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.

With NOAM Water Bars, fresh, filtered water is always ready whenever you need it. Enjoy hot water for your morning coffee or tea, refreshing cold water throughout the day, or room-temperature water for the whole family, all at the touch of a button.

One Water Bar. Every Temperature. Every Day.

Designed with Jewish families in mind, NOAM makes everyday living simpler while providing the convenience you need for Shabbos and Yom Tov.

With trusted CRC and OU certifications, NOAM offers a practical solution for Jewish homes, giving families the convenience of fresh water throughout the week and on the days that matter most.

Forget about carrying heavy water bottles, constantly refilling pitchers, or waiting for water to heat up. NOAM connects directly to your water supply, providing pure Reverse Osmosis filtered water whenever you need it.

And for families with young children, NOAM's built-in child safety lock adds an extra layer of protection when using hot water.

A Small Upgrade That Makes a Big Difference

From busy weekday mornings to peaceful Shabbos afternoons and festive Yom Tov gatherings, NOAM brings comfort and convenience to every moment.

It's no wonder thousands of families have already made the switch and discovered how much easier everyday life can be with NOAM.

Make This Fall a NOAM Fall!

This season, bring home the convenience of fresh, filtered water without the bottles, clutter, or hassle.

Make the switch today and enjoy the difference every day.

 Order your NOAM today!

NOAM Water Bars. Fresh Water. Every Season. Always Ready.

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.

Yisroel R.

The MTA marked a major milestone in the modernization of New York City’s subway fleet last week, receiving its 1,000th R211 subway car at its Railcar Acceptance and Testing Facility in Sunset Park, right near Boro Park.

The milestone car, numbered 3964, arrived alongside cars 3962 and 3963, which became the 998th and 999th R211 cars delivered to New York City Transit. The cars were received on Wednesday, September 30, at the MTA facility located at the 38th Street Yard along Third Avenue between 38th and 39th Streets.

The R211s are the MTA’s newest generation of subway cars and are being rolled out as older trains are retired across the system. The cars are manufactured by Kawasaki Rail Car at facilities in Yonkers, New York, and Lincoln, Nebraska.

The new trains feature wider doors, digital information displays, security cameras, and other upgrades aimed at improving reliability and the passenger experience. The R211 fleet also includes open-gangway R211T cars, which allow riders to move between connected cars while the train is in service.

R211 trains first entered passenger service in 2023, with the open-gangway version following in 2024. The MTA has also introduced R211 cars on the Staten Island Railway as part of the replacement of its aging fleet.

Before newly delivered cars can enter passenger service, they undergo an extensive inspection and testing process. The MTA says the process includes checks of mechanical and pneumatic systems, acceleration and braking tests, and a “burn-in” period in which trains must operate for 24 hours without a failure before being cleared for service.

photos: Marc A. Hermann / MTA

The familiar turnstiles at the 36th Street D/N/R station are set to be replaced as part of the MTA’s latest push to modernize subway entrances and crack down on fare evasion.

The 36th Street station is one of 20 subway stations across the city selected for the next round of new fare gates. The new gates are designed to make it harder to enter without paying while also creating wider, easier-to-use entrances for passengers with wheelchairs, strollers and luggage.

The decision comes after a pilot program at 20 stations showed a 35 percent average drop in fare evasion. The new gates have already been used by about 63 million riders during the pilot.

This is part of a larger Brooklyn rollout that also includes Bedford Av on the L line, Coney Island-Stillwell Av, Hoyt-Schermerhorn, Myrtle Av and Newkirk Plaza. Other stations being added are spread across Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx, including Union Square, 72 St, Flushing-Main St, Forest Hills-71 Av and Yankee Stadium.

Preparation work at the 20 stations is expected to begin this month, with installation of the new gates beginning by the end of the year.

The new gates are part of a $1.1 billion MTA project that will eventually modernize fare-control areas at 150 stations. The current turnstiles date back to the early 1990s, when the system still used tokens, making this the first major overhaul of the fare-control system in more than 30 years.

photos: Achim Lanchevsky 

By Y.M. Lowy

The Viener Mosdos in Boro Park launched a major $15 million expansion project that will provide much-needed additional space for the growing Vien girls school.

The school’s current seven-story building has become increasingly crowded as enrollment continues to grow, leaving the school with limited room for its expanding student body.

As part of the expansion, the mosdos purchased a new building on 60th Street between 13th and 14th Avenues, which will undergo renovations and become a permanent additional building for the girls school. The new facility will provide space for additional classrooms while the existing building will continue to be used.

Recently, the Viener Rebbe visited the new property and with his encouragement and support, the contract to purchase the building was signed, marking an important step forward in the major expansion.

The new building will give the school the additional space it needs to accommodate its growing enrollment and provide students with a more spacious and comfortable environment for learning.

Yisroel R.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration has launched a new citywide effort to make it easier for thousands of New Yorkers who lost their SNAP benefits under new federal restrictions to reapply and get back into the program.

Around 26,500 New Yorkers lost their SNAP benefits after new federal work requirements went into effect. With those residents now able to reapply, the City is reaching out directly to those affected and offering help with the process.

As part of the effort, the City will help residents reapply for SNAP and determine whether they qualify for an exemption from the federal work requirements. Those who are required to meet the new rules can also receive help finding jobs, job-training programs, education, volunteer work, or community service that can count toward the requirements.

The City is working with more than 100 community organizations to provide qualifying opportunities and help residents navigate the new rules. New Yorkers looking for assistance can also call 718-SNAP-NOW (718-762-7669).

The new effort follows months of outreach by the Mamdani administration ahead of the federal changes. The City says it knocked on 10,000 doors, made 40,000 direct phone calls, and held dozens of trainings and events to help residents understand the new requirements and determine whether they qualified for exemptions.

According to the Mayor’s Office, those efforts helped more than 220,000 New Yorkers maintain their SNAP benefits despite the new federal requirements.

The latest push is now focused on the approximately 26,500 residents who did lose their benefits, helping them navigate the reapplication process and, when possible, regain access to the food assistance program.

photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

By Y.M. Lowy

The Fort Hamilton Parkway subway station has gotten a major cleanup and makeover, with MTA crews completing a series of repairs and upgrades at the outdoor station.

The work was completed during the first week of September, when crews took advantage of the warm weather to finish the project.

More than 36,000 square feet of station surfaces were scraped, repaired, primed and painted, including ceilings, walls, beams, floors, columns, entrance structures, gates and railings.

Crews also refinished five benches, painted the station booth and five trash cans, and repaired and painted 20 doors. About 1,200 square feet of rubbing board along the platforms was inspected and fortified to help prevent damage when trains enter and leave the station.

The project also included replacing damaged sections of flooring and concrete, fixing and replacing LED lighting, cleaning 12 drains and replacing corroded expansion plates that allow the tracks to expand and contract with changes in temperature.

The work is part of a larger station improvement program that has now been completed at more than 180 subway stations across the city. The program has included millions of square feet of repainting, replacement of wall and floor tiles, drain cleaning and repairs to benches and platform rubbing boards.

By Y.M. Lowy

Boro Park residents passing by 13th Avenue and 47th Street may have noticed a new name on the local bank branch, as the longtime Flushing Bank location is now transitioning to OceanFirst Bank.

The change follows OceanFirst Financial Corp.’s $579 million acquisition of Flushing Financial Corporation, the parent company of Flushing Bank. The merger was completed on June 1, 2026, bringing Flushing Bank’s branches under OceanFirst.

The 13th Avenue branch is among the locations making the transition, with new OceanFirst Bank signage already in place.

OceanFirst has said that the existing Flushing Bank branches will remain open, with local customers continuing to have access to their accounts and banking services as the transition takes place. Current cards and checks are also expected to continue working during the technology transition.

photos: Achim Lanchevsky

NEW YORK — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations on September 24, following a lengthy war of words with Mayor Mamdani, whom the Prime Minister has repeatedly accused of fueling antisemitism because of his views on the Israeli government.

Ahead of the address, Torah Jews anticipated that Mr. Netanyahu would use his moment at the podium to further inflame rhetoric against the mayor and sow resentment in New York City by claiming that Jews are unsafe because the Israeli government is being criticized.

As anticipated, Mr. Netanyahu launched an all-out attack against Mayor Mamdani during his international address, accusing him of making Jews unsafe and fueling antisemitism. Torah Jews strongly rejected Netanyahu’s characterization of Jewish life in New York and his attempt to turn Jewish safety into a political weapon against a mayor critical of Israel.

In response, Torah Jews placed a major advertisement in Times Square, spending thousands of dollars raised from Jewish New Yorkers frustrated by Netanyahu’s portrayal of their communities and his repeated use of Jewish identity in Israel’s political battles.

The initiative was led by Rabbi Moshe Dovid Katz, founder of Torah Jews, who personally spearheaded an intensive fundraising campaign funded dollar by dollar by Jewish New Yorkers who feel silenced and misrepresented and want their voices heard.

Explaining the motivation behind the advertisement, Rabbi Moshe Dovid Katz stated:

“I personally raised thousands of dollars, dollar by dollar, from Jewish New Yorkers who are deeply frustrated by Netanyahu’s weaponization of antisemitism to bash Mayor Mamdani and exploit Jews to further Israel’s political goals. There are countless Jews in our city who feel silenced and misrepresented. We wanted our cry to be heard.”

Rabbi Moshe Dovid Katz emphasized that Torah Jews rejects the association of Jewish identity with Israeli nationality and firmly maintains that Zionism and Judaism are fundamentally distinct.

“We are deeply pained by the repeated exploitation of our sacred religion to advance the agenda of a foreign government. Jews are not extensions of Israel, Zionism is not Judaism, and Netanyahu does not represent us. We want to live in peace and harmony with our neighbors, without being dragged into political battles that are not ours.”

Rabbi Moshe Dovid Katz also expressed concern about the consequences of treating Jewish communities as representatives of the Israeli government.

“Netanyahu and his allies claim to care deeply about antisemitism, yet they ceaselessly conflate Jewish identity with Israel. We believe this conflation fuels resentment against Jews and undermines the peace and harmony we cherish. Our communities deserve to be recognized for who we are, not as representatives of a foreign government.”

The advertisement was displayed at 1557 Broadway in Times Square and ran until the onset of the Sabbath.

YS GOLD 

This week’s captured moment takes us to the edge of Boro Park and to a nusach Ashkenaz shul that is still active. 

Can our readers pinpoint the location? 

__ 

Answer to last week’s captured moment: 

The Sukkah in question is—as a number of our astute readers have pointed out—the Bobover Sukkah on 47th Street.

By Y.M. Lowy

Boro Park residents with questions or issues involving their homes and buildings will have an opportunity to speak directly with representatives from the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) this week.

Councilmember Simcha Felder is hosting HPD representatives at his district office on Thursday, October 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 1514 60th Street, Suite 703.

Residents will be able to get assistance with a range of housing-related matters, including registering a building, preparing to apply for affordable housing, understanding their rights and responsibilities, filing a housing complaint, financing building improvements and repairs, and resolving violations.

The HPD representatives will be available throughout the day to answer questions and help residents understand the resources and services available to them.

Yisroel R.

In a historic first for Bobover Chasidim, the Bobover Ruv Shlita will travel to Eretz Yisroel this winter for a major fundraising trip benefiting three large building projects of the rapidly expanding Bobover mosods.

The centerpiece of the trip will take place over Shabbos Shirah in the Old City of Yerushalayim, where the Ruv will spend an uplifting Shabbos together with a select group of major supporters. The special trip will be reserved exclusively for donors contributing $250,000 and up towards the building campaigns.

The campaign will benefit three major projects currently underway in Bobov: the large new Bobover shul in Yerushalayim, the new Yeshiva complex in Staten Island nearing completion, and the new Building of Simcha and Chesed being developed in Boro Park.

Beyond the fundraising portion of the historic visit, the Ruv is expected to remain in Eretz Yisroel for approximately ten additional days, giving the hundreds of Bobover families living there an opportunity to personally go into the Ruv with a kvittel.

Today, State Senator Sam Sutton and Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein released the following statements applauding the announcement that over 10,000 New York City children are finally being moved off the childcare voucher waitlist. The lawmakers emphasized that this monumental step was directly enabled by the state legislature’s landmark $1.2 billion expansion of the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), which was passed in the New York State Budget earlier this year with the strong support of Governor Kathy Hochul.

With New York City announcing today that they are beginning the administrative rollout to clear the backlog, Sutton and Eichenstein applauded this long-awaited relief that they championed during the state budget negotiations and celebrated today’s victory which is a direct result of the state fiscal victories secured in Albany during the budget.

“I’ll never stop working to make life more affordable for New Yorkers — and that’s why I took action to expand childcare access and help even more families save thousands of dollars per year,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in a press release announcement today. “Our record investments in childcare across New York will enable communities statewide to continue this progress every day by connecting more families with the support they need and deserve.”

"While we are pleased to see the City finally processing these critical vouchers, let there be no mistake: this day was made possible by the hard work of the State Legislature and Governor Hochul," said State Senator Sam Sutton. "When we negotiated a historic $1.2 billion addition to childcare funding in the state budget, it was with the explicit intent of delivering direct, tangible relief to working families who have been stuck on waitlists for far too long."

"Families in our communities have been struggling under the crushing weight of childcare costs, and clearing this waitlist is an incredible victory," said Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein. "I want to thank Governor Hochul for championing this funding during the budget season. Proper childcare is a top priority for every parent and often families are forced to weigh the benefits of a quality care program while considering the prohibitive expenses involved. This new funding will ease the burden for thousands of families, allowing parents the much-needed relief during these challenging times."

Senator Sutton and Assembly Member Eichenstein remain committed to monitoring the administrative rollout to ensure that New York City processes these vouchers efficiently and without unnecessary bureaucratic delays, allowing families to access the state-funded care they were promised.

YS GOLD 

Over the joyous days of Sukkos, the Munkatcher kehillah lost a dear and beloved chaver who left this world following a long illness. 

Reb Yehoshua Gedalia Gelb was 77 years of age. 

Friends and acquaintances recall an individual who was known for his ehrlichkeit and his devotion to everything involving Torah and yiddishkeit, and Munkatcher Chasidim relate with nostalgia about the years that Reb Yehoshua Gedalia ben Moshe Tzvi served as the devoted gabbai of, ybl"ch, the Munkatcher Rebbe. He was known throughout the chassidus to fiercely guard the Rebbe's time and his kavod. He was deeply devoted to the Rebbe, shlit"a, and this will surely serve as a zechus for him as he ascends to the World of Truth. 

The niftar was unwell for many years, and left this world on Chol Hamoed Sukkos. 

The levaya took place in front of the Munkatcher Shul on Hoshanah Rabba night with the participation of many chassidim, family, friends and admirers. 

The niftar was laid to rest on the munkatcher chelka in New Jersey. 

Yehi zichro baruch.

YS GOLD

We regret to inform you of the passing of Reb Yisroel Dov Birnhack, z”l, a longtime Boro Park resident who is remembered for his ehrlichkeit, yiras Shamayim, and exemplary middos. He was in his 70’s.

The niftar leaves behind a beautiful Torah family and a sterling legacy.

Originally from a family of Stutchiner chassidim, Reb Yisroel was born in Berlin and spent his childhood years in England after his family fled the upheaval in Europe. After immigrating to the United States, he learned at Torah Vodaas and later at Beis Medrash Elyon, where he received semichah.

A quiet and unassuming individual, Reb Yisroel was known for his exceptional honesty and integrity. By profession, he worked as an accountant, but those who knew him remember him far more for the values he embodied — his dikduk hamitzvos, unwavering emunah, and refined middos.

He was privileged to establish a beautiful Torah home together with his wife, Mrs. Francoise Birnhack, and their family, raising a distinguished family of children and leaving behind generations who continue his legacy.

The levaya took place in Lakewood, where several of the Birnhack children reside, and Kevurah took place in Eretz Yisroel.

Yehi zichro baruch.

Yisroel R.

Thousands of New York City families who have spent months waiting for help covering the soaring cost of child care are finally set to receive relief, as Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration announced Monday that more than 10,000 children will be moved off the city’s child care assistance waitlist.

The move comes after the waitlist swelled to nearly 29,000 low-income children over the past year, leaving families who otherwise qualified for assistance without access to the heavily subsidized care. The Child Care Assistance Program provides vouchers for eligible children from six weeks through 13 years old, as well as children with special needs through age 19.

Over the coming weeks, the Administration for Children’s Services will begin inviting families on the waitlist to apply for vouchers, with invitations continuing on a rolling basis over the next several months. Eligible families will then be able to use the vouchers to cover child care at a provider of their choice, with priority given to families with lower incomes, those experiencing homelessness, and those with children who have special needs.

“For families struggling to make ends meet, and the providers who deliver them high-quality and consistent child care, access to vouchers is nothing short of transformational,” Mayor Mamdani said. “Today’s voucher expansion is a critical step in ensuring no family is left behind in our movement towards universal childcare.”

The expansion is being supported by funding from Governor Kathy Hochul, who committed $1.2 billion toward New York City child care initiatives, including $475 million specifically for child care vouchers. “Today’s historic free child care expansion will bring relief to thousands more families across New York City,” Governor Hochul said, adding that the state and city are working together toward universal child care.

The city has also updated its online child care map, allowing parents for the first time to search for licensed programs and filter the results to show providers that accept child care vouchers. The latest expansion follows a separate $5.2 million city investment eliminating out-of-pocket fees for families receiving the vouchers.

By Y.M. Lowy

As Sukkos comes to an end, many families take down their sukkahs and are left wondering what to do with all the panels, poles, and schach. It’s a familiar post-Yom Tov scene, sukkah parts stacked by the curb, unsure whether they’ll be picked up or left behind.

The Department of Sanitation reminds residents to follow regular bulk collection rules when discarding sukkah materials. Up to six bulk items can be placed out for pickup on your non-recycling, non-compost collection day. Items should go out the night before collection.

Wood should be tied in bundles no more than 2 feet high and 4 feet long, while rugs should be cut to 4-foot widths and tied in bundles no higher than 2 feet.

Proper disposal helps keep streets clear for the transition from Yom Tov back to everyday life.

For more details, visit the NYC Department of Sanitation’s resource page.

Photos: Dovid Jaroslawicz

Dear BoroPark24,

During Chol Hamoed, I noticed sanitation enforcement agents going around Boro Park issuing tickets. I watched as one agent gave out at least seven tickets one after another, and I couldn’t understand why this was necessary specifically during Chol Hamoed.

Chol Hamoed is obviously not a regular weekday in Boro Park. Many families are away for the entire Yom Tov or on trips, visiting relatives, or simply not following their regular workday schedules. People may not even be home to clean up outside their properties the way they normally would.

I approached the agent and asked him about it. I explained that many people were away and questioned why tickets were being issued under these circumstances. His response was essentially that he had already started issuing tickets and couldn’t stop.

I understand that sanitation rules exist for a reason, and nobody is asking for those rules to be ignored. But there should also be some common sense and consideration for the community. When so many residents are away for Chol Hamoed, is this really the appropriate time to go street by street issuing multiple sanitation tickets?

Watching one agent issue seven tickets in a relatively short period of time made it feel less like addressing an isolated sanitation problem and more like an opportunity to cash in as many properties as possible at once. Maybe that is simply how the enforcement schedule works, but during Chol Hamoed, it certainly came across differently.

Is this really the welcome people should be getting when they return from a trip, or simply return to their homes after spending the Yom Tov elsewhere?

Perhaps the Sanitation Department should consider giving residents some flexibility on days like Chol Hamoed instead of immediately penalizing families who may not even be home and may have no idea there is an issue.

— A Boro Park Resident

A true tzaddik and ba’al mussar to his core, a leader of the Novaradoker chaburah, a leader and guide to multitudes in Boro Park—where he resided—and beyond, was Rav Chaim Mordechai Wainkrantz. A talmid of the legendary Novaradoker Yeshiva in Poland, he lived and disseminated its teachings to a new generation in Boro Park of yesteryear. 

His yohrtzeit this past Kislev marked twenty years since the passing of this legendary tzaddik who impacted countless people with his spirit of Torah and mussar.

Novaradok of Yore  

Chaim Mordechai was born in a town called Papov in the year 1920. His father was Reb Kalman Aaron Wainkrantz. 

The period of post World War One brought tremendous upheaval in Eastern Europe, and with that came a great spiritual threat to the Jewish youth of the region, many of whom were joining secular movements and moving away from the faith of their fathers. 

Reb Kalman Aaron sought to send his son Chaim Mordechai to a yeshiva away from home, but on the way, Chaim Mordechai had a dream that would alter the course of his life. In it, the Alter of Novaradok came to him and asked him to join his yeshiva. He made his way to the Novaradoker yeshiva in Poltusk, Poland—and his heart would forever be smitten with the spirit of mussar that thrived there. 

Transplanting Novaradok 

Arriving in America, he headed straight for the transplanted Yeshiva Beis Yosef in Boro Park which Rav Avrohom Yoffen had reopened a few years earlier, in 1942. He sat down to learn in the yeshiva with tremendous hasmodoh—joined by a number of his chaverim from Biyalistok. The spirit of Novaradoker mussar once again had a home! 

 Although his role in Yeshiva Ohel Yaakov of Boro Park was primarily educational, Rav Chaim Mordechai took part in the fundraising efforts to keep the yeshiva afloat. Once, he needed $10,000 on an urgent basis for the yeshiva. He took in a nap in the afternoon, when suddenly he had a dream that someone was at his door with $10,000 for him. He got up, and sure enough, a man was at his door with the full amount!

Ko somar l’beis Yaakov… In addition to his espousal of mussar to the men, Rav Chaim Mordechai was a mashpiah for the women as well. Aside from his many years of teaching in Beis Yaakov of Boro Park, he developed an ardent following among the women from the Sephardic community in Brooklyn who had true emunas chachomim in this great tzaddik, and hung onto his every word. 

Truly Happy

“If you want to be really happy, then learn mussar for four hours! That will make you happy,” Rav Chaim Mordechai would always say. To his talmidos in Beis Yaakov, as well as to the scores of his adherents, he would constantly say, “You have to have happikeit!” 

“He would exhort men to never, ever get angry at home,” relates Rav Yehuda Mandel, a student of Novaradok, “and he would explain that the way to accomplish this was by learning mussar—that is the true way to serenity and joy.”   

The following story illustrates the heights to which Rav Chaim Mordechai himself ascended through his avodas hamussar: Rav Wainkrantz used to serve as the gabbai in Yeshiva Beis Yosef-Novaradok during krias haTorah. One Shabbos a deranged individual walked in during krias haTorah and began hurling insults at Rav Chaim Mordechai. The olam was aghast. But there was one person in the crowd whose countenance was as serene as though nothing had happened—and that was Rav Wainkrantz himself. 

He was practicing the middah of hishtavus—to approach everything in life unfazed one way or another—that he had worked so hard to hone with the power of mussar. 

Rav Yehuda Mandel recalls visiting Rav Wainkrantz two weeks before his passing. “He knew where he was going, and he was beaming… his face was alight, like the great tzaddikim,” he remembers. 

On the 29th of Kislev of the year 5765 (2004) Rav Chaim Mordechai Wainkrantz returned his neshomoh to its Creator following a lifetime of avodas Hashem with mesirush nefesh and disseminating the philosophy of mussar to new generations in Boro Park of yore.  

By Y.M. Lowy

The MTA is planning a major upgrade to the subway’s announcement and information systems, including replacing outdated speakers and adding new technology to provide riders with clearer and more timely information.

The MTA has set aside $800 million for the technology upgrades and is now asking companies for proposals on how to modernize the systems used for announcements, digital displays and help-point kiosks.

The new announcement system would be able to automatically adjust the volume based on noise levels in the station. The MTA also wants the system to provide announcements in multiple languages and use AI technology to help deliver information to riders.

Some subway stations are still using audio systems that are more than 40 years old. According to MTA planning documents, 76 of the system’s 472 stations have these outdated systems and are not connected directly to the subway’s rail control center.

That means announcements at those stations are often relayed manually by station workers rather than being sent directly from the control center, which can lead to delayed or unclear information.

The MTA also wants to install new digital screens that can provide service updates, directions around stations and other real-time information. The agency is also looking at technology that could provide riders with information about how crowded individual subway cars are.

The MTA is seeking responses from companies by October 15 as it moves forward with planning the upgrades.

YS GOLD 

With heavy hearts, we report upon the passing of Harav Aaron Brizel, zt”l, the Dzirka Rebbe of Boro Park, a great Tzaddik known for his hachnosas orchim. He was 73 years of age and suffered from an illness in recent months. 

The Rebbe, zt”l, was born in Yerushalayim on 27 Nissan 5713 (1953), to his father, the righteous Rabbi Pinchas Brizel, zt”l, one of the prominent chassidim of Karlin and a member of the renowned Brizel family, among the builders and righteous figures of Yerushalayim shel Maalah, and to his mother, Mrs. Chanah Yuta, a”h, daughter of the gaon Rabbi Chaim, hy”d, who served as a dayan in Kleinwardein.

In his youth, he absorbed Torah and yiras Shamayim in the atmosphere of Yerushalayim of old . He was privileged to bask in the presence of his great rebbe, Rav Aharon Baruch, zy”a, eldest son of the Baal Ha“Sullam,” zy”a. 

From him, he received his unique approach to avodas Hashem, the study of the hidden dimensions of Torah and Chassidus. 

He later established his home in the United States and founded the court of Dzhirkah. His beis midrash in Boro Park, as well as his beis midrash in Jerusalem, served as bastions of chesed and renowned hospitality. The Rebbe, zt”l, was known as an extraordinary host who opened the doors of his home and his heart wide to every downtrodden Yid, giving every Yid the feeling of a warm and welcoming home, both in the United States and in Eretz Yisrael.

The Rebbe, zt”l, initially opened his chassidic following not as a Rebbe, but as a mekubal who taught Kabbalah according to the Ashlag tradition. A number of talmidim joined him and eventually became his chassidim. Over the years, he built his home and beis midrash on Rechov Lapidos in the Beis Yisrael neighborhood of Yerushalayim, where he would feed dozens of young men every Shabbos, who would partake of the meals at his table.

Those who knew him and were close to him related that despite the gabbaim and chassidim who surrounded him, the Rebbe personally practiced extraordinary humility and kindness.

At the same time, his beis midrash served as a gathering place for chassidim, talmidei chachamim, and seekers. The Rebbe, zt”l, was renowned for his passionate avodah of tefillah, his warm and heartfelt davening, and his rare combination of profound insight into the inner dimensions of Torah with simplicity, a radiant countenance, and an approachable chassidic warmth that drew every yid closer.

During the past year, the Rebbe, zt”l, endured profound anguish and a terrible family tragedy with the untimely passing of his granddaughter, the young Mrs. Miriam Sarah Bard, a”h, daughter of the esteemed Rav Moshe Shmuel Rothenberg, shlita, director of the renowned chesed organization Rav Lehoshia. She passed away at the age of only 24 following a severe illness. 

The Rebbe accepted the Heavenly decree with love and in silence, and continued to lead his community with complete devotion even while enduring great suffering.

In recent weeks, the Rebbe, zt”l, had grown weaker, and his medical condition experienced ups and downs. In recent days, his condition deteriorated severely, and he was hospitalized in a New York hospital, in need of abundant rachmei Shamayim.

Klal Yisrael, and especially his chassidim and admirers, poured out their hearts in tefillah and supplication for the recovery of Rabbi Aharon ben Chanah Yuta. Alas, the decree had been sealed, and his pure soul ascended to the Heavenly Heights.

He leaves behind a beautiful generations of upright descendants: sons and daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren, disseminators of Torah and yiras Shamayim who follow in his path and continue his exalted legacy in chassidic communities throughout the United States and Eretz Yisrael.

The levaya will take place 3 pm at his Bhm"d in Boro Park.

Yehi zichro baruch.

Photos: Dovid Jaroslawicz

Yisroel R.

Shmira Public Safety has expanded its growing patrol fleet with five brand-new emergency response vehicles, strengthening the organization’s ability to respond to calls and provide increased coverage throughout the community.

The new vehicles will be used as part of Shmira’s regular emergency response and patrol operations, with the expansion particularly aimed at strengthening coverage during Shabbos and Yom Tov, when the organization provides an important public safety presence throughout the community.

By adding the five additional patrol vehicles, the organization will be able to increase the number of units available on the road, improve response times, and provide broader patrol coverage when needed.

In another major new initiative, Shmira has introduced a specially designed, non-electric bike that can be used on Shabbos and Yom Tov to transport food, supplies, and other necessities to community members at Maimonides Medical Center. The bike provides a practical option for assisting patients and families while avoiding many of the halachic challenges associated with motorized transportation, planned im detail with Rabbanim shlit"a, further expanding the range of assistance Shmira can provide on Shabbos and Yom Tov.

The latest additions are part of Shmira Public Safety’s continued effort to expand its resources and capabilities as the number of calls and requests for assistance continues to grow across the community.

By Y.M. Lowy

With rain and strong winds expected over the first days of Sukkos, now is the time to make sure your sukkah is properly secured and ready for the weather. Check that everything is firmly in place and that your sukkah is as rainproof as possible, because the forecast looks set to put it to the test.

Erev Yom Tov will be windy, with a high of 72° and a low of 56°. Expect shifting clouds and sunshine, with winds reaching 18 mph.

The first day of Sukkos, Shabbos, will be much cooler, with a high of 63° and a low of 58°. Expect rain for much of the day, along with strong winds and gusts reaching 23 mph.

The second day of Sukkos, Sunday, will remain windy, with a high of 64° and a low of 60°. Periods of rain and gusty winds are expected, with wind gusts reaching 18 mph.

The weather looks considerably better for the second days. Friday will bring a high of 76° with a mix of clouds and sunshine. Shabbos will be pleasant with a high of 72° and thin high clouds. Sunday will be a bit more humid, with a high of 73°, mostly cloudy skies, and a chance of some showers.

photos: Avrumi Blum, Achim Lanchevsky, Issac Y.

A festive Siyum Hazman was held at Yeshivas Esek HaTorah, together with siyumim on Masechtos Pesachim and Gittin.

The celebration featured an inspiring address by Hagoen Hatzadik Rav of Shemen LaMaor shlit"a, a beautiful musical presentation by the “Chassidish Choir” expressing the deep emotions of Simchas HaTorah, and enthusiastic dancing in honor of the Torah.

Sisu V’Simchu B’Simchas HaTorah!

By Y.M. Lowy

A tremendous sense of joy and gratitude has swept through the Lelov chasidim, and particularly among the hundreds of parents of students at Talmud Torah Birchas Ram"m Yerushalayim Lelov in Boro Park, following a historic development in the continued expansion of the mosdos: the purchase of a large and spacious building that will serve as a new home for the Lelover Talmud Torah in Boro Park.

The Lelover cheder has become well known for its strong Chassidish atmosphere and its success in both ruchniyus and gashmiyus. Over the past several years, its reputation has continued to grow, with a strong emphasis placed on instilling middos tovos, Torah and Yiras Shamayim in the young students each day and throughout the year. This is especially evident as the Yamim Tovim approach, when the dedicated mechanchim prepare the children with the proper simcha and minhagim passed down through the generations.

The children of the Talmud Torah also have the special privilege with a close relationship with the Lelover Rebbe shlita, one of the prominent Admorim in Boro Park, who devotes himself to the children and has a strong impression in their hearts through his Torah, Chassidus and erlichkeit.

The qualities of the Lelover cheder have naturally led to continued enrollment growth, with numerous Chassidish families from across the area choosing to send their children to Lelov to receive its pure chinuch and warm Chassidish influence. As a result, the number of students continues to increase, bli ayin hara.

To accommodate the significant growth from year to year, with the current Talmud Torah building having long since become too small for its needs, the administration embarked on a major expansion effort to purchase a large building of its own for the Talmud Torah, with the bracha and encouragement of the Lelover Rebbe shlita.

Following an extended search, the administration has now reached a major milestone, signing a contract for a large and spacious building in Boro Park. The massive corner property sits on a lot measuring approximately 100 by 110 feet and is located on Ditmas Avenue at East 5th Street, near the large buildings of Satmar Talmud Torah and Mevakshei Hashem.

With this major step toward establishing a large permanent home for the Talmud Torah, the dedicated marbitzei Torah and askanim of the mosdos will be able to continue their avodas hakodesh, expanding the boundaries of the mosdos and providing the children with Torah, Chassidus and Yiras Shamayim.

Yisroel R.

Residents near Boro Park were treated to an unusual sight as a massive new MTA subway car made its way through the streets of Sunset Park, traveling on the ground instead of along the city’s familiar subway tracks.

The subway car was transported to the MTA’s railcar facility near Third Avenue and 39th Street, where crews carefully maneuvered it through the surrounding area using specialized rail-moving equipment.

The delivery offered a rare glimpse into how the city’s subway system receives new trains, with the massive car making its way through an industrial section of Brooklyn, far from the underground tunnels and elevated tracks where subway riders typically see them.

The MTA opened its new Railcar Acceptance and Testing Facility in Sunset Park in November 2025. Located near the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, the facility was designed to receive new subway cars delivered by truck, rail, or boat, allowing them to undergo inspections and testing before entering service.

Once the new subway cars arrive, they are inspected, connected to other cars, and put through a series of tests to ensure they are ready for operation. The facility also has a direct connection to the city’s subway tracks, allowing newly approved trains to enter the transit system more efficiently.

By Y.M. Lowy

Chernobile chassidim welcomed Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur this year in a newly opened Beis Medrash Hagadol, which was temporarily completed in time for Yom Tov.

The new Beis Medrash was built as the Chernobile kehillah continues to grow, with increasing numbers of mispallelim and visitors coming to daven and participate in the Rebbe’s tishes.

In previous years, the existing shul could not accommodate the large crowds during the Yamim Noraim, and a temporary structure was set up to provide additional space for davening and the Rebbe’s tishes.

Construction of the new, spacious Beis Medrash is still underway, but the building will continue to serve the kehillah throughout year, especially on Shabbos when the Kehila has long outgrown their current shul.

Today, the Coalition to Preserve Maimonides announced that it has filed an Article 78 petition in New York State Supreme Court in Albany County to stop New York City Health + Hospitals’ proposed takeover of Maimonides Medical Center.

The petition asks the court to annul the Public Health and Health Planning Council’s September 17 approval, alleging that the State approved an unprecedented hospital takeover without the full, transparent, and legally required review of H+H’s authority, operating structure, financial feasibility, community impact, and record as a hospital operator.

Read the petition

The filing follows the Coalition’s prior successful lawsuit requiring certificate-of-need review; the Coalition contends that the resulting review exposed fundamental deficiencies in the proposed takeover rather than resolved them.

“The New York City public hospital system’s attempted takeover of a cherished non-profit, private hospital is unprecedented and illegal,” said Martin Bienstock, an attorney representing the Coalition to Preserve Maimonides. “We won our last lawsuit forcing the transaction to undergo a public review process. We’ve now asked the courts to step in again because that review process made clear that the transaction is unauthorized under the governing statutes, that all required approvals were not sought, that H+H’s abysmal performance record makes it not competent to operate Maimonides, and that this transaction makes no sense financially.

Bienstock continued, “The more than $2 billion in public funds the State has committed should be used to secure Maimonides' future, not to rush through a seizure that leaves patients and workers facing even greater uncertainty.”

The Coalition also seeks to require a genuinely independent health equity assessment, establishment applications for every entity that will exercise hospital-operating authority, a complete review of H+H’s operating record, and public review of materials that the petition alleges were considered or discussed outside the public record.

“H+H intends to control Maimonides through private entities, including an entity that would employ more than 5,000 workers, even though the governing statute requires H+H to operate its hospitals as a public authority and to employ the workforce itself,” said Akiva Shapiro, an attorney for the plaintiffs. “The State cannot approve an irreversible restructuring of a vital community hospital based on an arrangement the law does not authorize, then leave the core terms to be worked out later.”

photos by: Issac Y.

photos: Issac Y. Avrumi Weiss

By Y.M. Lowy

As public school began for the upcoming year, the city is adding more safety measures around schools to slow down traffic and make it safer for children walking to and from school.

The Department of Transportation has installed 15 mph school zones at more than 200 schools so far. The city says the zones will be in place at nearly 800 schools by the end of 2026.

The city is also installing Open Street gates near schools across New York City. The gates help create temporary vehicle-free spaces outside schools, giving students more room and helping make drop-off and pick-up safer.

The Open Streets program also allows schools to use the space for outdoor activities such as recess, outdoor learning, lunch and school events. The program is especially useful for schools that do not have a gym or designated outdoor space.

PHOTO: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

By Y.M. Lowy

The street near Maimonides Hospital at 10th Avenue and 48th Street is currently closed as the hospital deals with an urgent closure of five upper levels of its main parking garage.

The garage closure began Tuesday evening due to "necessary repairs" and is expected to remain in effect through next week. More than half of the garage’s parking spaces are currently unavailable.

With the garage operating at reduced capacity, the closed street area is now being used for VIP parking, affecting regular parking availability in the area.

Parking in the remaining garage spaces is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the garage is full, no additional vehicles will be permitted to enter.

Maimonides is advising staff and visitors to use public transportation or ridesharing whenever possible while the repairs are underway.

Just a week ago, a large emergency response was triggered when a person was standing on the ledge of the parking structure’s upper floors. It is unclear whether that incident is connected to the current "repairs".

By Y.M. Lowy

A serious accident occurred in Boro Park during the late-night hours when an NYPD vehicle was involved in a crash and, as a result, slammed into a parked car on 14th Avenue and 49th Street.

Both vehicles were heavily damaged, and the two officers inside the NYPD vehicle were transported to the hospital. Hatzolah transported both officers to the hospital.

The crash comes just weeks after another serious collision in the area, when two NYPD cruisers and a third vehicle collided at 15th Avenue and 51st Street. Five officers, a sergeant, and a civilian were injured in that crash.

The circumstances of Wednesday night’s collision remain under investigation.

YS GOLD 

As Boro Park residents go about building their sukkos, we take a look back at the children and bachurim who erected one of Boro Park’s largest and most legendary sukkos in the heart of Boro Park. 

Can our readers identify which sukkah this is? 

_____

Answer to last week’s captured moment: 

The Chernobyler Rebbe’s shul was located at 1520 49th Street, as our astute readers have pointed out.

photos by: Dovid Y. Jaroslawicz

YS GOLD 

We regret to inform you of the passing of Reb Shmiel Mordechai Hakohen Drezdner, z"l, a longtime Boro Park resident renowned for his Torah and yiras Shomayim. He was 80 years of age, and leaves behind a beautiful Torah family. 

The niftar was born just after the terrible Holocaust that so devastated European Jewry, and he was among the generation that rebuilt what their parents had lost. 

He raised a beautiful Torah family, among them is the legendary Kol Mevaser broadcaster, Reb Yitzchok Shloime Drezdner.

He was niftar this morning at the age of 80. 

The levaya will take place this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at the Satmar Bhm"d on 18th Avenue, followed by kevurah at the Beis Hachaim in Kiryas Yoel.

Yehi zichro baruch.

By Y.M. Lowy

The magnificent Sukkos Dee Voch package is filled with inspiring stories, fascinating features, and beautiful photography that every member of the family will enjoy immensely. It includes 8 sections and 1,400 pages of content!

In the Dee Voch magazine, readers will discover a special 12-page tribute honoring the 30th yahrtzeit of the gaon hakadosh Harav Moshe Aryeh Freund, zt”l, Gaavad Yerushalayim, featuring rare photographs from his life, many published for the first time, together with the stories and background behind each image. “V’yitnu Lecha Keser Malchus” explores when the Gedolei HaAdmorim ascended to the Kisei Malchus, including the exact dates, years, and positions they held beforehand, while “Harchivi Mekom Ohalech” brings detailed reports on the many new and expanded batei medrashim for the Yamim Noraim this year. As always, Dee Voch provides extensive coverage from the Rebbe’she courts, including Erev and Motzaei Rosh Hashanah 5787 and Admorim and Rabbanim at Tashlich, along with captivating scenes of Rosh Hashanah 5787 in Uman, Yidden around the world at Tashlich and Minhag Kaparos, and communities everywhere preparing for Yom Tov Sukkos.

This Sukkos, the Shrift comes with two special booklets, packed with fascinating stories, history, travel, interviews and thought-provoking features.

An in-depth look at the Belzer dynasty, beginning with the holy Sar Shalom and continuing through the generations to the present Belzer Rebbe, shlit”a.

The elderly gaon and talmid chacham, Harav Leibel Stempel, shlit”a, opens his rich memoirs, sharing his experiences during the war years and what he witnessed while in the presence of Gedolei Yisroel.

During a 10-day journey, Pinchos Leifer takes readers inside life in China, with its vast population of 1.4 billion and endless industries.

A fascinating documentation project exploring historic coups that left a lasting mark on world history.

An inside look at West Point, the oldest active military installation in the United States, and its prestigious academy that prepares the future leaders of the U.S. Army.

Talented photographer R’ Yisroel Goldstein shares his incredible story and his courageous battle to overcome alcohol and smoking addiction.

A creative and thought-provoking illustrated feature showing how the same person can embody completely opposite traits, and how what someone loves today can become what they dislike tomorrow.

The stories behind some of the iconic photographs from the September 11 attacks, revealing the thousands of words and human stories behind a single image.

and much much more!

Business Shrift Sukkos edition brings fascinating stories from the world of business, including a look at the story of philanthropist and administrator R’ Yisroel Arzel, who combines tzedakah, askanus and business; creative moments with pioneering graphic designer R’ Yehoshua Schwartz and his son R’ Shmuel Dovid Schwartz of the renowned Semcap marketing firm; and an inside look at businesses that need to be ready to operate 24 hours a day.

In honor of Sukkos, the Fink magazine brings a collection of powerful and inspiring stories, including the tale of a Holocaust survivor who faces opposition while building his sukkah, only to see his neighbor have a change of heart on the first night of Sukkos; the story of a non-religious Jew whose unexpected encounter with Shabbos leads him to begin putting on tefillin every day and eventually changes his life; the remarkable life story of Harav Moshe Yitzchok Babad, zt”l, who lost his left leg at a young age but overcame tremendous challenges with emunah, bitachon and simchah; and the heartbreaking story of a young girl who is taken from her mother after doctors suspect child neglect, with the now-grown girl looking back years later on the moment that changed her life forever.

This Sukkos, Kinder Shrift is packed with exciting stories, interviews and adventures for kids, including a special visit with the Skverer dayan in Boro Park, who answers questions submitted by Kinder Shrift readers; a fascinating journey to a Jewish community deep in the Amazon jungle; a musical conversation with four popular composers; and an inspiring interview with a writer who has already written an incredible 800 books in seven languages. Kids can also enjoy a dramatic comic story, a visit to a museum filled with unusual musical instruments, a fun conversation with sukkahs from different generations about how Sukkos looked in the olden days, and a special look at Hershy, a boy who builds beautiful miniature sukkahs to decorate his own sukkah.

A special Yom Tov comic supplement featuring A Sukkah'le a Kleine , a beautiful and dramatic comic story spanning more than 30 pages, written and illustrated by H. Feldman.

photos: Achim Lanchevsky

By Y.M. Lowy

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection has appointed Taya Mueller as its new Brooklyn Borough Commissioner.

Mueller will work with local elected officials and Brooklyn residents on DEP-related matters and serve as the borough’s point person for the agency.

Brooklyn residents with DEP-related inquiries can contact [email protected].

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli visited Boro Park ahead of Sukkos, touring local businesses and experiencing the busy Erev Yom Tov atmosphere throughout the neighborhood.

During his visit, DiNapoli stopped at several locations, including Judaica stores, sukkah supply shops, meat stores, and other local businesses, getting a firsthand look at the preparations for the upcoming Yom Tov.

DiNapoli also presented checks to several local businesses for money recovered through New York State’s Unclaimed Funds program.

photos: Duvid Jaroslawicz

By Y.M. Lowy

Sukkos is all about enjoying Yom Tov with family and guests, and a beautiful spread of desserts makes the meal even more special. Falkowitz Cakes & Desserts is getting ready for the Yom Tov rush with an assortment of tempting cakes and desserts that are perfect for serving in the sukkah.

From something sweet to enjoy with a cup of coffee to desserts that will have everyone reaching for another piece, Falkowitz has plenty to choose from for your Sukkos table. Whether you’re hosting a crowd or simply want to have something delicious on hand throughout Yom Tov, this is the place to indulge.

Falkowitz will be open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, September 22–24, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday, Erev Yom Tov, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Stop by Falkowitz Cakes & Desserts at 597 Marcy Ave. in Brooklyn, or call 718-388-0039.