Yehuda Shaffer, a lifelong Crown Heights resident and veteran Hatzalah member (CH-97), has announced his candidacy for New York City Council in District 41, a diverse area that includes Remsen Village, Brownsville, and parts of Crown Heights and East Flatbush.

Shaffer, a proud Lubavitcher, brings 12 years of emergency response experience to the campaign trail and a message: it’s time for the Jewish community to take its place at the table.

“Recent events have shown us that we cannot depend on others to speak up for us,” Shaffer wrote in a letter addressed to local residents. “We must stand up for ourselves—and now is that time.”

With hundreds of new Lubavitch families settling in the district in recent years, Shaffer’s campaign emphasizes both representation and collaboration. “No community can thrive at the expense of another,” he said. “Our goal must be to strengthen our neighborhoods while building bridges with those around us.”

Shaffer is seeking to make history as the first Lubavitcher elected in this district, and says he is running to ensure safe streets, accessible healthcare, and equity for all residents.

His campaign is currently in its initial phase, focused on gathering signatures and raising $5,000 in early fundraising. He is urging supporters to help in four key areas: signing his petition, contributing to his campaign, spreading the word among neighbors, and ultimately voting.

“The odds may be stacked against us,” Shaffer says, “but with unity and resolve, we can win—and make a real difference.”

For more information or to get involved, visit yehudashaffer.com.

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