Articles By
Sandy Eller
Sandy Eller is a writer on human interest stories for VosIzNeias.
- Rockland County, NY - DOH To Monsey Yeshivas With Potential Measles Exposures: Keep Unvaccinated Kids Home Until Incubation Period Has Passed October 18, 2018 05:00 PM | 11 Comments Rockland County, NY - Hoping to contain the spread of the measles in the Monsey area after 11 cases of the disease were officially confirmed, the Rockland County Department of Health sent a letter today to schools attended by the infected children informing them that unvaccinated students must remain at home until the danger of potential exposure has passed. Rockland County health commissioner... Read more »
- Central Valley, NY - Selective Enforcement Of Rules In Senior Community Lands Hasidic Family In Court, Says Lawyer October 17, 2018 09:12 PM | 9 Comments Central Valley, NY - A Chasidic family of nine living in a Woodbury housing development near Kiryas Joel may be rendered homeless pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed in New York State Supreme Court. Hershel Markovitz, his wife and his seven children moved into a Southfield Falls home in the Woodbury Junction development in June 2017. The house was bought for the Markovitzes by a relative... Read more »
- New York - From Jerusalem to Monsey to Williamsburg, Measles Outbreak in Hasidic Community Worries Experts October 17, 2018 08:00 PM | 26 Comments New York - A measles outbreak that is linked to a larger one in Jerusalem has local officials issuing warnings regarding 17 confirmed cases of the disease over the past several weeks in Monsey and Williamsburg. The New York State Department of Health issued its first advisory on October 3rd, regarding a traveler from Israel who was later confirmed to have measles who potentially exposed people... Read more »
- New York - Disagreeing With DA, Cuomo Classifies Recent Brooklyn Attacks As Bias Crimes, Calls In NYSP Hate Crimes Unit To Investigate October 17, 2018 06:46 PM | 10 Comments New York - While Brooklyn District Attorney’s office may have dropped hate crime charges against the car service driver who beat a 62 year old Chasidic man just seconds after nearly running down another Chasidic man with his car on Sunday, Governor Andrew Cuomo appears to be taking a different view of things, vowing to fight anti-Semitism in a recent tweet. The governor’s tweet comes just... Read more »
- New York, NY - Over 1000 NYC Bus Shelters Closed For Emergency Inspections October 16, 2018 09:30 PM | 0 Comments New York - Eleven days after a bus shelter collapse in Staten Island, approximately one third of the city’s bus shelters have been temporarily taken out of service and wrapped with yellow tape bearing the words “caution” and “cuidado” due to safety concerns. The Wall Street Journal (https://on.wsj.com/2yIZ4aB) reported that a corroded bolt caused the roof to collapse at a vacant... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - As Hate Charges Dropped, 2nd Victim Of Car Service Driver Comes Forward; Wife Says Driver Is Schizophrenic October 16, 2018 05:57 PM | 15 Comments Brooklyn, NY - Just one day after the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office dropped hate crime charges against a car service driver who inexplicably beat a Borough Park resident as he walked to the synagogue, a second Chasidic man has come forward saying that he was nearly run down by the same motorist just seconds earlier. Shia Langsam was making a 13th Avenue delivery for Fish to Dish, a... Read more »
- Manhattan, NY - Called Out On Twitter For Swastika In New Lane Markings, DOT Acts Swiftly To Eradicate Hate October 16, 2018 01:35 PM | 1 Comments Manhattan, NY - A graffitied swastika that appeared on a freshly paved Harlem street has been rendered unrecognizable just three hours after it was reported to the Department of Transportation. Gregory Locke came across the swastika on Morningside Avenue between W 119th and W 120th Streets just before 10 AM this morning. Taking to Twitter, Locke notified the DOT, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - VIN News Video: BP Beating Victim Speaks Out, Says Attacker Screamed And Cursed In Arabic October 14, 2018 08:47 PM | 15 Comments Brooklyn, NY - The victim of this morning’s brutal beating in an interview with VIN news, said that he feared for his life and that his attacker was screaming in Arabic as he pummeled him mercilessly in the middle of a Borough Park street. As previously reported on VIN News (http://bit.ly/2yhc0VM), 37 year old Farrukh Afzal was arrested this morning by the NYPD and charged with assault as a... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Suspect In BP Attack Charged With Hate Crime, Had Prior Brush With The Law October 14, 2018 03:57 PM | 13 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A Staten Island man is under arrest in the early morning attack of a 62 year old Chasidic man as he walked down 13th Avenue on his to the synagogue this morning in Borough Park. As previously reported on VIN News (http://bit.ly/2yhyw0V), surveillance footage captured the vicious beating, sparking both fear and anger in Borough Park and prompting elected officials to call on the... Read more »
- Jerusalem - Suspicious Powder In Ali Express Israel Shipment Sends Charedi Family To Hospital October 14, 2018 03:00 PM | 2 Comments Jerusalem - An Ali Express shipment turned out to be no bargain for a Beitar Illit family when four people who came into contact with an unknown powdery substance were hospitalized after reporting feeling dizzy and light headed. United Hatzalah spokesperson Raphael Poch said that paramedics were called to the family home on HaRebbe M’Zvhil Street on Sunday afternoon. A 47 year old... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Fear And Outrage After Borough Park Man Beaten On 13th Avenue October 14, 2018 01:17 PM | 28 Comments Brooklyn, NY - An unidentified man is under arrest and the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force has been called in after a Chasidic man was viciously beaten this morning in broad daylight in what appears to be an unprovoked attack on 13th Avenue. Sources who spoke to VIN News on condition of anonymity said that Lipa Schwartz was walking to the synagogue just after 7:15 this morning when the sounds... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - After Williamsburg Conviction Of Chasidic Man Overturned, Lawyer Warns Of Dangers In Misuse Of DNA Evidence October 12, 2018 01:30 PM | 7 Comments Brooklyn, NY - The lawyer for a Williamsburg resident whose conviction in the 2013 early morning beating of an aspiring fashion designer was overturned by an appellate court called the decision a disturbing lesson on the misuse of DNA evidence. Mayer Herskovic, the only man to stand trial in the assault on Taj Paterson that left the then 22 year old bruised, bloodied and blind in one eye, was... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Footage Released Of Suspect In BP Burglary Spree October 9, 2018 12:19 PM | 4 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A string of robberies in Borough Park that are all believed to have been committed by the same individual have the NYPD turning to the public for assistance in the hopes of identifying the suspect through surveillance footage. The first two burglaries took place in the early morning hours of the second day of Succos. Police said that the suspect forced open the locked back... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Calls For Calm Issued As 1 Arrested During BP Hachnasas Sefer Torah October 7, 2018 09:16 PM | 36 Comments Brooklyn, NY - Community leaders are calling for calm in the wake of a hachnasas sefer Torah in Borough Park that dissolved into chaos, leading to the arrest of one participant. The incident took place at approximately 6 PM this evening. Police said that they arrived on 16th Avenue between 51st and 52nd Streets to disburse a large crowd that had gathered on the street without a permit... Read more »
- Rockland County, NY - Tens Of Thousands Expected In Monsey For Ribnitzer Rebbe’s Yahrtzeit October 3, 2018 05:05 PM | 4 Comments Rockland County, NY - In what has become an annual pilgrimage, nearly 30,000 people are expected to turn out today at the Vizhnitzer beis olam in Monsey to daven at the tzion of the Ribnitzer Rebbe zt’l on his 23rd yahrtzeit. Rabbi Chaim Zanvil Abramowitz was known as a baal mofes in his lifetime, with Jews and gentiles alike, including KGB soldiers, seeking his blessings as previously... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Noted 90-year-old Old Holocaust Survivor Heading To Say Kaddish Struck And Killed By Car September 20, 2018 11:53 PM | 8 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A 90 year old Holocaust survivor making his nightly trip to the synagogue to say Kaddish for his daughter died tonight after being struck by a car. Nissen Krakinowski was crossing Ralph Avenue near Avenue L just before 7:30 across from Congregation Beit Hillel of Flatlands when he was struck by a southbound blue Jaguar. Krakinowski, who suffered severe head trauma, was... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Police Release Photo Of Suspect In Yom Kippur Groping Of BP Girl September 20, 2018 11:22 PM | 2 Comments Brooklyn, NY - Once again, the NYPD is turning to the public for assistance in locating a suspect who groped a nine year old girl in the waning hours of Yom Kippur. Police said that the girl was playing outside near 60th Street and 17th Avenue at approximately 6:45 PM on September 19th when she saw a man heading in her direction. The girl moved out of the way to let the man pass and as he... Read more »
- New Jersey - NJ Governor Calls For Bergen Sheriff’s Resignation Over Racist Comments September 20, 2018 03:45 PM | 4 Comments New Jersey - A high ranking Bergen County official has found himself in the media spotlight after a recording of him allegedly making racist remarks has surfaced, prompting New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to call for his resignation. According to WNYC (http://bit.ly/2QLGoiE), Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino was speaking with colleagues on January 16th following Murphy’s inauguration. ... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Suspect In Massive Kings Plaza Fire Arrested September 17, 2018 08:22 PM | 7 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A person of interest in today’s massive fire at the Kings Plaza Shopping Center that injured nearly two dozen people and destroyed over 100 cars has been apprehended and arrested by police. A tweet by NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea announced that the investigation into today’s seven alarm blaze is continuing and was accompanied by a surveillance photo of a person of... Read more »
- Mahwah, NJ - Mayor Slams Town Council, Calls For Acceptance As Mahwah Settles State Discrimination Lawsuit September 17, 2018 05:51 PM | 0 Comments Mahwah, NJ - The battle between the Township of Mahwah and New Jersey’s Office of the Attorney General has come to a close, with the town agreeing to a settlement that would repeal a pair of ordinances preventing lechis from being posted on utility poles as part of an eruv and banning out of state residents from town parks. As previously reported on VIN News (http://bit.ly/2z9jZVZ), Mahwah... Read more »
- Gush Etzion, Israel - Heartbreak And Heroism Shatter The Night As Thousands Attend Funeral Of Ari Fuld (entire Replay Video) September 16, 2018 10:37 PM | 3 Comments Gush Etzion, Israel - He was recalled as a loving son, a dedicated brother, a devoted husband and a caring father, whose love for his country and thirst for Torah were practically insatiable. Ari Fuld was accompanied to his final resting place by thousands of stunned mourners just hours after chasing down and shooting the teenager who mortally stabbed him in order to prevent his attacker from... Read more »
- New York - Prominent Israeli Cantor Mordechai Sobol Passes Away In NY At 66 After Sudden Illness September 16, 2018 09:01 AM | 6 Comments New York - An icon in the world of cantorial music passed away suddenly yesterday, just days after leading a Long Island congregation in prayer on Rosh Hashana. Cantor Mordechai Sobol was hospitalized after suffering a severe post-Rosh Hashana stroke, passing away after Shabbos at the age of 67. According to B’Chadrei Charedim (http://bit.ly/2QFrjPQ), Sobol showed no signs of illness when... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Retired Orthodox Supreme Court Judge Dies At 66 September 16, 2018 12:01 AM | 4 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A day after his passing, a long time Brooklyn Supreme Court judge is being remembered as the first sitting justice to take the bench wearing a yarmulke and a beard. Justice David I. Schmidt of Borough Park passed away on Friday at the age of 66. His niece, Judge Rachel Freier, said that he had been ill for the past two years. A graduate of Brooklyn College, Schmidt had... Read more »
- Orange County, NY - “Keep The Hasidic Out,” Says Chester Supervisor In Announcement To Buy Up Additional Properties September 14, 2018 02:16 PM | 21 Comments Orange County, NY - An Orange County elected official went on the record with plans to acquire available properties within the town and to institute a ward-based voting system, specifically noting that the measures were intended to stem the influx of Chasidic residents and their potentially powerful vote. According to The Times Herald Record (https://bit.ly/2Ndz9SI), Chester supervisor Alex... Read more »
- Ukraine - In Final Visit to Rabbi Nachman, Brooklyn Cancer Victim Passes Away in Uman September 12, 2018 11:36 AM | 3 Comments Uman, Ukraine - A gravely ill Chasidic man who longed to spend Rosh Hashana in Uman got his final wish before passing away on Monday in the central Ukrainian town during the annual pilgrimage that drew thousands of worshippers from all over the world. Avrahm Getz of Brooklyn, author of the sefer Meshiv L’Shoel, had been fighting cancer for several months. The Breslov Global Twitter feed... Read more »
- Staten Island, NY - Historic Food Network Victory As First Kosher Orthodox Jewish Teen Contestant Wins Chopped September 7, 2018 12:57 PM | 3 Comments Staten Island, NY - After airing more than 450 episodes, the popular Food Network cooking show Chopped finally crowned its first kosher champion this week, with the honors going to a Staten Island girl. Rachel Goldzal, currently an eighth grader at the Jewish Foundation School and the oldest of four, beat out two 12 year olds and a ten year old in the episode that aired on September 4th... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Hunt For Flatbush Burglary Suspect Caught on Cam, Ends With Local Man’s Arrest September 5, 2018 04:38 PM | 2 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A day after video was made public showing a burglary in progress in the home of a Jewish family from Flatbush as they slept upstairs, the NYPD has arrested a suspect in the case. Police said that 27 year old Anthony Mineo was arrested today and charged with burglary, two counts of criminal possession of stolen property, and petit larceny. As previously reported on VIN News... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Thief Who Targeted Midwood Jewish Home Twice As Family Slept Upstairs Caught On Camera September 4, 2018 04:39 PM | 10 Comments Brooklyn, NY - Detectives at the NYPD’s 63rd Precinct are looking for a brazen burglar who illegally entered the home of a Jewish family last week twice in the same night, leaving with an assortment of items including credit cards and electronic devices. The incident took place on E35th Street between Avenues K and L in Midwood on August 30th. Police said that the unidentified man first... Read more »
- Jerusalem - Israeli-Arab Performer’s Conversion Nixed By Rabbinate September 3, 2018 03:07 PM | 10 Comments Jerusalem - Thursday, August 30th was an eventful day for Nasreen Qadri: the popular Arab-Israeli singer celebrated her 32nd birthday, changed her name to Bracha and, according to one rabbi, successfully completed her conversion to Judaism. But that conversion will not be accepted by the Israeli Rabbinate, which said on Monday that only conversions performed under its auspices can be... Read more »
- Moscow - Unconfirmed Details Emerge About Russian Chief Rabbi’s Secret Mission To Iran September 2, 2018 06:00 PM | 6 Comments Moscow - Nearly six months after the fact, reports have surfaced about a secret one day diplomatic visit to Iran made last spring by Russia’s chief rabbi. Arutz Sheva reported that Rabbi Berel Lazar was sent to Iran in April by Russian President Vladimir Putin with whom he reportedly shares a very close relationship. No official sources have confirmed the report, but a tweet posted on... Read more »
