COMMNUITY HIGHLIGHTS

Community Highlights  

Flatbush Community Mourns Tragic Crash
A beautiful, sunny, and warm Shabbos afternoon was shattered on March 29 by a 1 P.M. car crash that devastated a Jewish family. A driver with a suspended license due to 20 speed-camera violations and five red-light tickets struck the family. Mrs. Natasha (Sara) Saada and her two daughters, Diana (7) and Debra (5), were returning home from a kiddush at a local synagogue. According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, an Uber driver in a Toyota Camry collided with an Audi, causing the Audi to plow into a crosswalk at Quentin Road and Ocean Parkway, resulting in the deaths of the mother and two daughters. The 4-year-old son, Pinchos Raphael, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The father, Sidney Saada, was at home at the time, caring for their infant son, Jacob. Hatzolah and other emergency personnel acted swiftly to provide aid to the victims at the scene. May Hashem grant the family strength and healing in this time of unimaginable sorrow. 

Marine Park Residents Protest NineDot Coming to the Neighborhood

Recently, a heated community board meeting took place, where locals, elected officials, and neighboring residents voiced their concerns and objections to NineDot Energy, an energy storage company, setting up a battery storage facility at 2138-52 Flatbush Ave. The 14-megawatt system is intended to benefit Marine Park, as Con Edison has identified the area as one that frequently experiences brownouts and blackouts. Sam Brill, the Vice President of Strategic Development at NineDot, stated that the facility would be a positive step forward, helping the community transition away from fossil fuels. However, this explanation did little to ease the concerns of those present, with some warning that the facility could turn Marine Park into a “mini Chernobyl” if the batteries were to ignite.

Council Member Mercedes Narcisse and Assembly Member Jaime Williams attended the meeting and clarified that while the site is not funded with state dollars, NineDot does receive tax exemptions from the New York City Industrial Development Agency. They promised to investigate ensuring that those exemptions are not granted. Additional protests are already being planned to send a strong message that NineDot is not welcome in Marine Park.

Eichenstein Opposes Homeless Shelter in Boro Park
NYS Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, whose district includes Boro Park, sent a strong letter to Mayor Eric Adams and Molly Park, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Social Services, opposing a proposal to convert two buildings at the corner of 10th Avenue and 50th Street into a homeless shelter for 80 families. In his letter, Eichenstein criticized the city for failing to inform local elected officials and community leaders about the proposal. While acknowledging the need for housing for the city’s homeless population, Eichenstein argued that the proposed shelter in Boro Park would negatively impact the safety of his constituents.

Flatbush Satmar Bikur Cholim Spring Tea
The Annual Flatbush Satmar Bikur Cholim Spring Tea will be held at Ateres Chynka Hall on May 13. The group’s mission is to provide care and compassion year-round by driving patients to doctors and hospitals, visiting patients in hospitals and homebound individuals, and preparing meals for temporarily disabled homemakers. The event will honor Rebbetzin Nechumi Rabinovich. Memorial tributes will also be given to Rebbetzin Mirel Rubin, Ethel Hirsch, Moshe Semel, Esther Halberstam, Hindy Hilman, and Edith Reichman of blessed memory. Other honorees include Dr. Ramin Sadeghpour (Physician of the Year) and Dr. Jeffrey Ratz (Rofeh Cholim Award).

SNAP Scam Targets Brooklyn and Lakewood
Thousands of Jewish families in Brooklyn and Lakewood have been victimized by scammers who have stolen their SNAP (food stamp) benefits. This scam has also affected tens of thousands of non-Jewish SNAP recipients. Managers at Jewish stores suspect that skimming devices have been placed on checkout terminals, recording the card numbers and PINs of victims. Those with SNAP benefits are advised to inspect payment terminals before swiping their cards, change their PINs regularly, and use an app from the New York Human Resource Administration to lock their SNAP cards when not in use.

Chasdei Lev Packs Pesach Packages for Rebbeim
Over 500 volunteers of all ages came together with Chasdei Lev on Rosh Chodesh Nisan to distribute large Pesach food packages to thousands of rebbeim, teachers, and their families in appreciation for their dedication to the community. The goal is to ensure that rebbeim can enter Yom Tov with peace of mind. Preparing for Yom Tov can be financially overwhelming, especially for rebbeim with large families who live on a typical salary. Chasdei Lev partners with yeshivos, manufacturers, and distributors to provide food and household necessities for Yom Tov in a dignified manner. Through a combination of donations and subsidies, as well as bulk purchasing power, they enable rebbeim to order large quantities of food and necessities at a significantly reduced cost.

Satmar Hosts Compliance Event for School Administrators
Following the recent shutdown of two Williamsburg yeshivos for violating regulations set by the NYS Department of Education, the Central United Talmudical Academy (Satmar mosdos) hosted an event at the Palace last month to help yeshivah and Bais Yaakov administrators learn how to ensure their schools comply with relevant state laws. Attorneys and CPAs, including Mr. Mitchell Silk, a former assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Treasury, and Brooklyn Law School Professor Aaron Twersky, spoke at the event. Professor Twersky emphasized, “Mosdos cannot afford the risk of multimillion-dollar fines or legal exposure. Proactive compliance is… imperative.”