Thursday, June 8, 2023

Assisted Suicide Crisis in NY

 Urgent Alert for all NY State residents regarding Assisted Suicide bill A995/ S2445a. 

## Sakonas Nefashos ##

Below are names and contact information of NY assemblymen in need of immediate pressure to oppose Assisted Suicide bill A995, now threatening to pass before the legislative session closes, as early as today, Thursday June 8th.  Both houses of the legislature need to hear from us, so please also alert your state senator as well, by calling the central switchboard number 518.455.2800 (corrected number).


Ensure that your legislators truly understand that you cannot vote for them if they insist on voting to help murder innocent people. No amount of government goodies can buy off a Torah-true Jew.  Please stand and be counted. 


Assemblymen of particular interest are highlighted below.  Many of those who have Orthodox constituencies of note are bolded.


Please circulate this information ASAP as widely and prominently as possible among those who have a reach into NY.


See https://trk.cp20.com/click/e0fg-2oxsdf-clm20a-7fu4bxw4/ for a sample article.


To provide the text of a landmark statement detailing the pertinent Torah imperative, demanding assiduous action against all such legislation, we've copied a statement of Torah Law (Psak) below.  Please forgive any technical glitches or formating errors that appear.


The abortion and same-gender "marriage" battles taught us that if NY falls, G-d forbid, then the rest of the country could likely follow.


To reach us right away, it's may be best to try calling or texting our direct line (771-215-8892).


Thank you in advance.

Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,


Executive Director,


Help Rescue Our Children


845-642-1679


Direct: 771-215-8892


Israeli Helpline: 03-721-3337


torahjewsfordecency@gmail.com


Personal: nathanadvisors@gmail.com


_________


(emphasis added here:)


________________


Psak Halacha 


Regarding attempts to pass “Death with Dignity” legislation: 


The chiyuv (Torah injunction) of “Lo sa'amod al dam re’echa”, obligates everyone to do what he or she can, to help prevent assisted suicide and/or euthanasia. 


Allowing the legalization of “assisted suicide”, even if this particular law in practice would only result in assisting a suicide and not euthanasia, is to allow shefichas-domim (bloodshed). Furthermore even rendering such actions not being subject to prosecution, is allowing shefichas-domim (bloodshed), al achas kama vekama (how much more so), in cases of assisted suicide leading to euthanasia. 


Voting on the basis of this issue. This obligation would include: 


1) Thus, when voting for any public official, this issue must be considered as top priority, certainly overriding financial considerations, government programs, etc. By voting for people who support these laws, we become accountable for their actions. This ruling would still apply even if these laws were to be passed, we would still be forbidden to vote for legislators who voted for these laws. This is the most important way to fulfill our obligation. 


2) Urging one’s legislators to vote against these bills, if and when they arise[1] and to urge the governor to veto such bill, were it to pass the legislature. 


3) Helping in efforts to repeal such laws, in areas[2] where such legislation was already passed. 


Even a few votes can make a major difference, both by legislators and the public — sometimes the vote of a single legislator can decide the fate of these laws — as is evidenced by the recent vote in the New Jersey State Assembly (in November 2014), where an assisted suicide bill was passed by just one vote. We have seen in several recent races in Jewish neighborhoods, that even a handful of votes can make the difference in the outcome of the election[3]. Furthermore, some legislators keep track of the calls that are made to their offices on particular controversial issues, and vote according to their results. 


May the Creator of all life grace us with the merit to save innocent lives, fulfilling our role as an or legoyim (light unto the nations). In that merit, may we help usher in the Final Redemption by Moshiach Tzidkeinu. 


  Rabbonim are listed alphabetically.  


Mordechai Chaim Auerbach Boruch Hirschfeld  Avrohom Reich  Monsey Ahavas Yisroel, Cleveland Hatzolas Yisroel 


<  


Eliyahu Ben-Haim Zalman Leib Hollander Dovid Ribiat  


RIETS/Kehillah Yotzei Mashad Khal Nachlas Moshe, Spring Valley, NY  mechaber "The 39 Melochos" 


<  


Haim Benoliel  Shmuel Kamenetsky Yosef Yitzchok Rosenfeld  


Bnai Yosef/Mikdash Melech Talmudical Academy of Philadelphia Monsey Dometz 


   


Gad Bouskila  Yosef Meir Kantor Chaim Schabes  


Netivot Israel Cong. Agudath Israel of Monsey Knesses Yisroel 


   


Yitzchok M. Braun Elya Nota Katz Dovid Schustal  


Shaaray Zion Stamford Yeshiva Bais Medrash Govoha, Lakewood 


   


Shlomo Breslauer Eliezer Langer Yaakov Shulman  


Bais Tefiloh Cong. Israel, Poughkeepsie, NY Talmud Torah of Flatbush 


   


Eliyahu Brog Yeshaye Gedalye Kaufman  Moshe Silberberg  


Bais Yisroel Hisachdus Moetz, Kruleh Dometz Shuvu/mechaber “Zichron Tzvi Meir” 


   


Simcha Bunim Cohen Amram Klein  Moshe Soloveitchik  


Khal Ateres Yeshaya Ungvar Chicago 


   


Yitzchok Cohen  Shloime Ben Zion Kokis  Yitzchok Sorotzkin  


Yeshiva University RIETS Zichron Mordechai Mesivta of Lakewood 


   


Moshe Donnebaum Grainom Lazewnik  Tzvi Steinberg 


Hechel Hatorah/Adas Yisroel/Melbourne Khal Adar Gbir Kahal Zera Avraham, Denver 


   


Michoel Elias Philip Lefkowitz Shlomo Stern 


Kehilas Yisroel, Spring Valley Jackson, NJ; mult. congregations in US, UK & Canada Debreciner Rov 


   


Eytan Feiner Moshe Tuvia Lieff Elazar Mayer Teitz 


Kneseth Israel, (The White Shul) Far Rockaway Agudath Israel Bais Binyomin Chief Rabbi of Elizabeth, NJ 


   


Menachem Fisher Shmuel Miller Elya Ber Wachtfogel 


Vien Monsey Yeshiva Bais Yisroel Yeshiva of South Fallsburg 


   


Noson Yermia Goldstein  Avrohom Yaakov Nelkenbaum  Boruch Hersh Waldman  mechaber of “Migdalos Noson” Mirrer Yeshiva Siach Yitzchok, Suffern 


   


Avrohom Gordimer  Yechiel Perr Moshe Weissman  


Coalition for Jewish Values Yeshiva of Far Rockaway Ohel Moshe 


   


Shmuel Gorelick  Steven Pruzansky Benjamin Yudin 


Mesivta Ohel Torah Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck Shomrei Torah, Fair Lawn, NJ 


   


Moshe Green Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff  Yeruchum Zeilberger Yeshivah D'Monsey YU Gruss Kollel Stamford Yeshiva 


   


Yisroel Dovid Harfenes  Gavriel Zinner 


Yisroel Vehazmanim Nitei Gavriel 


Institutions are listed for identification purposes only. 


[1] as is currently in New Jersey [2] such as Washington state and Oregon 


[3] most noticeably (demonstrated) in the Senate election between David Storobin and Lew Fidler, where Storobin won by less than 20 votes. ...


---------- 

Assuming all the sponsors stay on -- they only need 13 more votes to  pass Assisted Suicide in Assembly (only democrats are on the bill)


2     Republican     Jodi Giglio     2020     Suffolk

3     Republican     Joe DeStefano     2018     Suffolk

4     Republican     Edward Flood     2022     Suffolk

5     Republican     Douglas M. Smith     2018+     Suffolk

7     Republican     Jarett Gandolfo     2020     Suffolk

8     Republican     Michael J. Fitzpatrick     2002     Suffolk

9     Republican     Michael Durso     2020     Nassau, Suffolk

12     Republican     Keith Brown     2020+     Suffolk

14     Republican     David McDonough     2002+     Nassau

15     Republican     Jake Blumencranz     2022     Nassau

17     Republican     John Mikulin     2018+     Nassau

19     Republican     Ed Ra     2010     Nassau

20     Republican     Eric "Ari" Brown     2022+     Nassau

21     Republican     Brian F. Curran     2022     Nassau

22     Democratic     Michaelle C. Solages     2012     Nassau

23     Democratic     Stacey Pheffer Amato     2016     Queens

24     Democratic     David Weprin     2010+     Queens

25     Democratic     Nily Rozic     2012     Queens

27     Democratic     Daniel Rosenthal     2017+     Queens

32     Democratic     Vivian E. Cook     1990     Queens

41     Democratic     Helene Weinstein     1980     Kings (Brooklyn)

42     Democratic     Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn     2014     Kings (Brooklyn)

44     Democratic     Robert Carroll     2016     Kings (Brooklyn)

45     Republican     Michael Novakhov     2022     Kings (Brooklyn)

46     Republican     Alec Brook-Krasny     2022     Kings (Brooklyn)

47     Democratic     William Colton     1996     Kings (Brooklyn)

48     Democratic     Simcha Eichenstein     2018     Kings (Brooklyn)

49     Republican     Lester Chang     2022     Kings (Brooklyn)

52     Democratic     Jo Anne Simon     2014     Kings (Brooklyn)

54     Democratic     Erik Martin Dilan     2014     Kings (Brooklyn)

55     Democratic     Latrice Walker     2014     Kings (Brooklyn)

59     Democratic     Jaime Williams     2016+     Kings (Brooklyn)

60     Democratic     Nikki Lucas     2022+     Kings (Brooklyn)

62     Republican     Michael Reilly     2018     Richmond (Staten Island)

63     Republican     Sam Pirozzolo     2022     Richmond (Staten Island)

64     Republican     Michael Tannousis     2020     Kings (Brooklyn), Richmond (Staten Island)

69     Democratic     Daniel J. O'Donnell     2002     New York (Manhattan)

72     Democratic     Manny De Los Santos     2022+     New York (Manhattan)

77     Democratic     Latoya Joyner     2014     Bronx

78     Democratic     George Alvarez     2022     Bronx

80     Democratic     John Zaccaro Jr.     2022     Bronx

82     Democratic     Michael Benedetto     2004     Bronx

83     Democratic     Carl Heastie     2000     Bronx

91     Democratic     Steven Otis     2012     Westchester

94     Republican     Matt Slater     2022     Westchester, Putnam

96     Democratic     Kenneth Zebrowski Jr.     2007+     Rockland

97     Republican     John W. McGowan     2022     Rockland

98     Republican     Karl A. Brabenec     2014     Orange, Rockland

99     Democratic     Chris Eachus     2022     Orange, Rockland

100     Democratic     Aileen Gunther     2003+     Orange, Sullivan

101     Republican     Brian Maher     2022     Delaware, Oneida, Orange, Otsego, Sullivan, Ulster

102     Republican     Christopher Tague     2018+     Albany, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Ulster

104     Democratic     Jonathan Jacobson     2018+     Dutchess, Orange, Ulster

105     Republican     Anil Beephan Jr.     2022     Dutchess

106     Democratic     Didi Barrett     2012+     Columbia, Dutchess

107     Republican     Scott Bendett     2022     Albany, Columbia, Rensselaer, Washington

108     Democratic     John T. McDonald III     2012     Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga

109     Democratic     Patricia Fahy     2012     Albany

110     Democratic     Phillip Steck     2012     Albany, Schenectady

111     Democratic     Angelo Santabarbara     2012     Montgomery, Schenectady

112     Republican     Mary Beth Walsh     2016     Fulton, Saratoga, Schenectady

114     Republican     Matt Simpson     2020     Essex, Fulton, Saratoga, Warren, Washington

115     Democratic     Billy Jones     2016     Clinton, Essex, Franklin

116     Republican     Scott Gray     2022     Jefferson, St. Lawrence

117     Republican     Ken Blankenbush     2010     Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, St. Lawrence

118     Republican     Robert Smullen     2018     Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida

119     Democratic     Marianne Buttenschon     2018     Oneida

120     Republican     William A. Barclay     2002     Jefferson, Oswego, Wayne

121     Republican     Joe Angelino     2020     Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Madison, Otsego, Sullivan

122     Republican     Brian Miller     2016     Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Otsego

124     Republican     Christopher S. Friend     2010     Broome, Chemung, Tioga

126     Republican     John Lemondes Jr.     2020     Cayuga, Onondaga

129     Democratic     William Magnarelli     1998     Onondaga

130     Republican     Brian Manktelow     2018     Monroe, Wayne

131     Republican     Jeff Gallahan     2020     Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Ontario, Seneca

132     Republican     Phil Palmesano     2010     Chemung, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Yates

133     Republican     Marjorie Byrnes     2018     Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Steuben, Wyoming

134     Republican     Josh Jensen     2020     Monroe

139     Republican     Stephen Hawley     2006+     Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Orleans

140     Democratic     William Conrad III     2020     Erie, Niagara

141     Democratic     Crystal Peoples-Stokes     2002     Erie

143     Democratic     Monica P. Wallace     2016     Erie

144     Republican     Michael Norris     2016     Erie, Niagara

145     Republican     Angelo Morinello     2016     Erie, Niagara

146     Democratic     Karen McMahon     2018     Erie

147     Republican     David DiPietro     2012     Erie, Wyoming

148     Republican     Joseph Giglio     2005+     Allegany, Cattaraugus, Steuben

150     Republican     Andy Goodell     2010     Erie, Chautauqua



the bill with the sponsors: 


https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?default_fld=&leg_video=&bn=A00995&term=2023&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Committee%26nbspVotes=Y&Floor%26nbspVotes=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y&LFIN=Y&Chamber%26nbspVideo%2FTranscript=Y


https://www.lifenews.com/2023/06/07/new-york-lawmakers-push-bill-legalizing-assisted-suicide/

------------

Members of the New York State Assembly


District        Party   Member  First elected   Counties

1       Democratic      Fred Thiele     1995+   Suffolk

2       Republican      Jodi Giglio     2020    Suffolk

3       Republican      Joe DeStefano   2018    Suffolk

4       Republican      Edward Flood    2022    Suffolk

5       Republican      Douglas M. Smith        2018+   Suffolk

6       Democratic      Philip Ramos    2002    Suffolk

7       Republican      Jarett Gandolfo         2020    Suffolk

8       Republican      Michael J. Fitzpatrick  2002    Suffolk

9       Republican      Michael Durso   2020    Nassau, Suffolk

10      Democratic      Steve Stern     2018+   Nassau, Suffolk

11      Democratic      Kimberly Jean-Pierre    2014    Nassau, Suffolk

12      Republican      Keith Brown     2020+   Suffolk

13      Democratic      Charles D. Lavine       2004    Nassau

14      Republican      David McDonough         2002+   Nassau

15      Republican      Jake Blumencranz        2022    Nassau

16      Democratic      Gina Sillitti   2020    Nassau

17      Republican      John Mikulin    2018+   Nassau

18      Democratic      Taylor Darling  2018    Nassau

19      Republican      Ed Ra   2010    Nassau

20      Republican      Eric "Ari" Brown        2022+   Nassau

21      Republican      Brian F. Curran         2022    Nassau


22      Democratic      Michaelle C. Solages    2012    Nassau

23      Democratic      Stacey Pheffer Amato    2016    Queens

24      Democratic      David Weprin    2010+   Queens

25      Democratic      Nily Rozic      2012    Queens (central Queens)


26      Democratic      Edward Braunstein       2010    Queens

27      Democratic      Daniel Rosenthal        2017+   Queens


28      Democratic      Andrew Hevesi   2005+   Queens

29      Democratic      Alicia Hyndman  2015+   Queens

30      Democratic      Steven Raga     2022    Queens

31      Democratic      Khaleel Anderson        2020    Queens

32      Democratic      Vivian E. Cook  1990    Queens

33      Democratic      Clyde Vanel     2016+   Queens

34      Democratic      Jessica González-Rojas  2020    Queens

35      Democratic      Jeffrion L. Aubry       1992+   Queens

36      Democratic      Zohran Mamdani  2020    Queens

37      Democratic      Juan Ardila     2022    Queens

38      Democratic      Jenifer Rajkumar        2020    Queens

39      Democratic      Catalina Cruz   2018    Queens

40      Democratic      Ron Kim         2012    Queens


41      Democratic      Helene Weinstein        1980    Kings (Brooklyn)

42      Democratic      Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn      2014    Kings (Brooklyn)


43      Democratic      Brian A. Cunningham     2022+   Kings (Brooklyn)


44      Democratic      Robert Carroll  2016    Kings (Brooklyn)


45      Republican      Michael Novakhov        2022    Kings (Brooklyn)

46      Republican      Alec Brook-Krasny       2022    Kings (Brooklyn)


47      Democratic      William Colton  1996    Kings (Brooklyn)

48      Democratic      Simcha Eichenstein      2018    Kings (Brooklyn)



49      Republican      Lester Chang    2022    Kings (Brooklyn) (BP, Bensonhurst)


50      Democratic      Emily Gallagher         2020    Kings (Brooklyn)

51      Democratic      Marcela Mitaynes        2020    Kings (Brooklyn)

52      Democratic      Jo Anne Simon   2014    Kings (Brooklyn)

53      Democratic      Maritza Davila  2013+   Kings (Brooklyn)

54      Democratic      Erik Martin Dilan       2014    Kings (Brooklyn)


55      Democratic      Latrice Walker  2014    Kings (Brooklyn)

56      Democratic      Stefani Zinerman        2020    Kings (Brooklyn)

57      Democratic      Phara Souffrant Forrest         2020    Kings (Brooklyn)

58      Democratic      Monique Chandler-Waterman       2022+[19]       Kings (Brooklyn)

59      Democratic      Jaime Williams  2016+   Kings (Brooklyn)

60      Democratic      Nikki Lucas     2022+   Kings (Brooklyn)

61      Democratic      Charles Fall    2018    New York (Manhattan), Richmond (Staten Island)

62      Republican      Michael Reilly  2018    Richmond (Staten Island)

63      Republican      Sam Pirozzolo   2022    Richmond (Staten Island)

64      Republican      Michael Tannousis       2020    Kings (Brooklyn), Richmond (Staten Island)

65      Democratic      Grace Lee       2022    New York (Manhattan)

66      Democratic      Deborah J. Glick        1990    New York (Manhattan)

67      Democratic      Linda Rosenthal         2006+   New York (Manhattan)

68      Democratic      Eddie Gibbs     2022+   New York (Manhattan)

69      Democratic      Daniel J. O'Donnell     2002    New York (Manhattan)

70      Democratic      Inez Dickens    2016    New York (Manhattan)


71      Democratic      Al Taylor       2017+   New York (Manhattan)(WH). We need black pastors to urge Rev. Al Taylor to remove his name as a cosponsor of Assisted Suicide bill, and to oppose it.


72      Democratic      Manny De Los Santos     2022+   New York (Manhattan)

73      Democratic      Alex Bores      2022    New York (Manhattan)

74      Democratic      Harvey Epstein  2018+   New York (Manhattan)

75      Democratic      Tony Simone     2022    New York (Manhattan)

76      Democratic      Rebecca Seawright       2014    New York (Manhattan)

77      Democratic      Latoya Joyner   2014    Bronx

78      Democratic      George Alvarez  2022    Bronx

79      Democratic      Chantel Jackson         2020    Bronx

80      Democratic      John Zaccaro Jr.        2022    Bronx

81      Democratic      Jeffrey Dinowitz   (sponsor)     1994+   Bronx

82      Democratic      Michael Benedetto       2004    Bronx

83      Democratic      Carl Heastie    2000    Bronx

84      Democratic      Amanda Septimo  2020    Bronx

85      Democratic      Kenny Burgos    2020    Bronx

86      Democratic      Yudelka Tapia   2021+   Bronx

87      Democratic      Karines Reyes   2018    Bronx

88      Democratic      Amy Paulin      2000    Westchester

89      Democratic      J. Gary Pretlow         1992    Westchester

90      Democratic      Nader Sayegh    2018    Westchester

91      Democratic      Steven Otis     2012    Westchester

92      Democratic      MaryJane Shimsky        2022    Westchester

93      Democratic      Chris Burdick   2020    Westchester

94      Republican      Matt Slater     2022    Westchester, Putnam

95      Democratic      Dana Levenberg  2022    Westchester, Putnam

96      Democratic      Kenneth Zebrowski Jr.   2007+   Rockland

97      Republican      John W. McGowan         2022    Rockland

98      Republican      Karl A. Brabenec        2014    Orange, Rockland


99      Democratic      Chris Eachus    2022    Orange, Rockland

100     Democratic      Aileen Gunther  2003+   Orange, Sullivan

101     Republican      Brian Maher     2022    Delaware, Oneida, Orange, Otsego, Sullivan, Ulster

102     Republican      Christopher Tague       2018+   Albany, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Ulster

103     Democratic      Sarahana Shrestha       2022    Dutchess, Ulster

104     Democratic      Jonathan Jacobson       2018+   Dutchess, Orange, Ulster

105     Republican      Anil Beephan Jr.        2022    Dutchess

106     Democratic      Didi Barrett    2012+   Columbia, Dutchess

107     Republican      Scott Bendett   2022    Albany, Columbia, Rensselaer, Washington

108     Democratic      John T. McDonald III    2012    Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga

109     Democratic      Patricia Fahy   2012    Albany

110     Democratic      Phillip Steck   2012    Albany, Schenectady

111     Democratic      Angelo Santabarbara     2012    Montgomery, Schenectady

112     Republican      Mary Beth Walsh         2016    Fulton, Saratoga, Schenectady

113     Democratic      Carrie Woerner  2014    Saratoga, Warren, Washington

114     Republican      Matt Simpson    2020    Essex, Fulton, Saratoga, Warren, Washington

115     Democratic      Billy Jones     2016    Clinton, Essex, Franklin

116     Republican      Scott Gray      2022    Jefferson, St. Lawrence

117     Republican      Ken Blankenbush         2010    Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, St. Lawrence

118     Republican      Robert Smullen  2018    Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida

119     Democratic      Marianne Buttenschon    2018    Oneida

120     Republican      William A. Barclay      2002    Jefferson, Oswego, Wayne

121     Republican      Joe Angelino    2020    Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Madison, Otsego, Sullivan

122     Republican      Brian Miller    2016    Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Otsego

123     Democratic      Donna Lupardo   2004    Broome

124     Republican      Christopher S. Friend   2010    Broome, Chemung, Tioga

125     Democratic      Anna Kelles     2020    Cortland, Tompkins

126     Republican      John Lemondes Jr.       2020    Cayuga, Onondaga

127     Democratic      Albert A. Stirpe Jr.    2012    Madison, Onondaga

128     Democratic      Pamela Hunter   2015+   Onondaga

129     Democratic      William Magnarelli      1998    Onondaga

130     Republican      Brian Manktelow         2018    Monroe, Wayne

131     Republican      Jeff Gallahan   2020    Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Ontario, Seneca

132     Republican      Phil Palmesano  2010    Chemung, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Yates

133     Republican      Marjorie Byrnes         2018    Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Steuben, Wyoming

134     Republican      Josh Jensen     2020    Monroe

135     Democratic      Jennifer Lunsford       2020    Monroe

136     Democratic      Sarah Clark     2020    Monroe

137     Democratic      Demond Meeks    2020    Monroe

138     Democratic      Harry Bronson   2010    Monroe

139     Republican      Stephen Hawley  2006+   Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Orleans

140     Democratic      William Conrad III      2020    Erie, Niagara

141     Democratic      Crystal Peoples-Stokes  2002    Erie

142     Democratic      Patrick B. Burke        2018    Erie

143     Democratic      Monica P. Wallace       2016    Erie

144     Republican      Michael Norris  2016    Erie, Niagara

145     Republican      Angelo Morinello        2016    Erie, Niagara

146     Democratic      Karen McMahon   2018    Erie

147     Republican      David DiPietro  2012    Erie, Wyoming

148     Republican      Joseph Giglio   2005+   Allegany, Cattaraugus, Steuben

149     Democratic      Jonathan Rivera         2020    Erie

150     Republican      Andy Goodell    2010    Erie, Chautauqua





Members

George Alvarez

George Alvarez District 78

alvarezg@nyassembly.gov

2633 Webster Avenue

1st Floor

Bronx, NY 10458

718-933-2204

LOB 920

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5414

Khaleel M. Anderson

Khaleel M. Anderson District 31

andersonk@nyassembly.gov

19-31 Mott Avenue

Suite 301

Far Rockaway, NY 11691

718-327-1845

131-15 Rockaway Boulevard

1st Floor

South Ozone Park, NY 11420

718-322-4958

LOB 742

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5668

Joe Angelino

Joe Angelino District 121

angelinoj@nyassembly.gov

1 Kattelville Road

Suite 1

Binghamton, NY 13901

607-648-6080

Fax: 607-648-6089

LOB 549

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5741

Fax: 518-455-5864

Juan Ardila

Juan Ardila District 37

ardilaj@nyassembly.gov

45-10 Skillman Avenue, First Floor

Sunnyside, NY 11104

718-784-3194

Fax: 718-472-0648

LOB 427

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4851

Jeffrion L. Aubry

Jeffrion L. Aubry District 35

AubryJ@nyassembly.gov

98-09 Northern Blvd.

Corona, NY 11368

718-457-3615

Fax: 718-457-3640

LOB 646

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4561

Fax: 518-455-4565

William A. Barclay

William A. Barclay District 120

BarclayW@nyassembly.gov

19 Canalview Mall

Fulton, NY 13069

315-598-5185

LOB Office 933

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-3751

Didi Barrett

Didi Barrett District 106

barrettd@nyassembly.gov

420 Warren Street

Hudson, NY 12534

518-828-1961

Fax: 518-828-5329

12 Raymond Ave.

Suite 105

Poughkeepsie, NY 12603

845-454-1703

Fax: 845-454-2408

LOB 724

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5177

Fax: 518-455-5418

Anil Beephan, Jr.

Anil Beephan, Jr. District 105

beephana@nyassembly.gov

North Hopewell Plaza, Suite #1

1075 Rt. 82

Hopewell Junction, NY 12533

845-221-2202

Fax: 845-221-2225

LOB 528

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5725

Fax: 518-455-5729

Scott Bendett

Scott Bendett District 107

bendetts@nyassembly.gov

1580 Columbia Turnpike

Building 4, Suite 1A

Castleton on the Hudson, NY 12033

518-272-6149

Fax: 518-477-5404

LOB 324

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5777

Fax: 518-455-5923

Michael Benedetto

Michael Benedetto District 82

benedettom@nyassembly.gov

3602 E. Tremont Ave.

Suite 201

Bronx, NY 10465

718-892-2235

177 Dreiser Loop, Rm. 12

Bronx, NY 10475

718-320-2220

LOB 836

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5296

Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn

Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn District 42

bichotter@nyassembly.gov

1312 Flatbush Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11210

718-940-0428

Fax: 718-940-0154

LOB 727

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5385

Ken Blankenbush

Ken Blankenbush District 117

blankenbushk@nyassembly.gov

40 Franklin Street

Suite 2

Carthage, NY 13619

315-493-3909

Fax: 315-493-4045

LOB 322

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5797

Fax: 518-455-5289

Jake Blumencranz

Jake Blumencranz District 15

blumencranzj@nyassembly.gov

111 W. Old Country Road

Suite 202

Hicksville, NY 11801

516-937-3571

Fax: 516-937-3632

LOB 545

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4684

Fax: 518-455-5477

Alex Bores

Alex Bores District 73

boresa@nyassembly.gov

353 Lexington Avenue

Suite 704

New York, NY 10016

212-605-0937

Fax: 212-605-9948

LOB 431

Albany , NY 12248

518-455-4794

Karl Brabenec

Karl Brabenec District 98

brabeneck@nyassembly.gov

28 North Main St.

Suite 2

Florida, NY 10921

845-544-7551

Fax: 845-544-7553

LOB 329

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5991

Fax: 518-455-5929

Edward C. Braunstein

Edward C. Braunstein District 26

braunsteine@nyassembly.gov

213-33 39th Avenue, Suite 238

Bayside, NY 11361

718-357-3588

Fax: 718-357-5947

LOB 842

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5425

Fax: 518-455-4648

Harry B. Bronson

Harry B. Bronson District 138

bronsonh@nyassembly.gov

840 University Avenue

Rochester, NY 14607

585-244-5255

LOB 847

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4527

Alec Brook-Krasny

Alec Brook-Krasny District 46

brook-krasnya@nyassembly.gov

2002 Mermaid Ave.

Brooklyn, NY 11224

718-266-0267

Fax: 718-266-5391

310 93rd Street

Brooklyn, NY 11209

347-560-6302

Fax: 347-497-5372

LOB 529

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5434

Ari Brown

Ari Brown District 20

browna@nyassembly.gov

525 Chestnut Street

Suite 103

Cedarhurst, NY 11516

516-431-0500

Fax: 516-295-2498

LOB 544

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-3028

Fax: 518-455-5391

Keith P. Brown

Keith P. Brown District 12

brownk@nyassembly.gov

6080 Jericho Turnpike

Suite 310

Commack, NY 11725

631-261-4151

Fax: 631-261-2992

LOB 719

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5952

Fax: 518-455-5804

Chris Burdick

Chris Burdick District 93

burdickc@nyassembly.gov

100 S. Bedford Rd.

Suite 150

Mount Kisco, NY 10549

914-244-4450

LOB 417

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5397

Kenny Burgos

Kenny Burgos District 85

burgosk@nyassembly.gov

1163 Manor Ave.

Store Front #1

Bronx, NY 10472

718-893-0202

LOB 538

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5514

Patrick Burke

Patrick Burke District 142

burkep@nyassembly.gov

3686 Seneca Street

West Seneca, NY 14224

716-608-6099

LOB 555

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4691

Marianne Buttenschon

Marianne Buttenschon District 119

buttenschonm@nyassembly.gov

207 Genesee Street

Rm 401

Utica, NY 13501

315-732-1055

Fax: 315-732-1413

LOB 656

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5454

Fax: 518-455-5928

Marjorie Byrnes

Marjorie Byrnes District 133

byrnesm@nyassembly.gov

79 Genesee St.

Avon, NY 14414

585-218-0038

Fax: 585-226-2022

LOB 723

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5662

Fax: 518-455-5918

Robert C. Carroll

Robert C. Carroll District 44

CarrollR@nyassembly.gov

416 Seventh Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11215

718-788-7221

Fax: 718-965-9378

LOB 557

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5377

Fax: 518-455-5592

Monique Chandler-Waterman

Monique Chandler-Waterman District 58

chandlerwatermanm@nyassembly.gov

903 Utica Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11203

718-385-3336

LOB 821

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4166

Lester Chang

Lester Chang District 49

changl@nyassembly.gov

LOB 523

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-3060

6904 Fort Hamilton Pkwy.

Brooklyn, NY 11228

718-236-1764

Fax: 718-234-0986

Sarah Clark

Sarah Clark District 136

clarks@nyassembly.gov

1800 Hudson Ave

Second Floor, Suite 4

Rochester, NY 14617

585-467-0410

Fax: 585-467-5342

LOB 746

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5373

Fax: 518-455-5647

William Colton

William Colton District 47

ColtonW@nyassembly.gov

155 Kings Highway

Brooklyn, NY 11223

718-236-1598

LOB 733

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5828

William Conrad

William Conrad District 140

conradw@nyassembly.gov

34 Peuquet Parkway

Tonawanda, NY 14150

716-873-2540

Fax: 716-744-2644

LOB 639

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4767

Vivian E. Cook

Vivian E. Cook District 32

CookV@nyassembly.gov

142-15 Rockaway Blvd

Jamaica, NY 11436

718-322-3975

LOB 939

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4203

Catalina Cruz

Catalina Cruz District 39

cruzc@nyassembly.gov

41-40 Junction Blvd

Corona, NY 11368

718-458-5367

Fax: 718-478-2371

LOB 652

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4567

Brian Cunningham

Brian Cunningham District 43

cunninghamba@nyassembly.gov

249 Empire Blvd

Brooklyn, NY 11225

718-771-3105

Fax: 718-771-3276

LOB 631

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5262

Brian Curran

Brian Curran District 21

curranb@nyassembly.gov

74 N. Village Ave.

Rockville Centre, NY 11570

516-561-8216

LOB 718

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5801

Taylor Darling

Taylor Darling District 18

darlingt@nyassembly.gov

33 Front Street

Suites 302 & 303

Hempstead, NY 11550

516-489-6610

LOB 323

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5861

Maritza Davila

Maritza Davila District 53

DavilaM@nyassembly.gov

249 Wilson Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11237

718-443-1205

Fax: 718-443-1424

LOB 844

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5537

Fax: 518-455-5789

Manny De Los Santos

Manny De Los Santos District 72

delossm@nyassembly.gov

210 Sherman Ave

Ste A&C

New York, NY 10034

212-544-2278

LOB 633

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5807

Joe DeStefano

Joe DeStefano District 3

destefanoj@nyassembly.gov

3245 Route 112

Building 2, Ste. 6

Medford, NY 11763

631-207-0073

Fax: 631-732-1798

LOB 430

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4901

Fax: 518-455-5908

Inez E. Dickens

Inez E. Dickens District 70

DickensI@nyassembly.gov

163 West 125th Street

Suite 911

New York, NY 10027

212-866-5809

LOB 734

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4793

Erik M. Dilan

Erik M. Dilan District 54

DilanE@nyassembly.gov

366 Cornelia St

Brooklyn, NY 11237

718-386-4576

Fax: 718-386-4575

LOB 526

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5821

Jeffrey Dinowitz

Jeffrey Dinowitz District 81

DinowiJ@nyassembly.gov

3107 Kingsbridge Avenue

Bronx, NY 10463

718-796-5345

Fax: 718-796-0694

LOB 632

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5965

Fax: 518-455-4437

David DiPietro

David DiPietro District 147

DiPietroD@nyassembly.gov

411 Main St.

E. Aurora, NY 14052

716-655-0951

Fax: 716-655-0970

LOB 546

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5314

Fax: 518-455-5691

Michael Durso

Michael Durso District 9

dursom@nyassembly.gov

512 Park Blvd.

Massapequa Park, NY 11762

516-541-4598

Fax: 516-541-4625

LOB 533

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5305

Fax: 518-455-5024

Chris Eachus

Chris Eachus District 99

eachusc@nyassembly.gov

34 Smith Clove Road

Central Valley, NY 10917

845-469-6929

Fax: 845-460-2185

LOB 628

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5441

Fax: 518-455-5884

Simcha Eichenstein

Simcha Eichenstein District 48

EichensteinS@nyassembly.gov

1310 48th St.

Unit 204

Brooklyn, NY 11219

718-853-9616

Fax: 718-436-5734

LOB 519

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5721

Fax: 518-455-5948

Harvey Epstein

Harvey Epstein District 74

epsteinh@nyassembly.gov

107 & 109 Avenue B

New York, NY 10009

212-979-9696

LOB 419

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5506

Patricia Fahy

Patricia Fahy District 109

FahyP@nyassembly.gov

LOB 717

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4178

Charles D. Fall

Charles D. Fall District 61

fallc@nyassembly.gov

853 Forest Avenue

Staten Island, NY 10310

718-442-9932

LOB 729

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4677

Michael J. Fitzpatrick

Michael J. Fitzpatrick District 8

FitzpatrickM@nyassembly.gov

285 Middle Country Rd.

Suite 202

Smithtown, NY 11787

631-724-2929

Fax: 631-724-3024

LOB 458

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5021

Fax: 518-455-4394

Ed Flood

Ed Flood District 4

floode@nyassembly.gov

149 Main Street

East Setauket, NY 11733

631-751-3094

LOB 428

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-3600

Phara Souffrant Forrest

Phara Souffrant Forrest District 57

souffrantforrestp@nyassembly.gov

55 Hanson Place

Brooklyn, NY 11217

718-596-0100

LOB 731

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5325

Christopher S. Friend

Christopher S. Friend District 124

friendc@nyassembly.gov

1250 Schweizer Rd.

Horseheads, NY 14845

607-562-3602

Fax: 607-739-1090

LOB 938

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4538

Fax: 518-455-5922

Emily Gallagher

Emily Gallagher District 50

gallaghere@nyassembly.gov

685A Manhattan Ave

Brooklyn, NY 11222

718-383-7474

LOB 818

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4477

Jeff Gallahan

Jeff Gallahan District 131

gallahanj@nyassembly.gov

70 Elizabeth Blackwell St.

Geneva, NY 14456

315-781-2030

Fax: 315-781-1746

LOB 725

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-3979

Fax: 518-455-7013

Jarett Gandolfo

Jarett Gandolfo District 7

gandolfoj@nyassembly.gov

859 Montauk Highway

Suite 1

Bayport, NY 11705

631-589-0348

Fax: 631-589-0487

LOB 426

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4611

Fax: 518-455-5258

Edward Gibbs

Edward Gibbs District 68

gibbse@nyassembly.gov

55 East 115th St

Ground Level

New York, NY 10029

212-828-3953

LOB 532

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4781

Jodi Giglio

Jodi Giglio District 2

giglioj2@nyassembly.gov

30 West Main Street

Suite 103

Riverhead, NY 11901

631-727-0204

Fax: 631-727-0426

LOB 629

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5294

Fax: 518-455-4740

Joseph M. Giglio

Joseph M. Giglio District 148

GiglioJ@nyassembly.gov

700 West State Street

Olean, NY 14760

716-373-7103

Fax: 716-373-7105

LOB 525

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5241

Fax: 518-455-5869

Deborah J. Glick

Deborah J. Glick District 66

GlickD@nyassembly.gov

853 Broadway

Suite 2007

New York, NY 10003

212-674-5153

LOB 621

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4841

Jessica González-Rojas

Jessica González-Rojas District 34

gonzalezrojasj@nyassembly.gov

75-35 31st Ave.

Suite 206B (2nd Floor)

East Elmhurst, NY 11370

718-457-0384

Fax: 718-335-8254

LOB 834

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4545

Andy Goodell

Andy Goodell District 150

goodella@nyassembly.gov

Fenton Building

2 E. 2nd Street, Suite 320

Jamestown, NY 14701

716-664-7773

Fax: 716-483-0299

LOB 446

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4511

Fax: 518-455-4328

Scott Gray

Scott Gray District 116

grays@nyassembly.gov

317 Washington Street

Suite 210, Dulles State Office Building

Watertown, NY 13601

315-786-0284

Fax: 315-786-0287

3 Remington Ave

Canton, NY 13617

315-386-2037

Fax: 315-386-2041

LOB 940

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5545

Fax: 518-455-5751

Aileen M. Gunther

Aileen M. Gunther District 100

GuntheA@nyassembly.gov

18 Anawana Lake Road

Monticello, NY 12701

845-794-5807

Middletown City Hall, 3rd floor

16 James Street

Middletown, NY 10940

845-342-9304

LOB 826

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5355

Stephen Hawley

Stephen Hawley District 139

HawleyS@nyassembly.gov

121 N. Main Street

Suite 100

Albion, NY 14411

585-589-5780

Fax: 585-589-5813

LOB 521

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5811

Fax: 518-455-5558

Carl E. Heastie

Carl E. Heastie District 83

Speaker@nyassembly.gov

1446 East Gun Hill Road

Bronx, NY 10469

718-654-6539

Fax: 718-654-5836

LOB 932

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-3791

Fax: 518-455-5459

Andrew Hevesi

Andrew Hevesi District 28

HevesiA@nyassembly.gov

70-50 Austin Street

Suite 118

Forest Hills, NY 11375

718-263-5595

LOB 626

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4926

Pamela J. Hunter

Pamela J. Hunter District 128

HunterP@nyassembly.gov

711 East Genesee Street

2nd Floor

Syracuse, NY 13210-1540

315-449-9536

LOB 424

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5383

Alicia Hyndman

Alicia Hyndman District 29

hyndmana@nyassembly.gov

232-06A Merrick Blvd.

Springfield Gardens, NY 11413

718-723-5412

LOB 702

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4451

Chantel Jackson

Chantel Jackson District 79

Jacksonc@nyassembly.gov

780 Concourse Village West

Ground Fl. Professional

Bronx, NY 10451

718-538-3829

Fax: 718-588-0159

LOB 547

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5272

Fax: 518-455-5925

Jonathan G. Jacobson

Jonathan G. Jacobson District 104

jacobsonj@nyassembly.gov

436 Robinson Avenue

Suite B

Newburgh, NY 12550

845-562-0888

Fax: 845-561-5218

One Civic Center Plaza

Suite 101

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

845-763-7011

LOB 650

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5762

Fax: 518-455-5593

Kimberly Jean-Pierre

Kimberly Jean-Pierre District 11

jeanpierrek@nyassembly.gov

640 West Montauk Highway

Lindenhurst, NY 11757-5538

631-957-2087

Fax: 631-957-2998

LOB 841

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5787

Fax: 518-455-3976

Josh Jensen

Josh Jensen District 134

jensenj@nyassembly.gov

2496 West Ridge Rd.

Rochester, NY 14626

585-225-4190

Fax: 585-225-6502

LOB Room 722

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4664

Fax: 518-455-3093

Billy Jones

Billy Jones District 115

jonesb@nyassembly.gov

202 U.S. Oval

Plattsburgh, NY 12903

518-562-1986

LOB 551

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5943

Latoya Joyner

Latoya Joyner District 77

joynerl@nyassembly.gov

910 Grand Concourse

Suite 1JK

Bronx, NY 10451

718-538-2000

Fax: 718-538-3128

LOB 522

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5671

Fax: 518-455-5461

Dr. Anna R. Kelles

Dr. Anna R. Kelles District 125

kellesa@nyassembly.gov

106 East Court Street

Ithaca, NY 14850

607-277-8030

83 Main Street

Cortland, NY 13045

607-208-2024

LOB 833

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5444

Ron Kim

Ron Kim District 40

KimR@nyassembly.gov

136-20 38th Ave.

Suite 10A

Flushing, NY 11354

718-939-0195

Fax: 718-939-1238

LOB 824

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5411

Fax: 518-455-4995

Charles D. Lavine

Charles D. Lavine District 13

LavineC@nyassembly.gov

1 School Street

Suite 303-B

Glen Cove, NY 11542

516-676-0050

Fax: 516-676-0071

LOB 831

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5456

Fax: 518-455-5467

Grace Lee

Grace Lee District 65

leeg@nyassembly.gov

64 Fulton Street, Room 302

New York, NY 10038

212-312-1420

Fax: 212-227-8054

LOB 429

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-3640

John Lemondes

John Lemondes District 126

lemondesj@nyassembly.gov

69 South Street

Auburn, NY 13021

315-255-3045

Fax: 315-255-3048

LOB 720

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5878

Fax: 518-455-3895

Dana Levenberg

Dana Levenberg District 95

levenbergd@nyassembly.gov

2 Church Street

Ossining, NY 10562

914-941-1111

Fax: 914-941-9132

LOB 325

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5348

Fax: 518-455-5728

Nikki Lucas

Nikki Lucas District 60

lucasn@nyassembly.gov

425 New Lots Ave.

1st Floor

Brooklyn, NY 11207

718-257-5824

Fax: 718-257-2590

LOB 534

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5912

Jen Lunsford

Jen Lunsford District 135

lunsfordj@nyassembly.gov

317 Main Street

Suite 2032

East Rochester, NY 14445

585-223-9130

LOB 542

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5784

Donna A. Lupardo

Donna A. Lupardo District 123

LupardoD@nyassembly.gov

State Office Building, 17th Floor

44 Hawley St.

Binghamton, NY 13901

607-723-9047

LOB 828

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5431

Fax: 518-455-5693

William B. Magnarelli

William B. Magnarelli District 129

MagnarW@nyassembly.gov

Room 840

333 East Washington Street

Syracuse, NY 13202

315-428-9651

LOB 830

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4826

Brian Maher

Brian Maher District 101

maherb@nyassembly.gov

6 Depot Street

Suite 103

Washingtonville, NY 10992

845-379-5001

Fax: 845-497-0286

LOB 819

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4807

Fax: 518-455-5237

Zohran K. Mamdani

Zohran K. Mamdani District 36

mamdaniz@nyassembly.gov

24-08 32nd Street

Suite 1002A

Astoria, NY 11102

718-545-3889

LOB 456

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5014

Brian Manktelow

Brian Manktelow District 130

manktelowb@nyassembly.gov

10 Leach Road

Lyons, NY 14489

315-946-5166

Fax: 315-946-5229

LOB 320

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5655

Fax: 518-455-5407

John T. McDonald III

John T. McDonald III District 108

McDonaldJ@nyassembly.gov

LOB 625

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4474

Fax: 518-455-4727

David G. McDonough

David G. McDonough District 14

mcdonoughd@nyassembly.gov

404 Bedford Ave.

Bellmore, NY 11710

516-409-2070

Fax: 516-409-2073

LOB 443

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4633

Fax: 518-455-5559

John W. McGowan

John W. McGowan District 97

mcgowanj@nyassembly.gov

1 Blue Hill Plaza, Ste. 1116

POB 1549

Pearl River, NY 10965

845-624-4601

Fax: 845-624-2911

LOB 548

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5118

Fax: 518-455-5119

Karen McMahon

Karen McMahon District 146

mcmahonk@nyassembly.gov

5500 Main Street

Suite 224

Williamsville, NY 14221

716-634-1895

LOB 643

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4618

Demond Meeks

Demond Meeks District 137

meeksd@nyassembly.gov

614 W. Main Street

Apartments 1-4

Rochester, NY 14611

585-454-3670

LOB 619

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5606

John K. Mikulin

John K. Mikulin District 17

mikulinj@nyassembly.gov

1975 Hempstead Trnpke

Suite 202

East Meadow, NY 11554

516-228-4960

Fax: 516-228-4963

LOB 550

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5341

Fax: 518-455-4346

Brian D. Miller

Brian D. Miller District 122

millerb@nyassembly.gov

48 Genesee St.

New Hartford, NY 13413

315-736-3879

Fax: 315-736-3947

LOB 439

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5334

Fax: 518-455-5391

Marcela Mitaynes

Marcela Mitaynes District 51

mitaynesm@nyassembly.gov

4907 4th Avenue

Suite, 1A

Brooklyn, NY 11220

718-492-6334

Fax: 718-765-4186

LOB 741

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-3821

Fax: 518-455-3828

Angelo J. Morinello

Angelo J. Morinello District 145

morinelloa@nyassembly.gov

800 Main Street, Suite 2C

Niagara Falls, NY 14301

716-282-6062

Fax: 716-282-4226

LOB 404

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5284

Fax: 518-455-5694

Michael J. Norris

Michael J. Norris District 144

norrism@nyassembly.gov

8180 Main Street

Clarence, NY 14221

716-839-4691

Fax: 716-839-4693

LOB 402

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4601

Fax: 518-455-5257

Michael Novakhov

Michael Novakhov District 45

novakhovm@nyassembly.gov

1800 Sheepshead Bay Road

Brooklyn, NY 11235

718-743-4078

LOB 527

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5403

Daniel J. O'Donnell

Daniel J. O'Donnell District 69

OdonnellD@nyassembly.gov

245 West 104th Street

New York, NY 10025

212-866-3970

LOB 712

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5603

Steven Otis

Steven Otis District 91

OtisS@nyassembly.gov

222 Grace Church Street

Port Chester, NY 10573

914-939-7028

Fax: 914-939-7167

LOB 739

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4897

Philip A. Palmesano

Philip A. Palmesano District 132

palmesanop@nyassembly.gov

105 E. Steuben St.

Bath, NY 14810

607-776-9691

Fax: 607-776-5185

LOB 448

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5791

Fax: 518-455-4644

Amy Paulin

Amy Paulin District 88

PaulinA@nyassembly.gov

700 White Plains Rd.

Suite 252

Scarsdale, NY 10583

914-723-1115

LOB 822

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5585

Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes

Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes District 141

PeopleC@nyassembly.gov

425 Michigan Avenue

Buffalo, NY 14203

716-897-9714

LOB 926

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5005

Stacey Pheffer Amato

Stacey Pheffer Amato District 23

amatos@nyassembly.gov

9516 Rockaway Beach Boulevard

Rockaway Beach, NY 11693

718-945-9550

Fax: 718-945-9549

159-53 102nd St.

Howard Beach, NY 11414

718-641-8755

Fax: 718-835-3190

LOB 839

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4292

Sam Pirozzolo

Sam Pirozzolo District 63

pirozzolos@nyassembly.gov

2090 Victory Blvd.

Staten Island, NY 10314

718-370-1384

LOB 531

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5481

J. Gary Pretlow

J. Gary Pretlow District 89

PretloJ@nyassembly.gov

6 Gramatan Ave.

Suite 201

Mt. Vernon, NY 10550

914-667-0127

Fax: 914-667-0209

LOB 845

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5291

Fax: 518-455-5447

Edward P. Ra

Edward P. Ra District 19

rae@nyassembly.gov

825 East Gate Boulevard

Suite 207

Garden City, NY 11530

516-535-4095

Fax: 516-535-4097

CAP 444

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4627

Fax: 518-455-4643

Steven Raga

Steven Raga District 30

ragas@nyassembly.gov

55-19 69th Street

Maspeth, NY 11378

718-651-3185

Fax: 718-651-3027

LOB 921

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4755

Fax: 518-455-5032

Jenifer Rajkumar

Jenifer Rajkumar District 38

rajkumarj@nyassembly.gov

83-91 Woodhaven Boulevard

Woodhaven, NY 11421

718-805-0950

Fax: 718-805-0953

LOB 637

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4621

Phil Ramos

Phil Ramos District 6

ramosp@nyassembly.gov

1010 Suffolk Ave.

Brentwood, NY 11717

631-435-3214

LOB 648

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5185

Michael Reilly

Michael Reilly District 62

reillym@nyassembly.gov

7001 Amboy Road

Suite 202 E

Staten Island, NY 10307

718-967-5194

Fax: 718-967-5282

LOB 437

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4495

Fax: 518-455-4501

Karines Reyes

Karines Reyes District 87

reyesk@nyassembly.gov

1973 Westchester Avenue

Bronx, NY 10462

718-931-2620

Fax: 718-931-2915

LOB 327

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5102

Fax: 518-455-3693

Jonathan Rivera

Jonathan Rivera District 149

riverajd@nyassembly.gov

65 Grant Street

Buffalo, NY 14213

716-885-9630

Fax: 716-885-9636

40 Main Street, lower back entrance

Hamburg, NY 14075

716-985-7001

Fax: 716-648-1064

LOB 540

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4886

Fax: 518-455-4890

Daniel Rosenthal

Daniel Rosenthal District 27

rosenthald@nyassembly.gov

159-06 71st Avenue

Flushing, NY 11365

718-969-1508

Fax: 718-969-8326

LOB 441

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4404

Linda B. Rosenthal

Linda B. Rosenthal District 67

RosentL@nyassembly.gov

230 West 72nd Street

Suite 2F

New York, NY 10023

212-873-6368

LOB 943

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5802

Nily Rozic

Nily Rozic District 25

RozicN@nyassembly.gov

159-16 Union Turnpike

Flushing, NY 11366

718-820-0241

LOB 941

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5172

Angelo Santabarbara

Angelo Santabarbara District 111

SantabarbaraA@nyassembly.gov

433 State Street

Schenectady, NY 12305

518-382-2941

2550 Riverfront Center

Amsterdam, NY 12010

518-843-0227

LOB 654

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5197

Nader J. Sayegh

Nader J. Sayegh District 90

sayeghn@nyassembly.gov

35 East Grassy Sprain Rd.

406B

Yonkers, NY 10710

914-779-8805

Fax: 914 779-8859

LOB 331

Albany, NY 12248

518 455 3662

Fax: 455-5499

Rebecca A. Seawright

Rebecca A. Seawright District 76

SeawrightR@nyassembly.gov

1485 York Avenue

New York, NY 10075

212-288-4607

Fax: 212-288-4369

LOB 744

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5676

Amanda Septimo

Amanda Septimo District 84

septimoa@nyassembly.gov

384 E 149th St., Suite 202

Bronx, NY 10455

718-292-2901

LOB 536

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5402

MaryJane Shimsky

MaryJane Shimsky District 92

shimskym@nyassembly.gov

303 South Broadway

Suite 229

Tarrytown, NY 10591

914-631-1605

Fax: 914-631-1609

LOB 827

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5753

Sarahana Shrestha

Sarahana Shrestha District 103

shresthas@nyassembly.gov

Governor Clinton Bldg. Suite G-4

1 Albany Ave

Kingston, NY 12401

845-338-9610

Fax: 845-338-9590

LOB 820

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4436

Fax: 518-455-5576

Gina L. Sillitti

Gina L. Sillitti District 16

sillittig@nyassembly.gov

44 South Bayles Avenue

Suite 200

Port Washington, NY 11050

516-482-6966

LOB 452

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5192

Jo Anne Simon

Jo Anne Simon District 52

simonj@nyassembly.gov

341 Smith Street

Brooklyn, NY 11231

718-246-4889

LOB 435

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5426

Tony Simone

Tony Simone District 75

simonet@nyassembly.gov

214 West 29th Street

Suite 1002

New York, NY 10001

212-807-7900

Fax: 212-243-2035

LOB 326

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4941

Fax: 518-455-5939

Matthew Simpson

Matthew Simpson District 114

SimpsonM@nyassembly.gov

4 Southwestern Avenue

Suite 3

Queensbury, NY 12804

518-792-4546

Fax: 518-792-5584

LOB 721

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5565

Fax: 518-455-5710

Matt Slater

Matt Slater District 94

slaterm@nyassembly.gov

3 Starr Ridge Rd.

Suite 204

Brewster, NY 10509

845-278-2923

Fax: 845-278-2926

LOB 433

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5783

Fax: 518-455-5543

Doug Smith

Doug Smith District 5

smithd@nyassembly.gov

4155 Veterans Memorial Highway

Suite 9

Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

631-585-0230

Fax: 631-585-0310

LOB 318

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5937

Fax: 518-455-4784

Robert Smullen

Robert Smullen District 118

smullenr@nyassembly.gov

5659 State Route 5

Suites 1-3

Herkimer, NY 13350

315-866-1632

Fax: 315-866-5058

Fulton County Office Building

223 West Main Street, Suite B-2

Johnstown, NY 12095

518-762-1427

Fax: 518-762-9871

LOB 635

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5393

Fax: 518-455-5889

Michaelle C. Solages

Michaelle C. Solages District 22

SolagesM@nyassembly.gov

33 North Central Avenue

Valley Stream, NY 11580

516-599-2972

Fax: 516-599-3768

LOB 736

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4465

Fax: 518-455-5560

Phil Steck

Phil Steck District 110

SteckP@nyassembly.gov

1609 Union Street

Schenectady, NY 12309

518-377-0902

Fax: 518-377-0458

LOB 627

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5931

Fax: 518-455-5840

Steve Stern

Steve Stern District 10

sterns@nyassembly.gov

95 Broad Hollow Road

Suite 100

Melville, NY 11747

631-271-8025

LOB 919

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5732

Al Stirpe

Al Stirpe District 127

StirpeA@nyassembly.gov

7293 Buckley Road

Suite 201

N. Syracuse, NY 13212

315-452-1115

LOB 622

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4505

Chris Tague

Chris Tague District 102

taguec@nyassembly.gov

45 Five Mile Woods Rd.

Suite 3

Catskill, NY 12414

518-943-1371

Fax: 518-943-0223

113 Park Place

Suite 6

Schoharie, NY 12157

518-295-7250

LOB 937

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5363

Fax: 518-455-5856

Michael Tannousis

Michael Tannousis District 64

tannousism@nyassembly.gov

7716 3rd Ave.

Brooklyn, NY 11209

718-439-8090

11 Maplewood Place

Staten Island, NY 10306

718-987-0197

Fax: 718-987-0863

LOB 543

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5716

Fax: 518-455-5970

Yudelka Tapia

Yudelka Tapia District 86

tapiay@nyassembly.gov

2175C Jerome Ave

Bronx, NY 10453

718-933-6909

LOB 432

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5511

Al Taylor

Al Taylor District 71

taylora@nyassembly.gov

2541-55 Adam Clayton

Powell Jr. Blvd.

New York, NY 10039

212-234-1430

LOB 602

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5491

Fred W. Thiele, Jr.

Fred W. Thiele, Jr. District 1

ThieleF@nyassembly.gov

3350 Noyac Road

Building B, Suite 1

Sag Harbor, NY 11963

631-537-2583

Fax: 631-725-2372

LOB 837

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5997

Fax: 518-455-5963

Clyde Vanel

Clyde Vanel District 33

vanelc@nyassembly.gov

97-01 Springfield Boulevard

Queens Village, NY 11429

718-479-2333

Fax: 718-464-7128

LOB 454

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4711

Fax: 518-455-3740

Latrice M. Walker

Latrice M. Walker District 55

WalkerL@nyassembly.gov

400 Rockaway Avenue

2nd floor

Brooklyn, NY 11212

718-342-1256

Fax: 718-342-1258

LOB 713

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-4466

Monica P. Wallace

Monica P. Wallace District 143

wallacem@nyassembly.gov

2562 Walden Avenue

Suite 102

Cheektowaga, NY 14225

716-686-0080

Fax: 716-686-3752

LOB 704

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5921

Fax: 518-455-3962

Mary Beth Walsh

Mary Beth Walsh District 112

walshm@nyassembly.gov

199 Milton Avenue

Suite 2

Ballston Spa, NY 12020

518-884-8010

Fax: 518-884-8041

LOB 450

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5772

Fax: 518-455-4650

Helene E. Weinstein

Helene E. Weinstein District 41

WeinstH@nyassembly.gov

3520 Nostrand Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11229

718-648-4700

LOB 923

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5462

David I. Weprin

David I. Weprin District 24

WeprinD@nyassembly.gov

111-12 Atlantic Avenue, #5

Richmond Hill, NY 11419

718-805-2381

Fax: 718-805-2384

185-06 Union Turnpike

Fresh Meadows, NY 11366

718-454-3027

Fax: 718-454-3178

LOB 716

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5806

Fax: 518-455-5977

Jaime R. Williams

Jaime R. Williams District 59

williamsja@nyassembly.gov

5318 Avenue N

1st Floor Store

Brooklyn, NY 11234

718-252-2124

Fax: 718-252-2417

LOB 641

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5211

Carrie Woerner

Carrie Woerner District 113

woernerc@nyassembly.gov

112 Spring Street, Suite 205

Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

518-584-5493

Fax: 518-584-5496

LOB 502

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5404

Fax: 518-455-3727

John Zaccaro, Jr.

John Zaccaro, Jr. District 80

zaccaroj@nyassembly.gov

2018 Williamsbridge Road

Bronx, NY 10461

718-409-0109

Fax: 718-409-0431

LOB 530

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5844

Fax: 518-455-5596

Kenneth Zebrowski

Kenneth Zebrowski District 96

ZebrowskiK@nyassembly.gov

151 N. Main St., Suite 204

New City, NY 10956

845-634-9791

LOB 422

Albany, NY 12248

518-455-5735

Stefani Zinerman

Stefani Zinerman District 56

zinermans@nyassembly.gov

1368 Fulton Street

3rd Fl., NW

Brooklyn, NY 11216

718-399-7630

LOB 553

Albany, NY 12248

==================


Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,

Executive Director


Help Rescue Our Children


TorahJewsForDecency@gmail.com / public account


NathanAdvisors@gmail.com / personal account


USA: 771-215-8892


 845-642-1679 «» 


Israeli Helpline: 03-721-3337

Brutal killings of two young girls show one of India’s biggest problems is getting worse, advocates say

 https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/07/india/india-violence-against-women-teen-murders-intl-hnk-dst/index.html

A teenage girl is stabbed and bludgeoned to death as members of the public walk by.

An even younger girl suffers a similar fate, allegedly at the hands of her own father because she and her mother wanted to sleep on the patio.

These two horrifying events took place within 10 days of each other in India last month, but Jayna Kothari, a senior advocate at the country’s Supreme Court, said violence against women has been escalating for the past decade.

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Fox News Host Harris Faulkner Caught Telling Whopper About 1918 Pandemic

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-host-harris-faulkner-caught-telling-whopper-about-1918-pandemic?ref=home

You know,” she told viewers who could not possibly know such a thing because it wasn’t true, “we didn’t actually close schools in 1918 during the Spanish flu pandemic. We didn’t even have penicillin back then. We did sacrifice. We suffered, but then we pressed on. Our enemies hate us for surviving, but they would love to be like us.”

In fact, a simple internet search reveals Faulkner’s error. A July 2020 PBS NewsHour column, for instance, notes that during the 1918-19 pandemic, “the majority of public schools were closed for weeks to months on end.”

What’s Really Going On With the Crime Rate?

 https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2022/10/crime-rate-justice-republicans-2022-elections/671800/

“Multicausal” is far from the world most Democratic candidates are living in these final weeks before Election Day. The CAP study makes a thorough case that the new policies the progressive prosecutors are implementing can’t be blamed for the rising incidence of crime. But the slugfest on the campaign trail underscores an equally important truth: that as long as crime rates are elevated, those criminal-justice reforms will remain politically vulnerable anyway.

Republicans like to talk tough on crime — but they're the ones with a real crime problem

 https://www.salon.com/2023/02/15/like-to-talk-tough-on--but-theyre-the-ones-with-a-real-problem/

Crime is an American problem, touching the lives of people in cities, suburbs and rural areas. Yet for all its talk about crime, the Republican Party has not delivered an effective strategy to fight it.  

Of course, you would never know that from listening to Republican politicians or the public officials who represent red states. They take every opportunity to try to convince voters that crime is a problem made worse by "liberal" policies, and that it runs rampant in cities and states where Democrats are in charge. 

Not an anomaly: 2020's red states have higher murder rates

 https://www.axios.com/2023/01/27/murder-rate-high-trump-republican-states

The murder rates in Trump-voting states from 2020 have exceeded those in Biden-voting states every year since 2000, according to a new analysis by ThirdWay, a center-left think tank.

Why it matters: Republicans have built their party on being the crime-fighting candidates, even as murder rates in red states have outpaced blue states by an average of 23% over the past two decades.

Four reliably-red states consistently made the top of the list — Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Missouri.

Ron DeSantis Wants You to Be Scared Senseless About Crime (Don’t Be)

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/ron-desantis-wants-you-to-be-scared-shtless-about-crime-dont-be?ref=home

DeSantis has also repeated the Republican line that crime has soared in blue cities because of “woke” criminal justice policy. That too just isn’t true. In 2020 and 2021, the homicide rate in GOP whipping boy cities like New York and San Francisco was lower than that of nearly every large Republican-run city, including Omaha, Fresno, Tulsa, Colorado Springs, and Oklahoma City.

Medicine and Torah

 Tanchuma (Yisro  08) G-d said that there is no ailment that does not have its cure; and the cure and drug for every ailment have been predetermined. If you desire your body to be free of pain, devote yourself to the Torah, for it is a healing balm to the entire body. 

EJF fights to stay alive or 3 Belzers & a Blogger trying to understand Daas Torah


I just found out today that some of my most devoted readers are Belzers - even though the vast majority don't understand English. I received a call today from a person claiming to be a employee of Hidabroot  - the Belzer kiruv organization. He mentioned  that he just discovered my blog Daas Torah - even though his wife had to translate it for him since his English is poor. He was interested in my halachic knowledge concerning geirus and kiruv. He noted that his organization is closely associated with EJF. The conversation was strange - a Belzer is calling me up concerning my halachic views on geirus and kiruv because of my blog?! I asked him if knew about Tropper and he said he had heard of Tropper but  was not directly involved with him but was aware that my Blog is very concerned with him. This was really strange. I asked him do you know the scandal with Tropper and he said that he didn't. When I told him he expressed shock but said that really didn't interest him. He wanted to understand my objections to EJF and the halachic reasons. I said are you aware that the Bedatz strongly condemned EJF and he said no. He said we would never do anything that he knew directly went against the Bedatz. I asked him about the ad that Hidabroot runs every year that asks for all mixed couples who are bothered by their situations or those who know them to get in contact with them. I said the Bedatz is concerned about prosyletization and this ad is the classic example. His response is that there was no such ad. I said why don't you come over to my house and I'll show it to you along with the Bedatz's letter and you can hear Rav Reuven criticizing the position of EJf. He said fine and asked if he  could bring a distinguished talmid chachom along who was an expert on geirus.

Two hours later three Belzer's knocked on my door. Really friendly fellows. I played Rav Reuven' recording. "That is exactly our policy at Hidabroot. We never go after goyim or intermarried couples. They are always referred to us by Rabbis after they have come one their own accord." I said well what about your ads and I displayed it on my computer. It clearly is proselytizing and mentions nothing about rabbis or kiruv organization providing recommendations. Their answer was that this was an old ad that had long ago been changed. I said but this has run for the last two years. "On no that is an old ad - we don't proselytize. In fact there has never been any  seminar  that we are associated with here in Israel that tries to attract goyim or had attendees that have not been associated with a kiruv program for 1 or 2 years.

In short we had a great session where we all agreed that proselytization was wrong and that only when dealing with a tinok shebisha who didn't know intermarriage was bad would they allow  him to participate - after he came willingly. (Of interest they brought a laptop which they asked to connect to my WiFi which I did).

Then out of left field they asked me why a blog named Daas Torah was full of shmutz and Tropper's sexual scandal. I explained that it was important that people know what had happened and that this would motivate people to take it seriously and do something about it.  "But how can you have a blog called Daas Torah" - they said in Hebrew since they didn't know English. We have people who are seriously involved in Torah and they go to your blog to see Daas Torah and they get shmutz.  They said they have received a lot of complaints about my blog from Belzer chasidim. This was really surprising. Non English speakers being corrupted by my blog because they thoroughly read through every posting and all the comments and they discover to their horror that it wasn't Hamodiah. After I tried  explaining several times I said lets go ask Rav Sternbuch - whom they had never met. I called his home and was told he was leaving for the 2 minute walk to shul for mincha. We piled into their car and found Rav Sternbuch climbing the stairs  leading from his apartment to the street. I introduced them and told them to ask their question - which they did. Rav Sternbuch explained that of course there was no need to discuss shmutz in regards to Tropper.They looked at me with smug grins and said we told you so. I tried explained to Rav Sternbuch what and why  I was doing because he had never expressed such concerns before - but he just said , "Why mention disgusting things "and went in for Mincha. They talked for few mintues with Rav Sternbuch's gabbai and they left with a condscending, "Don't forget to take off all that shmutz - it is Daas Torah right after mincha because you follow Daas Torah." I went in to daven confused.

After Mincha, I went to ask Rav Sternbuch for clarification. He said, "I thought they were asking whether they needed to read about the shmutz. I didn't realize they were talking about the articles that you are mefarsem. You can use your own judgment about what you write. Just don't be explicit about the nature of the disgusting activities. But there is no problem to say that Tropper is a menuval or a sheigitz (Megila 25) and in fact it should be publicized that he is a menuval."

So now we have a situation where they will claim that I don't listen to Daas Torah when they go to read my blog and see all the postings about Tropper are still there - which was clearly the actual reason they came to see me. In fact, however, Rav Sternbuch thought he was answering a question about what they should do - not what I should be doing.  He felt it was irrelevant and bitul Torah for these chasidim to be reading about the depravity of Tropper when it was enough they knew  about it. On the other hand he felt that there was a to'eles for me to be mefarsum the  nature of the scandal. The lesson is clear - don't ask a posek an important question when he is rushing to daven mincha - unless you can ask him to clarify it afterwards.

Rav Moshe Sternbuch strongly condemns the heter given to Tamar Epstein to marry without a Get

[update - added English translation]

A person who has known Rav Sternbuch for many years told me that he has never seen Rav Sternbuch as outraged about an issue as he is about this "heter".

In Rav Sternbuch's letter he refers to a teshuva which was written to justify the "heter". He said that while he can mention it because he was given the teshuva   - but it can not be publicized without permission of the author.

Rav Sternbuch's letter was distributed by an organization Taam V'Daas that added the following explanation.

מרן פוסק הדור הגר"מ שטרנבוך במכתב חריף כנגד היתר הלכה מפוקפק להתיר אשת איש בלא גט רח"ל – "היא אשת איש לכל דבר והוולד ממזר"

סערה בעולם היהודי: רב באמריקה הנפיק היתר מחודש לאשה נשואה שבעלה סרבן גט, להשתחרר מכבלי העגינות בלא גט בטענת 'מקח טעות' וזאת על אף שהאשה קיימה חיים רגילים עם הבעל תקופה ארוכה כאשר במהלך חייהם המשותפים גם נולדה להם בת * מרן פוסק הדור הגר"מ שטרנבוך במכתבו "אין לי מנוחה שאין שומעים מחאה על כבוד ה' ותורתו: * "לדעת רבנים אלו נאמר כן ח"ו אף בהרבה גיטין שהאשה מביאה חוות דעת מרופאים שסובל וסבל ממחלת נפש, וזהו הירוס הדת וקלקול דיני אישות בישראל" * את דבריו החריפים חתם הגר"מ בפסק הלכה לפיו "היא אשת איש לכל דבר והוולד ממזר" * 

סערה בעולם היהודי: רב באמריקה הנפיק היתר מחודש לאשה נשואה שבעלה סרבן גט, להשתחרר מכבלי העגינות בלא גט, הנימוק להיתר הוא מדין 'מקח טעות', וזאת על אף שהאשה קיימה חיים רגילים עם הבעל תקופה ארוכה אשר במהלך חייהם המשותפים גם נולדה להם בת. 
 ה'היתר' המחודש ניתן לאשה כמובן באורח נדיר מתוך התחשבות במצב האשה העגונה הכבולה בכבלי עגינות זה חמש שנים, ובעלה מסרב לתת לה גט.
פרטי המקרה הגיעו לאוזני מרן פוסק הדור הגר"מ שטרנבוך שליט"א, שמיהר לפרסם את מחאתו החריפה כנגד ההיתר המחודש להפקיע קידושין לאחר חיים משותפים כמה שנים בלא גט, ואף התבטא במכתב החריף "אין לי מנוחה שאין שומעים מחאה על כבוד ה' ותורתו".
את האיגרת פותח מרן הגר"מ בפרטי המציאות - "בדבר מה שנתפרסם כאן פסק של אחד מגדולי ראשי הישיבות באמריקה עם אחד מהפוסקים שם שהתיר רח"ל בלא גט אשה שכבר חיה יחד עם בעלה תקופה, וכבר יש לה ילד ממנו, ועכשיו לדעת הרופא הוא סובל ממחלת נפש שהייתה בו כבר קודם, והם פסקו שנתברר שזהו מקח טעות ויכולה להינשא מיד, וסידרו לה חופה וקידושין בלא גט".
במהלך המכתב נמנע מרן הרב שטרנבוך להתייחס לצדדי ההלכה בעניין, מתוך נימוק מעניין - "שמעתי מפי מרן הגאון דבריסק זצ"ל שכשיש תקלה אוסרים בלי נימוק, שאם מפרש טעם דוחין אותה, וגם כאן לא באתי אלא לחזק מי שמוחה ומקדש שם שמים ששכרו רב מאוד".  
את עיקר מכתבו הקדיש מרן הגר"מ לסכנת הפרצה העלולה לצאת מכך, וכפי שכתב – "בדרך זו יכולים לקלקל כל דיני אישות בישראל, ולדוגמא חולה סרטן רח"ל שתמיד המחלה מקוננת בגופו הרבה לפני שמתברר, נאמר שהוא מקח טעות, וכן כמוהו באלפי מקרים, ובהרבה גיטין האשה מביאה חוות דעת מרופאים שסובל וסבל ממחלת נפש, ולדעת רבנים אלו נאמר שלא צריכה גט ח"ו, וזהו הירוס הדת וקלקול דיני אישות בישראל.
בסיום דבריו הוסיף הגר"מ כי מעיקר הדין היה ראוי לקרוע קריעה על סילוף דין תורה -
"ובשעתו כשרב אחד מהלאומיים התיר ממזר דרש בעל ה"מנחת יצחק" הגרי"י וייס זצ"ל שהתאספו יחד החרדים לדבר ה' וישבו על הארץ וכולם קרעו קריעה כדין.
ובגמ' בקידושין י"ג ע"א מבואר שכשמתירים אשת איש שלא כדין הקב"ה בכעס ומעניש יותר מדור המבול עד כדי שאפילו דגים שבים נכרתים".
את דבריו חתם מרן הגר"מ בקריאה כי "חייבים בית ישראל לפרסם שאין לפסקם שום יסוד, והיא אשת איש לכל דבר והוולד ממזר".
יצויין, כי בימים אלו כבר חתמו כמה רבנים באמריקה מכתב מחאה וקול קורא כנגד ההיתר המחודש, דבר שעומד להתפרסם בימים הקרובים. 



[my unauthorized translation]


Rav Moshe Sternbuch
Protest against heter for Tamar Epstein to remarry without a Get


This is in regards to the recently publicized psak of one of the gedolim (an American rosh yeshiva) together with an American posek. The psak freed a woman from marriage without a Get despite the fact that she had lived with her first husband for an extended period of time and she had born a daughter from him. But now a therapist claims that the husband suffers from mental illness that had existed prior to their marriage. Therefore these two rabbis paskened that they had determined that the marriage was a mistake (mekach ta'os) and that therefore the woman was free to marry immediately without needing a Get. And in fact they [the posek] officiated at a wedding for her without her receiving a Get.

And I saw the teshuva that "freed" her. I hate to say this but the teshuva is total nonsense. Taking the approach of this teshuva it is possible to destroy the whole framework of halachic marriage. For example, if a spouse is found to have cancer – something which begins to develop a long time before it is discovered by the doctors – it would be possible according to the logic of this teshuva to declare that the marriage is a mistake (mekach ta'os) and thus never existed. Similarly there are thousands of other cases of problems that develop prior to marriage but are only discovered after marriage. 

In fact in many cases of divorce, the wife brings a therapist's opinion to beis din, that the husband suffers from mental illness that was a pre-existing condition. Therefore according to the view of these two rabbis there would be no need for a Get (G-d forbid!) in those cases! Such an approach is destructive to Judaism and uproots the basic laws governing Jewish marriage. And this that they claim that they are merely basing themselves on the views of Rav Moshe Feinstein – that is total nonsense. The present case is not comparable to Rav Moshe's cases. But this is not the place to go into the details.

When a certain Religious Zionistic rabbi declared the he had found a heter for  a person who had the status of a mamzer to marry, the Minchas Yitzchok (Dayan Weiss) gathered the people together and they sat on the ground and tore their clothing as a sign of mourning. It is explained in Kiddushin (13a) that when a married woman is declared to be free of her married status against the halacha, G-d becomes very angry and brings about punishment which is greater than that of the Generation of the Flood. To the degree that even the fish in the sea are destroyed.

It is important, therefore that it be publicized that the heter of these rabbis for her to remarry is totally worthless and has no basis. Consequently she is still married to the first husband in every respect and therefore any children born from her relation to the second husband are clearly mamzerim. I have no peace of mind because I have not heard protests against this false heter - which is against G-d's honor and His Torah.

I heard from the Brisker Rav that when there is a serious problem that it be  dealt with by  issuing a categorical prohibition without giving detailed explanations. That is because if a reason for the objections are given, then it is possible for someone to argue and say they are wrong. Therefore also in this case, I am not coming forth except to encourage he who protests the heter and sanctifies G-d's name.  His reward is exceedingly great.

Bombers, molesters & rabbinic guidance with seichel & derech eretz

The purpose of this post is to try and clear up a number of issues from a previous post relating to substance and form of dealing with gedolim and sensitive halachic issues - as well as the need for respect and derech eretz for others - even when you disagree with them.

As most of my readership is aware - I have recently published a 2 volume book dealing with the very sensitive subject of child and domestic abuse. It deals with very sensitive halachic issues such as rodef, mesira, lashon harah. This project was done with the strong encouragement Rav Moshe Sternbuch. While Rav Sternbuch did not read through the material before it was published - we did have a number of discussions. When I asked him to write a teshuva on the material he said simply that I should a write a summary of what we had talked about it and he would review that summary - which he did by carefully reading and annotating and correcting the summary. That corrected material has been included in the book.

It was clear that care needed to be taken in presenting material to him to make sure I presented the context correctly and that I understood the context of his comments. One case which I documented in a post - was when certain chasidim came to me because of their concern with my posting about the Tropper case which they were heavily involved. When they asked him about writing about this while he was walking to Mincha- he told them he saw no need to be involved in the subject. They gleefully pointed out that they had just gotten a psak that I should not write anymore about Tropper and that if I respected Rav Sternbuch's Daas Torah than I should cease and desist from further posting on the subject. I was clearly puzzled by Rav Sternbuch's comments since he had clearly indicated the importance of my writing and publicizing the issue. After Mincha I asked him to clarify his negative comment he had made to the chassidim and the positive comment that I had received. He expressed surprise that I was puzzled. He said he thought he was answering the chassidim what he felt they should do concerning their involvement in the matter while the positive comments were regarding what I should do.

I'd like to address the reason for this post. Franks comments regarding the very serious issue of what to do when faced with a possible life threatening situation - do you need to ask a rabbi's permission to call the police. We are dealing with a case of where there is a real possibility of immediate danger of delaying reporting to the police - in such a case Rav Sternbuch told me one should call the police first.

Frank commented on a previous post about the Santa Monica bomber said...

Micha: Rav Shternbuch specifically said it may only be reported to the authorities in a case where we can determine with certainty that the accused is guilty prior to such reporting. Yes, I have it first hand from Rav Shternbuch. You can ask him directly if you seek to truth.

The above comment is misleading - possible deliberately so. There are a wide number of scenarios that could fit into Franks assertion. (I am assuming that Rav Sternbuch stated what Frank claimed - though it is possible he misunderstood what Rav Sternbuch said.) I am thus questioning what Rav Sternbuch meant to say. For example 1) Did he think that there needs to be 100% certainty or just a reasonable possibility as opposed to merely suspecting that the person was guilty? 2) how likely did Rav Sternbuch think that there might be danger of delaying calling the police? 3) how serious a crime is the person suspected of committing? Are a serial killer treated the same as someone who drives without a driver's license? 4) Is the guilt or innocence readily established by a rabbi or does it need professional expertise. There are a number of other possibilities

Finally Frank tossed in a gratuitous insult "You can ask him directly if you seek the truth" A sneering statement which reveals a basic contempt for me and an assumption that I am not concerned with truth - at least not as much as Frank is.

In sum I stand by my original statement - in the case of the Santa Monica Bomber - one should call the police rather than a rabbi when the bomber was identified and there was even the slightest chance that he might escape or hurt someone i.e., perhaps he had another bomb with him. In addition in reporting molesters or other dangerous people - if there is a possibility that someone will be hurt by the delay or that the rabbis are not qualified to investigate - the police should be contacted.

And yes I did send a letter to Rav Sternbuch with a request for confirmation of my understanding of what to do in a question of doubt in a dangerous situation. If his view differs from what I have understood in the past - I will publicize his answer.