Disgraced NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, candidate for Mayor of New York City, today received the endorsement of the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition (FJCC). The FJCC joins the Sephardic Community Federation, Far Rockaway Jewish Alliance, the Bobov community in Borough Park, and Crown Jewish United and the Crown Heights PAC, in backing Cuomo’s bid. “I am truly honored and humbled to receive the endorsement of the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition, and I want to thank FJCC Chair Josh Mehlman for his partnership,” Governor Cuomo said. “Our Orthodox community has experienced trauma unlike any other, from surging hate crimes and antisemitism to the unspeakable targeted attacks we saw in Washington, DC and in Denver.

Members of Hewlett’s Jewish community awoke Monday morning to reports of three disturbing incidents that occurred overnight within blocks of the shul and surrounding Jewish homes. The incidents, all of whom took place around 3:00 a.m., have sparked fears of coordinated antisemitic attacks, though details surrounding them remain vague and scant. The first incident involved a fire at Avi’s Auto Repair, where a tow truck parked in the lot was set ablaze, and the flames spread to the office building. Minutes later, ASAP Restoration had its windows smashed. A third incident occurred at the Chesed Center, where a banner bearing anti-Israel and antisemitic messaging was tied to the building’s front gate.

While tens of thousands gathered to celebrate kavod haTorah at the Adirei HaTorah event, a profoundly unique and awe-inspiring maamad for Torah unfolded in a Brooklyn home. This celebration marked the completion and publication of a sefer on Chumash—not an ordinary sefer, but a masterpiece written by Reb Yisroel (Sruly) Schubert, who, despite battling the devastating effects of ALS, typed every word using only his eyes. For the past three years, the Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva, Harav Elya Brudny, has delivered a weekly Thursday night vaad at the Schubert home, rarely missing a session. Following the Rosh Yeshiva’s divrei Torah, Reb Sruly shares his own dvar Torah, painstakingly typing each letter with his eyes in an extraordinary display of mesiras nefesh.

YWN regrets to inform you of the petirah of Chazzan Yehuda Aharon (Ari) ben R’ Yirmiyahu Klein z”l, a beloved figure in the world of chazzanus and Jewish music, who was niftar today at the age of 76. Chazzan Klein, a resident of Manhattan, leaves behind a legacy of decades of musical avodah and simcha, having served as a chazzan in shuls across the globe, including prestigious pulpits in Sydney, Australia; Johannesburg, South Africa; and most recently, Park East Synagogue in Manhattan. A gifted vocalist and dedicated oved hashem, Chazzan Klein was misameach thousands of chassanim and kallos over the years, bringing joy and kedusha to countless simchos through his powerful voice and heartfelt davening.

In a move to safeguard the Gerrer Mosdos in Eretz Yisroel, the Gerer Rebbe departed Eretz Yisroel on Motzeoi Shabbos for the United States, leading a critical emergency fundraising campaign to rescue Gerrer educational institutions facing unprecedented financial peril. The Rebbe’s journey, aboard a private jet graciously provided by Philanthropist Yoeli Landau and his partner David Gefner, comes as government funding for chareidi mosdos has been slashed, with no legislative relief in sight for full-time lomdei Torah. Sources within the Gur community revealed that the campaign aims to secure sufficient funds to sustain all Gur educational institutions for the next two years, ensuring the continuity of Torah and chinuch.

Crown Heights has officially thrown its support behind Andrew Cuomo in the upcoming mayoral primary, making it the third Orthodox Jewish community to endorse the former governor. The neighborhood joins Far Rockaway and the Bobov community in Borough Park in backing Cuomo’s bid. This endorsement is particularly significant, as YWN reported in may 2021, Crown Heights was the first Chassidic community to endorse Mayor Eric Adams in the 2021 primary. With Mayor Adams not running in the democratic primary, and polls showing a competitive contest between Zohran Mamdani and Cuomo, the Crown Heights Jewish community has now united behind Cuomo.

Outrage and fear swept through the Boro Park community after a young Jewish child was brutally assaulted in a brazen, unprovoked attack Thursday afternoon — but thanks to the lightning-fast response of Boro Park Shomrim and the NYPD, the suspect was tracked down and arrested within minutes. The horrifying incident unfolded on Webster Avenue, where a group of children were playing peacefully on the sidewalk. Surveillance footage shows a man approaching the group, striking one of the boys in the face and knocking his yarmulke to the ground — all without saying a word. The suspect then casually walked away as the children scattered in terror. Terrified and shaken, the children ran to alert nearby adults, who immediately called the Shomrim hotline.

A tragic accident in the heart of the Five Towns on Friday morning claimed the life of Louis Meshonek z”l, a retired NYPD detective and beloved local, after his vehicle overturned at the intersection of Howard Avenue and West Broadway in Woodmere. The crash occurred shortly before 9:30 a.m. and left Mr. Meshonek z”l, approximately 70 years old, pinned alongside his wife inside the vehicle. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, where Hatzalah Paramedics began providing advanced life support as firefighters worked urgently to extract the couple from the wreckage. Mr. Meshonek was confirmed to be in traumatic arrest while still entrapped, and despite life-saving efforts, he was tragically pronounced deceased at the scene.

Agudath Israel is calling for the swift passage of the Honoring Our Pledge to Eliminate Antisemitism (HOPE) Act (A.2139/S.7034A), legislation aimed at strengthening New York’s response to antisemitic incidents. The HOPE Act, introduced by Assemblyman Sam Berger and Senator Kevin Parker, would require all New York State agencies and subdivisions to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when assessing whether an act was motivated by anti-Jewish bias. The bill also mandates that statewide anti-bias trainings incorporate the IHRA definition. Agudath Israel has supported the bill since its introduction and collaborated with Assemblyman Berger on its language during the drafting process.

On Thursday, FDNY Fire Commissioner Robert S. Tucker led a high-level delegation of FDNY officials on a series of visits to key community organizations in Boro Park, aimed at strengthening cooperation and enhancing emergency response coordination. Commissioner Tucker was joined by Chief of EMS Michael Fields, Brooklyn Borough Commander Joseph Duggan, EMS Brooklyn South Commander Chief Kathleen Knuth, Assistant Deputy Commissioner Jim Harding, Lt. Jonathan Haber—Vice President of the FDNY Ner Tamid Society—and EMS Deputy Chief Yonatan Klein, President of the Ner Tamid Society. The day began with a visit to Boro Park Hatzolah headquarters, where FDNY leadership met with Hatzolah coordinators to reinforce ties and discuss enhanced collaboration at emergency scenes.