(Click HERE for photos) This year a few days before Pesach, YWN posted a lengthy list of locations for people to burn their Chometz. Most important, were the locations in Williamsburg and Boro Park – which unfortunately have R”L seen many serious injuries [such as burns] in previous years.

This year, the locations in Williamsburg and Boro Park were manned by the dedicated volunteers of Shomrim and Chaveirim, and Boruch Hashem, there was not one incident reported by Hatzolah or the FDNY.

This concept – which has been in operation in Williamsburg for the past four years without any injuries – was originally founded by Harry Kahan, a Williamsburg Hatzolah Paramedic. His cause for starting this concept, was after 20+ families spent their Pesach Seder (five years ago) in a NYC Burn Center R”L.

The communities owe a dept of Hakoras Hatov (gratitude) to FDNY Assistant Chief Edward Kilduff, Deputy Commissioner Community Affairs of Mayor Bloomberg Jarrod N. Bernstein, Assistant Commissioner of Community Affairs of Mayor Bloomberg Fred Kreizman, the NYPD Precinct Commanders, the Community Affairs Officers of the 66, 70, 79, 88, and 90 precincts, and the NYC Sanitation Department.

A special Hakoras Hatov must be publicly given to the Williamsburg Shomrim Patrol, most notably Yanky Itzkowitz (Shomrim Coordinator), noted Askan Avrumi Rosenberg, the Boro Park Shomrim Patrol, most notably Simcha Bernad (Shomrim Coordinator), and Chaveirim Volunteers, most notably Chaim Fleischer.

Additionally, a special note of thanks must be given to Rabbi Bernard Freilich, special assistant to the Superintendent of the NY State Police, the Misaskim Organization, the local NYC Councilman, and Rabbi Edgar Gluck for arranging extra sanitation pick-up on Erev Pesach in Boro Park.

(Yehuda Drudgestein)