Our Update #18

Prevention

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Dror, with the backing of professionals, has been guiding individuals on how to legally operate businesses right from the start. There is a growing demand for this service, and countless individuals recently called Dror asking how to do things the right way. An appreciative caller recently emailed us as follows: “It is in your merit that my staff and I sleep peacefully each night knowing that we have the advice and the expertise of professionals at our disposal.”

A special thank you is owed to Arthur Aidala, Esq. and the staff at Roth & Co, under the leadership of our dear friend Mr. Abe Roth, for their time and effort in assisting Dror and the community with this service.

1-855-DROR-911; The Number That Never Sleeps

Available 24/6 to serve those in need of immediate help, the number is gaining popularity and is being utilized by individuals from the states as well as overseas. B’chasdei Hashem, our dedicated volunteers who receive these calls are able to assist these individuals in the fastest possible way.

Family Support Group

In the past half a year since the inception of the Dror Support Group, headed by Dr. David Pelcovitz, PhD., Dror was able to provide emotional support for countless women and children and guide them through this difficult period of their life.
We recently arranged a conference together with a group of experienced therapists in order to expand our support program. The goal of our conference was to come together as a group of professionals, and to pool the vast amount of experience, guidance and knowledge, in each professional respectively—in order to be able to best assist these families in the best way possible. Each individual professional had much to offer, and thus much was accomplished as a group. The professionals sat together for hours discussing what can be done as a first response— beginning with the moment we receive the call until the end of their ordeal.
Dror is extremely thankful to Dr. Pelcovitz for leading the conference, and for heading our ongoing support program with his heart and soul, giving utmost dedication to each and every case. We are very thankful to all the professionals for so willingly taking time off their demanding schedules to attend this conference and for offering their services to these unfortunate women. A special thank you to Pinny Fried for hosting our group in his conference room at the Renaissance Ballroom.

Shabbaton 2015

Although we are still a half a year away from our yearly family Shabbaton, Dror recently held our first staff meeting for the 2015 Shabbaton. Believe it or not, we are already hard at work finalizing on a hotel, speakers, entertainers and etc.

Legal Team

Our Legal team, together with our Esteemed Rav, Rabbi Stein, once again traveled to Albany to meet with Tony Annucci, Acting Commissioner of the NYS Department of Corrections, to discuss various issues concerning the welfare of our incarcerated brethren.

The Dror staff had the honor of hosting Rabbi Tzvi Boyarsky from Aleph institute at our office, on his most recent visit to New York for the Lubavitcher Rebbi’s yahrtzeit. Working together as a team like always, we were able to discuss and assist numerous cases in the community.

Former Inmate Assistance

After months of hard work, we were baruch Hashem successful in obtaining the release of a boy who has been incarcerated for 2 years. Well aware that obtaining his release wasn’t the full solution, Dror found him a suitable, warm and caring home where all his needs are provided for. Each time he speaks to a Dror member, he makes sure to mention how happy he is: “I have never felt so loved in my entire life and haven’t ever been cared for and looked after so well”. A special note of thanks to Shulem Weber and his sons, Mayer Eckstein and Mayer Grossinger for their involvement and assistance in this case.

Family Assistance

When families arrive from out of town to visit a family member in prison, Dror makes all their arrangements from the moment they arrive until they leave and ensures that they are cared for in the best possible way. We are currently hosting a number of families and it is thanks to the following individuals and organizations for making this possible: Shua Brook and Aleph institute for arranging the funds for airfare. Yoeli Schlesinger from askan.org for constantly assisting Dror and the families and for helping us arrange an apartment together with the Lakewood Bikur Cholim. Last but not least, Itche Rosenbaum for so graciously providing his private driver to take the family to visit their loved one.

Transportation

A special Thank you is due to Yoeli Selka from Chaveirim Interstate and Shlomo Schapiro for their hard work in setting up a new system which will enable Dror to easily arrange volunteers to drive family member to visit their loved ones.

Mazel Tov

• A double Mazel Tov to our esteemed Ruv, R’ Efraim Stein upon the wedding of his grandchildren.
• Mazel Tov to our dedicated leader, Rabbi Shmiel Yakov Hecht and his wife upon the birth of his baby boy. A special thanks to Mrs. Hecht for helping us in every possible way.
• Mazel Tov to our Dinner chairman, Shloime Meyer, upon the marriage of his daughter.
  Mazel Tov to Mr. & Mrs. Yehoshua Gross upon the engagement of his daughter.  A special Thanks to them for constantly assisting Dror with utmost devotion.