Simcha Eichenstein, 34, a Chassidishe guy from Boro-Park, and who wears a Shtrimel on Shabbos will replace Dov Hikind as the Democrat Chareidie representative at the New York Assembly!
Eichenstein, is married,and the father of four, was born in 1984, to a prominent Bobover family and is proud of his yeshiva education.
He worked in various different capacities for the Mayor of New York Mayor DeBlasio.
He announced his candidacy more than six months ago, a fewdays after Hikind had announced his resignation after serving 30 years in the assembly.
The era of bipartisan support for Israel largely over. Support for Israel is now a Republican issue — and opposition to Israel a Democratic one.
That trend began when the far-left wrongly blamed Jews in the George W. Bush administration — the “Israel lobby” — for the Iraq War. It accelerated when President Barack Obama, who had long associated with anti-Israel figures, chose to create “distance” between the U.S. and Israel, including the Iran nuclear deal.
A group of Iranian Jews made the difficult trip to the city of Yazd, located some 600km from Tehran and today, a recognized World Heritage Site by UNESCO. They make the trip annually, on the Yahrzeit of the Ohr Shraga ZT”L, visiting the 1000-year-old shul for the event.
The Ohr Shraga, who lived in Yadz some 200 years ago, was a noted Torah scholar and Kabbalist who occupies a unique place in Persian Jewish tradition.
One woman who comes explains it is difficult and expensive, as there are not enough bus and train tickets to be had. In addition, no one sponsors the cost and each person who participates has to cover costs out of pocket.
The Jewish population of Iran today has dwindled from 120,000 to 20,000 today, and some continue this annual event in the ancient shul, arriving from all over the country.
It is explained the Yazdim Shul in the Bucharim area of Yerushalayim has its roots from here too. This is the shul HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L used for many years, to deliver his motzei Shabbos drasha which was carried on radio in Israel as well a broadcast around the world.
Head of the kehilla, Humyoun Sami, tells them it is all from gifts received from Hassan Ruchani, the Iranian President, who he feels treats them well.
Overall, the blue wave fell short well short of expectations on Tuesday.
Democrats took the House, but only gained about the 34 seats to be expected from the party opposing a president in his first midterm election. They gained governorships, but a fell short in swing states Ohio, New Hampshire and Florida.
And they lost ground in the Senate, as Dem incumbents who voted against confirming Brett Kavanaugh lost in North Dakota, Florida, Indiana and Missouri.
In the Empire State, Democrats did take down Reps. Dan Donovan, John Faso and Claudia Tenney. These are good people, as are various Democrats who fell short across the nation. Partisan politics are tough — as the apparent victories of scandal-tarred Sen. Bob Menendez in New Jersey and Rep. Chris Collins in New York attest.
The big picture? American politics are still in transition, with both parties and the voters still digesting the issues exposed by the shocking Trump win in 2016, and grappling with challenges that don’t fit the old ideological boxes.
A Democratic House is sure to keep biting the president’s feet, with endless investigations. A more-Republican Senate will confirm his appointees, especially his judicial ones.
Tuesday brought no clear message because the nation is still figuring out what it thinks. In these challenging times, that’s probably about the right call.
Palestinian-American Rashida Tlaib has become the first Muslim woman elected to US Congress. Tlaib took Michigan's 13th congressional district in a race in which she was the sole major party candidate.
Tlaib, 42, was born in Detroit to Palestinian immigrant parents.
She made history in 2008 by winning a seat on the Michigan Legislature, becoming the first Muslim woman to do so.
Her campaign platform included pledges to secure a $15 minimum wage, cutting off all funds to Israel.
As reported by DIN, the NYPD is searching for agang of six black teens who threw a metal pipe through the window of a Shul in Williamsburg on Shabbos afternoon.
New footage shows the same group of teens attacking a Hasidic boy moments before the attack on Franklin Ave, knocking his hat off his head as he innocently walked down the street.
Shockingly, the NYPD had not deemed the vandalism attack on theVolkan Shul a “hate crime”. This footage clearly shows the gang’s intention.
The NYPD has announced a $2500 award for information regarding the suspects.
Police and Shomrim are looking for a man who assaulted a Jewish pedestrian on Tuesday afternoon.
Around 3:30PM, a man walking down Avenue J between East 13 and East 14 was randomly punched in the face by an unidentified black man. He then kicked the victim as well, before calmly walking away
The victim has never seen the attacker before, nor were any words exchanged prior to the assault. Nothing anti-Jewish was said before this attack.
The NYPD and Flatbush Shomrim canvassed the area for close to two hours. He was last seen on Ocean Avenue and Avenue J.
The suspect is approximately 5 foot 8, 250 pounds, was wearing a black tee shirt with the words “STAGE CREW” in white lettering on the back, and had grey pants.
Police ay that they are taking this isolated incident very seriously, but stress that there has not been an assault of this kind in quite some time. Police advise the community to remain calm, but to be aware of their surroundings at all time, and to report anything suspicious immediately.
If you see this man, or have any information that can help police, please call 911 and then Flatbush Shomrim’s 24 hour emergency hotline at 718-338-9797.
Rabbi Shmuel Knopfler, frequent Torah Contributor to this blog and others.
Rabbi Shmuel Knopfler, president of shul, lover of Zion and Jewish people, passes away at 68
On Shabbat morning 27th of Tishrei 5779 (October 6, 2018) Shmuel Zev Knopfler suddenly passed away
in the manner of a Tzadik, while asleep in his bed. Shmuel was fondly known to many as “Sam Kay.” He
was a proud Jew, with a unique love for Eretz Yisrael.
He was born to Holocaust survivors in Nové Zámky, Czechoslovakia in 1950, in a time of darkness and
despair. His father served as the town rabbi and shochet. For a short while, they resided in Prague. Living
in the Soviet Bloc was especially challenging for people that were shomer Shabbat. Children had no
choice but to attend school on Shabbat. However, his parents were moser nefesh and made
arrangements with teachers so that their children would not have to write on Shabbat. Shmuel recalled a
story of a young communist teacher that ridiculed him and his sister for refraining from writing on those
days. His teacher told them that Yuri Gagarin had recently returned from space and did not see God, and
that keeping Shabbat was therefore ridiculous. Young Shmuel did not relent and remained steadfast in his
belief and tradition.
The U.S. political system is at a dramatic crossroads, with American voters in the midterm elections about to decide the fate of 35 out of 100 Senate seats and all 435 seats in the House of Representatives.
Since the last midterm elections, in 2014, Congress has had a Republican majority, with the party controlling both houses.
Almost all the predictions are that this is about to change, and predict that the Democrats will win the majority of the House and say that the chances of Democrats winning a majority in the Senate cannot be completely discounted.
If this happens, the political upset would be in line with the familiar pattern of American politics, which reflects the voters' desire to create balance between the various branches of government and prevent one party from having too much power for too long.
However, in the current political and social climate, which is fraught with tension and ideological hostility, any shift in the balance of power on Capitol Hill will have far more significant implications than ever before.
