photos: Avrumi Berger

A new practical travel handbook designed to help visitors navigate a trip to Israel is being distributed free with this week’s Dee Voch package for Parshas Shoftim.

The special Dee Voch-Shrift project, titled “Vegvaizer,” brings together practical information and resources for travelers in one convenient guide, covering many of the details visitors may need before and during a stay in Israel.

The handbook includes detailed listings with addresses and phone numbers for a wide range of services and destinations, including minyanim, mekomos hakedoshim, rabbanim and admorim, drivers, apartments, mikvaos, grocery stores, restaurants, attractions and museums.

In addition to its directories, the guide features practical instructions and informative articles intended to help travelers prepare in advance and better understand what to expect during their visit.

Detailed maps of major heimishe neighborhoods are also included, giving visitors a convenient way to familiarize themselves with local areas and find important destinations.

Readers can also take advantage of special discounts offered by participating local businesses featured in the handbook.

YS GOLD 

Indescribable pain and mourning has now descended upon theworld of Torah and chassidus with the arrival of the bitter news of the passing the Rebbe of Beis Shmuel Tzvi–Spinka, zt”l, Harav Hatzaddik Rabbi Yosef Meir Horowitz, zt”l, who left this world Wednesday night to ascend the World of Truth at the young age of fifty-eight.

“The sun has set before its time” is the fitting expression for this terrible loss, as we mourn the untimely passing of the Spinka Rebbe, zt”l, who exerted a profound influence of Torah and Chassidus upon Jewish people. He was an exalted personality who warmed the hearts of Yidden toward their Father in Heaven, continuing the beautiful chain of holiness of his saintly ancestors of the Spinka dynasty. Tragically, he was torn from us so young, at the height of his avodas hakodesh.

The Rebbe, zt”l, was the eldest son of the Rebbe, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Berish of Spinka, zt”l, author of Dover Meisharim, and the beloved grandson of the Spinka Rebbe, the Rebbe Hershele, zt”l, who held him with exceptional affection. He grew up during his formative years on the lap of his illustrious grandfather, learning Torah and Chassidus from him, basking in his radiant light and absorbing the many treasures that he imparted to him.

On the seventeenth of Tammuz, 5728 (1968), the Rebbe, zt”l, was born in Williamsburg, the eldest son of his father, the Spinka Rebbe, the holy Rabbi Berish, zt”l, and his mother, Rebbetzin Bluma Sarah, a”h, who tragically lost her life in a terrible accident, rachmana litzlan, twenty years ago. She was the daughter of the gaon and tzaddik, Rabbi Elazar Meislish, zt”l, ABD Uhel.

With a magnificent lineage reaching back to the tzaddikim and kedoshim of earlier generations, the talmidim of the Baal Shem Tov Hakadosh and their talmidim, he was a true benon shelkedoshim. 

As a grandson of the Spinka Rebbe, zt”l, he was raised in an elevated atmosphere, aspiring to excel in the ways of Torah and yiras Shamayim, with hasmadah in Torah and refined middos—qualities in which the Rebbe, zt”l, distinguished himself throughout his life. He was renowned for his nobility, refinement, and delicacy in every respect.

As a child, the Rebbe, zt”l, learned in the Spinka Talmud Torah in Williamsburg and was deeply beloved by his grandfather, the holy Rabbi Hershele, zt”l. Upon reaching marriageable age, he was chosen as the son-in-law of, yibadel l’chaim, the Rebbe of Kretchnif, shlit”a, who resides in Rechovot. Together with the distinguished Rebbetzin, t’lit”a, the Rebbe established his beautiful home, blessed with children and grandchildren. 

Already as a young man, the Rebbe embarked upon his rich career of harbatzas haTorah. He served as the Spinka Rosh Kollel where he was a great marbitz Torah. Through his extraordinary dedication to every individual and his rare warmth toward every Jew, he succeeded in elevating many Yiddentoward their Father in Heaven, drawing them closer to their Father Above, step by step.

With the passing of his revered father, the Spinka Rebbe, the holy Rabbi Berish, zt”l, author of Dover Meisharim, during Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5768 (2007), the Rebbe, zt”l, as the eldest son, was appointed to succeed his father in the leadership of the chassidus.

The Rebbe took upon himself the crown of leadership with great devotion, influencing his chassidim and admirers with the full measure of his abilities, and bringing Torah and Chassidus to them on a broad and powerful scale.

Tragically, the Rebbe, zt”l, was taken from this world at the height of his flourishing. More than a year ago, a terrible illness, R”l, was discovered in the Rebbe. Despite looking forward to a complete recovery and hoping that the Rebbe would overcome the illness, his condition deteriorated greatly, R”l, particularly over the past several days. 

Wednesday night, the Rebbe returned his pure soul to his Creator at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, surrounded by his children and members of his family.

The Rebbe leaves behind a truly illustrious family who will remain a credit to him, and a beautiful legacy of instilling Torah, chassidus, and Yiras Shomayim into the hearts of countless Yidden. 

The levaya will take place in Williamsburg at the Rebbe’s beis medrash at 12:00 today, and kevurah will take place at the Spinka Beis Hachaim in New Jersey. 

Yehi zichro baruch. 

Yisroel R.

A major new battery energy storage facility is set to be built in Bushwick, just outside Williamsburg, as part of an effort to strengthen the electrical grid across North Brooklyn and help prevent blackouts during periods of high electricity use.

Battery company NineDot is expected to break ground later this year on the 4.9-megawatt facility at 421 Bushwick Avenue, across from the Bushwick Houses. The facility is expected to begin operating in 2027 and will be capable of storing enough electricity to power approximately 5,000 nearby homes when demand on the electrical grid is at its highest.

The facility will store electricity during overnight hours, when demand is lower, and send that electricity back into the grid when it is needed most. During the summer, the Bushwick facility is expected to operate for several hours each afternoon, when air conditioners and other electrical equipment place significant pressure on the city’s power system.

North Brooklyn has experienced blackouts and reductions in electrical voltage during periods of extreme summer heat, when the grid struggles to keep up with demand. Supporters of the project say adding stored electricity during those critical hours could help prevent outages, which can create particular difficulties in large residential buildings where elevators and other essential equipment depend on electricity.

The project is also part of New York’s broader push toward battery storage as the state moves toward cleaner sources of energy. New York is aiming to have 6,000 megawatts of energy storage operating statewide by 2030, including approximately 1,000 megawatts in New York City. The storage facilities are also intended to reduce the need for high-polluting power plants that are switched on when electricity demand reaches its highest levels.

Battery storage facilities have faced opposition over concerns about fire safety. However, supporters of the Bushwick project said there has been broad support locally following outreach to nearby residents, including those living at Bushwick Houses. Battery facilities built in the city are required to meet safety requirements overseen by the Department of Buildings and FDNY.

photo: NineDot

Yisroel R.

This week’s Dee Voch brings readers coverage of major events and happenings throughout the heimishe world, including the yahrtzeit of the Belzer Rebbe zt”l; the yahrtzeit of the Satmar Rebbe zt”l; the Bobover Rebbe spending Shabbos at Camp Mesivta Eitz Chaim D’Bobov; noted philanthropist R’ Yoel Landau visiting the Gerer Rebbe, where a special fund was established to assist the broader yeshiva world; and the Bobov-45 Rebbe visiting the Bobov-45 Machina L’Yeshiva summer camp.

This week’s Shrift features “Ginzai Meromam,” a fascinating conversation with antique dealer and researcher R’ Yudel Breuer, who shares how learning a Chassidishe sefer sparked his passion for antiques and eventually led him to establish the Chassidish museum “Heichalos” this Bein Hazmanim. He discusses how Gedolim came to trust him with priceless items worth millions, how experts determine whether an artifact is authentic, the difference between rare objects and manuscripts, a million-dollar deal he turned down, and the remarkable story behind the kappel of the holy Baal Shem Tov.

The Business Shrift features “Daas Baal Habayis,” the moving story of R’ Ezra Solomon, who left behind his previous lifestyle and went on to develop special protective bags designed to shield Sifrei Torah and tashmishei kedushah from fire and extreme heat.

Also included free in this week’s Dee Voch package is the special “Vegvaizer” handbook, a practical guide covering everything needed for a visit to Eretz Yisroel. The handbook includes detailed lists of addresses and phone numbers for minyanim, mekomos hakedoshim, Rabbanim and Rebbes, drivers, apartments, mikvaos, grocery stores, restaurants, attractions and museums, along with useful guidance, informative articles, detailed maps of heimishe neighborhoods, and valuable discounts at local businesses.

This week’s Fink offers readers meaningful stories about family, home, health, and everyday life. Each issue features heartfelt interviews, practical advice, and inspiring experiences that inform, encourage, and connect women through topics that matter most.

The Kinder Shrift is packed with exciting adventures, fascinating facts, puzzles, stories, comics, and hands-on activities that make learning fun. Every issue takes young readers on a new journey filled with creativity, giving children something to enjoy from the first page to the last.

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

Yisroel R.

New Yorkers will have the rare opportunity to witness a partial Likui Chamah/solar eclipse, this afternoon, as the moon passes in front of the sun and covers nearly 10% of it during an approximately 90-minute event visible across the city.

The eclipse will begin at approximately 1:07 p.m., as the moon begins moving across a small portion of the sun. It will reach its maximum at around 1:54 p.m., when approximately 9% to 10% of the sun will be covered, before gradually moving away and ending at approximately 2:38 p.m. Because only a relatively small portion of the sun will be covered, the eclipse is not expected to noticeably darken the sky, although those looking up at the sun with proper eclipse protection will still be able to enjoy this amazing nifloas haborei.

While only a partial eclipse will be visible here, today’s event is a much larger phenomenon across other parts of the world. A total solar eclipse will sweep across parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain and a small section of Portugal, where the moon will completely cover the sun for a brief period. Much of Canada, Europe and parts of the United States and Africa will also see varying levels of a partial eclipse. 

The last major solar eclipse seen from our area was on April 8, 2024, when residents across New York gathered outdoors with eclipse glasses as approximately 90% of the sun was covered. Areas farther north and west were inside the path of totality, where the sun was completely covered. That eclipse was the last total solar eclipse visible anywhere in the contiguous United States until 2044. 

The next major solar eclipse visible from the United States will not arrive for another 18 years, on August 23, 2044. That eclipse will bring totality to portions of the United States, although the path of totality will be limited to areas including Montana and North Dakota. 

New York City Emergency Management said in a message ahead of today’s eclipse that those planning to watch it should only do so using certified eclipse glasses or a safe handheld solar viewer, stressing that ordinary sunglasses do not provide adequate protection. Eclipse glasses should also be checked for damages before being used.

Officials also warned against viewing the sun through cameras, binoculars, telescopes or other optical devices unless they are equipped with a proper solar filter. Those without eclipse glasses can use an indirect method such as a pinhole projector, while motorists are being urged to keep their eyes on the road and not stop or attempt to photograph the eclipse while driving.

Residents in the area of Flushing and Washington avenues should not be alarmed by emergency activity on Wednesday, as a simulated water rescue is scheduled to take place as part of a media production.

According to Notify NYC, the simulation is scheduled for Wednesday, August 12, from 1:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. near Flushing Avenue and Washington Avenue in Brooklyn.

The NYPD will be on site during the production.

Residents and motorists in the area may notice police activity and what appears to be an emergency water rescue during the eight-hour production window. The activity is planned and is part of a simulation, according to the city notification.

Notify NYC issued the advisory in advance to make the public aware of the planned activity and police presence.

photos: Avrumi Berger

A delegation of New York elected officials and law enforcement leaders visited the Satmar Boys Camp in the Catskills on Monday, joining community leaders for a tour organized and led by longtime Satmar askan Rabbi Moishe Indig.

Among those taking part were Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, David Klestzick, Deputy Chief of the Trial Division at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, New York City Councilmember Lincoln Restler, Sullivan County District Attorney Brian P. Conaty, Sullivan County District Attorney Chief Investigator Scott Kinne, Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff, Bill Liblick, chair of the Sullivan County Human Rights Commission and New York State Democratic Committeeman for Sullivan County, Kurt Labuda, president of the New York State Police Investigators Association, Rabbi Joel Friedman, prominent law enforcement chaplain in New York and New Jersey, Liaison for Brooklyn District Attorney and NYPD Liaison Moshe Weiser, and Yoel Lefkowitz, senior adviser to the New York State Attorney General’s Office, along with representatives from state and local law enforcement agencies.

The officials were joined by askonim as they toured the camp and spent time with campers, getting a firsthand look at the large Satmar summer camp and the community it serves during the busy Catskills summer season.

Hundreds of Thousands of heimishe children spend the summer months in the Catskills, making the summer season an important opportunity for community leaders, elected officials, and law enforcement agencies to strengthen relationships and maintain open lines of communication.

Rabbi Indig, who led the visit, welcomed the delegation and thanked the officials for their ongoing cooperation with Jewish communities throughout the year, as well as for their efforts to help ensure the safety and well-being of residents and visitors, particularly during the bustling summer season.

Yidden everywhere are being asked to daven for the recovery of the Beis Shmuel Tzvi Spinka Rebbe, who is unfortunately in critical condition and in need of great Rachmei Shamayim.

The Rebbe has unfortunately been battling a serious illness for more than a year. Despite hopes for better results, his condition has significantly deteriorated due to new complications. Over the past two weeks, there has been a drastic decline in his condition.

On Friday afternoon, shortly before Shabbos, the Rebbe was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, where he is currently sedated and in extremely critical condition. Doctors say that tremendous Rachmei Shamayim are needed for him to recover from his current condition.

Yidden are being urged to increase their tefillos for Maran Yosef Meir ben Bluma Sarah for a refuah sheleimah, that the Rebbe should recover and emerge from this difficult situation.

YSR.

Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus have been detected across several Brooklyn neighborhoods this summer, including Gravesend, East Williamsburg and Bedford Stuyvesant, as health officials report a sharp increase in positive mosquito samples across New York City.

The four neighborhoods are among numerous areas across the five boroughs where mosquitoes have tested positive for the virus during the 2026 season. Citywide, 612 mosquito pools had tested positive as of July 25, nearly twice the number recorded at the same point last year.

Despite the significant increase in infected mosquitoes, no human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in New York City so far this season. Health officials say the virus is typically most active during August and September, making the coming weeks an important period for residents to take precautions against mosquito bites.

West Nile virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. Most people who become infected do not develop symptoms, while some can experience fever, headaches, body aches, nausea and other symptoms. In rare cases, particularly among older adults and people with weakened immune systems, the virus can cause serious neurological illness.

The city has increased mosquito surveillance in affected areas, including additional trapping and mosquito-control operations. Officials say several targeted operations conducted since July have sharply reduced mosquito populations and the number of infected mosquito pools in areas where treatment was carried out.

Residents are being urged to use insect repellent when outdoors, wear clothing that covers exposed skin when mosquitoes are active, and remove standing water around homes and properties where mosquitoes can breed. Mosquitoes capable of carrying West Nile virus are generally most active between dusk and dawn.

YSR.

The Satmar Rebbe Shlita, addressed recent public criticism directed at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani by members of the Jewish community, speaking Sunday evening during the large yahrtzeit tisch in Kiryas Joel marking the yahrtzeit of the Satmar Rebbe, the Divrei Yoel zy”a.

As he does each year at the yahrtzeit tisch, the Rebbe delivered lengthy divrei Torah centered on the teachings and hashkafah of the Rebbe zy”a, reviewing principles that the Satmar Rebbe taught his chassidim regarding how Yidden should conduct themselves while living in galus.

During his remarks, the Rebbe turned to recent developments in New York City and spoke about the way some frum Yidden have publicly attacked Mayor Mamdani. The Rebbe strongly cautioned against such conduct, saying that Yidden must always remember that they are living in galus and conduct themselves accordingly.

The Rebbe cited the words of Yirmiyahu Hanavi, “Dirshu es shlom ha’ir asher higleisi eschem shamah,” instructing Yidden in exile to seek the peace and welfare of the city in which they live. He said that ehrliche Yidden must follow the path laid out by the Torah and the tzadikim, accept the reality of galus, and avoid publicly attacking or making accusations against government officials.

The Rebbe described such confrontational behavior as a form of hisgarus b’umos, something the Divrei Yoel strongly preached against throughout his life. The Rebbe stressed that the Torah approach in galus is not one of public confrontation, but of recognizing the circumstances in which Yidden live and conducting themselves responsibly.

YSR.

New Yorkers who have spent summer days waiting on unbearably hot subway platforms could finally see some relief, as the MTA and city officials move forward with plans to explore new technology aimed at cooling some of the system’s notoriously sweltering stations.

The plan, announced Monday by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hochul and the MTA, calls for studying a “Thermal Energy Network” that would remove excess heat from subway stations and store that energy underground. The captured heat could then be used during the winter to help warm nearby city buildings. 

An $800,000 feasibility study will focus on the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall and Chambers Street station complex in Manhattan, where summer temperatures can become especially uncomfortable. Officials say the Brooklyn Bridge station has averaged around 96 degrees during the summer, while some subway stations can climb as much as 20 degrees above outdoor temperatures. 

Under the proposal, geothermal boreholes would be drilled beneath an abandoned platform at Chambers Street, allowing excess heat to be transferred and stored underground. If the study determines that the system is workable, officials plan to begin design work in 2027.

The effort comes as the MTA looks for new ways to deal with extreme heat throughout its aging subway system. The agency has previously explored geothermal cooling at the 168th Street and 181st Street stations and has committed under its current capital plan to improving ventilation and reducing excessive heat at 20 of the system’s hottest stations. 

The technology would essentially turn the intense heat inside the station into something useful. Geothermal boreholes drilled beneath the platform would allow excess heat to be transferred underground and stored, helping cool the station during the summer. That stored energy could later be used to help heat nearby municipal buildings during colder months.

Governor Kathy Hochul said the project would use new climate technology for two purposes at once, making subway stations more bearable during the summer while providing heat for city buildings in the winter. She said the effort shows what cooperation between the city and state can produce, with the potential to eventually improve conditions for millions of subway riders and city workers.

YSR.

Researchers have identified the 500th individual humpback whale documented in waters surrounding New York City and New Jersey, marking a major milestone in a regional tracking effort.

The catalog has been maintained since 2012 by Gotham Whale, a Staten Island-based nonprofit working with whale-watching boats and volunteers across the region. Photographs submitted to the organization allow researchers to identify whales through the unique markings underneath their tail flukes.

Humpback whales have become increasingly common in local waters as cleaner conditions and improved fish populations provide new feeding opportunities. Changes in ocean temperatures have also affected traditional feeding grounds farther north, leading some whales to search for food closer to New York.

Many of the whales remain in the area for weeks or months during the summer as they feed before migrating south for the winter. When the cataloging program began, researchers were identifying approximately 10 to 30 new humpbacks each year, compared to around 80 to 100 annually today.

The growing whale presence has also raised safety concerns because the animals frequently enter busy shipping lanes. Researchers have documented whales carrying injuries and scars linked to boat collisions, while vessel strikes and entanglements in fishing equipment remain major threats for the whales as well.

Gotham Whale officials said the catalog helps researchers understand when and where whales are spending time in the region. The information could eventually help shape new measures aimed at reducing collisions and protecting the growing number of whales visiting local waters.

photo: Shutterstock

YSR.

Williamsburg will see a hot start to the week, with temperatures gradually turning cooler as the week progresses. Tuesday may bring scattered showers and thunderstorms, while the rest of the week will feature a mix of sunshine and clouds.

Monday will be mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 90 degrees and a low of 75 degrees. The heat index will make it feel even hotter at times, making for a hot start to the week.

Tuesday will be partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms, bringing unsettled conditions. The high will reach again around 90 degrees, with a low of 74 degrees.

Wednesday will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 87 degrees and a low of 72 degrees.

Thursday will be partly cloudy, with a high around 85 degrees and a low of 72 degrees, bringing a more comfortable end to the weekly forecast.

YSR.

A major and long-awaited breakthrough is coming for thousands of frum families across New York State, as WIC will begin covering Cholov Yisroel infant formula for the first time. The historic change will open a valuable benefit to families who until now qualified for formula assistance but could not use it for the Cholov Yisroel formula they give their children.

The New York State Department of Health is expected to place the first Cholov Yisroel formula on its approved WIC list later this month, following action by the Hochul administration and the Department of Health under Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. The change is expected to make a real difference for thousands of families throughout all heimshe neighborhoods across the state.

The formula being approved is Baby’s Only Infant Formula, a milk-based powder with iron distributed by Mehadrin. The formula is Cholov Yisroel and bears kosher certification, making it an option for families who maintain Cholov Yisroel standards.

A spokesperson for Governor Kathy Hochul told Williamsburg365: “Every family deserves access to the nutrition their baby needs and should never have to sacrifice their faith in order to feed their family. Governor Hochul is proud of this latest action to ensure Jewish moms and their infants are supported by New York’s food security program, helping families afford healthy nutrition no matter their practices and beliefs.”

For years, there was a glaring problem for families in our community using WIC. A mother could qualify for assistance specifically intended to help feed her infant, receive formula benefits on her WIC card, and still be unable to use those benefits for the formula her family actually relied on. With no Cholov Yisroel option approved, many families simply had to purchase their formula separately and pay the tremendous cost themselves.

Remarkably, what stood in the way was not a broad policy against Cholov Yisroel products, but a tiny nutritional technicality. The available Cholov Yisroel formulas were reportedly just 0.1 milligrams below the federal minimum iron requirement needed for WIC approval. That small difference was enough to leave the products outside the program and, in turn, leave an important WIC benefit out of reach for so many frum families across New York State.

Getting that changed took roughly three years of behind-the-scenes work. Met Council pushed the issue together with state health officials, WIC advocates, and formula manufacturers and identified a product that could satisfy the federal requirements while remaining Cholov Yisroel. That effort has now brought the change that will clear the regulatory requirements and enter New York’s WIC program.

Met Council CEO David Greenfield hailed the development as a massive victory for frum families, stressing that its importance goes far beyond another item being added to a government list. He described the change as “life-changing” for the families affected, who will now be able to make practical use of a benefit that had already been available to them in theory for years.

Once the new approval takes effect later this month, families who depend on WIC will no longer have to see their formula benefit go unused simply because they keep Cholov Yisroel. For thousands of homes across our communities, the change means meaningful savings on an essential expense and, after years of advocacy, a government benefit that finally works for them the way it was meant to.

YSR.

The New York City Department of Transportation will continue maintenance and rehabilitation work on the Williamsburg Bridge next week, with rolling single-lane closures planned on both the inner and outer roadways.

The work follows similar rolling lane closures carried out on the bridge in recent weeks as the city continues its ongoing maintenance and rehabilitation program.

The work will be in affect Monday, August 10, with daytime closures scheduled from 10:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m.

Additional closures will take place overnight from Tuesday, August 11, through Friday, August 14, between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.

The closures will affect both the Manhattan-bound and Brooklyn-bound sides of the bridge, though only one lane will be closed at a time.

Drivers should expect possible delays and allow extra travel time while the work is underway.

photos: Ushi Weingarten

In a rare and moving encounter bridging two very different Jewish worlds, the Chief Rabbi of Iran, Rabbi Yehuda Gerami, was hosted for dinner this tonight at the house of Reb Moshe Klein in Williamsburg. 

Rabbi Gerami, who serves as the Chief Rabbi of the Jewish community in Iran, is visiting New York for a short stay. During his visit, he was invited to the home of the Klein family in Williamsburg for an intimate dinner reception.

Over dinner, Rabbi Gerami shared a firsthand account of Jewish life in Iran today. He spoke about the remaining Jewish communities in Tehran, Shiraz, and Isfahan, their synagogues, kosher supervision, Jewish schools, ad how the community maintains its faith and traditions under complex conditions.

"It was deeply inspiring to hear how strongly they hold on to Yiddishkeit," said R’ Moshe. "We live on opposite sides of the world, with very different realities, but we share the same flame for Yiddishekeit."

Following the dinner, the Rabbi and host visited Meoros Judaica  where they purchased seforim for the yeshiva in Tehran.

Locals were surprised by the esteemed guest, they asked for brachos and wished the Rabbi and the Jewish community in Iran all the best.

International communal diplomat Moshe Klein welcomed global media executive and strong advocate for Jewish life in Europe Mathias Döpfner to Williamsburg for an up-close introduction to American Jewish life.

Döpfner sought to experience the community beyond headlines and public perceptions, touring the neighborhood with Klein, meeting local residents and sampling some traditional Jewish food. The visit offered him a firsthand look at the traditions, values and daily life of one of America’s most prominent Orthodox Jewish communities.

The visit also reflects on Klein’s broader work in international and communal affairs. Through longstanding relationships with diplomats, heads of state and senior officials, he has helped foster dialogue, raise communal concerns and introduce global leaders to the life and values of the community.

YSR.

Planned overnight road closures that were scheduled to take place on Broadway and on South 8th Street in Williamsburg have been postponed until further notice.

The closures had been scheduled for August 3 through August 14 between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. as part of an MTA project involving the removal and installation of concession signs and billboards.

The work was expected to require the use of cranes, man-lifts, and other heavy equipment, resulting in full road closures on Broadway between Roebling Street and Havemeyer Street, as well as South 8th Street between Roebling Street and Broadway.

Officials have now announced that the project has been postponed and will not begin as originally scheduled.

A new schedule has not yet been released. Officials said updated dates will be announced once they are confirmed.

photo: Shutterstock