Williamsburg

Crime

Williamsburg sex offender accused of assaulting Monsey teenager, boasts of luring boys to mikvahs

While on probation for previous sex crimes, Joseph Grunwald was arrested by the FBI for allegedly grooming, assaulting, and threatening a 14-year-old, after boasting of having access to mikvahs, school buses, and dormitories

Haredi Life

Year end reflections on Shtetl’s first ten months of reporting: the top issues of 2023

With the intimate familiarity of insiders but free from the usual top-down oversight of Haredi media, we reported on everything from the Satmar rebbe's bragging about deceiving legislators to Agudah's efforts to keep the Times from winning a Pulitzer

Haredi Life

First, he converted to Judaism. Then, he returned to Christianity. The Haredi reaction to Satchel Bloyd’s story wasn’t pretty

Satchel, Yechiel, Bartimaeus: he went by different names, but former friends said his embrace of Hasidism was genuine — as long as it lasted

Satmar

Satmar community touts 24,000 students in flagship school systems, highlighting rapid growth and its broader impact

Figures align with broader estimates of Haredi growth rates, which have resulted in a global population of 2.1 million, approximately one-third of which live in the NYC metro region

Satmar

Personal items of Satmar’s founder fetch thousands of dollars — on eBay and at community fundraisers

A pair of white stockings worn by the late Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum sold for $11,600, and a chance to win a three-word note in his handwriting sold for a $1,800 donation to Satmar schools

Yeshivas

Mayor Eric Adams brushes off yeshiva critics at South Williamsburg event

Adams lamented “intrusion in your ability to educate your children in your yeshivas”

Economics

Is the price right? Grassroots campaign calls for price transparency at Haredi grocery stores

“Show the price” or #ווייז_די_פרייז has pressured many local supermarkets to comply with the law

Shomrim

UJA-Federation of New York to fund Shomrim, controversial Haredi safety patrols

Two recipients, Boro Park Shomrim and Williamsburg Shomrim, have been criticized for vigilantism, corruption, and abuse cover-up

Gender

Hasidic grocery store implements gender segregation at check-out

Signs in W Fresh in Williamsburg say female cashiers cannot serve male customers

Williamsburg

Department of Transportation to add Citi Bike docks to heavily Hasidic South Williamsburg

“I’ve heard from residents in South Williamsburg who like Citi Bikes,” Councilmember Lincoln Restler said.