Brooklyn, NY – With 100 percent of the votes counted in the Brooklyn’s 5th Judicial District as reported by WNYC, Brooklyn lawyer Ruchie Freier has become the first Chasidic woman judge in the New York State Supreme Court.
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Mrs. Freier, founder of Ezras Nashim, an all women’s volunteer ambulance corps serving portions of Brooklyn, handily beat opponents Mordechai Avigdor and Jill Epstein in the race for the civil judge position for the seat formerly held by Noach Dear, capturing 41 percent of the vote. She was trailed by Epstein with 35.2 percent and Avigdor with 23.6 of the vote.
Mrs. Freier won the endorsement of the Daily News and also the Jewish Press who hailed her as a role model for Orthodox Jewish young women and girls.
“I am absolutely honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to make a kiddush Hashem,” the 51 year old Mrs. Freier told VIN News.
Dave Schwartz ran unopposed in the race for Democratic district leader in the 48th Assembly District.
Schwartz was hand-picked by for the position by Assemblyman Dov Hikind who has served as minority leader for over a decade. Hikind praised Schwartz, his communications assistant, for his youthful energy and enthusiasm.
“We celebrated a great victory tonight,” said Hikind. “One of the things Duvy brings to the table is hundreds of young people. I think it is absolutely wonderful.”
The eyes of many a city dweller were turned northward tonight as members of New York City’s Orthodox Jewish community have been monitoring pivotal primary results in the Hudson Valley, with several important races held today.
NBC News has declared incumbent Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee the winner in the 97th Assembly District, easily beating back a challenge from Airmont planning board member Thomas Gulla by a margin of 30 percentage points, despite having been roundly criticized after her remarks on the Assembly floor in June 2015 stating that private school parents in the East Ramapo School District may have been ineligible to vote in school board election.
In the complicated four way race in the 98th Assembly District, incumbent Karl Brabenec survived a challenge from John Allegro, winning with 58 percent of the vote, while Chasidic Rockland County Legislator Aron Wieder beat Krystal Serrano in the Democratic primary with 60 percent of the vote. Wieder will also be running on the Independent line in November, after walloping Brabenec by 64 percentage points.
“I thank each and every single one of you for your support,” tweeted Wieder tonight after the final results came in. “Onward to November.”
Congrats Ruchi, this is great news.. the Charedi establishment who did not publicly endorse you, are sore losers.. lots of luck to you,.
Congratulations! So my vote wasn’t wasted.
I hope she has the courage to send Jewish litigants to Beit Din.
BTW I think it’s civil court not Supreme court.
The fact that she is a chasidic woman should not be a reason to endorse her.
Qualifications for the position should determine endorsement.
I don’t know her and I am sure she is a nice role model.
This type of reasoning leads down dark roads.
For example, we need equal blacks and whites or men and women on a board of directors.
That is asinine. Yes, you should try to get diversity. But diversity for diversities sake leads to incompetence and the eventual disintegration of the organization.
We should be touting her qualifications as a judge not her gender and ethnicity and cultural background.
You can’t promote a person or a cause to be fair.
Finally, in the private sector employers that need to make payroll employ the most qualified. It is public arenas that this type of illogical behavior occurs.
Ironically, when these experiments fail, it is the people that you wanted to help the most get hurt the most.
Asach Mazel & Bracha Mrs Frier! You are a true role model to the whole Klal Yisroel!
Mrs Frier has more accomplishment in one of her pinkies than most of the so called leaders in our circles.
To bad Jaffe lost, but yosher koach to all the rabbis who signed the psak that assered voting for all candidates that supported assisted suicide. Next time the chradi askonim should have listened to the rabbis and make assisted suicide the issue not $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Mazel tov and keep on being a role model for young women. Too bad I live out of your voting district because I would have enjoyed marking an “x” next to your name. Hatzlachah!
Congats Bentzi W. on your win Great victory, its a shame Jaffee won
Not Chareidi. Not Chasidic Not Orthodox, A violation of Torah and Halacha. As others have mentioned, women are isqualified as witnesses or judges. Even as witnesses or judges in goyishe courts.
רמב”ם הלכות מלכים פרק ט’ הלכה י”ד “אבל לא בעדות אשה ולא תדון אשה להם.
Maybe she can have someone challenge Greenfield next?
Personally, I believe Ruchie Freier should not sit on the Civil Court because she has the ability to be the next Esther Jungreis, and this is what our generation needs. However, so many of the above comments are simply so close minded and deplorable! She is a proud Chassidishe woman and I have no doubt is following the directive of her rabbonim. Just curtail all the jealousy and wish her well in what is her choice.
What judge freier should focus on. that if there is a dispute among’s chasidim she should chase them out of her court room and direct them to go to the Beth Din. Like her uncle Judge duvi smith did.
Mazel Tov! I was not even aware that she’s from a chasidic women. I knew her from EMS, as an eidle, humble, nice person, who was an wonderful, compassionate paramedic, a leader and a good attorney. She made a big kiddish Hashem in the tzniusdik way she behaves among frum, non frum and non Jewish people. Kudos to her, she earned it. I am certain that she’ll do a wonderful job as “Judge”. I can’t wait to call her “your honor”.