New Frum Neighborhood Pops Up in LI Almost Overnight

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    By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com

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    It is considered one of the best neighborhoods in Long Island and personifies suburbia itself.  And almost overnight, it popped up.  There is a shul, an eiruv, and, yes, affordable housing.

    The Rav of the shul is Rabbi Moshe Winter, a great grandson of Rabbi Irving Bunim, one of the pioneers of Torah Judaism in the United States and a close confidant of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l.  As far as schooling goes,  due to New York State regulations, free bussing must be provided for children to schools up to 15 miles away. This provides a wonderful choice of yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs that are accessible to East Meadow residents in both Queens and the Five Towns.

    One of teh first things that the original frum members did was to build an eruv, which covers just about any part of town where incoming residents would want to live.

    The Eruv was built and is overseen by Rabbi Isaac Kresch, one of the leading Eruv experts in the country and a former member of Rav Leibel Rand’s Kollel in Far Rockaway/Five Towns.  The Far Rockaway Eruv is also under his direction and he also consulted with Rav Shlomo Teitelbaum zt”l on the Kew Gardens Eruv.

    There is a strong sense of community in East Meadow too and Rabbi Winter has started many programs and shiurim to engage the community. There is a  daily Kollel Boker, and a morning Gemara shiur before shachris. On Shabbos morning, there is a weekly community-wide kiddush, followed by a shiur for the women, given by Rabbi Winter on inyanim of Sefer Bereishis. Shabbos afternoons, the Rebbetzin, together with her teenaged daughters, runs Bnos groups. On Motzoei Shabbos, the shul is buzzing with the sounds of fathers and sons participating in an Avos Ubanim learning program, complete with pizza and prizes. With these new programs, the children are engaged and feel a strong sense of connection and community.

    In addition, there are N’shei events throughout the year, affording the women the opportunity to get together, relax and enjoy inspiring times together.

    The pricing of houses begins in the high 400,000’s – but you do get a lot of bang for your buck.  There are many different styles and types of houses available.

     The lot sizes range from 6000 to 12,000 square feet. There is plenty of local convenient shopping (think the Roosevelt Field Mall),and it is not far from two Gourmet Glatt and Central Avenue of the Five Towns. Some stores also provide options for delivery. The crime rate is almost non-existent as well.

    There is also a lot to do.  There is Eisenhower Park with a lake, Senator Speno Memorial Park with sports courts, the Eisenhower Blue Golf Course, and also an I.Fly Trapeze. There are plenty of recreational activities too.

    The 5 largest ethnic groups in East Meadow, NY are White  67.5%, Asian 10.8%, Hispanic 6.5% and African American 4.83%.

    While the community is mostly made up of young growth-oriented Torah families, there are families that are also retiring there too.  “I can sell my home for one million plus, and put away over a half million dollars in the bank and live next to a shul with a good eruv.  What could be better?” remarked one person looking into housing in East Meadow.

    A significant number of East Meadow residents work in Manhattan and commute via LIRR.  It is about one hour and twenty minutes. If one drives or takes a cab it is 37 minutes.

    East Meadow is now also the location of the Jewish Heritage Center as well, and is a hub of Kiruv and Torah classes.  Their Jewish Family Initiative provides classes for children and adults, and have also opened a new Jewish preschool called The Children’s Learning Center which caters to families of all backgrounds. The JFI hosts family events, social events and Yom Tov events.  These programs and activities are run by Rabbi Avraham Portnoy and Rabbi Eliyahu Turk, the next generation of the founders of the Jewish Heritage Center in Kew Gardens Hills, New York – a well-known and successful outreach program.

    It is an ideal place for frum families looking for affordability, and an opportunity to raise a family in a Torah Kehillah.

    The author can be reached at [email protected]


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    43 Comments
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    Jughead
    Jughead
    3 years ago

    Rather urge kehillas to make Aliyah. The tsunami is coming, open your eyes.

    Just saying
    Just saying
    3 years ago

    This (and the Empire advertisement) should be labeled: “This is an (un)Paid Advertisement”

    KShomron
    KShomron
    3 years ago

    It would be great if they all move here, Jughead, but there’ll always be people who would rather be next to two Gourmet Glatts than one Rami Levi. It’s all a matter of priorities.

    Geulah
    Geulah
    3 years ago

    Yes

    5TRESIDENT
    5TRESIDENT
    3 years ago

    I work in East Meadow and it is a lovely neighborhood with good shopping and transportation. But the Gentiles who live there are afraid it becoming “another Lawrence”, in which the Orthodox Jews move there in such numbers that the public schools close, and almost all of the shopping areas are closed on Shabbos. To be perfectly honest, their concerns are valid. I’m living in the 5T for 20 years and have seen Central Avenue turn into another 13th Avenue.

    El Al
    El Al
    3 years ago

    Kshomron,
    You’re not only right , but they , in their hearts, know it too.
    All their excuses aren’t worth a wooden nickel.
    Come and make a difference: and watch how you talk about Eretz Yisroel.
    G-D’s shechina is here not in galut which is under gezar tumah by Chazal.

    SIREN..SIREN..!!!
    SIREN..SIREN..!!!
    3 years ago

    Parnassa?
    Didn’t the Ribono Shel Olam just prove how countless lost parnassah and millions in the US in under 3 months ?
    Like evaporated within a 24 hour period ?
    Jughead is telling the truth that everybody is noticing. The country is exploding and disintegrating day by day. Don’t be dillusional, it’s a matter of months now.

    Still wearing a mask
    Still wearing a mask
    3 years ago

    And what about Aiva???

    Time warp ?
    Time warp ?
    3 years ago

    Re: when gedolim make aliyah
    Re: yeshivas packed with students:

    You’re not talking about 1933 , are u ?

    Kohen Gadol
    Kohen Gadol
    3 years ago

     5TResident – I couldnt diagree with you more. The “gentiles” are proud of their safe neighborhood and are happy to have young law abiding families moving in. Just drive thru the neighborhood and ask them.
    East MEadow is a beautiful neighborhood with welcoming warm families as its nucleus. Friendly shul. Talmud Chachom, caring and involved Rav and Rebbitzen. Short drive to Queens and 5 towns. 42 minutes to Flatbush with no tolls bridges or tunnels. We wish you much Hatzlacha.

    Balagola
    Balagola
    3 years ago

     kohen gadol
    You should have seen Radom , Poland.
    Beautiful city ,lots of rabbis, shuls, hachnoses orchims , gemachs, yeshivos, nuclear families,short train ride to Cracow , no tolls , wonderful gentiles too.

    Rooster
    Rooster
    3 years ago

    The 5Towns aren’t immune from the Democrat/media/corp. meltdown across the country. The Democrats already are planning to dismantle the suburbs with hi-rises, placing illegals and diversity push to populate them and destroy their once unique character.
    Aren’t you folks paying attention at all?
    Obama talked about it, and now Biden & Co. are going to steamroll it if he gets elected. If not, then it happens in 4 years.
    Your children are your responsibility and they won’t be able to live in the golden medinah too much longer.

    anonymous
    anonymous
    3 years ago

    It’s not wise to found new Jewish neighborhoods during a time when the USA is undergoing unrest and violent attacks on our democracy and symbols ,such as never occurred_and millions are in favor of it too.
    History teaches; ignore it at your peril.

    CAUTION !
    CAUTION !
    3 years ago

    If Democrats win the presidency, Senate and House , our country is doomed.
    Of what value will be this new town ? Or ANY town ?
    Think it over, we have our Holy Land .

    kluts
    kluts
    3 years ago

    nothing beats kletsk two yeshivas right across the street from eachother

    A in LA
    A in LA
    3 years ago

    Property taxes make retirement in NY and NJ unsuitable for retirees.

    Jack
    Jack
    3 years ago

    And in a few months from now, the headlines will read: “New frum neighborhood on Long Island sees real estate prices soar”. So much for the “affordable” neighborhood. The cost of housing in most frum neighborhoods are out of control.

    Facts Rule
    Facts Rule
    3 years ago

    Halachically and morally a mikvah is to be built before a shule. Why no mention of one? Also, I wish people wouldn’t use the term African American. Rabbi Hoffman, amv’s, refers to it as an ethnic group. It is not.
    Many Blacks, or Negros, are not American. Many Africans are not Black, or Negro. White is used in place of Caucasian as Black is for Negro.
    I’m sick of greater society adopting whatever ignorant idea is promoted by the evil anti-American Left.
    So many corporations & organizations are all of sudden tripping over themselves to promote the Marxist terrorist anti-Semitic racist organization Black Lives Matter.
    It’s hard to imagine where the bottom is, but the Left is shoving us there. Everywhere else the Left has won, hundreds of millions have died while the rest are in virtual slavery.
    And, don’t give me the myth of socialist Scandinavia. Look up that myth to see why that’s what it is.

    HeshyEmes
    3 years ago

    If Trump Chalileh loses in November, the United States of America will not be habitable for a frum Jew. Anyone who is not aware of the situation with Dreck Lives Matter, and the possible backlash from disenfranchised Goyim who will (not without cause) blame the Yidden (Nadler, Schumer, Soros, HIAS, Schiff, AJC, Marx, Bernie, etc., etc.) and doesn’t have a valid passport and some liquidity, will find himself wishing he was just having a very bad nightmare. Whoever is thinking of buying a house in East Meadow (or Brooklyn or Monsey or Tom’s River, or anywhere in what is currently known as the United States of America) should at least wait until after Election Day.

    Kohen Gadol
    Kohen Gadol
    3 years ago

    @Balagola Everyone understands that we are still in golus at the moment. That is not the conversation here. The point is that you need to live somewhere. East Meadow is a very good option that is close to where many people work. It is more affordable as well.
    We also understand that there are other communities that have even a lower cost of living but for many, those other communities are not an option.

    boneh
    boneh
    3 years ago

    build build build buy buy buy

    The_Truth
    The_Truth
    3 years ago

    If you are interested, check them out. KehillaOfEastMeadow (dot) com.

    Rabbi Kolakowski
    Rabbi Kolakowski
    3 years ago

    you can move upstate to White Lake, NY we have a choshuver Rov who has been here for 50 years – also yeshivos, whether Modern, Litvish, or Chassidish, are available in Sullivan County.

    Boroch
    Boroch
    3 years ago

    I have fond memories of Sullivan County, and the Yiddisha mountains. When I was a youngster, my family used to rent a bungalow in Hurleyville. My Grandfather used to come up to visit us by train; I still remember the steam locomotive of the Ontario and Western Railroad, which used to make the trip from New Jersey. Unfortunately, that train discontinued service in the late 1950’s. In 1958, when we were coming back from the mountains, prior to the Rt. 17 Quickway being built, everyone had to climb the Wurtsboro Mountain. It was a very hot day, and I saw literally dozens of cars, which overheated on the side of the road. However, our old Buick Special made it, but used up a lot of gas. We tried to fill up at a gas station on the Palisades Parkway, on the way home. However, just before my Father pulled into the station, there was an electrical storm, and a bolt of lightning knocked out the electrical power to the gas pumps. B’H, we made it safely back to Brooklyn, on fumes, with that 1951 Buick Special, which was built like a tank. I miss that car, today.