made up of volunteers who live, work, or have a significant interest in the community. They weigh in on local issues ranging from housing developments and public transportation to liquor licenses, sanitation, city services and more. Brooklyn has 18 community boards, each with up to 50 members.

Anyone age 16 or older who lives, works, or has a significant interest in a community can apply. Board members attend monthly meetings from September through June and are required to serve on a committee and attend its meetings. The expected time commitment is approximately six to eight hours per month.

The application process includes submitting an online application explaining your background and interest in serving, followed by a brief virtual conversation with a member of the Borough President’s team.

Borough President Reynoso is encouraging residents from across Brooklyn to get involved and help ensure that community boards reflect the people and neighborhoods they serve.

Applications are open through February 8, 2027.

To learn more and apply, visit brooklynbp.nyc.gov/community-boards.

Yisroel R.

Governor Kathy Hochul visited Boro Park on Wednesday, meeting with administrators of local Heimishe mosdos before touring Boro Park Hatzalah headquarters, as she continues engaging with the community ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial election.

The visit began with a gathering of representatives and administrators from all heimshe mosdos. Seated at the head table alongside the governor were Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein and State Senator Sam Sutton, as community leaders discussed several important issues affecting local families and schools.

Rabbi Mordechai Rosen, who emceed the gathering, thanked the governor for her close working relationship with the community, particularly on the substantial equivalency issue involving yeshiva education, vouchers, as well as other matters affecting local mosdos..

Before introducing Assemblyman Eichenstein, Rabbi Rosen recalled knowing him as a young boy and seeing his dedication to helping others from an early age. Assemblyman Eichenstein then addressed the gathering, highlighting the governor’s work with the community on several issues, including efforts to combat antisemitism and provide increased security for Jewish institutions.

State Senator Sam Sutton addressed the crowd as well, highlighting the importance of maintaining a strong relationship between the community and state government and continuing to work together on issues that matter most to local families and mosdos.

Governor Hochul then addressed the administrators, speaking about the importance of education and the role of private schools. She also shared that she herself attended a private school. Following her remarks, the governor went around the room, personally meeting with the administrators and speaking with them individually.

Following the gathering, Governor Hochul visited Boro Park Hatzolah headquarters, where she was given an opportunity to see the organization’s operations up close and learn more about its emergency response work in the community.

The visit follows Governor Hochul’s stops in Kiryas Joel, Monsey, and New Square earlier this week, highlighting her ongoing relationship with Heimishe communities across New York State.

By Y.M. Lowy

New York City has completed its expansion of red light cameras to 600 intersections across the five boroughs, reaching the maximum number allowed under state law.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn announced the completion, saying the cameras have helped reduce dangerous driving and prevent serious crashes.

According to city data, red light running was involved in 22% of fatal crashes at intersections between 2023 and 2025. At locations with red light cameras, running red lights has dropped by more than 80%.

The cameras have also been linked to fewer injuries. Since installation, injuries from rear-end crashes at camera-equipped intersections have declined by nearly 60%, while injuries from T-bone crashes have dropped by 70%.

Most drivers caught running red lights do not repeatedly violate the law. In 2025, 95% of vehicles receiving red light camera violations were issued no more than one or two tickets, while fewer than 0.7% received five or more violations.

The cameras are placed at intersections based on factors including past crashes and injuries involving drivers who run red lights. About 39% of red light camera violations are issued to vehicles registered outside New York City.

The expansion was made possible by state legislation passed in 2024 that increased the number of cameras the city could install.

Yisroel R.

A historic Shabbos is set to take place in Chicago on Shabbos Parshas Vayeitzei, as the Bobov-45 Rebbe will travel from New York to celebrate the Shabbos Sheva Brachos of his grandson.

The chosson is a son of Harav Menachem Nochum Horowitz, R”M at the Bobov-45 Mesivta and a son-in-law of the Rebbe, the kallah is a daughter of the Chodorov Rav of Chicago. The chasunah will take place Tuesday, 7 Kislev, at the Bobov-45 Beis Medrash Hagadol, with thousands of chassidim expected to participate in the simcha.

Following the chasunah, the Rebbe will travel together with the chosson and the mechutanim to Chicago for the Shabbos Sheva Brachos. The Rebbe’s upcoming visit follows a personal request from the Chodorov Rav that he make the special trip to spend the Shabbos with the kehillah, with the visit expected to serve as a major chizuk for the Chodorov kehillah and the entire Chicago frum community. 

The Rebbe is expected to remain in Chicago for several days, with the tefillos and tischen throughout Shabbos taking place at the Chodorov Beis Medrash in the heart of Chicago’s Heimishe neighborhood.

Due to the limited space in the Chodorov Beis Medrash, only a limited number of Bobov-45 chassidim will be able to travel from New York for the historic Shabbos. Preference will be given to older talmidim of the Bobov-45 Mesivta who are close to the Rebbe Shlita who serves as the Rosh Yeshiva, and where the chosson’s father serves as a Magid Shiur and maintains a close connection with the talmidim.

By Y.M. Lowy

The investigation behind yesterday’s adult day-care raids has drawn attention at the highest levels of government, with the White House and Governor Kathy Hochul joining efforts to crack down on Medicaid fraud. 

The raids across Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island were part of a months-long investigation targeting more than 100 social adult day-care providers suspected of potential fraud or illegal activity. Hochul has said she personally traveled to Washington to meet with federal officials about the investigation.

While federal agents were collecting evidence from adult day-care centers across the city, authorities also made two arrests on Staten Island in connection with a separate investigation involving an adult day-care operation.

The Staten Island investigation focused on a center inoperated by three members of one family. Investigators suspect Medicaid was billed for services for clients who were either deceased or had not attended the center.

The Staten Island district attorney is expected to provide additional information about the case, which authorities describe as a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme.

Tuesday’s raids also coincided with a White House announcement of a new initiative to encourage the public to report suspected fraud involving government programs.

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance announced the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program. Trump also presented YouTuber Nick Shirley with a $10,000 reward for his widely viewed investigation into alleged fraud involving child-care centers in Minnesota. The program is intended to reward tips that help uncover fraud, with the Justice Department outlining awards of up to $30,000 for qualifying information.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has also been involved in the crackdown. Earlier this year, Oz visited locations alongside Shirley as part of his investigation into alleged fraud. Oz was also present in Queens during Tuesday’s enforcement actions, where federal officials delivered warning letters to adult day-care centers over concerns about their billing practices.

Shirley also investigated New York City adult day-care centers over the summer, visiting facilities in Queens and raising questions about their operations and public funding. Officials have not confirmed whether his investigation is directly connected to Tuesday’s raids.

BoroPark24 will continue to provide updates as more details emerge.

By BoroPark24 Staff

A Boro Park driver is calling for accountability after he says he saw a car, driven by a man who identified himself as an officer of the NYPD's 71st Precinct, run a red light, drive head-on against traffic and slam into an FDNY vehicle - and that the officers who responded let the driver go without ever speaking to him.

The witness says that around 5:00 AM he was driving down 65th Street from 18th Avenue toward 19th Avenue when he saw a car go through a red light. On the next block, he says, the same car was traveling on the wrong side of the double yellow lines, straight toward oncoming traffic. "Luckily there were no cars at that time," he said.

At the next light the car moved back into its lane and stopped in the middle of the street, about 200 feet from the traffic light, where it stayed for at least three green-light cycles. After about two minutes, the driver took off again toward 23rd Avenue.

"Once he got to 23rd Avenue he was traveling at speeds over 40 mph, and suddenly - boom," the witness said. The car smashed into an FDNY paratransit vehicle, not a fire truck. The impact was so strong, he says, that the car spun out and the FDNY vehicle was pushed into two parked cars. Four vehicles were involved. The witness says the car came within feet of hitting him and calls the scene "very, very traumatizing."

He says he jumped out right away to check on the driver, who first claimed he had fallen asleep. After a minute of talking, the driver allegedly admitted - to the witness and a second bystander, on video - that he had been drinking. The witness says the man said he is an NYPD officer from the 71st Precinct, told them that responding officers should shut off their body cams because "it's not going to be good for him," and asked for their help. The witness says it was clear the driver was drunk. 911 was called.

Then, the witness says, came the second shock. When NYPD officers arrived, they told everyone to back off and were "extremely rude." Asked for their names and badge numbers, they gave them but grew angrier, ordered everyone onto the sidewalk and spoke to no one. The witness says that as the 911 caller and the person who saw the crash, he repeatedly tried, on video, to speak to the officers. They refused, he says, once they understood the driver was a fellow officer.

EMS checked the driver, who spent a couple of minutes in the ambulance. He was then let go. The car, not drivable, was towed, and the driver went home. According to the witness, the driver was not arrested.

The witness went to the 62nd Precinct to get the names and badge numbers of the responding officers. He says the desk sergeant told him the officers on scene determined the driver wasn't drunk. "How can they determine that when they never even knew to look out for it?" he says he answered. "I was the caller. They never even spoke to me. I had clear proof of the guy admitting on camera that he's drunk."

The witness says he has video of the car driving the wrong way, video of the alleged admission, photos of the scene and damage, and photos of the driver's 71st Precinct NYPD plaque. He says there should be accountability, and that refusing to look at the evidence because the driver is an officer is a scandal.

Yisroel R.

Hatzolah members and volunteer first responders across New York State will soon be eligible for a significantly larger tax credit, following new legislation signed by Governor Kathy Hochul that quadruples the annual tax benefit for volunteer emergency responders.

Under the new law, eligible volunteer members will be able to claim an annual state income tax credit of $800, up from the current $200. For married couples who both qualify as volunteer emergency responders, the combined credit will increase from $400 to $1,600.

The increase comes as part of legislation signed by Governor Hochul on October 17, expanding financial benefits for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers throughout New York State.

The expanded tax credit will take effect beginning with the 2027 tax year, meaning eligible volunteers will be able to claim the increased amount when filing their taxes in 2028. Volunteers will have the option of claiming either the state income tax credit or a qualifying local property tax exemption.

The new legislation is aimed at recognizing the dedication of volunteer emergency responders who give their time to help their communities, while also encouraging more people to join volunteer emergency services across the state.

Yisroel R.

Boro Park is preparing for a special Shabbos this week, as the two Vizhnitz brothers, the Vizhnitz Rebbes of Kiamesha and Montreal, will both spend Shabbos together in Boro Park for the Shabbos Sheva Brachos of their shared einikel, following the upcoming wedding this Wednesday night.

The chosson is a grandson of the Vizhnitz Rebbe of Montreal, a son of Rav Menachem Shlomo Hager, son of the Rebbe of Montreal and an eidem of the Rachmastrivka Rav of Monsey. The kallah is a daughter of Rav Mordechai Pinchas Twersky, Rosh Yeshivas Esek HaTorah Rachmastrivka, a son of the Rachmastrivka Rebbe and an eidem of the Vizhnitz Rebbe of Kiamesha.

The simcha began this past Shabbos with the aufruf at the Vizhnitz Beis Medrash in Montreal, in the presence of the zeide, the Vizhnitz Rebbe of Montreal.

The wedding will take place Wednesday in Boro Park at the Rachmastrivka Beis Medrash Hagadol, followed by the Shabbos Sheva Brachos in the presence of the kallah’s zeide, the Rachmastrivka Rebbe.

The big Shabbos Sheva Brachos will be celebrated in the presence of the zeides and Rebbes, with the Vizhnitz Rebbes of Kiamesha and Montreal spending Shabbos together with their mechutan/cousin/Shvuger, the Rachmastrivka Rebbe Shlita. The Vizhnitz Rebbes are expected to join the Rachmastrivka Rebbe for the large tish Friday night, as well as Shabbos morning tefillos and the morning seudah at the Rachmastrivka Beis Medrash Hagadol.

The simcha will mark a derhoibene Shabbos with much significance, at the Beis Medrash where the previous Rachmastrivka Rebbe zt”l davened and led his chassidim. The previous Rachmastrivka Rebbe zt”l is a two-time elter-zeide of the kallah, from both her father’s and mother’s sides, as the Vizhnitz Rebbe of Kiamesha is an eidem of the previous Rebbe. He is also an elter-fetter of the chosson, as the chosson’s zeide, the Rachmastrivka Rav of Monsey, is a brother of the previous Rachmastrivka Rebbe zt”l.

On Friday night, both Vizhnitz Rebbes will daven at the Vizhnitz Beis Medrash on New Utrecht Avenue together with their nephew, the Vizhnitz Rebbe of Boro Park, before joining the Rachmastrivka Rebbe for the tish. For Shalosh Seudos, where Vizhnitz has an earlier zman, they will join their brother, the Vizhnitz Rebbe of Yerushalayim, at his Beis Medrash on 42nd Street.

By Y.M. Lowy

Yisroel R.

Boro Park residents will have an opportunity to safely dispose of old documents and personal records at a free community shredding event hosted by NYC Councilman Simcha Felder this Wednesday, October 21.

The event will take place at the triangle at 47th Street and 19th Avenue, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., with shredding services provided by the New York City Department of Sanitation.

Residents are encouraged to bring unwanted documents containing personal information, including financial statements, medical records, tax documents, old identification, bills, receipts, and legal documents.

The free event is aimed at helping residents protect themselves against identity theft by safely getting rid of sensitive paperwork they no longer need.

By Y.M. Lowy

The law-enforcement activity reported on BoroPark24 earlier today is part of a federal and state investigation into suspected fraud involving social adult day-care programs, authorities have now confirmed.

According to Governor Kathy Hochul, the months-long investigation targeted more than 100 social adult day-care providers suspected of potential fraud or illegal activity. The operation involved multiple state and federal agencies, including the FBI, the New York State Department of Health and the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

In Boro Park, one of the locations where investigators were seen was at Happy Adult Day Care Center locations at 5118 Fort Hamilton Pkwy and 4022-8th Ave. Authorities were seen carrying evidence out of the building during the raid.

“We are targeting providers who we believe engaged in illegal activity, ranging from money laundering to kickbacks, to improper billing and other fraudulent activities,” Hochul said.

The governor also directed the State Department of Health to conduct a full review of the program and develop recommendations by December 31. Those recommendations may include additional reforms or phasing out the benefit and transitioning participants to other services.

New York currently has more than 400 social adult day-care programs serving approximately 45,000 Medicaid members statewide, at an estimated annual cost of more than $500 million.

The raids come about three months after YouTuber Nick Shirley published an investigation into New York City adult day-care centers. Shirley previously gained national attention for a video investigating alleged fraud involving child-care centers in Minnesota.

In his New York investigation, published in July, Shirley visited adult day-care businesses in Queens and raised questions about their operations and the public funding they receive.

Authorities have not yet publicly identified all the businesses targeted in the searches or announced any charges connected to the operation.

BoroPark24 will continue to provide updates as more details emerge.

YS GOLD 

This week’s captured moment takes us to a familiar stretch of a busy Boro Park thoroughfare. 

Astute readers will notice a number of clues in this photograph that will give away its location. 

___ 

Answer to last week’s captured moment: 

The shul in question, formerly a post office, is Rav Steinwurtzel’s shul on 13th Avenue and 56th Street.

By Y.M. Lowy

A troubling social media trend is prompting a warning to residents: Beware of strangers approaching you on the street with strange, provocative, or inappropriate questions, as they may be secretly recording your reaction to post online for views and attention.

In these situations, a person may approach someone on the street and start asking uncomfortable questions, hoping to get a reaction. What may seem like a random conversation could actually be an attempt to record the exchange and post it online for views and attention.

Many people are not familiar with this tactic and may not realize what is happening. They may answer a stranger normally, not knowing that the person is trying to get them to say something embarrassing or react in a way that will make the video more entertaining to viewers.

The recording is not always obvious. Some people use their phones or small cameras, while others may use smart glasses, including Meta glasses, that look like regular eyeglasses and can record video.

Once a video is posted, it can quickly spread across social media and be seen by thousands of people. Clips can also be shared without the full context of what happened, leaving the person in the video embarrassed over an interaction they never intended to make public.

For heimish locals who may not be familiar with these types of social media stunts, it is important to recognize that not every stranger who starts an unusual conversation is necessarily looking for a genuine answer.

If someone approaches you with strange, provocative or inappropriate questions, you do not have to answer. There is no reason to get drawn into an argument or feel that you need to explain yourself.

Do not give the person the reaction they are looking for, simply walk away.

Residents are encouraged to speak with family members, friends, and neighbors about this trend, especially those who do not follow social media or online news. Making them aware of these tactics beforehand can help prevent an innocent person from unknowingly becoming the subject of an embarrassing viral video.

Not every unusual conversation is a setup, but being aware that some people are deliberately trying to record reactions for social media can help prevent an unsuspecting person from becoming the next victim.

When New York Governor Kathy Hochul came to the Bais Rochel girls' school in Kiryas Yoel, the renowned Rentastic Party Rental company was there first. Rentastic's crews prepared thousands of chairs, stages, and all the accessories needed to welcome the Governor in grand fashion.

The setup turned the school grounds into a full-scale event venue. Everything was in place and ready well before the Governor's arrival.

The Governor's visit drew a large crowd of Bais Rochel students. The girls came out in force to show their support for Governor Hochul, who is currently running for re-election.

Rows upon rows of seating filled the grounds, facing a stage built for the occasion. The arrangement gave every student a clear view and lent the visit the dignity befitting a governor's appearance in the community.

An event of this size leaves no room for error. A visit from the Governor means tight timing, security requirements, and a crowd of thousands that must be seated in an orderly way.

Rentastic handled the full setup from start to finish:

Seating: thousands of chairs, arranged in neat rows for the students

Staging: a stage built for the Governor and the program

Gates and accessories: barriers, gates, and every other item needed to keep the event running smoothly

When the program ended, Rentastic's team cleared the grounds just as efficiently as they had set them up.

Rentastic Party Rental has become a trusted name for event setups across the community. From weddings and simchas to school events and large public gatherings, Rentastic brings the equipment, the experience, and the manpower to get it done right.

The Governor's visit to Kiryas Yoel is the latest example. Whether the guest of honor is a governor or a chosson and kallah, Rentastic is the address for seamless, hassle-free event setups.

Rentastic serves customers throughout the Tri-State area, with fast delivery to the Catskills as well.

Call: 718.676.1661

Visit: rentasticparty.com

WhatsApp: wa.me/17186761661

By Y.M. Lowy

A major law-enforcement operation unfolded across multiple locations in the Boro Park area this morning, drawing a large presence of federal agents and local police officers. A news helicopter was also seen flying over the area as the activity continued.

BoroPark24 alerted to the developing situation after reports of law-enforcement activity near Fort Hamilton Parkway and 51st Street. As additional information came in, agents and officers were also spotted at several other locations, including 4022 8th Avenue, between 40th and 41st Streets, as well as near 3rd Avenue and 52nd Street.

At approximately 8:50 a.m., numerous law-enforcement personnel were observed near 4022 8th Avenue, between 40th and 41st Streets. Individuals wearing jackets identifying them as members of federal agencies were seen at the scene, including FBI agents and personnel marked “HSI,” referring to Homeland Security Investigations.

The activity drew a crowd of residents and passersby, who gathered on the sidewalk as officers and agents remained in the area.

An officer told people at the scene that the operation involved a “criminal warrant,” but did not provide further details about whom the warrant concerned or the nature of the investigation.

The Citizen app also recorded police activity on the block at approximately 8:54 a.m.

The operation involved a significant law-enforcement presence, with reports of activity involving the FBI, NYPD, IRS and other agencies.

In addition to the scene on 8th Avenue, law-enforcement personnel were seen near Fort Hamilton Parkway and 51st Street, and later near 3rd Avenue and 52nd Street. The activity across these locations drew attention throughout the neighborhood as residents tried to determine what was unfolding.

One of the locations where agents were observed was 4022 8th Avenue, an address listed in New York City’s Department for the Aging directory for Happy Adult Day Care Inc., a social adult day-care facility. It remains unclear whom the reported criminal warrant concerned.

BoroPark24 is continuing to follow the developing situation and will provide additional information as it becomes available.

PHOTOS: Dovid Jaroslawicz

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the school districts that will receive the next 10,000 2-K seats in fall 2027, according to a press release from the Office of the Mayor.

The seats will expand the program across all five boroughs, including six school districts in Brooklyn, every Bronx school district and all of Staten Island.

“For far too many New York City families, the joy of welcoming a child comes with a terrifying set of questions,” said Mayor Mamdani. “How will I afford child care? Will I need to give up my job? Will I be forced to leave the city I love? Today, for more than 10,000 families, we have an answer.”

In Brooklyn, the new seats will go to six school districts. District 16, district 17, district 19, district 20, district 21, and district 32.

Districts 20 and 21 include parts of Boro Park, Midwood, and Flatbush.

The expansion follows the launch of 2,000 2-K seats in five school districts around New York City, including Brooklyn’s Districts 18 and 23, beginning in fall 2026. Families submitted more than 5,700 applications for seats across those five districts.

The 2-K expansion is designed to provide early childhood education and child care for eligible 2-year-olds, and it is not limited to public school classrooms.

According to the announcement, services will be offered through center-based child care programs and licensed family child care programs, using full-day, full-year operating models. Participating providers may include eligible private early childhood centers and child care programs that contract with NYC Public Schools.

Families whose children attend, or plan to attend, private, Jewish, parochial or other non-public schools may still be able to benefit from the program. However, the free 2-K seats will not automatically cover tuition at every private school. Families will need to apply for a seat with a participating provider and meet the program’s eligibility requirements.

The announcement does not yet establish that every private or non-public school will participate. Families should check whether their preferred provider is approved to offer 2-K services as more details become available.

The next 10,000 seats will be backed by a $1.2 billion state investment, advancing the vision of universal child care for children from six weeks to five years old.

“Generations of parents have had to contend with the stress of child care costs in this state and state,” Hochul said. “But thanks to our partnership with Mayor Mamdani, that’s changing.”

In preparation for fall 2027, the city will release a survey for providers that currently contract with NYC Public Schools, along with a Request for Information for new providers interested in offering 2-K services.

More information about the fall 2027 application timeline for families is expected to be announced in the coming weeks

By BoroPark24 Staff

A personal kabbalah undertaken for the refuah of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe may have saved a man from serious injury Friday morning, after his cell phone suddenly exploded inside the Vizhnitz Beis Medrash in Boro Park, just moments after he had placed it away from himself.

R' Chaim Zelig Kornitzer, who serves as a meshamesh of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe during his travels abroad, had undertaken a personal kabbalah not to touch or speak on his cell phone during davening, as a zechus for the Rebbe's refuah. To avoid distractions and maintain proper concentration, he makes sure to silence his phone and place it away from himself before beginning to daven.

On Friday morning, while davening at the Vizhnitz Beis Medrash on 51st Street near New Utrecht Avenue, Kornitzer followed his usual practice and placed his phone at the end of a table.

Moments later, the phone's battery overheated and exploded with a tremendous bang, startling mispallelim throughout the Beis Medrash. The explosion caused a small fire and sent thick smoke spreading through the shul.

The smoke was so heavy that there were initially concerns about whether the Beis Medrash could be used for Shabbos davening. A professional cleaning crew was brought in, and following extensive efforts, the shul was ventilated in time for Shabbos.

B'chasdei Hashem, no injuries were reported.

Kornitzer later expressed his gratitude for the remarkable escape, explaining that had the phone remained in his pocket, the explosion could have resulted in serious injuries requiring hospitalization.

He credited his personal kabbalah with protecting him from what could have been a dangerous incident.

Reflecting on the importance of avoiding distractions during davening, Kornitzer also shared an observation about the recent meeting between leading Rabbanim and President Donald Trump at the White House.

He noted that none of the Rabbanim would have considered taking out a cell phone during the meeting with President Trump recently. If such respect is shown when standing before a human leader, he said, how much more so should one avoid using a phone when standing before the Melech Malchei Hamelachim during davening.

YS GOLD 

We regret to inform you of the passing of Reb Itche Rosengarten, an esteemed Bobover Chossid who was known for his Torah and yiras Shomayim. He was 100 years of age and leaves behind beautiful Torah generations. 

The niftar was the son of Reb Mendel Rosengarten, an esteemed Bobover chossid from a prominent family in Galicia. The Rosengartens came to Toronto before the war, and they were thus spared the horrors of the Holocaust. 

They soon immigrated to America where the Rosengarten children stood out for their ehrlichkeit and uncompromising Yiddishkeit. 

Reb Itche married Mrs. Dinah (nee Goldstein) the daughter of the legendary Reb Moshe Yehuda Goldstein of Boro Park, and the couple settled in Boro Park for the many ensuing decades, raising their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren in the ways of Torah and yiras Shomayim through their sterling example. Mrs. Rosengarten was a legendary morah in Beis Yaakov for decades. 

Although he was a Bobover chossid, Reb Itche served as the longtime ba'al tefillah during the Yamim Noraim in Khal Emunas Yisrael. There, he moved and inspired the mispalelim with his sweet voice and heartfelt tefillos. 

In addition to his sterling personal legacy, Reb Itche leaves behind beautiful generations, with many Rabbonim and marbitzei Torah among them. 

His neshamah ascended to the World of Truth on Monday afternoon, and the levaya will take place at Emunas Yisroel at 6:45 this afternoon. 

Yehi zichro baruch

For more information about Rentastic Party Rental and its full selection of event rentals, visit www.rentasticparty.com.

By Y.M. Lowy

We pass these names every day, see them on street signs, buildings and businesses, and often never stop to think about where they came from. But behind many of the names we know is an interesting story. In this weekly series, we take a closer look at familiar names around Boro Park and beyond and uncover the people, places and stories that gave them their names.

Today, the name Borough Park is so familiar that it is hard to imagine our neighborhood being called anything else. But the name is actually only a little over a century old.

In the late 1800s, the area that is now Boro Park was still largely farmland, and it was part of the old Town of New Utrecht. As Brooklyn expanded, developers began turning the farmland into residential neighborhoods.

One of the first developments in the area was created in 1887 by Electus B. Litchfield, who built a small cottage community and called it Blythebourne. The name was derived from Scottish words meaning “happy home.”

A few years later, developer and former state senator William H. Reynolds acquired large portions of the surrounding land and began developing a much larger neighborhood. By 1902, the name Borough Park had been adopted for the new development. 

The name was a fitting one for a neighborhood that was being built as part of the growing borough of Brooklyn. Over the following decades, Borough Park expanded and Blythebourne was eventually absorbed into the larger neighborhood. By the mid-1920s, Blythebourne had largely disappeared as a separate name.

But it never disappeared completely. The old name can still be found today at the Blythebourne Post Office branch, a small reminder of the neighborhood that existed here before the name Boro Park became the one everyone knew. 

And even before Blythebourne, this land was part of New Utrecht, one of the original towns of Kings County, established by Dutch settlers in the 1600s. That name remains very much a part of the neighborhood we know today - and we’ll get to that story next week.

Two U.S. Postal Service employees assigned to the East New York Post Office in Brooklyn have been indicted on charges of stealing checks from mail they were supposed to deliver, taking nearly $15,000 intended for residents.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced the charges alongside officials from the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The defendants were identified as Nicole Bernard, 41, of East Flatbush, and Kenisha Hazzard, 30, of Brownsville. Both were employed as mail carriers at the East New York Station on Atlantic Avenue.

Bernard stole four checks between March 2023 and January 2024, depositing some into bank accounts connected to her. The checks totaled $12,465.80.

Hazzard stole seven checks between October 6 and October 31, 2023, and deposited them into her personal bank account. Those checks totaled $2,487.75.

The alleged thefts affected 10 victims, with total losses of $14,953.55.

“The defendants in this case were entrusted to deliver mail, including checks, safely to residents of East New York,” District Attorney Gonzalez said, adding that they allegedly took advantage of that responsibility to enrich themselves.

photos: Hillel Las"h

I wanted to bring attention to something I’ve been noticing around Boro Park, specifically on 46th Street and New Utrecht Avenue, but also in other locations.

The city has been installing green infrastructure pavement over the past few years, with the goal of helping prevent flooding by allowing rainwater to seep into the ground instead of running off into the streets. The idea makes sense, but the way some of this pavement is holding up is raising serious questions.

On 46th Street and New Utrecht Avenue, a section of pavement that was installed only about three and a half weeks ago is already starting to sink, and it seems to be getting worse every day. I’ve noticed similar problems in other locations as well.

How can pavement that was just installed begin sinking so quickly? What is causing this, and who is responsible for making sure the work is done properly? More importantly, if someone trips on the uneven pavement and gets hurt, who takes responsibility?

These projects are supposed to improve our neighborhood and help with flooding, but if the pavement is already sinking within weeks of being installed, what will it look like a year or two from now? Will the city come back and repair it, or will homeowners eventually be left dealing with the problem?

Residents deserve to know that the work being done on our streets is being properly inspected and will hold up over time. Green infrastructure may serve an important purpose, but the installation needs to be done right, and someone should be making sure the results are safe and lasting.

Signed, 

A Resident of Boro Park

By Y.M. Lowy

Citi Bike has completed an expansion bringing more than 230 new stations and 3,700 bike docks to seven neighborhoods across the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.

The expansion adds service to Norwood, Riverdale, Brownsville, East New York, Kensington, Bay Ridge and Forest Hills, including areas that previously had limited or no Citi Bike access.

In Brooklyn, the new stations serve Bay Ridge, Brownsville, East New York and Kensington. Since the first Bay Ridge stations opened last September, riders have taken more than 75,000 trips from the neighborhood.

The expansion adds about 10 square miles to Citi Bike’s service area, bringing its total coverage to 86.5 square miles. The system now reaches areas where 62% of New York City residents live.

More docks are also planned for this fall in neighborhoods already served by Citi Bike, including Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Gowanus, as well as Midtown and Chelsea.

Yisroel R.

NYC Ferry riders will soon pay more for trips across the city, with the base one-way fare set to increase from $4.50 to $5 beginning Monday, October 19. 

Under the new fare structure, the price of a 10-trip pass will rise from $29 to $30, raising the cost by $1 for frequent riders. 

Discounted one-way fares will also increase slightly, from $1.45 to $1.50. The reduced fare is available to eligible riders, including participants in the Ferry Discount Program and students enrolled in the NYC Ferry Student Discount Program.

The city is also making its two-day unlimited ticket permanent at $15, allowing riders unlimited trips across all NYC Ferry routes for a 48-hour period. 

The fare increase comes as NYC Ferry faces higher operating costs, with city officials pointing to inflation and rising fuel expenses tied to international circumstances as key factors behind the change.

The fare changes come as NYC Ferry expands discounted student access to include middle school students citywide. The broader student eligibility took effect September 1. 

The new fares will officially take effect on October 19.

By Y.M. Lowy

Monday will be breezy, with sunshine mixing with some clouds. The high will reach 63°, with a low of 52°.

Tuesday will bring a steady breeze, with periods of clouds and sunshine throughout the day. An afternoon shower is possible in spots. Temperatures will reach a high of 69° and drop to a low of 54°.

Wednesday will be mostly sunny and windy, with a high of 65° and a low of 49°.

Thursday will bring plenty of sunshine with just a few clouds. The high will reach 64°, with a low of 51°.

In his capacity as the editor of the legendary HaMo’or Torah journal, Rav Meir Amsel—a great ga’on, masmid, and talmid chochom in his own right—corresponded with many of the gedolim, Rabbonim and ga’onim of his time. As the leader of Congregation Beis Medrash Hamo’or, he was an esteemed figure in the Boro Park community. 

Harav Meir Amsel was born in the small Slovakian town of Neudorf to Harav Avrohom Amsel, zt”l, and Rebbetzin Yuta, a”h. The family descended from many Gedolei Yisrael including Rav Elimelech of Lizensk, Rav Heschel of Cracow, the Chacham Tzvi, the Taz, the Bach, the Maharal of Prague, and others. 

Exile to a Torah Locale 

As a young teenager, the family was exiled to Kashau during Worl War I. It was there that he met the four great rabbonim who shaped his life. Rav Avronom Shlomo Halberstam, the Stropkover Rebbe and Rav Shmuel Engel, the Radimishler Rav, Rav Yitzchok Zvi Jungreis of Cszenger, and Rav Yaakov Frankfurther, Admor of Kashau. He was attracted to them during his exile in Kashau and considered them his rebbes for life and often mentioned them. His Agudah activities, an ardent follower of the Katowice faction, began after his marriage several years later.

During the Holocaust he lived in Budapest disguised as a non-Jew with forged papers. Many wonderful and harrowing stories of his survival and tribulations are recorded in his sefer Zichronos Hamaor (Brooklyn 1974). 

In addition to his Torah scholarship, Rav Amsel was dedicated to helping and serving Klal Yisrael, which led to his selection to head Agudas Yisrael in Bratislava after the Holocaust. In this capacity he was able to help many Yidden flee war-torn Europe to Erez Israel and the United States. In addition to his lifesaving efforts for fellow Yidden under the nose of the Nazis and the Hungarian resha’im, he assisted many in immigrating to freer shores following the Churban. 

In the Holocaust, he lost his wife and his children, except for one daughter, Mrs. Gitta Meisels a”h of Flatbush, and a son, Avraham Yosef, Hy”d, who was killed in America. After the war, he married his wife’s sister, Rebbetzin Liba, a”h, and he retrieved a Shas that had belonged to his father, Rav Avrohom. The volumes remain a family heirloom.    

Hama’or Journal 

The Amsel family arrived in the United States in 1948 and settled in Brownsville and subsequently Crown Heights. For nearly 60 years Rav Amsel published the HaMaor Rabbinical Torah journal. The monthly became the mouthpiece of Orthodox Jewry during the 50’s thru the 70’s where the great rabbonim of the generation fought the battles for Yiddishkeit that we enjoy today. Kosher food – especially meat, mechitzas in shuls, Shabbos observance, kosher mikva’os, anti-Reform and Conservative reforms, were a feature of each issue. 

Lawyer letters and physical attacks on account of his courageous stands on issues were a common occurrence in his life. The Brisker Rav, Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Eliyahu Henkin, Rav Michoel Forshlager of Baltimore, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Yonosan Steif, and the Skulener Rebbe were some of the many Torah luminaries who contributed articles of chiddushei Torah to Hama’or. Rav Amsel printed 3,000 copies of each edition, which was distributed to Rabbanim worldwide. 

Boro Park 

In 1965, the Amsels settled in Boro Park, where Rav Amsel opened the Hama’or shul. The shul immediately attracted many Rabbonim who became regular attendees. In his humility he honored them with all the rabbinical functions generally reserved for the Rav. He established a mikvah taharah near his shul, among the first in the area. In 2009 it underwent a major renovation which made it a 100% rainwater mikvah - the first of its kind in New York. 

As Rav Meir’s 100th birthday approached, his son planned a large celebration for the family. But on his way home from a doctor’s appointment, Rav Amsel told his einikel, “Your father is planning a birthday party for me, but I will not be there.” The next day, he was ascended to the Next World, following close to a century on this earth. When his son, Reb Eliyahu, went to inform his mother of the sad news, she proclaimed, “the world lost a tzaddik.” She then proceeded to open a closet where his Shabbos tallis lie laundered and folded, ready for its final use. 

Rav Amsel’s Levaya drew a large crowd, including dozens of prominent Rabbonim and Admorim whom he had known and corresponded with on a gamut of issues related to Torah and Yiddishkeit in America and beyond. He was interred in the Wellwood Cemetery following a lifetime of Torah, and decades of Torah leadership in Boro Park of yore. 

New York City has spent approximately one-third of 2026 under a Flash Flood Emergency activation, according to a striking statement released by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The figure means that for roughly one out of every three days this year, the city has been operating under an emergency preparedness activation related to the threat of flash flooding.

The unusually high number highlights the growing challenges New York City faces from heavy rainfall and the potential for widespread street flooding, particularly in densely populated neighborhoods where drainage systems can quickly become overwhelmed.

Flash flooding has become a major concern across the five boroughs, with heavy downpours capable of turning streets into temporary waterways, flooding basements, disrupting traffic, and overwhelming portions of the city's sewer infrastructure.

In its statement, NYC Water said the frequency of emergency activations has prompted closer coordination between city agencies and Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration.

The agency said officials are working together on a citywide approach to protecting neighborhoods ahead of future major storms, emphasizing the need for preparation before severe weather strikes.

Much of New York City's drainage infrastructure was built decades ago, and some areas rely on combined sewer systems that carry both rainwater and wastewater. During intense storms, the volume of water can exceed the system's capacity, increasing the risk of flooding and sewer backups.

The city has been pursuing drainage improvements and flood-resilience projects, but the latest statement underscores how frequently officials have had to prepare for potentially dangerous rainfall conditions.

Importantly, a Flash Flood Emergency activation does not necessarily mean flooding occurred on every one of those days. Rather, it indicates that the city activated its emergency preparedness procedures in response to the potential threat.

Still, the fact that New York City has spent approximately a third of the year under such activations illustrates just how significant flash flooding has become as a concern for city officials.

Yisroel R.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made clear that NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch will remain in her position, despite growing demands from his own political allies to remove her following a controversial shooting involving federal immigration agents.

The relationship has come under renewed pressure following an October 8 shooting by federal immigration agents in Marble Hill, which sparked protests and criticism of the NYPD’s response. Members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the political movement that helped elect Mamdani, have demanded Tisch’s removal, accusing the department of assisting federal immigration authorities and mistreating protesters.

However, Mamdani made clear Tuesday that he has no intention of replacing her. “Jessica Tisch is the police commissioner. I have no plans to change that,” the mayor told reporters, praising her record of fighting corruption within the NYPD and overseeing declining crime rates. The two later appeared together at a ceremony honoring fallen police officers.

The mayor’s continued support for Tisch is particularly interesting given their political differences and the unusual relationship the two have maintained since Mamdani took office.

Tisch, who was appointed by former Mayor Eric Adams in November 2024, was retained by Mamdani when he took office in January. The decision created an unusual political partnership between a mayor known for his outspoken criticism of Israel and a Jewish police commissioner who has publicly expressed her personal connection to the matter.

Tisch has also spoken openly about her Jewish identity. During an August appearance at a Manhattan synagogue following an antisemitic attack, she described herself as a “proud Jew” and promised that the NYPD would continue protecting Jewish New Yorkers. She has also spoken about her family’s experiences with growing antisemitism.

The mayor’s continued support for Tisch highlights a striking political relationship in City Hall, where two officials with sharply different positions on Israel and policing have continued working together despite growing pressure from Mamdani’s political base.

photo: Kara McCurdy/Mayoral Photography Office

By Y.M. Lowy

Today will be warm and increasingly windy, with a high of 76° and a low of 52°. Expect considerable cloudiness and rising humidity, along with a couple of showers into the early afternoon. A rumble of thunder is also possible.

Shabbos will bring a big change, with temperatures dropping to a high of 57° and a low of 42°. It will be windy and much cooler, with clouds giving way to sunshine later in the day. Gusty winds will make it feel even chillier, so a warm jacket may come in handy.

Sunday will stay cool, with a high of 58° and a low of 47°, but plenty of sunshine will make for a beautiful fall day.

Check in with the BP24 Advisory for direction and guidance as you take to the road. We are here to help steer you in the right direction.

46th Street between 16th Avenue and 17th Avenue will be closed from 8am to 4pm Saturday through October 28, 2026 to facilitate crane operation.

50th Street between 13th Avenue and 14th Avenue will be closed from 9am to 5pm Sunday through October 22, 2026 to facilitate crane operation.

63 Street between 14 Avenue and New Utrecht Avenue will be closed from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday through December 13, 2026 for installing vault and conduit.

Avenue I between McDonald Avenue and East 2nd Street will be closed from 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday through November 4, 2026 for mainline track repairs.

Avenue J between McDonald Avenue and East 2nd Street will be closed from 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday through November 4, 2026 for mainline track repairs.

By Mitchell Katz, MD, President and CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals, and Svetlana Lipyanskaya, Incoming CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals/Maimonides

We know that Brooklyn is a borough defined by its people – families whose faith, generosity, and resilience make up a community unlike any other in the world. For more than a century, Maimonides Health has stood in the community as a trusted home for care rooted in Jewish values and guided by the principle of chesed. We know this personally, as Brooklyn was, for each of us, our childhood home.

Now, there is an opportunity to strengthen that foundation and secure Maimonides’ future. If Maimonides joins NYC Health + Hospitals, we can ensure that Maimonides continues to serve as an anchor in Brooklyn for high-quality specialty and community care. This is important for all of us at NYC Health + Hospitals — and especially to the two of us — as a chance to give back to the borough and community that helped shape us.

Together, we can safeguard Maimonides’ cultural and religious identity. NYC Health + Hospitals is committed to continuing respect for long-established practices that Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish communities have come to expect—from kosher meal service and specialized end-of-life care to policies around Shabbat observance and access to rabbinic consultation. Input from members of the community will continue to be critical to ensure that cultural standards are met, along with clinical ones.

Joining our health care system will stabilize and strengthen Maimonides’ operations and expand the outstanding clinical care it already delivers for the community. When the transaction is finalized, Maimonides stands to gain access to more than $2.2 billion in state grant funding over five years, including $500 million for badly-needed capital improvements, including the modernization of Maimonides’ labor and delivery department and adoption of a critical state-of-the-art electronic health record system that will enhance the patient experience and reduce costs.

Maimonides will also be able to access a higher Medicaid reimbursement rate, adding tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue – all of it invested in Maimonides.

At a time when federal budget cuts pose an existential threat to safety net hospitals across New York and the country, this amounts to an unprecedented amount of support over the coming years for Maimonides and the community. For patients, this support will mean expanded access to coordinated, high-quality care in every specialty – from maternal health to cardiac care to

Yisroel R.

The New York City Department of Buildings is coming directly to Boro Park this Sunday, with the BPJCC hosting a full day of one-on-one services aimed at helping local property owners resolve a wide range of building-related issues.

The special event will take place Sunday, October 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the BPJCC Community Center, located at 5102 13th Avenue. Owners of one- to four-family properties will have the opportunity to sit down individually with DOB staff and receive assistance with their specific cases.

Residents will be able to address property violations, outstanding job applications, permit requests, Stop Work Orders, Certificates of Correction, fee estimates, civil penalties, and other DOB matters. Same-day processing will be available for eligible concerns, allowing some issues to be handled on the spot.

DOB staff will also review Stop Work Orders and process eligible requests to have them lifted, accept inspection requests involving Full or Partial Vacate Orders, and review Certificates of Correction. Senior DOB representatives from various units will also be available to answer questions and assist property owners with Building Code compliance matters.

By hosting the DOB directly in the neighborhood, the BPJCC is giving Boro Park property owners a convenient opportunity to receive personalized assistance without having to navigate these issues on their own. The event is free, and advance registration is requested.

By Y.M. Lowy

Martin Marks, Special Assistant to the President and White House Director of Jewish Engagement, arranged for a letter of congratulations to be issued to Rabbi Yoel Rosenfeld, a prominent Bobover askan and community leader, ahead of his son’s wedding taking place tonight at Oholei Freida in Boro Park.

The letter extends warm wishes to Rabbi Rosenfeld and his family on the joyous occasion.

President Donald Trump recently met with Rabbi Rosenfeld during the historic White House meeting, and the administration has remained in consistent contact with him on issues affecting the community.

YS GOLD 

We regret to inform you of the passing of Rebbetzin Chava Etia Paneth of Dej, a longtime Boro Park resident who was renowned for her refinement and character, and for his inspiring words that she constantly shared. 

The Rebbetzin was the daughter of Rav Menachem Mendel Rutner, ABD Shamkut, who raised her toward a lifetime of Torah and yiras Shamayim. 

She married Rav Nachum Meir Paneth, the Dejer Rebbe of Boro Park, and together they established a beautiful Torah family, with sons and sons-in-law who continue in their ways.

The Rebbetzin was a renowned mechaneches, and spoke frequently at large gatherings for women., where she shared timeless words of inspiration with brilliance and heart. 

The levaya is taking place at the Dejer Beis Medrash on 16th Avenue at 2:00 this afternoon. 

Yehi zichra baruch.

By Y.M. Lowy

A new MTA photography exhibit is giving New Yorkers a behind-the-scenes look at the workers and facilities that keep the transit system running. 

The exhibit, titled In Service: MTA Photographs by Christopher Payne, features 50 photographs taken inside MTA maintenance shops and manufacturing facilities, including locations where subway cars, buses and other equipment are built and repaired.

The photos show the specialized work done by welders, machinists, electricians and other workers who maintain the system. Some of the photographs were taken at MTA facilities in New York, while others show the manufacturing of new subway cars and buses at facilities across the country.

The photographs will be displayed for the next six months in all 52 of the MTA’s decommissioned advertising lightboxes at 42nd Street-Bryant Park, Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center, Bowling Green, Grand Central Terminal and Grand Central Madison.

photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA

Yisroel R.

After nearly 60 years of serving breakfast and lunch on the corner of 16th Avenue and 48th Street, Lieberman’s Luncheonette is heading toward its final chapter, with plans to close once its building is sold.

The property at 4801 16th Avenue has been listed for $2.8 million. No final closing date has been announced, and the luncheonette remains open while the owner pursues a sale.

Purchased by the Lieberman family in 1968, the small eatery has been a familiar breakfast stop through decades of changes across Boro Park. With just four tables and a counter, it offers the kind of simple, old-fashioned dining experience that has become increasingly rare.

In 2021, BoroPark24 visited the restaurant to hear about the family history behind the longtime iconic spot. During the visit, the family recalled how Tillie and Jacob Liberman built a loyal following of daily customers, serving local Boro Park residents who made Lieberman’s their regular stop for breakfast and lunch.

Jacob was a longtime member of Young Israel of Boro Park, which later merged with Congregation Beth El. Their son, Shloimy, grew up in the family business, learning the methods for preparing egg salad, tuna salad, and salmon croquettes. After his father’s passing in 1990, he took over and kept those traditions in place, including the familiar coffee brewed the old-fashioned way in coffee pots.

Breakfast is still prepared using cooking methods and recipes passed down through the family decades ago. That continuity has kept a piece of Boro Park’s past alive on a daily basis through the busy stretch of 16th Avenue.

For now, customers can still pull up a seat for another breakfast. Whether a future owner will keep the restaurant going remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: this corner will always be remembered for Lieberman’s, the familiar breakfast spot that served generations of Boro Park residents.

By Y.M. Lowy

Most New Yorkers probably have never heard of the Cannonsville Reservoir, but the massive body of water in Delaware County plays an important role in keeping the city’s taps running.

Cannonsville is New York City’s third-largest source of drinking water and holds about 96 billion gallons. Along with the Pepacton and Neversink reservoirs, it is part of the city’s Delaware water system, which supplies about half of the city’s drinking water.

The Delaware River Basin Commission is now conducting an 18-month feasibility study looking at whether Cannonsville could be expanded to store more water. The study will examine how much additional water could be stored, the cost of the project, permitting requirements and the area’s geology and water patterns.

The idea comes after a serious drought in 2024, when New York City issued its first drought warning in more than 20 years. The city’s reservoir system dropped to around 60% capacity, compared with the normal range of roughly the mid-70s to low 80s.

That drought also delayed a major project to repair the Delaware Aqueduct, the system that carries water from the Delaware reservoirs toward New York City. The aqueduct loses about 35 million gallons of water every day through leaks.

Cannonsville has faced severe dry conditions before. More than 20 years ago, the reservoir dropped to just 3.4% of its capacity.

The Delaware River Basin Commission has been studying ways to increase water storage since 2020. Its earlier work looked at more than 2,500 possible options, including expanding existing reservoirs, building new ones and even using former quarries for water storage.

The Cannonsville expansion is now among the options being studied more closely. Any expansion would be a major undertaking involving engineering, environmental reviews, safety considerations and permitting. Officials expect to have the findings by mid-2028.

By BoroPark24 Staff

A recently launched initiative in Bobov aimed at easing the increasingly demanding weekday Sheva Brachos schedule is quickly gaining traction, with dozens of families already participating and other kehillos exploring similar programs.

Introduced several months ago by Bobov’s Chaim Shel Shalom organization, the initiative encourages families to eliminate two weekday Sheva Brachos celebrations. To help get the initiative off the ground, participating mechutanim are offered a $2,000 incentive, giving families added encouragement to take a step that many have long supported in principle but found difficult to implement individually.

The concept immediately generated significant interest. For years, families have spoken about the financial and practical demands of a full week of nightly Sheva Brachos, with parents, grandparents, siblings and other relatives expected to attend night after night. Rather than leaving individual families to break with an established expectation on their own, Chaim Shel Shalom is seeking to normalize a shorter schedule through a collective approach. That effort is already showing results, with more than 20 sets of mechutanim committed to the new arrangement, according to the organization.

Chaim Shel Shalom has now launched a new advertising campaign under the banner “Hakol Modim,” highlighting the everyday realities behind the issue. Each additional evening can mean arranging numerous babysitters, interrupting regular learning schedules, spending significant sums of money, disrupting family routines and adding another night of obligations for relatives and guests. The campaign also highlights another challenge organizers say they have repeatedly heard from families: as families grow and grandparents can no longer host an additional Sheva Brachos for every grandchild, that “extra night” often falls to one of the mechutanim, leaving them responsible for hosting another Sheva Brachos in addition to the one they would traditionally arrange.

The initiative is also gaining attention well beyond Bobov, with several kehillos exploring similar arrangements and many reaching out for details. With numerous families already putting the idea into practice, supporters hope the growing participation will provide the collective momentum needed to turn a long-discussed idea into an accepted new norm across the broader heimishe community.

Yisroel R.

Another piece of old Boro Park appears to be heading towards the history books, as the century-old house at 1419 47th Street has been fenced off in preparation for its removal.

Built in 1915, the house has stood for more than 110 years and remained in use until recently. Throughout those decades, it stood through the many stages of Boro Park’s growth, from a neighborhood that was once just a quiet suburb of the city to the bustling community familiar world wide today.

What will replace the house remains unclear, with no details about the upcoming development publicly available so far.

The property is another example of the changing landscape in Boro Park, where older houses have been making way for new construction.

By Y.M. Lowy

If you’ve noticed a gasoline-like smell today, officials are still trying to figure out where it’s coming from.

The smell has been reported in Sheepshead Bay and surrounding South Brooklyn neighborhoods, and several city agencies are working together to find the source.

FDNY has inspected gas stations in the affected areas but found no gas leaks. DEP has flushed sewer lines several times, checked multiple locations and even used a drone to look for signs of gasoline on the water in Sheepshead Bay.

The investigation has also expanded to Coney Island Hospital, Avenue Z, Neptune Avenue, Shell Road and nearby streets, along with inspections of current and former gas stations and underground gasoline tanks.

So far, no definitive source has been identified, and the investigation has been escalated to the DEC. Residents who notice a strong gasoline smell are urged to report it to 911.

We regret to inform you of the passing of Mrs. Rivka Zlata Fried, longtime Boro Park resident and matriarch of a beautiful Torah family.

She was the devoted wife of Rabbi Aharon Tzvi Yehuda (Hershel) Fried, menahel of Minkatch Talmud Torah, and the daughter of Reb Yaakov Mordechai Meisels, z”l.

The levaya will take place today at 12:30 p.m. from the Shomrei Hadas Chapel, located at 3803 14th Avenue. To watch the Levaye click here.

Yehi zichrah baruch.

Yisroel R.

This week’s Dee Voch is here with another packed edition featuring thousands of photos, fascinating stories, exclusive interviews, and engaging content for the entire family. And now is the perfect time to subscribe, with a special limited-time offer for new subscribers!

For one more week only, new subscribers can enjoy two months at half price, paying just $17 per month instead of the regular $34! Subscribers receive all four weekly publications delivered straight to their door, saving over $100 a year compared to purchasing individual issues. Dee Voch is also preparing a series of special gifts exclusively for its subscribers, making this an even better time to join.

Don’t miss out on this special offer! Click here to subscribe⁠ or call 718-305-5863 ext. 1 to get started.

This week’s Dee Voch brings readers an extraordinary collection of thousands of photos capturing the celebration of Yom Tov Sukkos in hundreds of Rebbishe courts around the world, offering a breathtaking look at the special moments and celebrations throughout the Yom Tov.

Among the additional highlights is the engagement celebration of a grandson of the Belzer Rebbe, along with worldwide commemorations of the yahrtzeit of the Chasam Sofer, organized by Heichal HaChasam Sofer.

The magazine also features the celebration of the completion of half of Shas by members of the Pupa community participating in the daily amud learning program, as well as coverage of the levaya of the Dzherka Rebbe, zt”l.

The Shrift takes readers back to the dramatic Hungarian Revolution of 1956, featuring firsthand accounts from elderly Yidden who personally experienced the frightening events that marked the final chapter of efforts to rebuild Hungarian Jewish communities after the Holocaust. R’ Yankel Miller shares warm childhood memories of Hungary, R’ Dovid Aryeh Friedman recalls a dramatic escape, and R’ Pinchas Amram Weiss describes the terrifying days in Liska.

In another fascinating feature, Shrift visits R’ Ronen Rubin in the community of Bar Yochai in the Galil, where an entire wine cellar is hidden beneath the floor of his home, offering readers a unique glimpse into his remarkable collection.

The Business Shrift features an exclusive conversation with R’ Avraham Rosenberg, the entrepreneur behind The Seating Shop, a major custom seating company serving large hotel chains and commercial buildings. Readers will also discover the story behind his retail business, The Chair Spot, which offers a wide variety of chairs and seating options.

The Fink presents three deeply personal and inspiring stories. In one feature, Mrs. Hirsch shares her experiences serving as a mother figure to six children with autism in a specialized home, describing the demanding daily responsibilities and constant care involved, while expressing gratitude to Hashem for being blessed with a healthy child of her own after years of waiting.

Another moving story features Mrs. Chaimowitz, who opens up about the painful challenges her family faced when her son strayed from the path during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares words of chizuk for parents facing similar struggles, emphasizing the importance of emunah alongside seeking outside support.

In a third feature “Alone in the Ark”, a mother of three shares her family’s decision to live entirely without cellphones. She describes how she and her husband navigate everyday life without modern mobile technology, relying on their natural instincts and recognizing the remarkable hashgacha pratis they encounter along the way.

The Kinder Shrift is packed with exciting stories, colorful illustrations, fun activities, and entertaining features designed especially for children, providing hours of enjoyable and meaningful reading for younger members of the family.

Get your copy at grocery stores and local retailers, or subscribe via WhatsApp or the website!

photos: Achim Lanchevsky 

Yisroel R.

A long-awaited project that will once again give local residents an easier way to take a stroll at the Gravesend Bay waterfront is moving forward tonight, as major overnight work begins on the new 17th Avenue pedestrian bridge over the Belt Parkway.

Beginning at 11:00 p.m. tonight, Tuesday, October 13, and continuing through 6:00 a.m. Saturday, October 17, NYC DOT crews will perform work on new steel segments of the bridge. Single- and double-lane closures will be required in both directions of the Belt Parkway to allow for crane operations.

For many Boro Park residents, the bridge has long been a familiar route to cross the Belt Parkway and reach the waterfront for a walk along the water. Its years-long closure has meant a significant detour, making the continued installation work a welcome sign that the heavily delayed project is finally nearing completion.

The bridge connects the 17th Avenue and Shore Road area in Bath Beach with the waterfront and Shore Parkway Greenway, making it a familiar route for residents, including many from Boro Park, looking to take a calm stroll along the waterway.

The footbridge has been closed since 2021 and was later demolished as part of the reconstruction project. Its replacement has faced years of delays, leaving pedestrians to use longer alternate routes to reach the waterfront.

The new bridge is expected to include improved clearance over the Belt Parkway and ADA-accessible ramps. With steel installation and other major construction now moving ahead, the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, bringing back a more direct route for residents heading toward the water.

photo: Rosales

YS GOLD

The Belzer Kehillah in Boro Park held a Hachnosas Sefer Torah on Monday evening, dedicated in memory of Rav Shloime HaKohen Gross, zt”l, the esteemed chief dayan of the Belzer Kehillah in America and the Rov of the large Belzer shtiebel on 43rd Street.

A grand celebration bringing together the entire Belzer community will take place on Motzei Shabbos, in honor of the Torah and in memory of the esteemed dayan, marking his decades of service and dedication to the kehilla.

Rav Gross was a central figure in the kehilla for decades, serving as a dayan, providing guidance to the community, and taking a leading role in important community events.

Born in Switzerland to the noted Belzer chossid Rav Moshe Gross, z”l, he traveled to Eretz Yisroel in his youth to learn in Yeshivas Belz in Yerushalayim. Following his marriage, he was among the first avreichim in the kollel established at the court of the Belzer Rebbe, shlit”a.

As the Belzer community expanded in America, Rav Gross was sent by the Rebbe to serve as a dayan. He helped establish the kehilla first in Williamsburg and later in Boro Park. Around 1990, he was appointed Rosh HaDayanim of Machzikei Hadas Belz in the United States.

Boro Park residents recall the many large events graced by the presence of the Belzer Dayan. In his booming voice, he would inspire the crowds with his Torah, tefillah, and achrayus for the Klal.

Rav Gross was also known for his involvement in chessed, helping establish numerous gemachim to assist members of the community. Three of his sons-in-law serve as dayanim in the Belzer Kehillah, continuing the family’s connection to its rabbinic leadership.

The Motzei Shabbos celebration will bring together the wider Belzer community to honor the Sefer Torah and pay tribute to the enduring legacy of Rav Gross, whose life was devoted to Torah, dayanus, chessed, and the needs of the community.

YS GOLD 

This week’s captured moment takes us to the lower avenues where a prominent Shul has stood for many years, and is headed by an esteemed Boro Park rov. It used to be a post office. 

Can any of our readers pinpoint this location? 

__

Answer to last week’s captured moment: 

As some of our readers have correctly pointed out, the shul in question is Crown of Israel on 56th Street and 18th Avenue.

Yisroel R.

The Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), New York City’s only federal jail, located in Sunset Park right near Boro Park, and famously also the place where former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is being held while awaiting trial, is now facing renewed scrutiny following disturbing new findings alleging widespread medical neglect, violence, and dangerous living conditions inside the facility.

The findings were presented during a September 19 town hall in Bay Ridge, where the Remedy Project, a prisoners’ rights advocacy organization, shared the results of a three-month research effort examining conditions at the federal jail. The organization reported numerous complaints from inmates, including prolonged lockdowns, poor sanitation, inadequate medical care, and alleged mistreatment by prison staff.

Among the most serious allegations were reports of inmates being denied timely medical treatment, including one individual who reportedly suffered a broken neck and three fractured vertebrae but was not taken to a hospital for 43 days. Other complaints included broken emergency call buttons, delays in receiving medical attention, and inadequate treatment for serious health conditions. The organization also reported mold, pest infestations, damaged mattresses, broken toilets, and discolored water throughout parts of the facility.

The findings also raised concerns about violence, staff retaliation, and restrictions on inmates’ access to legal assistance. Since beginning its outreach at MDC in May, the Remedy Project has registered 36 inmates and taken on 37 new cases. The organization has also joined several community and legal advocacy groups in establishing the MDC Brooklyn Community Support Coalition, which aims to address conditions at the facility and provide support to inmates and their families.

MDC Brooklyn has faced years of scrutiny over its conditions, including inmate killings, violent assaults, staffing shortages, and a major power outage in 2019 that sparked widespread protests. Federal authorities have previously taken action to address violence inside the jail, including criminal charges against inmates and a former correctional officer.

In response to the latest allegations, the Federal Bureau of Prisons maintained that it takes its responsibility to provide safe and humane conditions seriously. The agency explained that temporary lockdowns and other security restrictions are sometimes necessary to investigate incidents and protect inmates and staff, adding that inmates continue to have access to medical care, food, water, and other essential services during such periods.

Yisroel R.

Shema Kolainu, the well-known organization providing services to children with autism and developmental disabilities, is planning a major new eight-story community facility in Boro Park, following its $4.2 million purchase of a property on 43rd Street earlier this year.

The proposed development is located at 1022 43rd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues, where an existing two-story building would be replaced by a significantly larger facility.

According to construction plans filed with the New York City Department of Buildings on October 8, the proposed eight-story building would include approximately 49,572 square feet of space, along with a cellar. The estimated construction cost listed in the filing is approximately $6.69 million.

Property records show that Shema Kolainu purchased the site in January 2026 for $4.2 million, bringing the combined property acquisition price and estimated construction cost to nearly $11 million.

Shema Kolainu, provides educational and therapeutic services to children with autism and other developmental disabilities. The organization has long been involved in supporting children and families through specialized programs and services.

The plans are currently pending review by the Department of Buildings, and construction has not yet been approved. If approved, the project would mark a significant expansion of community facility space.

More than 10,000 people attended the BPJCC Chol Hamoed Extravaganza funded by Senator Sam Sutton. Families from across Boro Park gathered on Thursday, October 1, for a day of rides, entertainment, music, prizes, and community programming. The large-scale event offered families a free local Chol Hamoed trip.

Perfect weather and an on-site sukkah helped ensure steady turnout throughout the day. Beyond an impressive selection of exciting rides and entertainment, this year’s program featured an entertaining local talent show, giving community members a chance to perform and adding a new element to the annual simchadik celebration.

“It was my pleasure to enhance the Yom Tov of the Boro Park community, in partnership with BPJCC, by bringing everyone the Chol Hamoed Sukkos Extravaganza,” Senator Sam Sutton shared. “Families enjoyed a full day of fun, with rides, live entertainment, and so much simcha, at no cost. The children’s joy made it a beautiful Chol Hamoed. My thanks to Avi Greenstein and the entire BPJCC team, along with all the volunteers, for their hard work, and to every family who joined us.”

In addition to sponsoring the Chol Hamoed trip, the Senator used the occasion to present a $275,000 check toward upgrades and completion of the new BPJCC Community Center, which is still being developed as a permanent location for community programs, services, and resources.

Seeing more than 10,000 people come together with such incredible energy and adding to so many families’ simchas Yom Tov was truly special,” said Avi Greenstein, CEO of BPJCC. “Chol Hamoed trips can become a significant expense, and being able to provide a day of free, first-class entertainment meant a lot to attendees. We are tremendously grateful to Senator Sam Sutton for making the Extravaganza possible and for his extraordinary support of our new Community Center, and to our dedicated BPJCC team that worked tirelessly to make sure every detail came together.”

In a spontaneous moment during the festivities, Senator Sutton joined the dancing on stage, sharing in the celebration with attendees. During the program, the senator also recognized Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein and Councilman Simcha Felder for supporting the annual Pesach Chol Hamoed Extravaganzas over the years. The events have developed into a recurring Chol Hamoed tradition for families throughout the community.

The Extravaganza also included an on-site SCN Resource Hub. BPJCC Social Care Network team members were available throughout the day to answer questions and screen Medicaid recipients to determine whether they might qualify for Social Care Network services. Attendees visited the site for information and eligibility screenings. Click HERE, if you missed the event and would like the opportunity to be screened.

As preparations begin for the upcoming Pesach Extravaganza, community members are invited to share feedback on the Sukkos event and offer suggestions to make the next celebration even better.

Please share your feedback HERE.

To Whom It May Concern,

Every morning, the public school on 43rd Street and 14th Avenue (P.S. 164 Caesar Rodney School) creates a massive traffic headache, not only on that block but throughout the surrounding Boro Park neighborhood.

The process of unloading students from the school buses takes an extremely long time, and there is certainly room for improvement in how the drivers handle it. But the biggest problem is what happens when one bus is unloading and the others have nowhere to park.

Instead of unloading their passengers with their red flashing lights activated, where legally permitted, or circling the block and returning when space becomes available, the waiting buses simply remain in the middle of the street with their yellow warning lights flashing, bringing traffic to a complete standstill.

This can go on for nearly half an hour every single morning, right in the middle of the busiest rush-hour period. One blocked street quickly creates a chain reaction, with traffic backing up onto neighboring avenues and intersections. At that hour, every minute counts, and even a small obstruction can cause major delays throughout the neighborhood.

Nobody is questioning the importance of getting children to school safely. But safety and consideration for the surrounding neighborhood should go hand in hand. There must be a more organized and efficient way to coordinate the arrival and unloading of these buses without effectively shutting down an entire block every morning.

And let's not forget another important point: This is a public school funded by our tax dollars, even though we do not send our children to public school. We certainly have every right to speak up when a service funded in part by our own hard-earned money ends up creating daily hardships for us. Nobody is asking the school to stop operating, but taxpayers and neighborhood residents deserve some consideration, too.

I hope the school administration and transportation officials take this letter seriously and recognize that I am far from the only one raising this concern. Frustration over this daily traffic nightmare is widespread throughout the surrounding neighborhood, and residents deserve to see something done about it.

Shiffy T.

By Y.M. Lowy

Work has begun on a major redesign of Bay Parkway and Cropsey Avenue, with new bus lanes and street safety improvements planned along the busy corridors.

The project covers Bay Parkway from Avenue J to Shore Parkway and Cropsey Avenue from Bay Parkway to 26th Avenue. The redesign will include new curbside and offset bus lanes to help buses move more efficiently. The B6 and B82 local routes, along with the X28 and X38 express buses, are expected to benefit from the improvements.

Bus speeds on parts of Bay Parkway currently drop as low as 3 miles per hour, causing delays for riders. The project is intended to address those slowdowns while improving safety along a corridor used by approximately 35,000 bus riders and thousands of pedestrians.

The work was announced by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn. The corridor runs through Midwood, Bensonhurst and Bath Beach.

YS GOLD 

This Tuesday evening, the chassidus of Sanz Klausenburg will gather for a siyum Mishnayos and evening of inspiration in the memory of the illustrious Dayan, Rabbi Tzvi Zev Berger, zt”l, who served as a revered dayan in the community, and a sought-after Maggid shiur on all matters of halachah. 

The event will be headlined by the Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, shlit”a, and will take place Tuesday evening at 9:00 p.m., in the main Sanz-Klausenberger Beis Medrash.

By Y.M. Lowy

Sunset Park is among the Brooklyn neighborhoods getting more trees as NYC Parks marks its biggest tree-planting year in a decade.

The city planted 18,261 trees during Fiscal Year 2026, the most in a single year since 2016. Much of the planting focused on neighborhoods vulnerable to extreme heat, including Sunset Park, Coney Island, East Flatbush, Bushwick, Crown Heights, Flatlands, East New York and Brownsville.

New York City currently has more than 7 million trees across more than 100 species.

The new trees will provide additional shade, improve air quality, help manage stormwater and bring more greenery to city streets. The city has a goal of reaching 30% tree canopy coverage by 2040. 

NYC Parks said it increased planting by preparing earlier, working with nurseries to build up its tree supply and providing newly planted trees with water and mulch throughout the summer.

As the weather gets cooler and families settle back into their routines, there's nothing better than having the everyday comforts of home right at your fingertips.

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photos: Sruly Klein 

By Y.M. Lowy

A subway power station in Downtown Brooklyn exploded last year, sending flames shooting out of a subway grate and leaving more than 4,000 riders stuck on trains. Now, a new MTA audit has found that the agency had missed nearly one in five required maintenance checks at its subway substations during that same year.

The explosion happened in December 2024 at the State Street substation. Nobody was injured, but the blast knocked out power and caused major subway disruptions in the area.

Substations are the power stations that keep the subway running. They take electricity from the city’s power grid and convert it into the type of electricity needed to run trains through the third rail.

The MTA Inspector General’s office launched its audit after the explosion. Investigators visited 16 of the MTA’s more than 200 substations and reviewed maintenance records and spoke with employees.

They found that NYC Transit did not complete 19% of the required maintenance checks in 2024.

The situation was even more serious at the State Street substation. Of 23 scheduled maintenance assignments, 12 had not been completed before the explosion.

The MTA’s own investigation found that the explosion was caused by damaged copper tubing inside a transformer. Because the tubing was located inside the transformer, it could not be seen during a normal visual inspection, so the damage went undetected.

The Inspector General also found other safety problems. Workers at some substations were not wearing required protective equipment while working around high-voltage electricity. Auditors also found that workers ignored fire alarm “trouble” signals at all six substations they visited that had those systems. Those alerts indicate that the fire alarm system is not working properly.

The audit also questioned who was assigned to investigate the Brooklyn explosion, noting that an assistant chief trained as a carpenter was used for the review instead of an electrician.

The MTA says it has since made changes. NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said 30 substations have been rehabilitated since the 2024 explosion, and the agency has restructured its Power Division to give separate oversight to the power and signal systems.

Maintenance also improved in 2025, with NYC Transit completing 90% of its required substation checks, compared with about 81% the year before.

The MTA is also planning to spend $3 billion on new power systems as part of its effort to upgrade the aging subway infrastructure.

By Y.M. Lowy

Monday will still feel the effects of Hurricane Isaias, with a high of 71° and a low of 61°. A couple of showers are possible in the morning, followed by mostly cloudy skies for the rest of the day.

Tuesday will be a bit warmer, with a high of 73° and a low of 59°. Expect a mix of clouds and sunshine, with a passing shower possible in a few spots throughout the day.

Wednesday will be cooler, with a high of 66° and a low of 52°. A steady breeze will make it feel brisk at times, but plenty of sunshine is expected.

Thursday will remain cool, with a high of 62° and a low of 55°. The day will be bright and sunny, with plenty of sunshine throughout.

Yisroel R.

Did you know that more than 100 years ago, New York City began constructing an underwater railway tunnel connecting Brooklyn and Staten Island, near where the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge stands today, only to abandon the project before it was ever completed?

The little-known project, known as the Staten Island Tunnel, was intended to create a direct railway connection between the two boroughs, allowing trains to travel beneath the Narrows and providing Staten Island with a rail link to Brooklyn and the rest of the city’s transit network.

Construction officially began in 1923 under Mayor John Hylan, with work taking place near Owl’s Head Park in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The ambitious project was expected to transform transportation between the boroughs at a time when Staten Island remained largely disconnected from the city’s expanding subway system.

However, just two years later, in 1925, construction came to a halt. Funding difficulties, political disputes, and disagreements over the tunnel’s intended use contributed to the project’s abandonment, leaving a section excavated right beneath our feet.

The unfinished excavation remained beneath Bay Ridge, while the Staten Island construction shaft was eventually filled in. Over the following decades, various proposals were introduced to try to revive the idea of the railway project, but none of those attempts moved forward to completion.

Today, more than a century after construction began, Staten Island remains the only New York City borough without a direct subway connection to the others. The unfinished tunnel serves as a reminder of an ambitious transportation project that began beneath the Narrows but never reached the other side.

An esteemed personality in the Agudas Yisroel Snif Chofetz Chaim on 18th Avenue during the postwar era was Rav Chaim Shaul Yaavetz, a giant talmid chochom who did not cease learning until the last days of his long life. He served as the de facto rov of the Agudah, and was respected and beloved by all. 

A World Gone up in Flames 

Rav Chaim Shaul was born to his father, Reb Yosef Yavetz— a direct descendant of Rav Yaakov Emden and his father, the Chacham Tzvi— in the year 1880 in the town of Melnytsya, Ukraine, in the region known as Wolyn. As a child, he was known as an iluy. He was orphaned at a young age, but the townspeople—recognizing his caliber—pooled their funds to enable their town’s prodigy to sit and learn unencumbered by parnassah considerations. 

During the war years, Rav Chaim Shaul was chosen as a rov to his fellow campmates—an extremely difficult position. Miraculously, his wife and two sons survived the war. However, his wife died in the DP camps because she was afraid to see a doctor for her ailments. The reason for this was that having been diagnosed by a doctor could impede their chances of being allowed to emigrate to America. She was buried in Poland.  

Rav Chaim Shaul, his sons, and their wives remained in D.P. Camps where a grandchild was born, until 1951, as a granddaughter relates: 

“As is well-known, it was very difficult to enter the United States without a sponsor, and the family could not find a way in, and thus they remained in the D.P. Camps. Until my father heard of a Senator Jacob Javitz in New York. All Javitz’s are related, and thus, my grandfather wrote in his beautiful Hebrew to his newfound cousin (the senator turned out to be a second cousin to Rav Chaim Shaul), who arranged immigration documents for the entire family in short order. We always kept up with our cousin, the senator.”  

Arriving in America, they settled in the thriving Jewish community of the Bronx. Rav Chaim Shaul was not about to learn English or find a job at the age of seventy and thus sat and learned all day. He lived with his children and was supported by his son, Moshe Zev, upon whose shoulders fell the parnassah for his brother and his family as well. 

Boro Park

Even in America of the 1950’s, Moshe Zev struggled to find jobs that would allow him to take off on Shabbos, and he would lose his job every week. This left the family destitute, and living in a tiny apartment with very little to eat. Eventually, they moved to Boro Park, where Rav Chaim Shaul joined the Congregation Chofetz Chaim on 18th Avenue, and he became their rov. “The kehillah would turn to Rav Yavetz with all their questions,” Reb Moshe Kahn, longtime president of the Agudah, recalls. “His style was to find the ‘koach d’heteirah, making life easier for people,” a granddaughter remembers. 

He would learn all day and deliver shiurim. A grandson relates that for the last ten years of his life, Rav Chaim Shaul was practically blind—but nevertheless continued giving shiurim by heart. 

He was sharp and erudite until his last days, and was niftar at the ripe old age of 95 on 19 Adar I of the year 1976, and was interred on Har Hazeisim following a lifetime dedicated to learning Torah. 

By Y.M. Lowy

Today will be mostly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 75° and a low of 58°. Enjoy the comfortable fall weather and sunshine.

Shabbos will bring additional pleasant conditions, with a high of 68° and a low of 60°. Expect sunshine with some high clouds passing through.

Sunday will be cooler and cloudy, with a high of 65° and a low of 60°. Rain from Hurricane Isaias, which is expected to affect Florida, could reach our area during the afternoon and continue into the night. The forecast calls for impacts in Borough Park beginning around 4 p.m. Sunday and lasting until 8 a.m. Monday.

By BoroPark24 Staff

Check in with the BP24 Advisory for direction and guidance as you take to the road. We are here to help steer you in the right direction.

East 2nd Street between Elmwood Avenue and Avenue I will be closed from 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday through November 4, 2026 for mainline track repairs.

46th Street between 16th Avenue and 17th Avenue will be closed from 8am to 4pm Saturday through October 28, 2026 to facilitate crane operation.

50th Street between 13th Avenue and 14th Avenue will be closed from 9am to 5pm Sunday through October 22, 2026 to facilitate crane operation.

Avenue I between McDonald Avenue and East 2nd Street will be closed from 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday through November 4, 2026 for mainline track repairs.

Avenue J between McDonald Avenue and East 2nd Street will be closed from 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday through November 4, 2026 for mainline track repairs.

Elmwood Avenue between McDonald Avenue and East 2nd Street will be closed from 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday through November 4, 2026 for mainline track repairs.

Elmwood Avenue between East 2nd Street and East 3rd Street will be closed from 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday through November 4, 2026 for mainline track repairs.

photos: Avrumi Blum, Achim Lanchevsky, Issac Y., Issac G.

By Y.M. Lowy

Mispallelim at Bais Medrash Divrei Yoel d’Satmar have been presented with two proposed layouts for the new shul building currently under construction, and were asked to share their preference before the final plans are decided.

With the continued growth of the mispallelim, the hanhalah undertook the project of building a larger and more spacious building to accommodate the needs of the kehilla.

Two layouts have now been presented, each offering a different arrangement for the main shul, weekday davening and other facilities.

According to the first option, the main shul would be on the entrance level and serve as a Bais Medrash during the week, with four separate shtieblach for tefillah. Two of the shtieblach could be opened into the main shul on Shabbos to accommodate the larger crowd. The lower level would include a mikvah and additional facilities that could provide an ongoing source of income for the shul.

The second option would divide the main shul into four larger and more spacious shtieblach during the week, with the Bais Medrash and mikvah located on the lower level. While this layout would offer more room for weekday davening, it would require the shul to be rearranged each week for Shabbos, and would not include the same income-generating facilities.

Mispallelim had until the end of the week to submit their preference, with the final layout to be determined according to the majority of responses.

Once the plans are finalized, work on the new building will continue.

Gallery includes: Sanz Zmigrad, Burshtin, Radomsk, Kosov, Skver of BP, Nodvorna, Mareh Yecheskel, Yoka, Gorlitz, Bluzhev Ribatitch, Amshinov, Bluzhev, Shomre Shabbos, Alexander , Beled, Karlsburg, Dombrova.