YWN regrets to inform you of the petira of Reb Dovid Wolpin Z”L, the Niftar was critically injured after being struck by a vehicle on the evening of Thursday, February 27th, near Saddle River Road and Lanzut Court. He was 81 years old. As previously reported by Monsey Scoop, emergency personnel from Hatzoloh EMS and the Ramapo Police Department responded swiftly to the scene. Reb Dovid Z”L was transported by Rockland Hatzoloh to Westchester Medical Center with paramedics on board. Tragically, despite all medical efforts and the heartfelt tefillos of Klal Yisroel, Reb Dovid Wolpin Z”L was niftar on Tuesday morning. He was known as a humble and ehrliche Yid, dedicated to Torah, tefillah, and chessed. His loss is deeply felt by his family, friends, and all who knew him.

At Wednesday night’s Town of Ramapo Board Meeting, officials unanimously voted in favor of a proposal to establish a formal partnership with Chaverim of Rockland Emergency Services. The resolution, passed unanimously, officially recognizes Chaverim as a key partner in the Town’s Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) efforts and emergency response operations. Chaverim of Rockland has long been a pillar of support for residents, earning its reputation as the backbone of the Monsey area. With a dedicated team of 200 volunteers, the organization operates 24/7, responding to emergencies and providing vital assistance at all hours.

As Pesach approaches, PSI is once again stepping up to support middle-income families struggling with Yom Tov grocery expenses. Spearheaded by local baalei battim this initiative aims to alleviate financial strain and ensure that every family in Rockland County can celebrate Yom Tov with dignity. PSI is designed for families earning $130,000 or more annually who are facing challenges covering Pesach costs and typically do not receive assistance from other organizations. To qualify, applicants must have at least three children and be making Yom Tov at home. Enrollment is currently open, with a deadline of Thursday, March 20, to ensure that participants receive their grocery assistance cards in time.

Hatzoloh of Rockland County is proud to announce a significant upgrade to our radio dispatch system, a change that will greatly enhance response efficiency and ensure that the nearest available members can respond swiftly to emergencies. This crucial update comes as part of our commitment to continuously improve our services and meet the evolving needs of our growing community. With Rockland County’s rapid expansion and Hatzoloh’s increasing coverage area, the need for more precise dispatching has become clear. Previously, our dispatch system used a broader tone structure, which sometimes resulted in calls being dispatched to a wider area than necessary.

Most of us have spent time in the emergency room or hospital with a loved one. As the hours tick by, we go to the hospital’s Kosher Hospitality Room to grab a hot drink, a sandwich, nosh, or something to read. We are very thankful that one of our haimishe organizations provides this vital service for our community. Perhaps we even bless the generous gvir that donated the money for the food that is giving us the strength to go on. But did you know that the one funding all of those necessities is actually a young man with special needs? Meir Efraim Turner is a wheelchair bound young man born with Cerebral Palsy who can barely speak, yet his heart burns with desire to help his fellow Jews.

A 14-year-old Skver bochur, Naftali Ben Basya, remains in critical condition after suffering severe injuries in a horrific bus crash on the Garden State Parkway Monday night. However, in a positive development, doctors say he has shown signs of improvement and has been transferred from Valley Hospital to Hackensack University Medical Center for further treatment. The Woodcliff Lake Fire Department was the first to arrive at the chaotic scene, responding from another fire call. They immediately worked with additional responding emergency personnel, specifically the Montvale Volunteer Fire Department, and other units in lifting the overturned bus to free the trapped bochur, who was found in traumatic arrest with the bus pinning him down for a horrifying 20 minutes.

Rockland Hatzoloh and multiple emergency agencies are on the scene of a major accident on the Garden State Parkway near Exit 172, involving an overturned bus carrying dozens of passengers. According to initial reports, at least one individual was trapped, while over 40 others managed to exit the vehicle and were found alert at the scene. Emergency responders, including paramedics and law enforcement, are actively treating the injured. Authorities confirm that 29 bochurim and two adults sustained various injuries, with one patient in critical condition. A medical chopper has airlifted a victim who was pinned under the bus to a trauma center. The bus was reportedly traveling to New Square for a Sheva Brachos celebration of a grandchild of the Skverer Rebbe.

NYS Assemblyman Aron Wieder (District 97) has introduced Assembly Bill A06313, aimed at requiring the East Ramapo Central School District to issue refunds to taxpayers following the discovery of over $100 million in reserves. This follows a tax increase mandated by State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa in July 2024, which raised the district’s levy by 4.38%—nearing the state’s 5.38% cap—for the 2024-2025 school year to support public schools. The district recently identified a surplus, initially estimated at $30 million in a November 2024 audit, which later grew to over $100 million. This finding has raised questions about the financial picture that prompted the tax increase. “The taxpayers of East Ramapo should benefit from this surplus,” Wieder stated.

Facing mounting financial difficulties, administrators of Monsey’s mosdos held an urgent meeting on Wednesday afternoon, to discuss the worsening economic strain that is making it increasingly difficult to meet payroll obligations and cover operational expenses. As the cost of living continues to rise and financial challenges weigh heavily on the broader community, local yeshivos and mosdos are experiencing unprecedented struggles to sustain themselves. Many administrators expressed concerns about their ability to pay rebbeim, teachers, and staff on time, warning that without immediate intervention, institutions may be forced to make difficult decisions. “The financial burden on mosdos has reached a breaking point,” one administrator told YWN.

A Monsey woman was moments away from losing $20,000 to a scam when Chaverim of Rockland intervened just in time, preventing the fraud and saving her from financial loss. The woman had received a call from someone claiming to be a U.S. Customs detective, falsely accusing her of sending an Amazon package containing drugs. The scammer pressured her to withdraw $20,000, warning that she would be arrested if she didn’t comply. Believing the threat to be real, the terrified woman withdrew the money. Fortunately, her husband, suspecting something was wrong, quickly contacted Chaverim of Rockland for help. Volunteers immediately responded to the M&T Bank in Monsey, intercepting the woman before she could hand over the cash to the scammers.