New York – A single phone line providing access to emergency response teams and a range of other vital phone numbers in the Jewish community is being launched in parts of NYC.
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Instead of having to remember the phone numbers of all chessed and assistance organizations such as Hatzolah, Shomrim, Cheveirim, hospitals, bikur cholim, etc., an automated one-line phone bank has now been set up, resembling NYC’s 311 system.
The brainchild behind the project is none other than Rabbi Meshilam Lowy, with the support of Rabbi Shmiel Duvad Friedman, Joe (Yossie) Spitzer, and Ari Noe CEO of OTR media. The number is 718-705-5000.
A special thanks to Mr. Benjamin Weiser, President of Fidelity Payment Services for his great contribution to kick off this system.
It took Rabbi Lowy (MRA) almost six years of hard work to implement the program, which promises to provide a great service to the Jewish community at large.
Only Brooklyn and Manhattan are currently connected, but one of the system’s founders told VIN News plans are underway to link every Jewish organization in the United States and around the globe.
To provide vital information that should be added to the system or to contribute to the hotline service, call Isaac Abraham at 718-STANDUP (782-6387) or Rabbi Meshilaem Lowy at 917-567-6322. Special thanks to Harry Miltz of ONHOLD SYSTEMS.
The new centralized hotline will help travelers around the world who need to establish contact right away.
Willimasburg community activist Isaac Abraham who was instrumental in getting this system up and running informed VIN News, to advise our readers, the system is still being worked on, and many corrections will be fixed such as, if you are forwarded by this system to Hatzolah or any other help line that has call ID, it will come up in the caller ID not your address so please inform the person answering the phone.
Since the Sikkos and Chol Hamoed is around the corner and many families and people will be traveling all over the Nation it was important to release the phone number now to spread the word,
wow what a great idea recently a relitve was take to hospital i had to go true to get the right number for that bikur cholim fo rthat hospital
again mi kemacha isreal and to alll you who worked for this wish you you should never be in need of any organation
wow that is really cool if its a s slow as 311 I hope people won’t die on the scene if its slow service people these days will die but one this is a very big mitzva and zechut for these people
So bloomberg’s system is being copied, very nice
Is Echo included? Wow – this is a terrific idea – Thank you SDF!!
can the number tell me if alternate side parking is in effect like 311
Rabbi Meshilim : The day will come and ask our self how did we live without this number?…the same as hatzoloh,chaverim,shomrim, all under one umbrella…may hashem help us yidden we should never need any of your nimbers..
Way to go Meshilem!!!! You’re back!!!
311 began in Baltimore & in NYC Giuliani was the first one to mention the idea. So nobody’s copying good for nothing Bloomberg. When you report something to 311 in NYC it is only as good as the agency in charge of the issue. When I called with noise complaints in Brooklyn, police never showed nor did I receive the promised phone call.
This is a great idea to link people to the appropriate services, but try to remember Hatzolah’s number so you shouldn’t have to get forwarded. Still great for out-of-towners, etc, even for emergencies — better than having no recourse. It’s an easy number to remember, and unlike Hatzolah the same number will work all over.
Congratulations!
Will it work on shabbos? I see a potential issue here with that – It has to work – because of hatz & shomrim – but what if some shmo calls up on shabbos to see if alternative sides is suspended.!
Is it not possible to put the numbers in the memory of the phone,and then do quickdial to call?
I hope this will one day have live operators like 311.
Also, eventually this can include a data base of the utilized referrals and some feedback from the system users. This will enable potential donors identify organizations that are most effective. So the Jewish 311 can in effect rate the charitable organizations in terms of need and effect; means testing.
So true!
Ok so if I am stuck oh highway 105 in the New Mexican desert at least I have a number where to call if I get stranded
Harry, you finally made it!
is crown heights there too?
Great idea, but why not a 800 number?
A true Kiddush HaShem !!!!!!!!!!!!
Kol hakoved to Rabbi lowy and the whole staf of MRA for pulling this on! What a brilliant idea, I can’t understand why there wasn’t such a system till now. Let this be a zchus for them on yom kipur!
I hope that they make sure that when connecting to Hatzalah, it shows the correct caller ID (the Callers Caller ID, not the Hotlines). If the correct caller ID shows up then the dispatcher has all of the address information automatically.
As a side note. I dispatch for Hatzalah. If you are home, and you have to call Hatzalah please use your home phone if possible, and not your cell phone. It will save time in an emergency because your location information will automatically show up on the dispatchers computer. Also remember to unblock your number when calling Hatzalah.
Way too long to remember, they should have a shorter number approved similar to 311.
This is only one of the very many things Rabbi Meshulem Levi Shlit”a keeps on constantly doing for the klal!! The work he’s doing with the very well known organization MRA is amazing!! Not only doesn’t he make money off these mitzvas, he has invested tons of his own monies (which he doesnt even have) in all these projects!! He is a real tzadik! Every dollar given to him for his tzedakas goes 110% for that cause! It’s trully unbelievable that there are such people, in todays world!! May hashem help him succed in all that he does!! gut gebencht yar!!!
great idea! will it fix traffic lights too?
The world wide Bikur Cholim web site was the first in compiling information in every area includine links to important information for the sick
Kol Hakovod to the organizer
the caller ID does NOT work for HATZOLOH, nor SHOMRIM!! This is a dangerous system to use for emergencies unless NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE EXISTS. As my fellow dispatcher #24 mentioned earlier, use your HOME phones to call for HATZOLOH and SHOMRIM and always UNBLOCK your caller ID.
should have mincha and maariv and shiurim information too
WOW another great idea invented by rabbi mishulem lowi , he was one of the first ones with the idea of many things like! boro park hatzolah chinese auction , the jewish luach hamfoar, the mega MRA raffile idea, and this line is only the beginning, soon any bikur cholim or kosher grocery from any yiddish place in the world will be able to be contacted true this line Thanks to rabbi schnitzler of MRA and rabbi M. Lowi
Rabbi Lowy your the man!
somebody gave me the number a few days ago, because my daughter was in the hospital and I needed some help. It is amazing!! They have like every hospital in nyc listed, and they can connect you to a multitiude of people. Amazing! Mi kiamcha yisrael
I call on Hakodosh Boruch Hu to look at this before Yom Kippur and when He sits Al Kisei Kodsho to decide our fate this year, He should bring Moshiach immediately. Tzion BiTzedoko Tipodeh, and what greater tzedoko is there than to help klal yisroel in times of need for gemilas chesed of any kind. Ribono Shel Olam, mi keamcho yisroel, goi echod bo’olam.
This is trully the best thing I have heard all year! A centralized telephone system! I never need to call anyone else ever again, just this one number & I can be connected to anyone! Why didn’t anyone else ever think of a phone book!
Well done Rabbi Lowy
WOW Fidelity.. Keep up your great chesed.
The idea sounds great. But it seems unclear to me what will happen. If I need Hatzoloh and call this number, will I then be forwarded by the operator to yet another operator? And why hasn’t Hatzoloh announced this system and recommend its use? I would think that since that is the life and death organization here, we would hear from them.