Our Update #17
Legal Team Updates
The excitement at Dror was palpable as the legal team was able to reduce the sentences of a number of community members currently serving time in prison.
Attorney Stacy Richman, a good friend of Dror and a member of our legal team, contacted Rabbi Freund right after she walked out of the sentencing hearing to deliver the news of the victory, with Hashem’s help.
On Sunday morning DA Ken Tomson sent down Mr. Wolf Sender, his Jewish liaison, to the Dror offices to better acquaint himself with the organization. After a long discussion, Mr. Sender toured the offices together with our dear friend R’ Berish Freilich.
Our Rav, Harav Stein, together with Dror’s dedicated legal team, once again traveled to Washington DC to advocate on behalf of Dror’s “Kollel Maran M’Rottenberg”. As we posted in the previous newsletter, the program was approved. Now they had to meet with Chaplain Bishop Smith to discuss matters pertaining to the bureau of prisons and implementation of this and other programs for all chaplains to take advantage of for all prisoners.
Thanks to Moshe Yitzchok Friedman for posting bail for a Dror constituent, and ensuring that the process is expedited, and that he comes home in time for Shabbos
Special Thanks
- Yaakov Y Glick and Shulem M. Unsdorfer for hosting an evening in their upscale Boro Park restaurant, The Loft, where Dror women took part in a night out with a 5 course meal served
- Dr David Pelkovitz for once again providing a listening ear and an open heart for the women of Dror. Each of the women left with a vase filled with beautiful flowers for the upcoming Yom Tov.
Dinner 2014
What a Dinner!
The Dror Freedom & Unity Dinner which took place this past Wednesday evening was a remarkable event in every sense of the word!
The crowd was electrified by the ambiance, the esteemed guests and by the amazing presentation of the tables and the signage which was so tastefully done.
The chairman opened the evening explaining to the assembled what exactly Dror does, how important a function it serves in the community and how appreciative Dror is for their generous support and warm friendship.
The structure of Dror’s programming was described; how using attorneys for prevention as opposed to defense was the ideal, how workshops tremendously help community members run their businesses on the right footing and how community awareness really makes a positive difference in the lives of thousands.
The purpose of the Freedom & Unity dinner was to unite a group of professionals from the broader community- as well as from outside of it- to expand Dror’s resource base and be able to better serve the community.
The Board
The esteemed board members, Rabbi Efraim Stein ,Rabbi Yidel Lichtenstein, Rabbi Yidel Tabak, Rabbi Chaim Hersh Fruend, Rabbi Eli Moskowitz, Rabbi Amrom Israel & Rabbi Yoel Ashur Labin were recognized for their dedication and devotion to Dror around the clock.
The Dinner chairman, Mr. Abe Eisner, Dror’s ambassador to many government offices in the state of NY and beyond, was also recognized for his altruistic dedication to Dror.
The other Dinner chairman was Mr. Isaac Neuberger, a well-known attorney who focuses his practice on business transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, venture and project financing, reorganizations and restructurings and complex business disputes. Mr. Neuberger is a very good hearted person and a dear friend of Dror and his participation in the dinner was truly appreciated by all.
Honorees
The honorees at the dinner were then called up to receive their awards recognizing their efforts to the families of Dror, and their overall devotion to the community at large.
The honorees were:
Mr. Paul Shechtman, an attorney who has been faithfully serving his clients for many years, and has, for a very long time already, been assisting Rabbi Stein with many legal matters on behalf of the community.
Mr. Shechtman was the first attorney who allowed Dror to record him to produce a video presentation for the purposes of teaching prevention in the community. Additionally, Mr. Shechtman offers discounts to community members seeking legal guidance to prevent them from getting on the wrong side of the law.
Mr. John Azzarello, an attorney with 25 years’ experience helping clients around the country, has been assisting Dror for quite a while.
Mr. Azzarello was sked by the Bush administration to serve as counsel for the “9/11 Commission”. He also served for 10 years as Assistant United States Attorney in New Jersey and was chief of the crimes unit. Mr. Azzarello served as special counsel to the New Jersey Senate Democratic Caucus for the past 7 years and represented many of our community members.
R’ Yidel Lichtentein, a core founder of Dror, renowned “bail man” as well as chaplain and community liaison to the 79th precint, guides Dror at every turn. R’ Yidel, and his wife who encourages him every step of the way, are one of the most remarkable couples in the community, who give so much of themselves for the benefit of others.
Speakers
Besides for the honorees, the assembled heard a riveting personal story from an individual who was helped by Dror and heartwarming words from rabbi Stein.
Special recognition was publicly given to the many law enforcement officials who help Dror keep the community safe and legal, community liaisons on many levels, including chaplains on the state and federal level, who work closely with Dror.
Most importantly, the volunteers who give so much of themselves to assit prisoners with visits, procuring kosher food and other vital things were recognized as the backbone of Dror. Special mention was made of the remarkable work of Shulem Weber and his sons who arrange and organize so many of the prisoner visits.