A sickening display of anti-Semitism was showcased at a public hearing in the town of Haverstraw, NY (near Monsey) last night, when a bigot got up and made incredibly shocking and hateful comments about the Jews of the town. The incident came during at a town hearing during which a variance was being considered for a property upon which Jews are planning to build a shul. During the public comments section, a man who self-identified as Nick Collela of 45 River Glen Drive, got up to give his two cents about the Jews. Collela went on a tirade against the proposed building of the shul, looking for every possible complaint he could use – from garbage cans in the street to Hatzolah showing up to emergencies – to somehow get the shul’s request for approval denied.

Rockland Chaveirim is being hailed for rescuing a seriously injured individual who was stranded in a wooded area near Monsey, and for finding and rescuing two individuals who had become lost in the same area. Chaveirim deployed its highly-trained search and rescue team to a forest near Monsey Wednesday evening after receiving a phone call apprising them of the situation and the general location of the injured individual. Chaveirim units were able to locate the patient and extract him from the woods using a special stretcher for wooded areas, transferring him to Rockland Hatzolah who transported the patient to a local hospital. The patient has since been transported to Johns Hopkins University Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, for treatment of sustained injuries.

The Gerrer Rosh Yeshiva, Hagaon Rav Shaul Alter, is continuing his historic, whirlwind visit to the United States, visiting various rabbanim and mosdos, and meeting with numerous chasidim eager to be in his presence. Rav Shaul on Tuesday visited Yeshiva Yagdil Torah, the flagship Gerrer yeshiva in Borough Park, where he delivered a shiur and spoke to the yeshiva’s younger talmidim, followed by visits to the elder of the admorim, the Rachmastrivka Rebbe. The Rosh Yeshiva also held meetings with the Bobov-45, Bobov-48, and Kossover Rebbes, and attended a massive kabolas panim event in Borough Park, attended by well over 1,000 people.

As YWN has reported, Hagaon HaRav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka, arrived on Sunday morning in NY on his first visit to the Unites States. The Rosh Yeshiva was taken off the plane by Rabbi Yanky Meyer from Misaskim who then drove him to Monsey. The Rosh Yeshiva is staying at the home of philanthropist Reb Shimon Glick in Monsey, and will be visiting Yeshivas in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Lakewood and Far Rockaway this week. On Sunday the Rosh Yeshiva visited Yeshiva Heichal Hatorah, led by its Rosh Yeshiva, Hagaon HaRav Mottel Dick Shlita. The Rosh Yeshiva delivered a Shiur to the Bochrim on Mesacha Yevamos.

(By Sandy Eller) Recognizing months of intensive training and an indomitable spirit of volunteerism, the Town of Ramapo honored more than three dozen members of Chaverim of Rockland’s Search And Rescue team for their efforts, gifting them with specialized backpacks to be used in upcoming missions. In addition to responding to calls for relatively simple issues including flat tires and lockouts, Chaverim of Rockland is frequently called upon to lead searches for lost hikers given its proximity to the Catskills. As the demand for its SAR team has grown over the years, Chaverim of Rockland has seen the importance of providing its members with both wilderness and medical training in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of HaRav Moshe David Tendler Z”L. He was 95. Rav Tendler was the son in law of the late Posek Hador, Hagaon HaRav Moshe Feinstein ZATZAL. He was the Rov of the Community Synagogue of Monsey, New York. He served as one of the rosh yeshiva in the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University. He was a professor of biology and expert in medical ethics. He served as chairman of the biology department at Yeshiva University. Levaya and additional details will be published shortly. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes… (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

An infant suffered serious burns in a fire on Friday night, YWN has learned. The fire broke out in a home on Johanna Lane at around 10:30PM. The Monsey Fire Department was dispatched as well as Rockland Hatzolah. A 9 month old child was rushed to Westchester Trauma Center with serious burns. The child’s mother also suffered some burns on her arm. Sources tell YWN that the fire may have started from a Shabbos candle. Tehillim is needed for Asher Anshil ben Shifra Dina Gittel. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of HaRav Shmuel Dovid Weissmandel ZT”L, who was Niftar while driving during the floods last night. The Niftar was travelling on the NY State Thruway from Monsey to his home in Mount Kisco, when he encountered flood waters near the Tappan Zee Bridge. Unable to drive any further, he contacted his family to try and rescue him. His son, Moshe Elya, posted on his WhatsApp status at around midnight looking for for anyone with an SUV in that area to help evacuate his father. Unfortunately, he was Niftar before anyone was sable to rescue him. It is unknown if he drowned in the waters, or he suffered a fatal heart attack in the vehicle. The Niftar was 69 years old, and was the son of Hagaon HaRav Michoel Ber Weissmandle ZT”L.

A fast-moving fire left a home in Monsey destroyed, but thankfully, no one was injured. The fire started at around 6:00PM at 19 Main Street, just next door to Motty’s Supermarket. The Fire Department, Rockland Hatzolah and Rockland Chaveirim all received multiple calls reporting the fire. Chaveirim and Hatzolah arrived first on the scene, and both assisted in evacuating multiple elderly occupants from the home. Eyewitnesses told YWN that Hatzolah and Chaveirim volunteers literally saved the lives of the occupants of the home. Bichasdei Hashem, no injuries were reported. In an interesting twist, Motty’s Supermarket – which is located next door – burned down around 7 months ago. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Days of history and holiness have been lived through by the Gerer community in America, the chassidim who have flown in from Eretz Yisroel, and by an admiring Klal Yisroel community in the Tri-State area, many who have joined some of the uplifting and joyful events. The Rebbe has made the historic move of bringing the wedding of a grandchild to America—and with that the aura of the Shabbosim, the tischen, and other gatherings, all of which has never occurred in the annals of the history of the Gerer Chassidic movement. A tireless and passionate force behind this entire three-week visit—and an important pillar of the worldwide network of the Gerer chassidus—is the renowned philanthropist and askan Reb Shloime Werdiger, chairman of the board of Agudath Israel of America. Observing Mr.