Senator Simcha Felder has issued a formal letter to the New York City Chief of Enforcement at the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) in response to growing concerns from constituents regarding sanitation violation tickets issued to Shabbat-observant residents. Many in the district and throughout New York City have reported receiving fines for placing their trash at the curb before sunset on Fridays, a religious requirement that conflicts with new sanitation rules.
In New York City, residents and businesses can be fined for setting out trash at the wrong time or in the wrong way. Trash has to be set out after 6pm in a bin with a secure lid, or after 8pm, if putting bags directly on the curb. The Jewish Sabbath begins 18 minutes before sunset on Friday, and as we enter the Fall-Winter seasons sunset comes earlier each week. Shabbat observers with Saturday collection will need to set their trash at the curb in advance, which will be earlier than DSNY’s Trash Setout Times.
Senator Felder’s request is clear. He is urging DSNY to cease the enforcement of sanitation violation tickets for trash setout times on Fridays in neighborhoods where trash collection occurs on Saturdays. By doing so, he aims to protect the rights of New Yorkers to practice their faith without fear of punitive measures.
In his letter, Senator Felder emphasized that the enforcement of sanitation rules must respect the religious practices of all New Yorkers. “For many New Yorkers, placing trash out for collection before sunset on Fridays is not a mere convenience, but a vital aspect of their religious observance, and the City knows this. It was made very clear to the administration during the public comment period before the rule change,” said Felder.
“I know this city never met a ticket it didn’t like, but issuing fines under these circumstances demonstrates a real lack of understanding toward Shabbat observant communities. I am urging the DSNY to work collaboratively with community leaders to find a solution that accommodates religious observances while maintaining public sanitation standards.”
Met Council Distributes Nearly $5m in Food During High Holiday Season
Last month, the Met Council provided $4,781,000 of food to 181,000 Jewish families in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Packages included fresh produce, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, rice, flour, soup mix, tuna, cholent mix, chickpeas, tea biscuits, honey, apples, grape juice, challah, chicken, fish, and dairy items.
In addition, the organization distributed over 430,000 eggs.
“In the past year alone, egg prices have surged by to over 250 percent, a stark increase for a staple item compared to last Rosh Hashanah,” said David Greenfield, CEO of Met Council. “Everything is more expensive.”
Greenfield noted that the increase in food prices “means more families are facing food insecurity on a regular basis and are forced to choose between nutritional food or paying for basic living expenses. Our mission is clear: to ensure that families can celebrate this yom tov season with dignity, coming together to enjoy the holidays, and start the new year on a positive note.”
Magen David Yeshivah Congratulates 2025 Commended Students
Magen David Yeshivah High School congratulated seniors Philip Sherr and Marc Sutton for being named Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation was presented to Sherr and Sutton by Dr. Daniel Vitow, representing both Magen David Yeshivah High School and the National Merit Scholarship Corporations, which conducts the program. Approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise, placing Marc Sutton and Phil Sherr among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2025 competition by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test.