Lauren Hakimi
Lauren Hakimi
Lauren Hakimi is a journalist whose work has appeared in The Forward, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, New York Jewish Week, WNYC/Gothamist and more. She graduated from CUNY Hunter College with degrees in history and English literature. Hailing from an Iranian Jewish community on Long Island, she looks forward to shining a light on stories that matter to the Jewish community. Follow her on Twitter @lauren_hakimi.

Articles by 

Lauren Hakimi

Borough Park

Second teen suicide in under three weeks rocks Brooklyn Hasidic community

In a tearful eulogy, Satmar rebbe of Williamsburg, Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, called on the community to reflect on these tragedies, and for each community member to also “make an individual accounting” on what must be done to prevent such incidents

Courts

Clarkstown paid Haredi girls’ school $200,000 to settle discrimination lawsuit

The girls' school Ateres Bais Yaakov had sued the town of Clarkstown for religious discrimination after the town prevented the purchase of a former church property in Nanuet

Israel

U.S. Haredi leadership find consensus in lamenting Israel’s yeshiva draft changes

Leading Satmar newspapers decried the change using dramatic headlines and heated rhetoric, while the Agudah called the new rules a “war on the Torah”

Politics

Ezra Friedlander, consultant working for Azerbaijan, didn’t officially disclose City Hall meeting

Friedlander, who has also worked with many Haredi organizations, said the meeting was irrelevant to questions about Adams’s ties with Turkey

Monsey

Music to signal the onset of Shabbos in Monsey thanks to new Satmar synagogue

In an upgrade from an ancient practice, a new musical “bell” will announce the start of Shabbos — unlike the shrill sirens used in many other Haredi neighborhoods

Williamsburg

Report: Hasidic boy commits suicide after father prevented from attending bar mitzvah

The parents’ divorce had led to a four-year separation between the boy and his father. A heart-rending video circulating on social media purported to show the father sobbing heavily while delivering a eulogy at his son’s funeral

Elections

Democratic primary results show nearly a third in one largely Haredi district reject Biden

In Assembly District 48, which includes most of Borough Park and parts of Midwood, results showed 20% chose Dean Philips and another 12% chose Marianne Williamson

Legislation

New bill would exempt matzah bakeries, other restaurants from environmental rule

Staten Island Assemblyman proposes bill to exempt matzah bakeries, pizzerias from environmental rule that constitutes “discrimination against ethnic restaurants”

Politics

Mayor Adams Jewish liaison Joel Eisdorfer sued over failed business deal

The deal to buy a restaurant was nixed after Eisdorfer’s $300,000 deposit check bounced, but the real estate agent is still suing for his broker fee

Borough Park

Fire at Borough Park synagogue leaves five people hospitalized, with three in serious condition

The fire broke out in the Stavnitz rabbi’s home, above the synagogue he leads, and was caused by a cooking accident

Courts

Lev Tahor Weingarten brothers convicted for role in 2018 kidnapping of two children

The U.S. government has now convicted all nine people involved in the scheme, through testimony of former Lev Tahor member Shimon Malka

Yeshivas

Judges hear oral arguments in state’s appeal against yeshiva advocates

At issue is whether the state can institute enforcement mechanisms for the regulations it sets for nonpublic schools, including yeshivas