Yeshiva World News

PHOTO LINK BELOW: A group of 50 American Jews arrived in Israel, Sunday, November 15, for a highly-original four-day tour of Judea, Samaria and eastern Yerushalayim. Their main message, intended for the White House, is: Jews have the right to live in all areas of Israel.

According to Dov Hikind, Democratic State Assemblyman(D-NY), leading the mission, “Our goal is to send a clear message to Washington and President Obama that Jews will continue to live in Judea and Samaria and the ultimate commitment American Jews can make is to actually come and buy property in these areas as this will ensure these communities’ security and growth.”

Highlights of the mission (open to media) include:

·Monday Touring of Samaria Settlements to Ariel, Alon Moreh, Har Grizim & the Gilad Farm

·Tuesday Touring Shilo, Amona, Shdema and Tekoa

·Wednesday Touring of eastern Jerusalem Jewish Neighborhoods and cornerstone laying of new project in Nof Tzion (near Jabel Mukaber).

The mission will bring participants to developing projects in the territories. Hikind says they will be encouraged to make purchases at this time. “Rather than buying second homes in Florida, people must consider buying in our historical homeland,” adding, “We will show the Obama administration that Israel and Jews the world over will never be told where to live or build in our ancient homeland.”

YWN PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos by Heshy Rubenstein - Israel.

(YWN Desk - Jerusalem)

The following is an article by Fernanda Santos for the NY Times:

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg was getting an earful. “He created this crisis so that he can take credit for fixing it and get our votes in exchange,” one commenter wrote on a Brooklyn blog. Someone else remarked, “I got to my store I got 2 tickets from the Sanitation police. I sure deserved it Bloomie. I will NOT vote for you.”

The writers were reacting to the news late last month that Mr. Bloomberg would restore money for an after-school voucher program that is popular among Orthodox Jewish families. But some scorned the move as blatant political expediency days before the election.

Without question, Mr. Bloomberg was eager to woo the city’s Hasidic Jewish voters. He met behind closed doors with influential rabbis, courted their congregations, and gave an eight-page interview to an Orthodox magazine, describing the challenge of growing up Jewish in an Irish and Italian neighborhood.

Still, his share of the vote fell sharply in Brooklyn’s largest Hasidic enclaves on Nov. 3, and the decline was one of the sharpest among any group of voters.

“We didn’t vote as Hasidim. We voted as New Yorkers,” said Mendy Hecht, 36, a Lubavitcher in Crown Heights, who pulled the lever for the mayor’s Democratic opponent, Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. “My vote was a vote of protest against Bloomberg.”

Four years ago, Mr. Bloomberg received near-unanimous backing from Hasidic voters, who are known for voting as a bloc, basing their choice on a community leader’s recommendation and a candidate’s ties to local religious elders. On the surface, it seemed logical that they would again unite behind the mayor, a Jewish billionaire who had donated generously to local organizations since taking office in 2001.

But that’s not the way it turned out. Higher property taxes, an increase in water rates and other fees, a perceived parking-ticket blitz and a nagging feeling that money can truly buy anything, including a third term, made many Hasidic voters angry at Mr. Bloomberg.

In 2005, the mayor got four out of five votes cast in the Hasidic sections of Crown Heights, Borough Park and Williamsburg. He carried those same areas this time, but with considerably less support, according to an analysis.

The analysis, by John H. Mollenkopf, director of the Center for Urban Research at the Graduate Center at the City University of New York, is based on voting results in election districts identified in the 2000 Census as having at least 100 people who speak Yiddish, the preferred language in Hasidic households. Although a somewhat arbitrary measure, it nonetheless offers a reasonable guide to the mood in Hasidic communities, an insular but influential part of the city’s political fabric.

Mr. Bloomberg got less than half the votes in the Hasidic sections of Crown Heights and just about half in Williamsburg. In Borough Park, where turnout rose by 22 percent from the 2005 election, he received almost the same number of votes as he did four years ago, but the number of votes cast for his rival, Mr. Thompson, nearly tripled compared with those that went for the mayor’s opponent in 2005, Fernando Ferrer, Mr. Mollenkopf’s analysis showed.

Though the Bloomberg campaign acknowledges that the mayor’s vote share decreased in Orthodox Jewish communities, its field director, Maura Keaney, disputed the findings of Mr. Mollenkopf’s analysis, in part, she said, because census numbers from nine years ago do not reflect recent changes. She also noted that some election districts in Crown Heights include many black voters, which she said skewed the analysis.

Ms. Keaney said that Mr. Bloomberg got 7.8 percent fewer votes in Orthodox communities, the same rate of decline citywide, but that he still got about 72 percent of the Orthodox vote.

Comparing the two analyses is difficult; the campaign’s study does not differentiate the Hasidic vote from the wider Orthodox vote, and its numbers relate to a larger area that includes Kew Gardens Hills and Far Rockaway in Queens and Midwood in Brooklyn.

Survey differences aside, interviews in Hasidic enclaves showed a community divided. Dissatisfaction with the mayor, however, was only part of the explanation. Political alliances played a role, especially in Borough Park, where Councilman Simcha Felder endorsed Mr. Bloomberg and Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who had endorsed the mayor in 2005, backed Mr. Thompson.

Race was also a factor, but one that may have cost Mr. Thompson some support. Some Hasidic voters in Crown Heights said Mr. Thompson was hurt by endorsements he got from Al Sharpton and former Mayor David N. Dinkins because of the roles the two played in the 1991 disturbances there, which pitted blacks and Jews against each other.

But a majority of people interviewed for this article - a tailor, a rabbi, an aspiring politician, journalists and the leader of a nonprofit organization, among many others - said that what most distinguished this election from past ones was a generational split.

“The younger generation doesn’t rely on their leaders to guide them,” said Isaac Abraham, 59, a Satmar who lives in Williamsburg and mounted an energetic but unsuccessful campaign to win the Democratic nomination for a City Council seat.

“They’re not blindfolded,” Mr. Abraham said. “The young people, they base their votes on results.”

YWN PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for dozens of magnificent photos of Bloomberg visiting the Rebbes - taken by YWN photographer Hillel Engel.

(Source: NY Times)

David Paterson is the fourth African American and only the second legally blind governor in U.S. history. The son of former New York Secretary of State Basil Paterson, he spent 20 years in New York’s state senate before being chosen as Eliot Spitzer’s running mate for the 2006 New York gubernatorial election. He became governor on March 17, 2008 after Spitzer resigned.

The Jewish Press recently spoke with Paterson about matters of interest to New York’s Jewish community.

The Jewish Press: Many Orthodox Jews, and Catholics for that matter, pay taxes for a public school system they don’t use. Is there any hope of a school voucher program being introduced and pushed through the legislature under your administration?

Paterson: This is an issue I have not fully embraced, but I certainly embrace more than when I first started. I actually went to the Alliance For School Choice conference in August of 2005, and I was sitting in one of the meetings, and I thought, “You know, I think I’m the only person in this room who voted for Kerry!”

Paterson:But charter schools are probably the closest that we’re going to get to [school vouchers] right now, and I’ve been a pretty big charter school advocate to this point.

But of course as a government official I have to embrace the public school system.

JP: So charter schools, but not necessarily school vouchers.

Paterson:Not necessarily school vouchers because what happens is if you take enough money out of the public system, you’ve destroyed it.

JP: But many people argue that if the government provided vouchers to all parents, schools would have to compete with one another, and all schools - both public and private - would improve educationally and thrive.

It’s an argument I’m still wrestling with because even with the charter schools around Albany, they opened up so many charter schools that they almost shut down the public school system.

Remember, what you’re doing now is what they eliminated in the desegregation era. Desegregation wasn’t just racial equality; part of desegregation was that the South couldn’t support two school systems. And my question is: Can we do it? Now, I know we can’t do it right now, but when we get past the recession, that’s a conversation we certainly should have.

JP: The Bible clearly opposes homosexual behavior, calling it an “abomination.” Yet you are currently trying to push a bill through New York’s legislature, which would legalize gay marriage. Why?

Paterson: First of all, I think we can agree that there is a dispute on what the Bible says about a lot of things.

But to some extent we’ve all, regardless of how we feel personally - and I was christened Catholic, by the way - become tolerant of the fact that we have a lot of gay and lesbian citizens who live in our society. So now we get to the legal question - it’s not a biblical question but a legal one: If these people live together, what rights do they have?

The bigger issue, to be perfectly honest, is what [opposition to gay marriage] does to our culture. In other words, suppose you work at an office where someone is gay and this person is getting married. They’re having a reception in the office for the person and you don’t go to the reception because the Bible says that it’s an abomination. What kind of ramifications does this have? When it’s time for this person to be promoted, maybe he doesn’t get promoted because everybody stopped liking him because their religion teaches them that that’s wrong.

JP: Relations between the African American and Jewish communities have improved since 1985 when you first entered politics. How do you account for the tension and animosity of those days?

Paterson:I think a lot of that was tension between two oppressed groups that didn’t always understand each others’ oppression. I used to write articles about this and circulate them to try to bring about an understanding.

Today, things have improved. I think the African American community has realized the danger of hate speech. For instance, a few years ago, Teen People was planning to run a feature on two teenage twins who were glorifying the Nazi period, and a whole group of African American elected officials came out to condemn this. I don’t think you would’ve seen that back in the ’80s….

There has been a great sense of learning in my career. I used to get into fights with Assemblyman Dov Hikind and Councilman Noach Dear, but I found common ground with a lot of people when I started to understand why they feel the way they feel - which is what I think is missing in public service.

That’s actually what drove me into public service. I mean, I was an African American kid with a disability who felt discriminated against by the disabled people because I was black, and then ostracized by the African Americans because I had a disability. And I thought, “This is really kind of silly.” So that’s sort of been my mission.

JP: You will be facing a tough election year in 2010. What message do you have for the Jewish community?

Paterson:Well, many people in the Jewish community are very concerned about the State of Israel. And we have this new national policy where we’re trying to engage many of these countries that have declared they would like to, if they could, eliminate Israel.

But I think the fact that there isn’t stronger international condemnation of [statements of leaders calling for Israel’s destruction] almost leads them to think that it might be a good time to start organizing to that end.

There have to be voices, of which I consider myself one, that are saying, “Listen, if you really want to negotiate, we’ll negotiate, but not as long as you’re engaging in that kind of rhetoric, which, in a sense, almost fosters international terrorism.” We allow the dictators of these regimes to have a forum at the UN every year. I’ve tried to be part of the protests against that.

For Jewish people who live right here in the city and state of New York, I think they have the same problems as Catholics and Protestants, which is this economy that we’ve got to replenish. We have got to avoid going to the places where California and Michigan and now Illinois are going. And we’ve got to tighten our belts, push through this period, and start investing in the kind of business development and economic job creation that will bring us back to prosperity.

(Source: The Jewish Press) 

We at Yeshiva World surveyed several of the top community leaders and political experts last night at the various political parties to compile a quick list of winners and losers as a result of yesterdays elections. Below are the top responses that we got from those leaders and experts.
Have your own suggestions? Please, write them in!

Winners:
1. Orthodox Jews - We finally turned out in big numbers and MADE a Mayor in the process.
2. Rudy Giuliani - If he wants to run for governor, he’s got a great base in the Jewish community.
3. Simcha Felder - Three of his staffers worked on getting out the Jewish vote. Combined with Simcha’s endorsement, the mayor won the Jews. Expect Simcha to move up to Commissioner or Deputy Mayor very soon
4. TEACH NYS - This four-year old grassroots group, led by political strategist David Greenfield, spent $100k to accomplish what no one else has: they convinced Jews to vote - in record numbers.
5. Howard Koppel - The new macher of the Five Towns. This Orthodox Jewish Republican beat the incumbent and in the process flipped control of the county legislature from Democrat to Republican.

Losers:
1. Barak Obama - O’s policies lost Virginia & New Jersey for Democrats. He may actually be a one term President.
2. Hamodia - They pushed so hard for Thompson that they even used the “s” word. No matter. Their readers voted for Bloomberg anyways.
3. Dov Hikind - There’s no question now. Hikind’s endorsement is worthless. His candidates for council (Lander), comptroller (Liu) and mayor (Thompson) all lost his assembly district by 3-1 (or greater) margins this year.
4. Anthony Weiner - Kicking himself. Hard. Lost his only opportunity to become Mayor of New York - by not running.
5. Vaad of Lakewood - Not only did they back the losing candidate for Governor, the community ignored their suggestions.

(Compiled by: Yehuda Drudgestein - YWN)

Last week, Mr Yossi Gestetner wrote an article on YWN about the lack of a “Jewish” Al Sharpton. Mr. Gestetner is right. I wish we had an Al Sharpton in our Jewish community - instead we have Sharpton wannabee’s like Dov Hikind.

Why is he a wannabee? Because while Sharpton delivers for his community, Hikind never misses an opportunity to embarrass ours. What do I mean? I think it’s perfectly fine - in fact it’s a good thing, for community leaders to raise legitimate issues in our community - like Yeshiva World does on this website all the time. However, I think that it’s a bad thing to spread our dirty laundry in public and give the false impression that we Orthodox Jews are all bad all the time. Hikind seems to revel in this kind of attention.

Case in point: we all know that there is a serious problem in our community with those who engage in criminal behavior towards children. So what does Dov do? Does he write an Op-Ed in Hamodia or the Jewish Press? Does he convene a meeting of the leading rabbonim to discuss the issue? Does he bring together mechanchim to adopt a code of conduct? No, that would actually require hard work. Instead, he reaches out to major non-Jewish newspapers and TV stations and proceeds to grant them interviews that publicly embarrass our community.

Think I’m exaggerating? Well let’s look at what happened Thursday. Hikind decided that one candidate for mayor - Bill Thompson, was better than the other - Michael Bloomberg. No problems there. Everyone’s entitled to an opinion. The problem is that Hikind discovered that a cheap way to score points against Bloomberg is to criticize Bloomberg for the supposed comments that a handful of people in our community may or may not have made referring to Thompson with an ethnic slur - the “S” word.

I would have no problem if Hikind took pen to paper and wrote a letter to Yeshiva World about this supposed problem (I say ’supposed’ because there has not yet been independent confirmation of any of these allegations) like did Mr. Yankel Weiss HERE on Yeshiva World. But that would actually require some work. So what does Hikind do? He runs to New York’s biggest newspaper - the Daily News - and screams that a woman from our community came to Hikind to disparage Thompson by using an ethnic slur! (Click HERE for story)
 
Even if this story is true, how is repeating it to a non-Jewish publication good for our community? What exactly was accomplished? The answer: more attention for Hikind. Because unlike Sharpton who tries to DEFEND his community Hikind is an expert in EMBARRASSING ours. In conclusion, it would be easy to refer to Hikind as the Jewish Al Sharpton but, quite frankly, that would be an insult to the genius of Al Sharpton.
 
Outraged in BP,
Moshe Schwartz.

Editors note: Hikind declined to comment on this letter.

NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of YWN.

[Op-Ed By Yossi Gestetner] Responses were many on my writing, “Why Don’t Jews Have an Al Sharpton.” People pointed out that the Jews have their own share of Sharpton’s, between others Dove Hikind, Abe Foxman, and a host of Jewish groups that represent and defend Jews.

I have no problem with groups representing or defending the rights of Blacks, Hispanics or Jews. However the fact that the responses to my initial writing listed a few Jewish names and groups proves my very point: people think of a half a dozen Jewish names that might fit Sharpton’s shoes, instead of everyone thinking of the same one name, like it is with Sharpton in context of the Black community.

Number two: Hikind and the others do not have the clout that Sharpton has to make political and media figures jump, which proves that none of them are a Sharpton.

Number three: Take a poll of the general US population. You will likely find that for every person that knows the name Hikind or Foxman, ten times more people know Sharpton. So at the end of the day, for whatever positive or negative reasons, Jews do not have an Al Sharpton.

To contact the writer send an email to yossi@yossigestetner.com

(Yossi Gestetner - YWN)

[UPDATE BELOW] 9:37AM EST: NYS Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn), a child of Holocaust survivors, is leading the charge among his colleagues to force American Express to rescind the merchant agreement of notorious Holocaust denier David Irving, who has commenced a United States book tour to promote his new hate-filled tome entitled, Banged Up: Survival as a Political Prisoner in 21st Century Europe. “The notion that a well-regarded financial entity like American Express conducts business with someone of Irving’s ilk is absolutely astounding to me,” remarked Hikind.

To express their outrage, Hikind and a dozen elected officials, including Senate Democratic Conference Leader John L. Sampson, wrote to AMEX Chairman and CEO Kenneth I. Chenault saying, “By processing charges for tickets to Mr. Irving’s United States, hate-filled speaking tour, as well as for his publications, your company is sanctioning his repugnant message.”

The letter continues, “According to your own merchant reference guide, ‘American Express has built a brand that is synonymous with trust, integrity, security, quality, and customer service. We work diligently to uphold our reputation and restrict Merchants from engaging in activities that would harm our business or brand.’ Surely, Mr. Irving’s actions constitute a breach of the merchant agreement. My undersigned colleagues and I strongly urge you to rescind Mr. Irving’s merchant agreement.”

Previously, Irving has claimed that people pretend to be Holocaust survivors because, “there’s money involved and they can get a good compensation cash payment out of it.” Some of his other rabid and factually perverse comments include, “It [the Holocaust] is something like a religion…..The Intellectual Adventure is that we are reversing this entire trend within the space of one generation - that in a few years time, no one will believe this particular legend anymore……Yes, hundreds of thousands of people were killed, but there were no factories of death. All that is a blood libel against the German people.”

In response to Irving’s outrageous statements, Hikind remarked, “It is my sincere hope that American Express will do the right thing in this regard, and take swift and decisive action to revoke Mr. Irving’s privileges to bring us one step closer to putting Mr. Irving out of business.”

The following elected officials lent their names to the letter sent to AMEX Chairman Chenault:

Assemblymembers Peter Abbate, Michael Benjamin, Vivian Cook, Rory Lancman, Nick Perry; Senators Eric Adams, Carl Kruger, John Sampson, and Diane Savino; Councilmembers Mathieu Eugene, Michael Nelson, and Kendall Stewart.

5:00PM EST: Assemblyman Hikind has just released the following statement:

AMEX SPOKESPERSON: “DAVID IRVING’S ACCOUNT HAS BEEN REVOKED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY”
 
HIKIND: “We applaud American Express for doing the right thing. Let this be a lesson to all of us to remain vigilant against hate-mongers like Irving.”

(YWN Desk - NYC)

(PHOTO LINK AT END OF ARTICLE) The Jewish Community Council of Boro Park under the leadership of Rabbi Yechiel Kaufman, Executive Director and Mr. Yussi Rieder, Chairman; hosted their 7th Annual Legislative breakfast on Sunday morning, October 18, at Khal Chasidim, located at 4820 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, in honor of the Shearith Hapleitah-Holocaust Survivors.

This special event coordinated by the acclaimed public relations firm, The Friedlander Group, honored NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg who was introduced by a ringing Councilman Simcha Felder. Surprise Guest Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani wooed the crowed with his presence and strong words of support for Mayor Bloomberg. William Rapfogel, CEO of Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty served as Breakfast Chair. The general theme of the breakfast was articulated by Assemblyman Dov Hikind who paid tribute to the Holocaust Survivors for recreating the cultural landscape of Boro Park with a vibrant Jewish presence, blending the warmth and charitable practices of the past with the contemporary community. The gathering also focused on the uniqueness of Boro Park and its bright future of continued growth and ongoing transformation.

This event is always a valuable outlet for the survivors whose daily personal challenges as senior citizens are compounded by the horrific memories they have been forced to carry throughout the years. It is widely believed that this annual BPJCC event serves as an important stimulation for those participating, allowing them to reconnect with old friends and forge new relationships that add immeasurable companionship and pleasure to their lives.

The program honored the distinguished elected officials for their commitment to the Boro Park community: Congressman Jerry Nadler; State Senators Carl Kruger, Kevin Parker and Diane Savino; Boro President Marty Markowitz; Brad Lander was welcomed as the Democratic Nominee of the 39th NYC Council District. Gregory J. Schneider, Executive Vice President, Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany known as the Claims Conference received the Hakoras HaTov Community Appreciation Award in recognition for leadership and support of various Holocaust survivors related projects.  A special message was heard from Jonathan Zalisky, of Health Plus, corporate sponsors of the breakfast. Special Recognition was given to Holocaust survivors Hersh Leib Klein and Peshea Friedman.

PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos by Hillel Engel & Shimon Gifter.

(Berel Septimus - YWN)

YWN is proud to present the following “Sukkos 5770 Round-Up”, which is the largest collection listed on any Jewish website in the world on the Internet. It wasn’t easy capturing the dozens of videos and thousands of photos, but the following photographers from Moscow to Melbourne made it possible:

YWN would like to thank the folks over at Kuvien for their exceptional photographs and videos (including the “YWN AirCam Crew”): Yehuda Boltshauser, Simcha Deshi, Joey Gottlieb, M.A. Jacobs, Betzalel Mandel, S.B. Korn, Refael Ovadia, Benny Prider, B.W. Posen, Yitzchok Russek, M.A. Weissman, and Chaim Wolf.

Thanks to Hillel Engel, Shimon Gifter, PhotoDynamics, Shmuel Eckstein, Shezoli, Kosher Photo, Chaim Bender, Jonathan Samson, Shaya Gruen, Yumi Rosenbaum, Shlomo Mandel, Chesky Gottleib & the rest of the “new” YWN camera crew.

——-

Simchas Beis HaShoeva during Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5770 at Yeshiva Chevron Yerushalayim (Refael Ovadia / Kuvien) - Click HERE for video.

Simchas Beis HaShoeva during Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5770 at Kehilas Meromei Sadeh with HaRav Schwadron (B.W. Posen/ Kuvien) - Click HERE for video.

A comeback by Michael Streicher during a Simchas Beis HaShoeva on Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5770 (S.B. Korn / Kuvien) - Click HERE for video.

Simchas Beis HaShoeva during Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5770 at Yeshiva Gedolah Matisyahu with Rabbi Zev Leff on Moshav Matityahu (M.A. Weissman / Kuvien) - Click HERE for video.

Simchas Beis HaShoeva during Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5770 at Shomrei Emunim in Yerushalayim (Refael Ovadia / Kuvien) - Click HERE for video.

Thousands of people arose early on Hoshana Rabah morning making their way to the Kosel, where they did hoshanos and cried out to Hashem. Join us with some stunning photos and an exclusive video by the YWN AirCam - - Click HERE for photos, & HERE for video. [Even the security forces who were deployed to secure the area shook lulav and esrog - Click HERE for video.] Credits: Yehuda Boltshauser / Kuvien.

City Hall Sukkah 5770
The “musical” sukkah at city hall in Yerushalayim (Yehuda Boltshauser / Kuvien) - Click HERE for video.

HaRav Yitzchak Ezrachi - Part 1
Part 1 of a powerful speech given by HaRav Yitzchak Ezrachi in the Mir Yerushalayim sukkah during Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5770. S.B. Korn / Kuvien - Click HERE for video.

HaRav Yitzchak Ezrachi - Part 2
Part 2 of a powerful speech given by HaRav Yitzchak Ezrachi in the Mir Yerushalayim sukkah during Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5770. S.B. Korn / Kuvien - Click HERE for video.

Chadera Simchas Beis HaShoeva Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5770
Simchas Beis HaShoeva at Chadera Yeshiva during Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5770. (S.B. Korn / Kuvien) - Click HERE for video.

Belzer Rebbe saying Hoshana - Click HERE for photos by Joey Gottlieb - Kuvien Images.

Viznits Rebbe Bnei Brak At Simchas Bais HaShoeva - Click HERE for photos by Bichadrei Charedim.

Click HERE for photos taken on Hoshana Raba morning at the Adass Yisroel Shul in Melbourne Australia - (Photos by Yumi Rosenbaum - YWN Australia.

Sukkos in Moscow - Click HERE for photos.

Bobover Rebbe Rav Mordechai Dovid Ungar Sukkos 5770 - Click HERE for photos.

Click HERE for an amazing video taken by Shezoli of the Tish with the Satmar Rebbe Shlita of Williamsburg at the end of Simchas Torah.

Simchas Bais hashoeva in Munkatch - Click HERE for photos.

Simchas Bais Hashoeva in Bobov (48th Street) - Click HERE for photos.

Breid of Baltimore Sukkos 5770 (Simchas B.H.) - Click HERE for photos.

Simchas Beis HaShoeva at Bais Abba Credit: S.B. Korn / Kuvien - Click HERE for video.

Simchas Beis HaShoeva at Yeshiva Kehilas Yaakov with Rav Chaim Kluft and the fire dance during Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5770. Credit: S.B. Korn / Kuvien - Click HERE for video.

Avos U’Banim Simchas Beis HaShoeva
Credit: Yehuda Boltshauser / Kuvien - Click HERE for photos.

Simchas Beis HaShoeva by Lakewood East in Ramot during Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5770 with HaRav Shlomo Brevda. Credit : Benny Prider - Click HERE for video.

Spinka Rebbe Williamsburg - Click HERE & HERE for videos be Shezoli.

Ichud Hatzolah Simchas Beis HaShoeva
Credit: Yehuda Boltshauser / Kuvien - Click HERE for photos.

Toldos Aaron Simchas Bais Hashoeva - Click HERE for video.

Afula Yeshiva Siyum at the Auerbach Sukkah
Credit: Yehuda Boltshauser / Kuvien - Click HERE for video.

Simchas Bais Hashoeva Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg - Click HERE and HERE for videos (Shezoli), and HERE for photos.

Klausenberg Rebbe Shlita in Kiryat Sanz - Click HERE for photos. (Thanks Shezoli)

Fire Show at Eshkol Payis
Credit: B.W. Posen / Kuvien - Click HERE for video, and HERE for photos.

Mir Yerushalayim Sukkah - Kabalas Panim in the Mir Yerushalayim Sukkah during Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5770 followed by speeches given by HaRav Nosson Tzvi Finkel and HaRav Aryeh Finkel. Credit: S.B. Korn / Kuvien - Click HERE for video, and HERE for photos.

Simchas Beis HaShoeva at Ohaley Yaakov in Moscow
Credit: Betzalel Mandel / Kuvien - Click HERE for photos.

Bobov Rebbe - Rav Bentzion Halberstam Shlita (48th Street) Simchas Bais Hashoeva - Click HERE, HERE & HERE, for videos by Shezoli.

At the Pinsk-Karlin Simchas Beis HaShoeva in Yerushalayim during Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5770. Special guest included Rabbi Meir Porush and Eli Yishai
Credit: S.B. Korn / Caim Wolf / Kuvien - Click HERE & HERE for photos, and HERE for video.

Hundreds of people packed the Bais Medrash of Maran Hagon Rav Elyashiv on Hoshana Rabba morning to Daven together with the Posek Hador. Following davening, the well-known Askan, Reb Ruby Schron was invited into the Gadol Hadors Sukkah. Click HERE for photos in Shul, and click HERE for exclusive YWN photos and HERE for exclusive video taken in the Sukka. All photos taken for YWN by Joey Gottlieb / Kuvien.

Simchas Beis HaShoeva at Toldos Aaron
Credit: Chaim Wolf / Kuvien - Click HERE for photos.

Belz Rebbe Lighting Menorah in his Sukkah
Credit: Joey Gottlieb / Kuvien - Click HERE for photos.

Kaliv Simchas Beis HaShoeva
Credit: Joey Gottlieb / Kuvien - Click HERE for photos.

Sadigura Rebbe at the Kosel during Chol HaMoed
Credit: Simcha Deshi / Kuvien - Click HERE for photos.

Siyum and Simchas Beis HaShoeva at Yeshivas Nachlas Binyamin
Credit: S.B. Korn / Kuvien - Click HERE for video & HERE for photos.

Simchas Bais HaShoeva in Munkatch - Click HERE, HERE & HERE for 3 videos by “Shezoli”.

Dirshu / Acheinu Hachnosas Sefer Torah
Credit: S.B. Korn / Kuvien - Click HERE for video & HERE for photos.

Leiger Rav (UK) Sukkos 5770 - Click HERE for photos by Osher Warmberg.

Moscow On Sukkos 5770 - Click HERE for photos by Tzvi Wurzberger.

A Parent Speaks - Simchas bais Hashoeva Sukkos 5770 - Click HERE for photos by YWN NYC Staff.

Pittsburg Rebbe Sukkos 5770 - Click HERE for photos.

Sukkos in Nikolsburg 5770 - Click HERE for photos.

Landau’s Shul on Hoshana Rabba - Click HERE for photos by Shimon Gifter.

Toldos Aaron Hoshana Rabba & Hakafos Sheniyos 5770 - Click HERE for photos.

Simchas Bais Hashoevah at the Boston Shul in Har Nof, Yerushalayim presided over by the renowned Baal Menagein R. Meir Horowitz. - Click HERE for video.

Simchas Beis HaShoeva 5770 at Mir Brachfeld with HaRav Nosson Tzvi Finkel Shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, HaRav Barzel Shlita, and other gedolim as well as Yossi Stern on the first night of Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5770. Click HERE for the video & HERE for photos by S.B. Korn / Kuvien.

On Motzei Shabbos the Kaliver Rebbe, Admor of Modiznitz, Boyaner Rebbe and the Admor of Pursiv visited the Kosel. Click HERE for photos by B.W. Posen / Kuvien.

Simchas Beis Hashoeva On 13th Ave Boro Park - video by Shezoli: Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE HERE, HERE, HERE & HERE.

Click HERE for some photos taken at Toldos Aharon (Credits: YWN Israel)

HaRav Avraham Yitzchak Kook, Rosh Yeshivas Meor HaTalmud in Rechovot inviting Gedolim in Bnei Brak to the chanukas habais of the new yeshiva building following sukkos. Click HERE for video & HERE for photos by Credit: S.B. Korn / Kuvien

Click HERE for photos taken at Bobov (48th Street) Simchas Bais Hashoeva. (Photos by Shimon Gifter)

Click HERE for Hoshana Rabba in Lakewood (multiple albums in link).

Simchas Beis HaShoeva with the Kaliver Rebbe in his beis medrash in Yerushalayim during Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5770 (Video credits: Joey Gottlieb / Kuvien). Click HERE for the video.

Click HERE for photos taken at Simchas Bais Hashoeva in Munkatch Sukka on the first night. (Photos by Shimon Gifter)

Click HERE for photos taken by Bobov on 14th Avenue (Photos by Shimon Gifter).

Hallel and Hoshanos with Rabbi Zev Leff at Ohel Wosk on Moshav Matityahu
Credit: Yehuda Boltshauser / Kuvien - Click HERE for the video.

Sanz Rebbe Sukkos 5770 - Click HERE for photos.

Rav Tzvi Elimelech Rokeach of Bais Mordchai D’Bertch - Click HERE for photos.

Chol Hamoed Sukkos in Liska - Click HERE for photos.

Mikimi Simchas Bais Hashoeva 5770 @ Chaim Solomon - Click HERE for photos.

Click HERE for a video taken on Thursday evening in Bnei Brak, as the Bnei Eretz Yisroel prepare for Hoshana Rabba - Yehuda Boltshauser / Kuvien for YWN.

Highlights from the 5770 Chol HaMoed Sukkos IsraLife / United Hatzalah concert featuring Yaakov Shwekey, Shloime Gertner, and the Shira Chadasha Boys Choir at the Jerusalem Theater (Refael Ovadia / Kuvien). Click HERE for video and HERE for photos.

Mayor Bloomberg visiting Boro Park on Chol Hamoed - Click HERE for a video of knocking on the door, and HERE for exclusive photos by Shimon Gifter for YWN.

NYS Governor David Paterson was welcomed into the Boro Park Jewish Community by NYS Assemblyman Dov Hikind at his Boro Park office - Click HERE, HERE, HERE, & HERE for videos by Shezoli, and click HERE for photos by Shimon Gifter.

Hoshana Rabba With Liska Rebbe - Click HERE for photos.

Skver Rebbe of BP on Sukkos 5770 - Click HERE for photos.

Westchester Hebrew Day School Visits Munkatcher Rebbe on Sukkos 5770 - Click HERE for photos.

Satmar Rebbe of KJ Hoshana Rabba - Click HERE for photos by Shmiel Gandelman Kosher-Photo.

Gerrer Rebbe On Hoshana Rabba - Click HERE for photos.

Sukkos & Obermeister Bris in Chaim Berlin - Click HERE for photos by Kosher-Photo Shmiel Gandelman.

Congregation Tiffereth Zvi (Cedarhurst), Hoshana Rabba Tisch - Click HERE for photos.

Litowisker Rav on Lower East Side Shaking Lulav - Click HERE for photos.

Seret Viznits on Motzei Simchas Torah  - Click HERE for photos by Bichadrei Charedim.

Oorah Simchas Bais Hashoeva - Click HERE & HERE for videos.

[VIDEO & PHOTO LINKS AT END OF ARTICLE]

On Wednesday evening, Chol Hamoed Sukkos, NYS Governor David Paterson was welcomed into the Boro Park Jewish Community by NYS Assemblyman Dov Hikind at his Boro Park office. Approximately 100 community members were on hand to welcome and show their support to the Governor.

Paterson also attended the outdoor Simchas Beis Hashoevah on 13th Avenue, where he spoke and danced with local residents.

Democratic nominee for City Comptroller John Liu, and Public Advocate candidate Bill DiBlasio, also attended and addressed the gathering.

VIDEO & PHOTO LINKS: Click HERE, HERE, HERE, & HERE for videos by Shezoli, and click HERE for photos by Shimon Gifter.

(Moshe Altusky - YWN)

City Councilman John C. Liu had a few harsh words on Monday for his opponent in Tuesday’s comptroller race, Councilman David Yassky. Mr. Liu, surrounded by cheering supporters, criticized Mr. Yassky for an advertisement that began running last week, and added that Mr. Yassky had run a “highly negative campaign.”

Mr. Yassky could not immediately respond, and for good reason: he was observing Yom Kippur.

Services had barely ended when Mr. Yassky’s campaign fired back. Danny Kanner, a spokesman for Mr. Yassky, said it was “unseemly” for Mr. Liu to attack while Mr. Yassky was “observing the holiest day of the year” for Jewish New Yorkers.

Mr. Yassky and Mark Green, a candidate for public advocate in Tuesday’s runoff election, were taking the day off from politicking, at least until sundown, when Yom Kippur ended. Mr. Green, in fact, had no plans to campaign at all on Monday, while Mr. Yassky planned to greet voters Monday evening at Fairway on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

But Mr. Liu and Councilman Bill de Blasio, Mr. Green’s opponent in the public advocate’s race, decided that the campaign must go on. The two non-Jewish candidates got things started on Monday morning with a joint appearance at an event attended by hundreds of retired union workers in Chelsea.

Both Mr. Liu and Mr. de Blasio, after whipping the crowd into a frenzy with chants and cheers, took pains to defend their presence on the campaign trail.

The fact that the last day before Tuesday’s runoff coincided with Yom Kippur was unintentional. By state law, the runoff had to be scheduled two weeks after the primary, so in this case the political and Hebrew calendars happened to intersect.

Mr. Liu released a light schedule with three or four planned events. By noon, Mr. de Blasio’s aides said they were not sure whether he was campaigning in the afternoon. (They later added a campaign stop at the Grand Street subway station in Chinatown.)

A spokesman for Mr. de Blasio said that on the day after the primary two weeks ago, Mr. de Blasio began consulting Jewish elected officials and friends, including Assemblyman Dov Hikind, to make sure that it would be acceptable to campaign on Yom Kippur.

“We talked to a lot of our Jewish supporters,” Mr. de Blasio said on Monday, explaining that he had been told it would be “perfectly appropriate” to campaign - as long as he did not call, send mailers or campaign in heavily Jewish neighborhoods.

He also said that he did not intend to go negative. “I think it’s also important to keep a positive tone,” Mr. de Blasio said.

Juanita Scarlett, a spokeswoman for Mr. Liu, said Mr. Liu had also consulted several prominent Jewish supporters about campaign etiquette on Yom Kippur. She declined to name the supporters, but in recent days, Mr. Liu has been endorsed by Mr. Hikind and Satmar leaders in the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Williamsburg and Borough Park.

Ms. Scarlett said that as part of the “muted” schedule, Mr. Liu was not campaigning in Jewish neighborhoods, and volunteers were not knocking on doors in those areas.

Earlier Monday, Mr. Liu, surrounded by a group of enthusiastic Chinese retirees in Chelsea, called Yom Kippur “a solemn day for many New Yorkers, and we are certainly very respectful of that.”

Is it fair, one reporter asked Mr. Liu, to “to take shots at someone who’s observing a holiday because he can’t fire back?”

Mr. Liu said his complaints were nothing new, and he countered: “Is it fair to start a smear campaign with just a few days left before the actual election?”

Note: It has been brought to YWN’s attention that one of the Satmar factions led by the leaders of  UJCare has endorsed John Liu for Comptroller. While the other Satmar faction led by the leaders of the UJO of Williamsburg has endorsed David Yassky for Comptroller. As far as we’re concerned, the most important thing is that you vote today!

(Source: NY Times / YWN Desk)

As part of a community service and chesed program, Yeshiva Simchas Chaim in conjunction with Bikur Cholim of Boro Park, is offering to build Sukkahs free of charge for those who are unable to build one on their own.

Yeshiva Simchas Chaim is a yeshiva which opened this September in Brooklyn, NY. Under the guidance of prominent rabbonim and experienced professionals the yeshiva seeks to fill a tremendous need in the Brooklyn Jewish community. The yeshiva is geared toward boys in eleventh and twelfth grade who have struggled while in other yeshivos in both hashkafic views and learning style. Yeshiva Simchas Chaim seeks to reach today’s generation of struggling teens in a manner that is effective and innovative; they bring the teen to the table as an equal partner in his development and growth, allowing them to begin to take an interest and some element of control over their own lives and set out on the path of becoming a respectable and productive member of his community and a ben Torah. The yeshiva offers an individualized learning program with classes and discussions that are designed to emphasize the beauty of yiddishkeit and its relevance to daily living, in addition to a therapy program featuring both individual and group therapy, and a vocational training and GED program. These three programs are supervised by R’ Elchonon Schwarz, Yoni Hikind LMSW, and Yisroel Tabi respectively.

A particularly timely community project will take place during their bein hazmanim period, where the students, under the supervision of the yeshiva’s teachers and rebbeim will be volunteering to build sukkahs in the Boro Park and Flatbush areas for those in need. The Bikur Cholim of Boro Park, a tremendous chesed organization will help pair up families in need of this service, be it due to illness, age or other personal reasons, with the student program.

Those seeking further information can call Yeshiva Simchas Chaim at 646-671-3587.

(YWN Desk - NYC)

As YWN has reported, a Topeka-based hate group (Westboro Baptist Church) is targeting Brooklyn Jews with a barrage of hate-filled demonstrations this week.

The anti-Semitic, anti-gay organization plans to picket five Shuls in Brooklyn this coming Shabbos, the day before Yom Kippur. The group is on a four-day visit to New York, where they’ll demonstrate at 19 locations, mostly synagogues, around the city and Long Island - including Great Neck.

They plan to assemble on sidewalks and sing anti-Jewish songs and display signs with slogans such as “God Hates Jews” and “America is Doomed.”

Hate-filled members of the group say that they have now decided to target Jews in Brooklyn because “there are 1.6 million Jews in New York and Brooklyn so we need to go there.”

The first of the five Shuls the group plans to picket on Shabbos is Cong. Shomrei Emunah in Boro Park.

Many anonymous emails & text messages are going around the community, with one of them reading: (unedited) “Hitler is coming to town. plz come out and show your support for us jews at 14th ave and 52nd street. at 830 shobbes morning. me yichye umi yumis….. plz pass it on people have to know whats going on”

YWN spoke with NYS Assemblyman Dov Hikind today about the Boro Park demonstration.

“My office has recieved more calls about this, than almost any other issue that I can remember,” Hikind said.

“People are very concerned, and rightfully so. I was driving down Canal Street in Manhattan on Thursday and came across the group with their anti-Semitic and hate-filled posters demonstrating. It absolutely sickened me.

“I plan on walking in from Flatbush to Boro Park on Shabbos morning to make sure that this thing does not get out of control. I would like nothing more than to see this demonstration go peacefully, and I will just be the only Jew standing there. Although it hurts and pains me to see this sick group specifically protest in Boro Park (a neighborhood filled with Holocaust survivors) just one day before Yom Kippur, I still hope that no Jews show up to confront them.”

Rabbi Beirish Freilich told YWN “I strongly urge people in the community to ignore the small group of protesters, and not even walk near the demonstration. It can only lead to a Chillul Hashem!”

Simcha Felder tells YWN that upon consulting with a prominent Gadol, he was instructed to tell people not to walk near the protest whatsoever.

Highly credible sources tell YWN that the NYPD will have a zero-tolerance level on both sides, and urge everyone to not break the law, and remain calm. Additionally NYPD tells YWN that people would be better off not coming to counter-protest, as they will just be giving them a “platform” and will encourage them to return to Boro Park again.

(Yehuda Drudgestein - YWN)

Topeka-based hate group Westboro Baptist Church is targeting Brooklyn Jews with a barrage of hate-filled demonstrations this week.

“These guys are really sick; they’re filled with hatred for Jews and a lot of other people,” said Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Borough Park). “We have to make their lives miserable when they come to Brooklyn.”

The anti-Semitic, anti-gay organization plans to picket five synagogues in the borough this coming Shabbos, the day before Yom Kippur. The group is on a four-day visit to New York, where they’ll demonstrate at 19 locations, mostly synagogues, around the city and Long Island.

They will start today at Brooklyn Tech High School in Fort Greene to bring their message to students.

The group’s members think the end of the world is coming, and frequently picket churches, temples and even funerals to try to spread their beliefs.

About 10 extremists drove from Topeka to New York for this week’s demonstrations. They plan to assemble on sidewalks and sing anti-Jewish songs and display signs with slogans such as “God Hates Jews” and “America is Doomed.”

“We’re not looking for any welcome wagon,” said Shirley Phelps-Roper, 57, a Westboro organizer. “We just hope the police will keep the peace.”

She said the group has visited New York for protests 34 times since 1994, and has never had a violent incident.

Westboro members have visited Brooklyn twice previously, most recently to picket the Christian Cultural Center on Flatlands Ave. in 2006. They have now decided to target Jews in the borough because “there are 1.6 million Jews in New York and Brooklyn so we need to go there,” Phelps-Roper said.

The first of the five temples the group plans to picket on Saturday is Shomrei Emunah in Borough Park.

“I’ll be there, and so will many members of the Jewish community,” said Hikind. “I think there will be a lot of anger.”

The police have been notified of the group’s plan to picket Shomrei Emunah and the other sites.

Borough President Marty Markowitz, City Councilman Bill de Blasio, Rabbi Andy Bachman of Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, community leader and politician Brad Lander and the Lambda Independent Democrats issued a joint statement yesterday that read, in part:

“While we support the right to peacefully gather, we must denounce hate in any form - especially hate from a fanatic cult based in Kansas that has shamefully selected these sacred days observed by the Jewish community around the world to spew its intolerance.”

The hate-filled group will also be protesting at Shuls in Great Neck.

(Source: NY Daily News)

Joining the ranks of other stalwart supporters like former State Comptroller H. Carl McCall, Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) has indicated that he intends to support Governor Paterson should the Governor decide to seek re-election in 2010.

“Governor Paterson has long been a friend to me and to the community I represent. More than that, I truly believe that David is capable of leading New York State in the right direction,” said Hikind. “There is no question that he has had a difficult first year, but all transitions are hard. I believe the Governor is entitled to the benefit of the doubt, and more importantly, he is due respect from his colleagues.”

Hikind continued, “The Governor has worked under extremely trying circumstances, and I am confident he will continue to work to resolve this state’s most challenging issues. I look forward to supporting his candidacy if he chooses to run for re-election in 2010.”

(YWN Desk - NYC)

On Thursday, September 10, 2009, Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn), in conjunction with leading medical experts, will host an H1N1 Community Forum to address growing concerns about the swine flu, which, according to former New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden, has already spread throughout all five New York City boroughs. The H1N1 Forum will take place at Beth Jacob of Boro Park located at 1371 46th Street at 6:30PM.

Authorities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed that the H1N1 virus has infected more than one million Americans to date and claimed over 300 lives nationwide, 64 of whom were New York residents. Certain groups are considered to be at high risk of serious complications. These include persons 65 years and older, children younger than five years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions.

“Considering all the speculation and fear surrounding the H1N1 virus, there is no doubt that there is a great need for this kind of forum,” Hikind said. “This lecture is intended to be an educational public service. Without the facts, misinformation may prove to be as deadly as the H1N1 virus itself.”

Renowned board-certified pediatrician, author, and professor of medicine, Dr. Stuart Ditchek will present, as will Mr. Michael A. Congo, MPH, Certified Health Education Specialist with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. There will be time allotted for a question-and-answer session. “I really encourage everyone to attend the forum to learn more about how to best protect themselves and their loved ones from contracting this potentially deadly virus,” Hikind added. 

For more information about this event, please contact the Office of Assemblyman Dov Hikind at 718.853.9616.

(YWN Desk - NYC)

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) has announced he will travel with former Arkansas Republican Governor Mike Huckabee to Israel next week for a three-day trip to demonstrate their support for a united Jerusalem and their belief that Jews have the right to live anywhere, including Judea and Samaria.

Huckabee, who once said he supports the notion of a Palestinian state in Egypt or Saudi Arabia, has long been a vocal proponent of Israel, and of Jews’ right to reside anywhere within the Jewish state.

“I am thrilled to be accompanying the Governor on this politically significant and extremely important trip,” Hikind said. “His presence will certainly strengthen the residents who are facing the possibility of eviction due to President Obama’s incessant pressure on the Israeli government to dismantle Jewish settlements.”
 
Hikind and Huckabee will be joining Dr. Joseph Frager, Chairman of American Friends of Ateret Cohanim and the facilitator of this trip, as well as Mr. Rubin Margules, Zionist Organization of America Brooklyn Regional President. The itinerary includes visits to Jerusalem’s Old City, Ma’aleh Adumim, and Hebron, among other locations.

Hikind is in the process of rolling out a major campaign to bring thousands of American Jews to Judea and Samaria in mid-November to show support to the affected settlers.

(YWN Desk - NYC)

[UPDATE BELOW] There is a press conference scheduled for Tuesday morning in Brooklyn, where NYS Assemblyman Dov Hikind, and NYC Councilman Bill de Blasio will denounce comments made by Mayor Michael Bloomberg; which he allegedly compared NYS Senators to the Nazis YMS.
 
A highly credible source tells YWN that the incident is not exactly as they are saying, and told us the following piece of information as what actually transpired when the Mayor allegedly made this comparison.
 
The press conference was held outdoors on a pier over the New York Harbor in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and more than once two reporters asked questions or spoke at the same time, not hearing each other. While the New York 1 reporter’s question is clearly audible on the recording made by the reporter sitting next to her, neither the Mayor nor many other people present heard her ask about Nazis. And at the same time, the Mayor’s Press Secretary was loudly asking reporters if they had other topics they needed to ask the Mayor about. Despite not having fully heard the reporter’s question, the Mayor answered what she thought he’d asked about: whether on his Friday radio show he had in fact compared the process of never-ending negotiations to Neville Chamberlain. Since he’d done just that, he said he had.
 
While the audio being circulated on the Internet was recorded by a blog reporter sitting next to the TV reporter, the Mayor was standing some 25 feet away.

Click HERE for the video.

Meanwhile, the following statements were released by Hikind & de Blasio:

“Comparing State Senators to Nazis is completely beyond the pale, even for this Mayor. As a public school parent I believe it is vital that we pass a reformed version of Mayoral Control, but I cannot understand why our Mayor believes insulting Holocaust survivors with a flippant remarks is a productive way to achieve this goal. Mayor Bloomberg should immediately apologize to millions of families who lost loved ones in the Holocaust for his unbelievably insensitive remarks. We should be working productively with Albany to create Mayoral Control that gives a voice to public school parents, not engaging in offensive name calling that degrades Holocaust survivors,” said Bill de Blasio.
 
“The Mayor’s recent comments likening state senators to Nazis are inexcusable and hurtful. His remarks show a complete lack of sensitivity, and an absolute ignorance of history. The Mayor’s outburst sends a message that is utterly unacceptable. It is incumbent upon Mayor Bloomberg to immediately apologize for his hateful tirade to all New Yorkers, especially the Jewish community,” said Assemblyman Dov Hikind.
 
It’s highly impossible that Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Jew, would compare anyone to the Nazis.

UPDATE: HIKIND & DE BLASIO CANCEL TODAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE IN WAKE OF PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH MAYOR BLOOMBERG

In light of a personal conversation with the Mayor, Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) and Councilman Bill de Blasio (D-Brooklyn) have cancelled their scheduled press conference denouncing Mayor Bloomberg’s alleged remarks likening New York State Senators to the Nazis. The Mayor reiterated that he did not hear the reporter’s question which led to this regrettable flap.

“After personally speaking with the Mayor, I became convinced that he did not hear the question which the NY1 reporter posed to him,” Hikind said. “In this case, I have decided to give the Mayor the benefit of the doubt. But this unfortunate incident is a prime example of why we all need to be more cautious about what we say publicly.”

(Dov Gordon - YWN)

A recent rash of constituent reports involving mystery shopping, alleged monetary windfalls, “free grants” and other financial scams has prompted Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) to push for tougher consumer protection laws. Hikind is concerned about what he sees as a burgeoning industry preying on countless innocent people, many of whom are unemployed or in dire financial straits. Hikind has written to Attorney General Cuomo to request an investigation into this upsurge.

“Unfortunately, in this economy, many people are feeling the crushing despair of debt,” Hikind noted. “These scams offer a welcome respite from that, causing otherwise reasonable people to buy into offers they know are really too good to be true. New Yorkers have to be better protected from these kinds of deceptive practices.”

The latest scam to come to the Assemblyman’s attention is particularly egregious because the solicitation contains a check in the amount of $2,987.75 (pictured above) which is drawn on a Park Avenue Bank account. The check appears to be perfectly authentic, right down to its security watermark on the reverse side.

All that is required is for the unsuspecting victim to deposit the check into their personal account, and then act as a “customer service evaluator” or a “mystery shopper” at any Western Union location to “evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the payment system you choose to visit.” Participants must then wire $2367.00 to their “training agent” via Western Union. For each mystery shopping task completed, a payment of a few hundred dollars is promised, along with assurances of future assignments and higher salaries. In reality, once the scammer’s check is deposited into a victim’s bank account, the victim’s funds are stolen within a matter of days. Hikind contacted Park Avenue Bank and was told that while the account is real, a hold has been placed on it until further notice.

“Ultimately, consumer protection is about vigilance,” said Hikind. “People need to do their research before accepting any sort of unsolicited offer, and they should avail themselves of the wealth of resources available in order to make an educated decision.”

For more information or to file a complaint, Hikind urges consumers to contact the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs by dialing 311 or the Office of the New York State Attorney General Consumer Helpline at: 1-800-771-7755.

(YWN Desk - NYC)

Click HERE for photos taken at Sunday’s fundraiser on behalf of NYS Assemblyman Dov Hikind attended by many officials including NYS Governor David Paterson. It was held at the home of Daniel & Rachel Lifschutz (Lawrence, NY).