Yisroel R.

Chaverim of Williamsburg officially celebrated the grand opening of its newly completed state-of-the-art headquarters Wednesday afternoon, marking the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by elected officials, community leaders, askanim, law enforcement officials, and representatives of numerous local organizations and city agencies.

The new headquarters, located at 98 Lorimer Street, has already been serving as Chaverim’s base on a limited scale in recent months. With several newly completed sections now opened, the facility is set to function as the organization’s full-time headquarters going forward.

The center includes a central equipment warehouse stocked with machinery and tools used by Chaverim members when assisting the public, as well as a dedicated training room where members can take part in ongoing trainings.

The new facility also features a dispatch command room equipped with advanced communications equipment, along with a number of executive offices to support the organization’s day-to-day essential operations.

Among those in attendance were New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell and Assistant Commissioner Ira Tannenbaum; FDNY Chief Joseph Duggan, Brooklyn Borough Commander; NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Community Affairs Alden Foster; the commanding officers of the NYPD 79th, 90th, and 94th Precincts; and NYPD Detective Kenny Melendez, representing Brooklyn North Commander Chief Velasquez. Representatives of the New York City DEP, DSNY, NYC DOT, and the Mayor’s Office were also present, along with NYC DOT First Deputy Commissioner Margaret Forgione.

Also attending were Jake Adler, representing the New York State Governor’s Office; Sara Marcus, Jewish liaison to New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli; Pinny Hikind, Jewish community liaison for New York City Comptroller Mark Levine; Yoel Lefkowitz, Director of Jewish Outreach and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Office of New York State Attorney General Letitia James; Jacob Eisdorfer, Senior Advisor and Jewish Community Liaison in Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso’s office; Reverend Kim Council, Deputy Brooklyn Borough President; Miranda Augustine, Chief of Staff to New York State Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher; First Vice Chair of Community Board 1 Simon Weiser; and Rabbi Aaron Yitzchok Kohn, founder of Brooklyn Chaverim.

Community askanim and organizational representatives in attendance included Rabbi David Neirdrman of UJO, Rabbi Moishe Indig of WJCC, Rabbi Moshe Weiser, Rabbi Abe Liechtenstein, Rabbi Manila Weiser, Pinny Ringol, along with representatives of Hatzolah of Williamsburg and Shomrim. Prominent law enforcement liaison Rabbi Joel Friedman served as the master of ceremonies for the Williamsburg Chaveirim grand-opening event.

The grand opening marks a major milestone for Chaverim of Williamsburg, giving the organization a fully equipped home base designed to support its volunteers, training, dispatching, and emergency-response work across the entire community.