Articles By
Sandy Eller
Sandy Eller is a writer on human interest stories for VosIzNeias.
- Chicago, IL - Besting More Than A Dozen Hopefuls, Orthodox Rabbi Sworn Into Illinois House Of Representatives Today 10:19 AM | 0 Comments Chicago, IL - An Orthodox Jewish Rabbi was sworn in to the Illinois House of Representatives Sunday night, replacing Lou Lang, a Democrat who served in the legislature for over 30 years. Rabbi Yehiel Kalish, an education advocate who spent 12 years at Agudath Israel of America, most recently as its vice president for development and stare relationships, is believed to be the first Orthodox... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Bais Yaakov Student Expelled Over Alleged Immodest Pic Wins Legal Victory As Judge Greenlights Trial January 16, 2019 09:00 PM | 48 Comments Brooklyn, NY - After a wait of more than three and a half years, a case against a girls’ high school in Brooklyn that expelled a student after receiving an unconfirmed report from an anonymous source about behavior unbecoming of a Bais Yaakov girl is finally heading to trial. Judge Dawn Jiminez-Salta ruled in favor of the teenage plaintiff who sued the executive director and a pair of... Read more »
- Albany, NY - Citing KJ Donor, Skoufis Triumphantly Announces Beginning Of The End To Albany Corruption January 15, 2019 02:15 PM | 1 Comments Albany, NY - The new legislative session may have only begun, but a freshman Orange County senator has already been making waves, announcing the passage of a bill that would prohibit limited liability corporations from making unlimited contributions to political candidates. Senator James Skoufis was one of 39 co-sponsors of Senate bill S1101 which was introduced by Senator Brian Kavanagh and... Read more »
- Jerusalem - Chasidic Man Who Grew Up In Borough Park Earns Highest Score On Israel’s CPA Audit Exam January 15, 2019 01:00 PM | 17 Comments Jerusalem - A Beit Shemesh resident who is a graduate of one of Brooklyn’s Chasidic yeshivos will be honored next month for receiving the highest grade in a difficult component of Israel’s CPA exam. Menachem Abramovitz scored a 79 in audit, one of two exams given last July to aspiring CPAs by The Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Israel, a member of the International Federation... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Fire In Building Housing Boro Park Fish Store Displaces Six Families January 12, 2019 10:54 PM | 3 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A fire that broke out today in a building that houses a kosher fish store, as well as multiple apartments, has left six families homeless. The blaze began this afternoon at 5324 13th Avenue, home of Yossi’s Fish Market. According to the FDNY’s Twitter feed, the fire broke out on the top floor of the three story brick building at approximately 2 PM and was brought under... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Zero Tolerance Vows NYPD After Chasidic Residents Free Car And Harass Tow Truck Operator January 12, 2019 08:26 PM | 75 Comments Brooklyn, NY - In a strongly worded statement issued after a social media video showed local residents harassing a tow truck driver and freeing a car about to be towed, the NYPD has said it will have zero tolerance for anyone who abuses any of its traffic agents. According to reports in The Daily News (https://nydn.us/2QIVGn8), the incident took place at the corner of 44th Street and 15th... Read more »
- New York - Chasidic Father And Son Learning Talmud Prominently Featured In NYC Mayor’s State Of The City Address January 10, 2019 05:55 PM | 16 Comments New York - One day after announcing a new initiative intended to provide city residents with additional paid days off so that they can spend more time with their loved ones, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s State of the City address opened with a narrative delivered by a Chasidic man from Borough Park and footage of him learning Talmud with his 12 year old son. The nearly six minute long video was... Read more »
- New York - Dueling Investigations And A War On Words As Skoufis Takes On Cuomo January 3, 2019 10:00 PM | 2 Comments New York - He may be just 31 years old and still in the process of setting up his legislative offices, but freshman Senator James Skoufis has already come out swinging, announcing his intention to tackle corruption, fraud and abuse statewide, even at the highest levels of government. A Woodbury Democrat, Skoufis was appointed to chair the state’s Investigations and Government Operations... Read more »
- Orange County, NY - Facebook Posts Disparaging Chasidim Has Deputy Fire Chief, EMT Facing Possible Disciplinary Action January 2, 2019 09:38 PM | 5 Comments New York - An Orange county firefighter has found himself in the hot seat for allegedly making discriminatory remarks on social media, two of which targeted members of the Chasidic community. News 12 (http://bit.ly/2QkJ8Cn) reported that Tommy Starro, a volunteer with both the Maybrook Fire Department and the Town of Montgomery Ambulance Corps, was already being scrutinized for disparaging... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Surrendering To Police, Local Man Arrested For Williamsburg Attempted Rape January 2, 2019 05:43 PM | 3 Comments Brooklyn, NY - Less than 24 hours after a woman was assaulted and sexually attacked in a Williamsburg apartment building, a local man is under arrest and has been charged on multiple counts. 30 year old Manuel Almonte was arrested by police on Wednesday afternoon and charged with attempted rape, burglary, sex abuse, forcible touching, assault and harassment. Police said that the attack... Read more »
- Staten Island, NY - Moms And Babies Safe On Maternity Ward Despite Mold That Has Sickened Nursing Staff, Says SI Hospital December 31, 2018 09:00 PM | 0 Comments Staten Island, NY - Mold that sickened over four dozen employees on the maternity floor of a Staten Island hospital over the past few months has not affected any patients, according to facility officials. Staten Island University Hospital executive director Dr. Brahim Ardolic confirmed that babies were removed to a backup nursery earlier in the fall after an odor was reported at the... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Concerned About Spread Of Measles, Chasidic Wedding Canceled December 26, 2018 06:44 PM | 12 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A Chasidic wedding scheduled for tonight has been called off at the last minute because the groom is infected with the measles. One of the musicians who was hired to play at the wedding and spoke to VIN News on condition of anonymity confirmed that the family put the kibosh on the wedding which was to have taken place at the Vayoel Moshe hall in Williamsburg. DOH spokesperson... Read more »
- Jerusalem - Highly Collected Contemporary Jewish Artist, Passes Away At 93 December 23, 2018 11:00 AM | 0 Comments Jerusalem - Itshak Holtz, a well known artist whose depictions of Jerusalem, New York and their residents captivated Judaic art lovers, passed away this past Thursday at the age of 93. Born in Skierniewice, Poland in 1925, Holtz was just five years old when he found himself mesmerized by a picture of a horse pulling a sleigh drawn for him by his father. One year later, he realized that he... Read more »
- New York - NY Rabbis Issue Urgent Call For Mass Prayer To Annul NYS DOE’s Latest Education Guidelines December 16, 2018 10:13 AM | 57 Comments New York - With the specter of the latest education guidelines that are attempting to dictate secular curricula in all private schools statewide looming large, Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of America has issued a public call for a day of prayer to take place this week. The statement from the group of prominent rabbis asks the Jewish community, including elementary schools and institutions of... Read more »
- Washington - Congressional Gold Medal To Be Awarded Posthumously To Assassinated Egyptian President December 14, 2018 11:33 AM | 4 Comments Washington - 40 years after Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begun signed the Camp David Accords, leading to an unprecedented peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, legislation recognizing Sadat for taking historic strides to end decades of enmity in the Middle East was signed into law Thursday by President Donald Trump. The Anwar Sadat Centennial Celebration... Read more »
- Miami Beach, FL - Coffee Date Takes Violent Turn As Two Yarmulke Wearing Jews Assaulted At Miami Beach Dunkin’ Donuts December 13, 2018 02:39 PM | 9 Comments Miami Beach, FL - An early morning coffee ritual at a popular Miami Beach eatery turned ugly this morning after two men in yarmulkas were assaulted by a man for no apparent reason. The incident took place at approximately 5:30 this morning at the kosher Dunkin’ Donuts located on 41st Street at the corner of Sheridan Avenue. CBS News (https://cbsloc.al/2UI7wkP) reported that Michael... Read more »
- New York - Drawing A Line In The Sand, Catholic Schools Vow To Boycott New DOE Guidelines December 12, 2018 03:00 PM | 16 Comments New York - Two weeks after the Department of Education issued guidelines that will subject all private schools in New York to oversight by local public school officials and also require them to substantially increase the number of hours of secular study provided to their students, the state’s Council of Catholic School Superintendents has announced its plans to boycott the new... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Fatal Accident Claims Life Of Elderly BP Resident, Driver Arrested December 12, 2018 11:16 AM | 17 Comments Brooklyn, NY - A 71 year old Borough Park man died this morning after being struck by a tractor trailer as he was crossing the street. Pinchas Kreiner, a former New York City Housing Authority employee, was in the crosswalk at Cortelyou Road and McDonald Avenue at approximately 7 AM when he was struck by the westbound 18 wheeler attempting to make a right hand turn onto McDonald... Read more »
- New York - Brooklyn Kosher Restaurants Under Scrutiny After Cancelling Jewish Comedy Show December 10, 2018 12:34 PM | 44 Comments Brooklyn, NY - Two popular kosher restaurants in Brooklyn could be facing legal action after canceling a New Year’s Eve comedy show featuring a comedienne mired in controversy not of her own making. A lawsuit filed with the New York City Human Rights Commission is charging both the Garden of Eat-In in Flatbush and Orchidea in Borough Park with violating the civil rights of comedienne Leah... Read more »
- Queens, NY - No Hate Crime Charges As Two Arrested In Vicious Attack On Forest Hills Yeshiva Student December 7, 2018 09:41 AM | 17 Comments Queens, NY - Two teenagers are under arrest in the brutal beating that left a Queens yeshiva student seriously injured and hospitalized for over a week. Police said that 18 year old Jonathan Torres of Flushing and 17 year old Victor Hidalgo of the City Line section of Brooklyn were taken into custody yesterday and charged with gang assault in the first degree and assault in the second degree... Read more »
- Williamsburg, NY - Chasidic Man Punched In Head In Random Attack; NYPD Says No Hate Crime December 2, 2018 08:29 AM | 21 Comments Williamsburg, NY - A Chasidic man standing outside with his young son talking to another man was punched in the back of the head, just one block from where a Chasidic child suffered a fractured nose after being shoved to the ground last week. The incident took place at 6:40 PM on Friday night in front of 68 Throop Ave. Police said that the 33 year old man was punched in the back of the head... Read more »
- Orange County, NY - Responding To Satmar Rebbe Skoufis Warns KJ, There’s A New Sheriff In Town December 1, 2018 09:16 PM | 48 Comments Orange County, NY - Striking back at a verbal tongue lashing by the Satmar Rebbe earlier in the week, Senator elect James Skoufis had some scathing words of his own, warning Kiryas Joel residents to expect no favors during his time in Albany. As previously reported on VIN News (http://bit.ly/2AGnzpU), Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum slammed the New York State Department of Education’s new laws... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Striking Back Against Anti-Semitism, BP Man Takes Chasidic Attack Victim On Toy Store Shopping Spree November 29, 2018 05:31 PM | 6 Comments Brooklyn, NY - Countering an act of hate with an act of kindness, a Borough Park grandfather reached out to the victim of this week’s latest shoving attack in Williamsburg, taking him to a local toy store for a pre-Chanukah shopping spree. As previously reported on VIN News (http://bit.ly/2TXQT40), a nine year old Chasidic boy was pushed to the ground by an unidentified teen as he walked... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - Hoping To Identify Suspect, NYPD Hate Crimes Unit Releasing Surveillance Footage In Attack On Chasidic Boy November 29, 2018 12:00 PM | 9 Comments Brooklyn, NY - Looking for a break in their investigation of the most recent attack on a Chasidic child in Williamsburg, the NYPD has released images of the suspect and turning to the public for assistance identifying the teen in question. As previously reported on VIN News (http://bit.ly/2TV5flH), the incident took place on Sunday at approximately 6 PM at the corner of Throop Avenue and... Read more »
- New York - (Audio) In Fiery Speech, Satmar Rebbe Tells NYS DOE: Clean Up Your Schools Before Telling Us How To Run Ours November 29, 2018 10:14 AM | 82 Comments New York - Wednesday night’s cold temperatures were no match for the scorching words of the Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum, who hurled fireball after fireball at the New York State Department of Education during last night’s 74th annual commemoration of the Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum’s escape from the Nazi regime. The massive gathering was held at a warehouse in East... Read more »
- Chicago, IL - Telshe Rosh Yeshiva Of Chicago To Be Mourned In Multiple Funerals November 28, 2018 03:15 PM | 1 Comments Chicago, IL - The first of several funeral services will be taking place shortly for Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Levin, Rosh Hayeshiva of Telshe Yeshiva Chicago and a member of Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Agudath Israel of America, who passed away this morning at his home. Rabbi Levin is believed to have been 86 years old and had been in poor health for an extended period of time after contracting a... Read more »
- Highland Mills, NY - Eruv Regulations On The Agenda At Upcoming Town Of Woodbury Meeting November 26, 2018 09:02 PM | 7 Comments Highland Mills, NY - Yet another community is trying to figure out how to regulate an eruv within its borders, with the Orange County Town of Woodbury holding a hearing tomorrow night to discuss a pending eruv law. Mayor Michael Queenan said that he has met with the town’s Chasidic residents hoping that accommodations can be made to satisfy everyone who lives in Woodbury. “We are not... Read more »
- Brooklyn, NY - VIDEO: Chasidic Child Shoved To The Ground In Random Williamsburg Attack November 25, 2018 08:54 PM | 5 Comments Brooklyn, NY - Once again, a Chasidic youngster has become the target in Williamsburg, with a boy pushed to ground in an act of random violence. Officials at Williamsburg Shomrim said that the incident took place at approximately 6 PM tonight at the intersection of Throop Avenue and Walton Street. Surveillance footage obtained from the scene shows an unknown individual dressed in a light... Read more »
- Stamford, CT - Jewish Crooks Are Bums Who Should Be Thrown Out Of Shul, Says Former NYC Councilman November 23, 2018 10:14 AM | 49 Comments Stamford, CT - A former New York city councilman had strong words about lawbreakers during a panel discussion at one of the opening sessions at this year’s Agudah convention when asked to offer his thoughts on how members of the Jewish community are negatively stereotyped in the media. Met Council CEO and executive director David Greenfield responded passionately to the question posed by... Read more »
- Glasgow, Scotland - Israeli Rabbi, Soccer Players Become Social Media Stars, Studying Gemara and Sharing Their Jackets during Pivotal Soccer Match November 21, 2018 11:24 AM | 9 Comments Glasgow, Scotland - A Charedi rabbi from Israel became an unlikely social media star yesterday when stadium cameras caught him studying Talmud during an important soccer match played yesterday in Glasgow. Rabbi Zev Leff had agreed to take his grandchildren to the game in Hampden Park that had Israel facing off against Scotland in the Nations League game, earning Scotland a spot in the Euro... Read more »
