Litvishe-Yeshivish turning on themselves with Nasty Pashkavilim

 

Palisades Center mall headed to auction block

 

It’s the region’s biggest going-out-of-business sale.

The Palisades Center, a 2.2 million-square-foot megamall in Rockland County — and one of the biggest malls in America — is due to go on the auction block next month for an estimated $463 million, according to reports.

The once-bustling retail hub has been targeted for foreclosure for nearly three years because of more than $418 million in unpaid debts that have hung over the property’s owners since 2016, lohud.com said.

Despite the loan changing hands between several creditors in recent years, the mall’s owners finally ran out of time and are gearing up to sell the property to the highest bidder in a Manhattan courtroom Feb. 4.

The mall was originally developed by The Pyramid Companies and is now owned by a real estate consortium made up of EklecCo NewCo LLC, Queens Comic’s NewCo LLC, Riesling Associates, and Three J’s Family Trust, according to the reports.

“This is a straightforward foreclosure, like if you had a house and you didn’t pay the mortgage,” bankruptcy lawyer Michael Koplen told News12 Westchester. “Eventually there’s a foreclosure, and that’s what happened here. But of course, the numbers are much bigger than a house.

“That’s the only thing that I think could happen here, with the exception of an appeal being filed and then a stay against proceedings,” he said. “But no notice of appeal has been filed that I see on the docket.”

The massive mall opened in West Nyack on March 4, 1998, to much hoopla. Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was on hand to inaugurate a fourth-floor skating rink at the mega center.

In its heyday, there were four anchor stores and a slew of retail shops and more than 225 shopping, eating and entertainment stops that drew as many as 24 million shoppers a year, according to the mall’s website.

But the mall started to get into a financial hole by 2016, when the owners took out a $418 million loan.

During the COVID pandemic in 2020, the owners got an extension on the loan but were still unable to pay it off by its due date of 2022, lohud.com said.

Wilmington Trust, which owned the loan, sued to foreclose in 2023. While the bank then sold off the loan at a loss to another creditor, a notice of sale for the entire mall was finally sent out Jan. 7.

Despite the grim news, George Hoehmann, the supervisor of Clarkstown, which includes the hamlet of West Nyack, isn’t throwing in the towel yet.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s actually going to be a sale,” he told News12. “There looks like there’s going to be a court hearing beginning of February, and then we’ll see what happens from there.

“It’s a well-performing asset, and we’re confident that it will have a bright future going forward,” Hoehmann added. “Whoever is going to end up owning it, they’ll be talking with the town. It’s zoned as a mall.”

Young Breslov Scholar, Father Of 5, Found Dead In Uman From Gas Leak In Faulty Heater

  A 28-year-old Breslov scholar died in Uman, Ukraine, shortly before the start of Shabbat in what authorities believe was a carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a gas heater, sending shockwaves through the Breslov Hasidic community.

Nachman Berger, a resident of Uman and a prominent member of the Breslov community originally from Beit Shemesh, was found unresponsive in his room after friends noticed through a window that he appeared to be lying in an unusual position. They forced entry and discovered he had died. His five young children, who were sleeping in another room, were unharmed.

According to community members, Berger had returned late at night from prayer at the gravesite of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, immersed in a ritual bath and lay down to rest before Shabbat. He had turned on a gas heater and closed the room, leading to a suspected buildup of toxic fumes.

Berger was the son of Avraham Berger, a well-known Breslov figure and entrepreneur. He studied in Breslov institutions in his youth and later continued advanced Torah study after his marriage within the “Keren Or” community led by Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter. The family later relocated to Uman, where Berger taught at a Talmud Torah and worked as a kashrut supervisor.

Those who knew him described Berger as warm, joyful and deeply devoted to his faith. He was known for nightly recitation of Tikkun Chatzot, a traditional midnight prayer. His sudden death has left the Breslov community in mourning.

A funeral procession took place Monday morning in Uman, departing from the area of Rabbi Nachman’s gravesite in subfreezing temperatures as local residents and worshippers accompanied the bier.

Community officials said arrangements are underway to transfer Berger’s body to Israel once medical documentation and consular approvals are completed. Burial in Israel is expected later this week.

Berger is survived by his parents, his wife and five young children.

Chareidim Don't Want the Government to Know what Really Happened at the Daycare

I remember a tragic story that happened when R' Moshe Feinstein z"l was still alive. A young frum avreich was murdered on the Lower East Side and the body still had bullets inside, R' Moshe paskened that they should do an autopsy to get those bullets to find out who the murderer was! 

Chareidim refuse to follow the rules, not in Meron, not when they protest and refuse to follow health and fire codes! They would rather their children get killed and blame Zionists than follow guidelines! The government needs to get to the bottom of this story to prevent other tragedies. If there is a way to get the results from those injured children then I agree that would be the best option, but if they cannot, then they must do the autopsies!

The Eida is composed of a bunch of ignorant gangsters who hate the State of Israel and don't recognize it as a State, yet continue to live there and benefit from it, they could easily move to Jenin and Ramallah, these cities are in Eretz Yisrael! 

Why no protests against the daycare that led to these deaths, through their negligence?

The horrendous tragedy in the Romema neighborhood of Jerusalem in which two infants (a 3-month-old girl and a 6-month-old boy) lost their lives escalated on Monday evening into violent clashes between police forces and hundreds of demonstrators from extremist factions. The riots broke out following the State Attorney’s announcement of its intention to ask the court to order autopsies on the infants’ bodies in order to determine the cause of death.

On the instructions of the Beis Din of the Edah HaChareidis, hundreds of protesters took to the streets at several central locations in Jerusalem and in additional cities. The main flashpoint was at the intersection of Yechezkel and Shmuel HaNavi streets in Jerusalem, where dozens of protesters set garbage bins on fire and blocked traffic. Police used a water cannon in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

Additional demonstrations were reported at the Bar-Ilan–Eli HaKohen junction and at the Givat Moshe–Golda Meir junction. In Beit Shemesh, dozens of charedi protesters demonstrated on Nahar HaYarden Boulevard in the Lev HaRamah neighborhood, protesting “the desecration of the honor of the dead.”

Earlier it was reported that authorities were considering making do with an external CT scan at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in order to avoid an autopsy. However, as of the current time, the State Attorney’s demand to carry out a full autopsy remains in force.

Law-enforcement officials argue that due to the mystery surrounding the circumstances of the deaths and the unanswered questions regarding the source of the poisoning, there is no alternative to performing the procedure in order to uncover the truth and examine suspicion of criminal negligence. By contrast, the families of the infants claim that this is an invasive step that contradicts Jewish law and constitutes a severe violation of the dignity of the deceased.

While the streets remain tense, investigators at the police station continue to collect testimony from the caregivers who were detained for questioning. As a reminder, the Ministry of Education clarified earlier that “the daycare center operated without legal permits.”

At the Hadassah and  Shaare Tzedek hospitals, some of the 53 infants who were evacuated from the building for examinations are still hospitalized. Their condition is defined as good, and they are expected to be gradually discharged during the night and tomorrow.

Bernie Sanders Facing Bipartisan Push for Removal from Holocaust Museum Board

 New records reveal that Senator Bernie Sanders has not attended a single meeting of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council in the 18 years since his appointment. Appointed in 2007, 

Sanders oversees the landmark D.C. museum as part of a 55-member board that meets twice annually. The revelation has sparked a bipartisan effort to have him replaced, with critics citing his total absence as a failure of his duties to the institution.

Fellow board members and political leaders have expressed frustration, noting that other high-profile appointees manage to attend despite their busy schedules. The movement to oust him is fueled not only by his attendance record but also by his recent public statements regarding the conflict in Gaza. Critics argue that his rhetoric is at odds with the museum’s mission, especially during a time of rising global antisemitism.

The push for removal is being led by a group of board members who have reportedly reached out to Senate leadership to appoint a more active representative. While Sanders’ office has not yet provided a detailed response to the attendance records, the controversy highlights growing tensions between the Senator and other members of the council over the direction and leadership of one of the nation’s most significant cultural institutions.

A Story to Remind You What it Means to Love being Jewish.

 

In this deeply moving episode of Jamie in the Rova, I sit down with Adina Shoshana, famously known as the Now Jewish Nanny, who shares the deeply emotional story of her conversion to Judaism and her first visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

After converting in complete privacy to protect her spiritual journey, Adina finally sets foot in Israel for the first time as a Jew. Watch as she opens up about why she kept her conversion secret from her followers, her first prayers at the Kotel, what made her fall in love with Judaism through her nanny kids, and her hopes for building a Jewish family.

Whether you're observant, cultural, searching, or just Jewish-ish, this story will remind you what it means to love being Jewish.

The conversation takes us through the streets of Jerusalem's Jewish Quarter and up to the rooftop of the Aish Dan Family World Center overlooking the Western Wall, where Adina shares her blessing for the Jewish people.

Wow! Lakewood's 2 new wedding halls offered with an all-inclusive package for just $13,000

 

Ateres Blima and Ateres Esther, named l’zecher nishmas R’ Ari Stern’s grandmothers — held their kvias mezuzah on Sunday, marking the beginning of a new era in local simcha planning. Located at 400 Oak Street, in a building named in memory of Mrs. Matel Leah Schron a”h, the halls were built to address a pressing need in the community: lowering the overwhelming cost of weddings.

Backed by numerous donors and overseen by a board of askanim including R’ Mordy Schron, R’ Menashe Frankel, R’ Ari Stern, and R’ Avraham Meir Retkinski, the project was designed with a clear purpose — to reset community expectations and bring weddings back to a simpler, more manageable standard. At these new halls, the complete wedding package will cost just $13,000, a fraction of the tens of thousands of dollars that families usually pay to marry off a child.

The all-inclusive package at Ateres Blima and Ateres Esther is designed for peace of mind: it includes hall rental, catering, photographer, videographer, musician, singer, kallah’s bouquet, artificial floral arrangements, a lavish smorgasbord, and a seudah.

Each hall will comfortably seat 250 adult guests, with accommodations for children and an on-site shul for davening and learning.

The halls have already booked 75 weddings, with many more inquiries pouring in — a clear signal that Lakewood’s families are ready for a more sustainable approach to simchas.

The initiative extends beyond the halls themselves. Plans are in motion to coordinate affordable options for other wedding expenses, including sheitels, gowns, jewelry, and invitations. A gown gemach, a jewelry gemach, and an interest-free loan program are being developed to help families avoid financial hardship.

Incredible ..Charedim Blaming Zionists because of their own Failures in Childcare Tragedy

 

Baby sleeping under a toilet in the Chardeie childcare 

Just that everyone knows and understands this childcare was in operation for over 30 years, there is no way that the parents never noticed that babies were sleeping under toilets! 

by Rationalist Judaism 

An utterly appalling tragedy happened in Jerusalem today. Two babies died and fifty-three other babies were sent to hospital as a result of an accident at a daycare center. The precise cause of the accident is not clear, but it involved toxic fumes from faulty or unsafe electrical equipment.

Within an hour of the horrific news spreading, charedi politicians had already taken advantage of this tragedy. They seized upon it to blame the Zionists. Their arguments run as follows:

This daycare center was not a proper licensed facility; it was an unlicensed and unsafe venture that crowded a huge number of babies into apartments. There were even babies put down on mattresses under a toilet. And whose fault is it that charedim are sending their babies to unlicensed, unsafe daycare? The Zionists, of course!

Why the Zionists? Because the High Court recently cut daycare subsidies for draft-dodging charedim, which leaves them unable to afford safe, licensed daycare for their babies while the husbands are in kollel and the wives are out at work. The Zionists, insisted the charedi MKs, have the blood of charedi children on their hands.

(One cannot but wonder what their response would have been if the tragedy had involved babies from non-charedi families. I suspect it would have been like with October 7th, which was diagnosed by R. Aharon Feldman and R. Moshe Meiselman as a message from God about the sinful ways of the Zionists, and/or as evidence of the dangers that face those who are not protected by Torah.)

Naturally, it wasn’t just the charedi MKs that seized upon the tragedy to advance a (false) political message. It was also the charedi enablers - the Likud politicians and the Bibi-supporters of Channel 14, who placed the blame on the High Court’s cancellation of daycare subsidies cut rather than on the charedim.

It is therefore necessary to address all the lies, slander, moral flaws, and dangers in the arguments being presented today by the charedi political leaderships:

Yerushalyim Daycare Found Severely Overcrowded After Fatal Incident ..Was Unlicensed, of course

 Footage broadcast by Channel 12 News revealed extreme overcrowding and hazardous conditions inside an unlicensed daycare in the Romema neighborhood, where two babies died earlier today. 

According to first responders, infants and young children were put down to sleep in closets, hallways, and bathrooms, with some lying on mattresses placed next to a toilet. Videos aired by the network show cramped spaces filled with children resting on top of one another.

Emergency personnel told Ynet that dozens of babies and toddlers were packed into cupboards and bathroom areas, while the air conditioner was running at an unusually high temperature described as life threatening. 

Additional footage aired by Channel 13 News appeared to corroborate the severe overcrowding

In total, two infants were pronounced dead and 53 other children were hospitalized. Authorities have detained three caregivers in connection with the incident.

Fifty-three children injured at Yerushlayim Charedie childcare site, two dead.

 

A large number of young children were reported injured Monday afternoon at a preschool on Hamem-gimmel Street in Jerusalem's Romema neighborhood.

A total of 55 children were evacuated from the daycare center to hospitals in the city. Among them were two four-month-old infants in critical condition who were evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center while undergoing resuscitation; they were later declared dead.

The daycare facility in question operated privately out of a private home, without a license and illegally. Three daycare workers were detained for questioning.

Magen David Adom (MDA) teams called to the scene are providing lifesaving treatment to approximately 12 children with varying degrees of injuries.

United Hatzalah first responders and ambulance crews provided emergency medical treatment on Monday to two infants found unconscious and 21 children who sustained minor injuries at the daycare.

United Hatzalah EMT Zeevi Klein reported:

 "I arrived at the scene and began performing CPR on a 4-month-old female infant who had lost consciousness in the living room. A 4-month-old male infant was then located unconscious in a bedroom, and I performed resuscitation efforts on him as well, which included the use of a United Hatzalah defibrillator. Both infants were transported to the hospital in critical condition. Additionally, United Hatzalah ambulance crews transported 21 other children from the scene who were conscious and in stable condition."

Firefighters called to the scene worked to monitor the site and concluded that there were no dangerous levels of materials around the preschool.

It was later reported that a toxic chemical substance had apparently leaked from the heating system.

The incident is being investigated.

President Isaac Herzog said in response to the tragic incident: "I share in the deep sorrow of the parents of the babies and the pain of the families. The loss of the lives of young toddlers is a deep, indescribable heartbreak, and my heart goes out to all the parents and children who were affected."

Herzog called for a thorough investigation of the incident:

 "We must investigate, clarify and understand what happened, draw lessons and bring justice to justice. Supervision of early childhood settings is a critical component of the safety and well-being of our children. All parties must ensure enforcement, safety and full responsibility so that such a disaster does not happen again."