Articles By
Sandy Eller
Sandy Eller is a writer on human interest stories for VosIzNeias.
- Brooklyn, NY - Jewish Family Loses 2 Members In Fatal Belt Parkway Crash Yesterday 06:47 PM | 1 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A Jewish woman and her son in law have both been laid to rest after a two car Belt Parkway crash in Springfield Gardens near JFK Airport that occurred on Sunday. The NYPD said that the collision took place just before noon on the westbound side of the highway at Rockaway Boulevard when a 2018 Camry plowed into a 2015 GMC Yukon that was stopped on the roadway’s right shoulder... Read more »
- New York - Orange County Chooses Its First Chasidic Paramedic As Responder Of The Year June 25, 2019 12:10 PM | 6 Comments Orange County, NY - A Kiryas Joel paramedic was honored last night as ALS provider of the year by Orange County Department of Emergency Services, the first time a Chasidic individual has ever been selected to receive that award. KJ Hatzolah paramedic supervisor Avrohom Yitzchok Flohr, was hailed for responding to 350 mutual aid calls, responding to calls from local ambulance companies located... Read more »
- Kiryas Joel, NY - Dashcam Video Sought After Armed Robber Makes Off With Thousands In KJ Robbery June 20, 2019 08:30 PM | 7 Comments Kiryas Joel, NY - An investigation is underway in Kiryas Joel after a late afternoon armed robbery that had an unknown suspect making off with approximately $20,000 to $30,000 in cash. Sources told VIN News that the knifepoint robbery took place at approximately 5 PM on Dinev Road. The victim is believed to operate a mobile check cashing business out of his car. The suspect between 30 and... Read more »
- Queens, NY - African American Prisoner Turned Advocate Makes Gravesite Visit To Thank Lubavitcher Rebbe June 20, 2019 11:09 AM | 2 Comments Queens, NY - A Nashville man who is believed to be the first person released under President Donald Trump’s First Step Act visited Cambria Heights this week to express his gratitude to the Lubavitcher Rebbe who spoke publicly decades ago about the importance of using prison as a vehicle for rehabilitation, not punishment. A career offender with multiple convictions on various charges... Read more »
- New York - Elite Manhattan Philanthropists Identified As Key Funders Of Anti-Vax Movement June 19, 2019 01:14 PM | 4 Comments New York - With the New York area’s Jewish community still facing repercussions and acts of hostility because of the latest measles outbreak, a new report has identified a wealthy Manhattan couple as a significant source of funding for the anti-vaccination movement. According to a report today by the Washington Post (https://wapo.st/2XmaY8W), Bernard and Lisa Selz have been contributing... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Midwood Arsonist Arraigned, Denied Bail, Due Back In Court On Friday June 17, 2019 12:13 AM | 16 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A Kings County Criminal Court judge refused to set bail for the man accused of setting fire to the occupied home of a Flatbush rabbi, instead announcing that he would be arraigned in front of a grand jury later this week. 42 year old Menachem Karelefsky of McKeesport, Pennsylvania smiled during his arraignment Sunday night, with prosecutors telling the judge that he was in... Read more »
- Jerusalem - From A NY Neturei Kartunic To The IDF Military: Israeli Policeman Shares His Personal Journey June 16, 2019 12:00 PM | 43 Comments Jerusalem - He actively demonstrated against the State of Israel as a child, burning Israeli flags and criticizing the IDF, but today Zalman Schwartz is a 22 year old member of the Israel Border Police who has successfully foiled a terror attack. In an interview with Yediot Aharonot (http://bit.ly/2KlUk3c), the 22 year old Schwartz said that he grew up in Monsey as a member of the Neturei... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Police: Pittsburgh Man Arrested, Charged With Attempted Murder In Torching Of Flatbush Rabbi’s Home June 16, 2019 09:16 AM | 5 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A 41 year old Pennsylvania man has been charged in the fast moving Thursday morning Midwood fire that caused massive damage to three houses and left multiple families homeless. Menachem Karelefsky of McKeesport was arrested by the NYPD at approximately 1:30 this morning and charged with two counts of Attempted murder and one count of arson. A former student at Yeshiva Rabbi... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - 12 Hurt In Massive Midwood Fire That Torched At Least Three Homes; Arson Suspected, Police Looking For Suspect June 13, 2019 08:21 AM | 14 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A massive fire in the Midwood section of Brooklyn torched at least three buildings early Thursday morning, injuring at least 12 people, including a baby. The fire broke out just after 4 AM on E17th Street near Avenue O at the two-family home of Rabbi Jonathan Max, and quickly jumped to both neighboring houses. “There is no question that everyone is alive today because the... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - City Residents Give Mt. Sinai Thumbs Down For Overly Loud Ambulance Sirens June 4, 2019 04:12 PM | 10 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A New York City network of hospitals has found itself in the media spotlight, with city residents complaining about the volume level of its distinctive ambulance sirens. Mt. Sinai Hospital, which has four locations in Manhattan, as well as one in Queens and one in Flatbush, switched to European-style high-low tone sirens approximately 18 months ago, reported WNYC... Read more »
- New York - PHOTOS: Marching In Celebrate Israel Parade, Cuomo Pledges Solidarity To Jewish Community, Announces Upcoming Israel Trip June 2, 2019 05:51 PM | 13 Comments New York - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was among the 40,000 people who marched in the five hour long Celebrate Israel parade which began at 11 AM Sunday morning at 57th Street and continued north until 74th Street. Thousands of onlookers lined the streets, many waving Israeli flags, cheering and waving as the many schools, organizations, marching bands, bands, floats and special performers... Read more »
- Monsey NY - Rockland County Exec Pops In To Show Support For Chasidic Business Owner Bombarded By Threats Over Measles Interview May 29, 2019 03:29 PM | 23 Comments Rockland County, NY - A Spring Valley children’s play center got a surprise visit yesterday from Rockland County Executive Ed Day who dropped in to express his support for the business’s Chasidic owner who reported being threatened and harassed after expressing his pro-vaccination views in a CNN interview. Day said that he seen a News 12 story (http://bit.ly/2VYoYRl) reporting that Shimon... Read more »
- Milwaukee, WI - Long Time Pillar Of Milwaukee Community Killed In Horrific Crash,Remembered At Tearful Funeral May 28, 2019 07:57 PM | 7 Comments Milwaukee, WI - Grieving mourners turned out this afternoon to pay their final respects to a beloved member of Milwaukee’s Jewish community who died Monday afternoon in a fiery highway crash. 61 year old Todd Miller was heading north on Highway 145 just before noon when his minivan barreled head on into the protective barriers on the side of the roadway, reported the Journal Sentinel... Read more »
- Brussels - After Historic Election, Belgian Parliament To Welcome Its First Charedi Jew May 26, 2019 09:43 PM | 1 Comments Brussels - It was one for the record books in Belgium as the country elected its first Charedi Jew to Parliament. Michael Freilich ran on a ticket headed by Antwerp Mayor Bart De Wever, reported Arutz Sheva (http://bit.ly/30KingS). Freilich’s win in the Flanders region of the country was part of a significant victory for the right wing New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) party said Politico... Read more »
- Jerusalem - Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Sefarim Library Miraculously Mostly Intact Despite Fire That Destroyed Israeli Moshav May 26, 2019 09:42 AM | 0 Comments Jerusalem - Residents returning to inspect the damage after a Central Israeli town was nearly burned to the ground were amazed to discover an entire room of seforim that were somehow spared by the flames. The books belonged to the town’s founder, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, who passed away in 1994. The discovery was reported by Arutz Sheva (http://bit.ly/2VT0uJk), which joined residents of Mevo... Read more »
- Williamsburg, NY - Dual Investigations Launched As Uber Driver Makes Measles Comment To Chasidic Woman May 24, 2019 12:11 PM | 11 Comments Brooklyn, NY - Yet another Chasidic Williamsburg resident found themselves the subject of harassment in connection with the ongoing measles outbreak, as an Uber driver reportedly made an obscenity laden measles-related remark to a 23 year old female passenger on Thursday. The woman and her husband, who chose to be identified only by their last name, Krausz, and declined to share their first... Read more »
- New York - NYPD Releases Footage Of Suspect Sought For Possibly Years Of Subway Brake-Pulling May 23, 2019 03:55 PM | 0 Comments New York - Hoping to catch the person or persons responsible for pulling the emergency brakes on MTA subway trains, disrupting service for thousands of commuters, the NYPD has released surveillance footage showing a person wanted in question with an incident that took place on May 21st. Police said that the unknown suspect gained access to the rear cab of a northbound 2 train. After opening... Read more »
- Jerusalem - Choosing Technology Over Spirituality: IDF Says ‘No Thanks’ to Tunnel-Finding Kabalistic Rabbi May 22, 2019 12:05 PM | 3 Comments Jerusalem - Its insistence on relying solely on technology and intelligence to identify hidden tunnels has had the IDF refusing to make use of a “secret weapon” that has successfully pinpointed multiple subterranean passages well ahead of the Israeli army for several years – a 50 year old kabalistic rabbi who lives in the Galil. According to a report published in The Times of Israel... Read more »
- New York - Fed Up With Misconceptions About Anti-Vaxxing Chasidim, Times Square Billboard Goes On The Offensive May 21, 2019 03:41 PM | 17 Comments New York - Hoping to counter misinformation about vaccination rates in the Chasidic community, a Rockland County based public affairs group has taken out a Times Square billboard assuring passersby that nearly all Chasidim immunize their children and asking them if they do as well. The billboard, located above the marquee at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, is short and to the point, stating... Read more »
- Jerusalem - Report: Litzman Used His Influence To Protect Many Convicted Sex Offenders And Others May 17, 2019 02:00 PM | 12 Comments Jerusalem - A high ranking Israeli official once again finds himself in the hot seat after being accused of using his influence to obtain privileges for imprisoned sex offenders, an unknown number of which hail from the Charedi community. The Times of Israel (http://bit.ly/2VrRPND) cited a Channel 13 report that charged Deputy Health Minister MK Yaakov Litzman with advocating for convicted... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Teenage Yeshiva Boy Dies In Horrific Bike Accident In BP May 15, 2019 07:17 PM | 8 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A 16 year old boy was killed late this afternoon in a tragic accident that took place on 17th Avenue near 53rd Street. Police said that the boy was riding his bicycle just after 5:30 when he was struck by a vehicle after he swerved to avoid the opening door of a parked car. Rescue crews rushed to the scene, where the overturned bicycle could be seen laying on the roadway. He... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Farah Louis Wins 45th District City Council Seat May 14, 2019 11:00 PM | 2 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A hotly contested race to fill an empty City Council seat has been unofficially called by the New York City board of elections, with Farah Louis beating out seven other contenders to represent the 45th District. The district, which includes Midwood, Marine Park, parts of Flatbush, East Flatbush, Canarsie and Flatlands, had been previously represented by Jumaane Williams. ... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Watch: Turning To A Lantzman, City Appeals To Chasidic Holdouts With New Pro-Vaccination Video May 14, 2019 07:30 PM | 8 Comments Brooklyn, NY - Hoping to boost immunization rates and halt the measles outbreak that has continued spreading throughout the city’s Jewish neighborhoods, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office has released a pro-vaccination video featuring a well known member of the Chasidic community. The just over one minute long clip has Alexander Rapaport, executive director of the Masbia soup kitchen network... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Four Year Jail Term For Reichberg In NYPD Bribery Scheme May 13, 2019 02:12 PM | 11 Comments Brooklyn, NY - Four months after he was first found guilty on multiple counts of bribery and conspiracy to commit honest services fraud involving police officials, Jeremy Reichberg has been sentenced to four years in prison plus two year of supervised release. Reichberg had been facing a maximum sentence of 65 years. Word of Reichberg’s sentence, initially scheduled to be handed down last... Read more »
- Williamsburg , NY - Hit And Run Driver Seen In Shocking Video Striking Pregnant Woman Arrested May 12, 2019 09:16 AM | 13 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A Crown Heights man is under arrest in a serious hit and run accident last week that sent a pregnant Chasidic woman to the hospital. Police said that 27 year old Rahleek Odom of 1010 President Street was arrested on Thursday in connection with the incident that took place a day earlier at approximately 2:50 PM at the intersection of Lee Avenue and Middleton Street. Police... Read more »
- Williamsburg, NY - NYPD Releases Footage Of Suspects In 2 Anti-Semitic Assaults As Emergency Meeting Scheduled For Tomorrow May 9, 2019 12:20 PM | 10 Comments Williamsburg, NY - One day after reports surfaced of an attack against an obviously Chasidic man, the NYPD has released footage of suspects wanted in two separate anti-Semitic incidents that took place in Williamsburg, hoping that the public will help them identify the perpetrators. As previously reported on VIN News (http://bit.ly/2V7TOGV), a 39 year old Chasidic man was attacked on May 7th... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Profanity And Sheitel Pulling As Jewish Woman Accosted In Crown Heights Park May 8, 2019 06:41 PM | 12 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A visit to a Crown Heights playground turned ugly today when a Jewish woman found herself involved in a verbal exchange that turned physical. Police said that the incident took place at 11:37 this morning at Hamilton Metz Field at the southwest corner of Albany and Lefferts avenues. According to the NYPD, two women were at the playground when an unidentified woman came up... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Surveillance Video Shows Attack On Chasidic Man In Williamsburg, NYPD Faces Criticism May 8, 2019 01:43 PM | 13 Comments Brooklyn, NY - The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is looking into an attack that took place yesterday in Williamsburg as a possible bias incident after a 39 year old Chasidic man was hit in the head by an unidentified man in broad daylight. Police said that the attack took place at approximately 7:40 PM at the corner of Marcy Avenue and Rodney Street. Surveillance video shows the victim... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Video: Massive Response After Small Building Collapses In Car Crash In Flatbush May 7, 2019 12:08 AM | 0 Comments Brooklyn, NY - Members of the NYPD, FDNY, Hatzolah, Shomrim and other agencies rushed to Flatbush tonight after a car crashed into a convenience store located on the corner of Avenue P and E5th Street causing a partial building collapse. Sources said that it appears that everyone who lives in the building has been accounted for and that it appears that no one was in the building at the time of... Read more »
- Borough Park, NY - Suspect Sought in Chol Hamoed Groping of Jewish Teenage Girl in BP May 6, 2019 09:06 PM | 3 Comments Borough Park, NY - Twelve days after a 13 year old Jewish girl was groped in the heart of Borough Park on Chol Hamoed Pesach, the NYPD has released video footage, hoping that someone will be able to identify the suspect. Police said that the incident took place just before 6 PM on April 24th in front of 4701 12th Avenue. The unidentified victim was walking home alone when she was approached... Read more »
