As the congregation representing the largest Hasidic community in Brooklyn, Yetev Lev D’Satmar (CYL) and its affiliated school system Central United Talmudical Academy (CUTA), we wish to express our strong support for the extraordinary efforts undertaken by NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio during the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. We strongly denounce the vicious attacks against the Mayor, particularly those accusing him of anti-Semitism. The close relationship between Mr. De Blasio and our community go back close to two decades, during which time we have come to know, respect and appreciate his understanding and sensitivity to the unique needs of our community. We consider him a dear friend and pray for his success.

There was chaos in Boro Park on Thursday afternoon, as the NYPD worked to disperse a crowd that gathered for a Levaya. An NYPD source tells YWN that police were told that a vehicle carrying an Aron (coffin) would be passing by a home on 43 Street near 13th Avenue to recite Tehillim and hold a short Levaya, and took action ahead of time. Not taking any chances, the top brass of the NYPD arrived – including the Chief of Patrol and at least one other 3 star chief as well as the Chiefs of Brooklyn South. The NYPD allowed family only to be on the block, but people did not listen to authorities. It prompted the police police to order the vehicle carrying the Aron to leave, prompting a wild scene that was caught on video and immediately went viral. One person was arrested and released.

The NYPD is out in full force in Williamsburg on Thursday morning, and community activists are attributing it to the Levaya of the Tola’as Yaakov Rebbe earlier this week which turned into a national story. As YWN reported, Mayor Deblasio showed up at the Levaya and after witnessing all social distancing rules broken, he went on a Twitter rant. Deblasio came under fierce attack from news outlets and elected officials around the county for singling out the Jewish community by name. Deblasio tried explaining himself on Wednesday morning, but One NYPD Liaison, Moshe Weiser, who publicly spoke to and was quoted by dozens of media outlets on Wednesday, pointed fingers directly at the NYPD and claimed that police knew in advance of the Levaya plans.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of R’ Pinchos Boruch Unger Z”L a resident of New Square. He was 23 and was Niftar from COVID-19. The Niftar had no previous medical conditions, and had been hospitalized in critical condition for the past few weeks. He leaves behind a wife and young child. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes… Additional information will be published when it becomes available to us. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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During the summer months each year, the population of Sullivan County triples as part-time residents, mostly from New York City, come up to the Catskills. Hundreds of kids stay at summer camps and with the state on ‘pause’ until at least May 15, it is unclear if they will open this year. During an online update on Monday, County Manager Josh Potosek said they are planning as if they will open. “We don’t want to be in a position where we are near the middle of June, end of June, having done no planning on how to operate those safely and have the state say they can open, so we are doing the prudent thing assuming they will be open. Obviously, we will know more as May 15th gets here and as June approaches,” he said.

Hakoras Hatov, gratitude, is one of the fundamentals of being Jewish, and there is no greater organization in our midst that needs our Hakoras Hatov, then the members of Hatzolah in every neighborhood. Hatzolah is there for your communities, with their incredible 2 minute response time, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Unfortunately, there was no greater time since the founding of Hatzolah around 50 years ago, when their services were used, more than during the COVID-19 pandemic. At one point, Hatzolah across NYC was responding to more than 550 calls a day (actual ambulance responses) throughout all the various neighborhoods. During the peak of the crisis, the Hatzolah emergency hotline was fielding over 1,000 calls a day.

Mayor Deblasio spoke at a press conference on Wednesday morning, and tried to explain his tweets which have now gained national attention, and caused the Levaya of the Tola’as Yaakov Rebbe ZT”L to become national headlines. The Mayor says that “if you say anger and frustration (in his tweets), you’re right. I spoke out of of real distress. People’s lives were in danger before my eyes, and I was not going to tolerate it. So, I regret if the way I said it, in anyway, gave people the feeling of being treated the wrong way, that was not my intention. It was said with love, but it was tough love, it was anger and frustration. “And no, it has not happened in other places. Let’s be honest. This kind of gathering has happened in only a few places, and it cannot continue.

The following statement was provided to YWN following the Levaya on Tuesday night which has now become a national story – thanks to the double standard of Mayor Deblasio. As YWN reported, Deblasio singled out the Jewish community in NYC by name, but ignored the tens of thousands of New Yorkers that packed parks in NYC to watch the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels fly over NYC just hours earlier. April 29, 2020 We regret that the funeral today of our Rabbi of blessed memory ended in chaos and in controversy, and we feel that it’s incumbent on us to explain what happened. Our Rabbi was revered by thousands as a holy, humble and caring person, and they wanted to participate in the funeral.

When all airplanes said no, Hatzolah Air said “Let’s Go!” Hero US Vet Robert had been in combat in Vietnam and was exposed to Agent Orange. This led to Robert having many respiratory issues that ultimately led to throat cancer and a stroke. After a long battle with cancer, Robert ultimately required a trach in order to breathe. Robert and his wife ran a successful floral business for many years. Under the careful watch of his wife and longtime partner it was decided that they would permanently relocate to Florida for ongoing medical care. With the looming threat of Coronavirus and his debilitating illness they did not find a way to make that happen.

R’ Yaakov Moshe and Blimie Shchreiber of Lakewood, New Jersey, celebrated the birth of a daughter on Sunday, their second child after an agonizing wait of 11 years, B’Chadrei Chareidim reported. A year ago, R’ Yaakov Moshe visited the home of HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky to request a bracha for a child. He reminded Harav Chaim that the year before Rav Chaim had instructed him to begin using wine for Havdalah on Motzei Shabbos to be zohech to a child. Although R’ Yaakov Moshe had followed the instructions he still wasn’t zocheh to a yeshuah. Harav Chaim immediately responded by saying that R’ Yaakov Moshe should grow a beard and payos. R’ Yaakov Moshe asked: “Does the Rav promise?” and Harav Chaim nodded and said that he promises.