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A dramatic announcement made by the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum, during a tish marking the yahrtzeit of his father, the Beirach Moshe zt”l, is being seen as a potential turning point in the New York housing crisis, with plans for thousands of affordable housing units, not only for Satmar chassidim, but for the broader chassidishe public.

Speaking during the tish in Kiryas Yoel, the Rebbe revealed that he has been working with multiple developers to create a large-scale housing project in Monticello, New York, at significantly reduced prices—well below current market rates.

“I sat with several developers,” the Rebbe said, “to see how it would be possible to establish affordable housing for the broader public. While in Kiryas Yoel, due to the high demand, they managed to bring prices down and today it stands at $300 per square foot—which is $3,000 per square meter—in the new project the price will be one-third lower, standing at $200 per square foot, which is $2,000 per square meter.”

He went on to describe the scope of the project and the readiness of the location to support a growing kehilla.

“The developers are preparing to build thousands of housing units in the near future in the city of Monticello in New York. In Monticello there is already a large community throughout the year. There are several shuls operating year-round, there is a Talmud Torah, a girls’ school, several grocery stores and supermarkets that are open, heichlei Torah are active, and all the other needs that a Yid requires in a chareidi city.”

The Rebbe emphasized that the initiative is not limited to Satmar, but is intended for the wider tzibbur, particularly those struggling with the high cost of living in Brooklyn neighborhoods such as Williamsburg and Boro Park.

“And from here, in the large beis medrash in Kiryas Yoel, I turn to the broader public. Recently, Jews from Brooklyn came to me—not Satmar chassidim—and told me that they are suffocating under the burden of purchasing a home in Brooklyn, whether in Williamsburg or Boro Park or other neighborhoods. Not to mention the high taxes and property costs that are paid for an apartment in Brooklyn.”

He then delivered a clear message that a solution is on the way, along with a strong warning to potential buyers.

“Therefore, I sat with the developers and I announce to you from here that there is an affordable solution that will be ready very soon for the entire public, not only for Satmar chassidim. But I want to ask everyone: Please, there are enough apartments for everyone—please do not pay more than the agreed price, which is $200 per square foot, so as not to drive up the cost of the apartments.”

The Rebbe added further details about the scale of construction and stressed that maintaining affordability depends on the public.

“I sat with several developers, each one building several hundred apartments, and together there will be thousands of apartments on the market in the very near future. The developers are prepared to sell the apartments at the lower price.”

He warned buyers not to be pressured by brokers or artificial urgency.

“Do not fall into the trap of brokers who will tell you that you must close on the apartment right now, and that only the apartment they show you is the best one. Do not pay more than $200 per square foot and do not give support to those who inflate prices.”

This development follows earlier success in lowering housing costs within Kiryas Yoel itself, where prices currently stand at approximately $300 per square foot within the town, and around $250 per square foot in the surrounding expanded areas.

Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rosh Yeshivas Rashbi, delivered a sharp and forceful response to recent Supreme Court proceedings, declaring that the Torah world will not be intimidated following inflammatory remarks made during hearings on the issue of drafting yeshiva bochurim.

The comments were made when a group of bnei yeshiva visited his home, during which the rosh yeshiva spoke strongly about the troubling statements that surfaced in court discussions in recent days.

The controversy erupted after, during one of the Supreme Court hearings, an attorney representing the petitioners was inadvertently heard on an open microphone saying: “We will dismantle the Torah world.”

On Thursday afternoon, while delivering divrei chizuk to the visiting bochurim, Rav Bergman directly addressed those remarks.

“There is a group sitting in Yerushalayim in the court, where they are saying that they will destroy the Torah world — that is their exact language. They should know, and everyone should know, that nothing will help them. ‘No weapon formed against you shall succeed.’ The Torah world will continue on and on, and nothing they do will help them.”

“We will stand strong and not be afraid of them. And you should strengthen yourselves in Torah and in yiras Shamayim, and Hakadosh Boruch Hu will save us from them and from anyone who seeks to destroy the Torah world.”

A respected mechanech and prominent member of the Chabad community in Nachalas Har Chabad-Kiryat Malachi, Rav Menachem Chavakuk Blau z”l, passed away at the age of 77 after a prolonged illness.

The levayah was held tonight at his home at 7 Kakal Street in Kiryat Malachi before continuing to the cemetery in Kiryat Malachi.

Rav Blau was born on the 24th of Tammuz 5709 to his father, Rav Yaakov Zalman Blau, z”l, and his mother, Tzila, a”h.

In his youth, he learned in Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, where he was highly regarded by the roshei yeshiva. During his years there, he became drawn to Chabad, eventually embracing its teachings as his derech in life. He later continued his learning in Yeshivas Toras Emes of Chabad in Yerushalayim.

As a young man, he would travel to the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s court in Brooklyn, spending Tishrei and other opportunities in the Rebbe’s presence. He was known for his remarkable mastery of Chabad niggunim, which he would sing with depth and emotion.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he married his wife, the daughter of Rav Chaim Wolf Rosenhaft, z”l.

Rav Blau was a beloved and devoted educator who dedicated his life to chinuch. For decades, he served as a mechanech in the Talmud Torah in Nachalas Har Chabad, where he shaped generations of talmidim with Torah values and refined middos. Members of the community recall that his dedication extended far beyond formal responsibilities, as he gave of himself completely to his students. Even after retiring, he continued his holy work, teaching struggling children with patience, devotion, and love, never accepting payment and viewing each child as a עולם מלא.

Holding a doctorate in special education, he devoted particular attention to children requiring individualized support, investing tireless effort into their growth and success, even when others had given up hope.

In recent years, he battled a serious illness. Even during this difficult period, as long as he had the strength, he made every effort to attend shul regularly.

He leaves behind a distinguished family—children, sons-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren—continuing in the path of Torah. Among his brothers are Rav Koppel Blau, a respected member of the Chazon Ish kollel, and Rav Yitzchok Blau, a prominent chossid of Nadvorna.

Yehi zichro boruch.