Senator Felder Presents Proclamation to Centenarian

Senator Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn) presented Samuel “Sandy” Saunders with a proclamation from the NY State Senate congratulating Mr. Saunders on his milestone 100^th birthday. The Senator was joined by NYC Councilman Chaim Deutsch at the celebration at the Senior League of Flatbush.

Senator Felder Addresses the Kleinman Holocaust Education Center

On Tuesday, February 23, Senator Felder addressed a crowd at the Kleinman Holocaust Education Center (KHEC), which held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil a new exhibition space that features 40 artifacts from the Holocaust.

The event also included a special ceremony to present tefillin to Menachem Kleinman, the great-grandchild of 91-year-old Auschwitz survivor Ethel Kleinman. Mrs. Kleinman is the mother of Mr. Elly Kleinman, the founder and president of the museum and education center, and grandmother of Mr. Yossie Kleinman, who is Menachem’s father and a KHEC board member and lecturer. Menachem, who turns 13 on March 23rd, is a student of Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway.

A significant crowd attended the event, including KHEC donors, acclaimed singer Lipa Schmeltzer, and more than two dozen classmates of Menachem from Yeshiva Darchei Torah.

Senator Felder Sponsors Blood Pressure Screening for Seniors

Senator Felder, in partnership with Premium Health, sponsored a free blood pressure screening today at the Boro Park Senior Center on 11th Avenue. The Senator was delighted to meet with community members and discuss their health concerns.

"We have to take care of ourselves and our parents, and these preventative screenings are a great way to catch a potential problem before it gets worse," said the Senator.

The Senator's office will be sponsoring additional blood pressure screenings at other senior centers throughout the Senator's district, as well as other health screening events throughout the year. Visit this site or contact Senator Felder's office at 718-253-2015 for event times and locations.

A Moment of Silence, Please

by NY State Senator Simcha Felder

Monday mornings are hard enough for most people. Shabbos and the weekend are over. Everyone is back to school, back to work, back to traffic and looking for parking… And suddenly, out of nowhere, adding insult to injury, there’s someone leaning on their horn.

Then there are those moments when we’re sitting in our homes or our offices, or walking down the street and enjoying the weather, quietly minding our own business or having a pleasant conversation, and we almost jump out of our skin because someone starts blasting a horn.

More, as we’ve all seen, one horn leads to a cacophony of horns. Honking begets honking. It’s music to no one’s ears.

The Tanna Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel tells us in Pirkei Avos, “All my days I grew up among the Sages and did not find anything better for one’s person than silence.” How cogently this bit of wisdom applies to drivers!

Of course, for many years, there have been laws on the books discouraging noise pollution. It has been illegal in New York City to use “any claxon installed on a motor vehicle” except to warn of danger. The fine for unnecessary horn-blowing is a steep $350 per summons. But it’s a law that is rarely enforced. Unless, of course, enough people are complaining about it.

People have been complaining to me. And, despite all the noise from the horns blowing, I hear them. To be frank, it bothers me, too. It’s not just everyone’s shattered nerves and disturbed peace, it’s also my belief that bad behavior leads to more bad behavior.

Mayor Giuliani often spoke of the broken windows theory, a concept introduced in the early 1980’s by social scientists James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling. The theory held that preventing small crimes such as vandalism, toll-jumping, and unnecessary noise violations helped maintain an atmosphere of order and lawfulness, thereby discouraging more serious crimes from taking place. I tend to agree with this theory, but even if the theory proved false a general atmosphere of order and lawfulness is still a pretty nice thing.

In addition, the misuse of horns lessens their value. When horns are blown frequently and for the wrong reason—the only right reason is to signify danger—people just become annoyed; they no longer expect danger. It’s the horn that cried wolf.

From what my constituents and I have observed, the biggest honking offenders seem to be car services whose drivers often come from outside of our community. They’re in a terrible rush and they tend to blow their horns excessively and impatiently as they race towards their next destination. And when they arrive, they blow their horns again. “I’m here,” they blow. “Come out! Let’s go! Beep-beeeeep!”

Why not just phone the fare—a cell phone to cell phone call, because everyone has one—and say, “Your ride has arrived.” Why indeed? Because the horn is convenient, and old habits die hard.

For the people impacted by these sudden and prolonged horn blasts, the matter can very serious. I’ve heard stories from mothers who had just given birth and who desperately needed sleep but were deprived of it because of honking. And then there are the mothers who finally put a child to bed, after a long struggle to do so, and had their children woken by horns. There are also people in our community who are nurturing sick relatives, to say nothing of the infirmed themselves. Unnecessary honking negatively impacts these people’s quality of life.

To address this quality-of-life issue, I am calling on the Taxi and Limousine Commission and asking for stricter enforcement of the existing laws that are too often neglected by taxi drivers and car services. Once the TLC addresses the issue, I’m hopeful that the word will spread among these car service drivers and things will get a little quieter. And then we can hear each other again.

Reprinted courtesy of The Hamodia

Felder Attends Ribbon-Cutting to Inaugurate Community's Handicapped Vans

Senator Felder admires one of the new handicap transport vans.

Senator Felder joined other elected officials including NYC Councilman Brad Lander, as well as community leaders and organizational heads, to mark the delivery of  special handicapped accessible transport vans to benefit the community. The event was a joint project of Boro Park Jewish Community Council, a major provider of social services for the Boro Park community, and Hamaspik of Kings County, a provider for children and adults with special needs. The vehicles are specially outfitted, handicapped and wheelchair accessible; their purpose is to transport seniors and disabled people to everyday tasks, such as doctor visits and shopping.

"Once again, I applaud the outstanding work of Hamaspik and the Boro Park JCC, which both do extraordinary work on behalf of our community," said Senator Felder.

 

Senate Passes Martins/Felder Bill Supporting Israel & Allies Targetted by Boycotts

Senator Jack Martins and Senator Simcha Felder

The New York State Senate passed an historic bill on Wednesday, January 20, 2016, that prohibits the state from doing business with companies that seek to economically harm Israel and other American allies through boycotts and discriminatory economic agendas. The bill (S6378A), sponsored by Senator Jack Martins (R-C-I, Mineola) and Senator Simcha Felder (D, Brooklyn), expands existing state law to prevent New York from entering into a state contract or investment with known extremists seeking to economically harm American allies.

Senator Felder commented that, “Those who advocate and engage in boycotts against Israel, and who promote anti-Semitic ideology, have no place as a state contractor. This meaningful legislation protects our nation’s allies, and stands up against bigotry and injustice.”

“Our tax dollars should not be used to aid those who wish to harm our friends. Israel and our other allies stand side by side with us to protect New Yorkers and all Americans. We owe it to them to ensure our own resources are not used in efforts to attack them. This sends a strong message that New York State supports those who have continually supported us,” said Senator Martins.

The state would use publicly available information to develop a reference list of companies, organizations, persons, or other entities that have engaged in or promoted boycotts of American allies. Those on this list would be ineligible to participate as a state contractor or receive state investment in their operations. New Jersey, Illinois, and South Carolina have all adopted similar laws in recent years to ensure that their residents are not paying to support this wrongful behavior.

HaRav Chaim Yisroel Belsky Memoriam

Senator Felder with HaRav Belsky, zt"l

My father, HaRav Tzvi Mordechai Felder, zt”l, was a Rav for more than 60 years, and in that capacity he was called upon to officiate at numerous funerals. Over the years, our community said goodbye to many Jewish men and women who had been born in Europe, but when my father saw the passing of a frum and eirlicher Yid who had been raised in America, his praise was even more effusive. Why? We all know why. Spiritually speaking, the challenges here in the Land of the Free are very strong.

If I may be so presumptuous, I dare say that my father would have seen the American roots of HaGaon HaRav Chaim Yisroel Belsky, zt”l, as particularly noteworthy. That a man who was born and raised here in America could have reached the heights usually associated only with previous generations who learned in Europe—educating and influencing so many—is, on its own, singularly praiseworthy.

I had the honor and privilege of being one of the HaRav Belsky’s many talmidim in Yeshiva and Mesivta Torah Vodaath for many years and I was delighted to take advantage of my proximity to the Rosh Yeshiva to ask him sheilos. On one occasion, I began speaking and the Rav immediately said, “Don’t talk! You have Laryngitis!” I smiled but continued. Rav Belsky stopped me again. “I’m serious,” he said. “Don’t talk or even whisper. Sleep near a hot water humidifier for a few days and you’ll feel better IY”H!” I made an appointment with the well known ENT specialist Dr. Allen Goldstein, zt”l, who diagnosed my condition exactly the same way and advised me to do precisely the same thing that Rav Belsky recommended.

Of course, HaRav Belsky was well known and respected not only for his b’kius in all four Chelkei Shulchan Aruch, Halachah and Hashkafah, but also for his vast knowledge of science. At his frequent “Ask the Rav” sessions, listeners were amazed at his wide-ranging and in-depth knowledge of many intricate and arcane subjects. Consequently, after being elected to serve on the NYC Council, Rav Belsky was frequently who I turned to when complicated communal sheilos arose. Not only was the Rosh Yeshiva able to understand the issues’ complex technicalities and discern the impact on the Klal, but also he would authoritatively give a very clear and definitive psak.

When Water Copepods became an issue, New York City’s Environmental Protection Agency experts spent many hours going over every minute detail with HaRav Belsky, and he in turn explained what he had learned to other poskim. Some ultimately had a different psak but HaRav Belsky was relied upon for his universally acknowledged expertise.

The mayor’s issue with Metzitzah B’peh was another great challenge to our community. I was determined to do everything in my power to prevent the City from interfering with our religious observance. Once again, our community had a great champion in HaRav Belsky who had extended, arduous discussions with NYC Health Department officials. I recall my pride in witnessing such a public Kiddush Hashem, listening to HaRav Belsky’s learned, insightful and unhesitating back-and-forth with New York’s health experts on abstruse medical issues. The New York City officials may have disagreed on how to proceed, but never once did they question the Rav’s grasp of the issues involved.

Like those European giants who he learned from, HaRav Belsky was truly a wise, caring, dedicated soul whose tireless efforts on behalf of Klal Yisroel were voluminous. We have lost a great luminary, and I have lost a trusted, valued friend and Rebbi.

May his memory be a blessing.

Simcha Felder
NY State Senator

Senator Felder, NYS Comptroller Co-Sponsor Unclaimed Funds Events

Residents Given Opportunity to Find Forgotten Money

Senator Simcha Felder (Brooklyn) greeted residents from Flatbush and Midwood today as they visited his office in the hope of discovering “found money”. The Unclaimed Funds Event was co-sponsored by Senator Felder and the NYS Comptroller’s office.

“We’re happy to hold this event every year,” said the Senator. “There’s over $14 billion currently in unclaimed funds, and over $24 million was already returned by the State of New York this year. Our annual event is always worthwhile and results in a number of my constituents finding money that belongs to them. Today, we conducted more than 100 searches resulting in 20 claims.”

Next week, Senator Felder will co-sponsor a similar event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at his Boro Park office at 4714 16^th Ave., 2^nd floor. Appointments are necessary. To reserve a spot, please call the Senator’s office at 718-253-2015.

New Yorkers interested in seeing if they have unclaimed funds are also encouraged to visit http://www.osc.state.ny.us/ouf/

Contact Yehudah Meth: 718-253-2015 ext. 1372
FelderPress@gmail.com