Borough Park

Music

Future of legendary Hasidic cantor at storied synagogue uncertain after injury

Over a six-decade career, Cantor Benzion Miller has been one of the last vestiges of cantorial music’s golden age, his synagogue services one of the best-kept secrets in the city’s Jewish musical life

Borough Park

Second teen suicide in under three weeks rocks Brooklyn Hasidic community

In a tearful eulogy, Satmar rebbe of Williamsburg, Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, called on the community to reflect on these tragedies, and for each community member to also “make an individual accounting” on what must be done to prevent such incidents

Music

AUDIO FEATURE: Hasidic artists in Brooklyn bring the golden age of cantorial music into the digital age

A new book by Jeremiah Lockwood, a musician and Jewish Studies scholar, explores the world of young Hasidic cantorial artists, who have mastered the vocal techniques of the great cantors of a century ago

Israel

U.S. Haredi leadership find consensus in lamenting Israel’s yeshiva draft changes

Leading Satmar newspapers decried the change using dramatic headlines and heated rhetoric, while the Agudah called the new rules a “war on the Torah”

Elections

Democratic primary results show nearly a third in one largely Haredi district reject Biden

In Assembly District 48, which includes most of Borough Park and parts of Midwood, results showed 20% chose Dean Philips and another 12% chose Marianne Williamson

Legislation

New bill would exempt matzah bakeries, other restaurants from environmental rule

Staten Island Assemblyman proposes bill to exempt matzah bakeries, pizzerias from environmental rule that constitutes “discrimination against ethnic restaurants”

Politics

Mayor Adams Jewish liaison Joel Eisdorfer sued over failed business deal

The deal to buy a restaurant was nixed after Eisdorfer’s $300,000 deposit check bounced, but the real estate agent is still suing for his broker fee

Borough Park

Fire at Borough Park synagogue leaves five people hospitalized, with three in serious condition

The fire broke out in the Stavnitz rabbi’s home, above the synagogue he leads, and was caused by a cooking accident

Yeshivas

Judges hear oral arguments in state’s appeal against yeshiva advocates

At issue is whether the state can institute enforcement mechanisms for the regulations it sets for nonpublic schools, including yeshivas

Yeshivas

Haredi leaders call for ‘major day of prayer’ against state intervention in Haredi schools

Oral arguments are set to take place today between the state government and Haredi advocates

Community

New Jersey State Police remove Satmar chaplain embroiled in lawsuit with his brother

The removal came days after the dispute, involving accusations of social media impersonation and defamation, spilled into public view

Holidays

For a holiday marked by generosity, banks across Borough Park stock up on cash

For Purim giving, banks provide for everyone’s preferences — half-dollar coins, two-dollar bills, hundreds and fifties