As in past years, Agudath Israel of America’s Washington Office has worked closely with agencies of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help avoid potential problems for travelers carrying arba minim. Both the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have notified their respective field personnel about the upcoming Sukkos holiday and the increased level of travel by persons of the Jewish faith, many of whom will be carrying arba minim. The agencies have also made this information available to the public – the TSA notice here and the CBP notice here.

All of New York’s 472 subway stations now are equipped with security cameras. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Monday that it had installed the last of thousands of cameras at the G line’s Broadway stop. The installation of the cameras has been accelerated over the last year after crime spiked in the subway system during the pandemic while ridership dropped. Two hundred stations have been outfitted with cameras in the last year, according to the MTA. Subway ridership fell more than 90 percent during the height of the pandemic and continues to lag far below pre-pandemic levels.

Tens of thousands of children from all across the globe will storm shaarei shomayim on behalf of Klal Yisroel during Misaskim’s annual Aseres Yemei Teshuva asifa on Monday, September 13th. As in recent years, the main assembly will be held at 1 PM in the Bobover beis medrash on 15th Avenue and 47th Street, where thousands of boys will be davening together and will be joined by gedolim, roshei yeshiva and rabbonim. Hundreds of boys’ and girls’ schools worldwide will be taking part in the asifa via satellite hookup, with more than 12,000 children participating in Boro Park alone. The children will be reciting kapitelach 13, 20, 79, 121, 130 and 142 of Tehillim before they daven Mincha and say Avinu Malkeinu, Selichos of Shlosh Esrei Midos and Kabalas Ol Malchus Shomayim.

Many of the media outlets that explore the country’s differences, pausing Saturday to mark the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, recalled almost wistfully the sense of common purpose that united Americans in the aftermath of that day. Television news networks offered wall-to-wall coverage of remembrances in New York, Washington and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, that were attended by four presidents. “One should savor these moments of unity this morning — feel how good that feels,” said Fox News Channel anchor Dana Perino, shortly after Bruce Springsteen sang “I’ll See You in My Dreams” at New York’s World Trade Center memorial.

In the last 24 hours Shomrim NW London have received multiple reports of criminals who have used bikes and mopeds to snatch mobile phones from people across Golders Green NW11 and Hendon NW4. Shomrim NW London are working closely with local Police to gather CCTV footage to ascertain the identity of the suspects. Often victims are approached from behind while talking or texting on phones. Criminals on mopeds or bicycles may mount the pavement to grab the phone or snatch it from the road. Sometimes when it’s a moped, a pillion passenger will snatch it. Criminals are known to operate during the day. Follow these simple steps to help protect your phone. – Be aware of your surroundings. – If you need to call or use your phone on the street, look out for anyone on a bike or a moped near you.

A 3-month-old girl in a stroller was killed and two adults were injured when they were struck by two cars that crashed in New York City on Saturday evening, police said. The driver of one of the cars also was taken to a hospital. A car being driven the wrong way on Gates Avenue in Brooklyn collided with another car in an intersection shortly before 6:30 p.m., police said. The cars then struck the three pedestrians. The baby was pronounced dead at a hospital. The 33-year-old mother of the infant was listed in serious condition at a hospital, and a 36-year-old man was hospitalized in stable condition, city police said. A 49-year-old woman whose car was struck by the wrong-way driver was in stable condition at a hospital. The victims’ names were withheld pending notification of family.

Thanks to a swift response by Flatbush Shomrim, numerous suspects were arrested in the Flatbush community over the past few days. The most recent incident was a burglar arrested on Sunday afternoon. It happened on East 29th Street near Avenue S, when a local resident witnessed a suspicious man enter his neighbors home. He watched him exit a moment later with a new pair of sneakers, and the homeowners cell phone. The witnesses quickly called the NYPD and Flatbush Shomrim. Fast responding Shomrim volunteers kept an eye on the suspect as he ran through multiple backyards. He was eventually apprehended by Police on East 22nd Street between Avenue R and Avenue S. The homeowner was grateful to Shomrim and the NYPD for making the arrest, and was happy to have her property returned.

An English translation of the Kol Korei follows below: To All Our Jewish Brethren, Hashem’s Blessings Upon You! As the y’mei ho’rachamim ve’hadin rapidly approach, and as Jews will soon be fulfilling the minhag of Kapporos during the Aseres Yimei Teshuva, we wish to emphasize the need for all public Kapporos centers to be under the exacting Hashgacha of a competent Rav Hamachshir to ensure that all aspects of this “minhag vasikin” (Rama, Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim 605) are done properly in accordance with halacha.

A retired flight attendant who has been pushing an airline beverage cart from Boston to New York City for days in honor of the flight crews who died on 9/11 arrived at Ground Zero on Saturday to mark the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks. Paul Veneto announced his arrival by posting a picture of himself at the World Trade Center memorial with the phrase “Journey’s End” on his Facebook page. The 62-year-old Braintree, Massachusetts resident set off by foot on the 220-mile (354-kilometers) journey from Boston’s Logan International Airport to Ground Zero in late August, with the goal of arriving there for Saturday’s commemoration. Veneto had been a regular staffer on United Flight 175′s Boston to Los Angeles route but had taken the day off on 9/11.

As Flatbush Shomrim continues working to keep the community safe, the organization tells YWN that their marked official vehicles will be patrolling the neighborhood throughout Yom Kippur and Sukkos to ensure the safety and peace of mind of all in the community. Their marked patrol cars will be manned by retired NYPD officers. Shomrim thanks their close partners in the NYPD for their assistance in this arrangement. Those who are able to to help Shomrim with the cost of these patrols, can click here to donate.