The Holy Mothers of New Square and Their Mesiras Nefesh for the Cause
In every era, Klal Yisrael produces women of extraordinary mesiras
nefesh. In our own generation, that devotion has taken on a modern
form: signing mortgage documents and renting out homes to multiple
families in an area when this is illegal and unjust.
For the sake of their Torah brethren and sisters living within the
mile, certain mothers – women with families of their own – have
stepped forward to place down payments, sign notes, and take title to
homes in neighborhoods nearby – allegedly so that their fellow
Yiddishe sisters are made to feel uncomfortable.
This is no small act. Mortgages are not flyers. They are sworn documents.
By way of example:
Mrs. Leah Breier
Public mortgage records reflect a 2024 purchase of a property on
Dorothy Road, Spring Valley, with the borrower’s mailing address listed
as 53 Reagan Road, New Square.
Mrs. Chave Wolodarsky
Public mortgage filings reflect a 2023 purchase of a property on
Durante Court, with the borrower’s mailing address listed as 29
Ostilla Ave., New Square.
As has been previously noted, this home is located across from one of
the many Shuls located “within the mile.”
Mrs. Miriam Soifer
Public mortgage documents reflect a 2022 purchase of a property on
Dwight Avenue, a home “within the mile” with the borrower’s mailing
address listed as 24 Jackson Ave., New Square
Again: these are not allegations. These are descriptions of public
filings. And don’t think for a second these women are in an exclusive
club of women who “showed up” for the cause. There are many more to
report.
Mortgage agreements in the United States are not ceremonial. They
require the signer to certify – explicitly – that the property will be
used in compliance with all zoning, housing, and municipal codes. The
obligation rests with the person whose name appears on the document.
Not with a neighbor. Not with an advisor. Not with someone “higher
up.”
And yet, the lived reality for surrounding families raises difficult questions.
One has to wonder:
What would their children say if it were happening next door to them?
Do they even have a say?
Or are these women being asked – quietly, dutifully – to serve as
names on paper so others remain invisible?
Because it is notable that we do not often see homes titled in the
names of those most vocal in pushing these arrangements.
Responsibility, it seems, is frequently outsourced.
For the sake of what?
This is not about shaming mothers. Accountability must apply evenly –
just like anyone else.
In Torah life, we do not justify harm to other Yidden because “someone
told us to.”
Because when you sign your name on a mortgage, you are not a pawn.
You are the owner.
You are the responsible party.
And there is one rule that transcends satire, zoning, and documents alike:
You don’t hurt Yidden. End of story.
9 Comments
I’m 100% against this horrible dastardly scheme by the “powers that be” from New Square.
However, to name a few women on mortgages and somehow paint it disparagingly as “The Holy Mothers of New Square” is not justified. Chances are that they have no clue as to what they are signing other than it’s an “investment”. Even my wife who is savvy with computers doesn’t question anything put in front of her by me to sign and has full trust that it’s for “our benefit”.
So unless you know and have proof that they did this with the full knowledge of the unscrupulous intent – leave them alone and certainly don’t imply that all the “holy mothers” are guilty of this “crime”.
Adults are responsible for their actions. Oh and I believe they know exactly what they are doing. And even if they didn’t, they all had a chance over the months since the PR started to correct their actions (e.g. sell their home or rent it to one family instead of 5 or 6..) and I haven’t seen them do that so to give them the benefit of the doubt is wild and completely disregards the suffering they are directly causing other Yidden.
Do you have a better solution? I dont think you understand what damage this terrible N.S. program has caused. If you are an adult, male OR female, your name and your aignature is your responsibility. If someone uses You to hurt Yidden you MUST protest.
Judaism is replete with a history of brave women who did what they had to for the sake of Hashem:
Miriam told her parents to get back together….
Aishes On ben Peles uncovered her hair to keep her husband from joining Korach.
Devorah got her husband to deliver wicks to the Cohanim.
Yael used her beauty and cunning to destroy Sisera.
Yehudis did the same with Eliforni at the time of chanuka.
How did these women know what was right? Their husbands were not necessarily doing the right thing.
How did THEY have Clarity to know WHAT was correct?
“Hi Leadership team, your marketing efforts It seems the current strategy isn’t resonating with the Chassidish community, and I’ve noticed competitors like Viznitz Mercaz are getting better traction..
it looks like you you don’t have the good tips to do this so.please find a other job
Thank you.”
Agree, I’m reading the article wondering who this was written for because no Chassid will read this and say oh my skver is out of control🙉
Let’s not forget about Tzipoiro Birnhak who owns multiple houses in the Skver mile. Another eshes chayil buying houses in her name for the sake of the “keep other Yidden out” scheme.
Agree, I don’t see any school that fired teachers of NS about this. in Vinitz Is the compain bringing better results
?
1. Property Rights and Legal Standards
Every individual has the absolute legal right to purchase property wherever they choose, whether for residency or investment. While neighbors can request or suggest certain behaviors, they cannot force anyone to comply outside the law. That said, it is vital that everyone operates within legal boundaries—avoiding illegal basement apartments, predatory house flipping, and similar practices.
2. Balancing Profit with Community Respect
It is natural for property owners to want to maximize their financial return. We all know that packing more tenants into a single home generates higher rental income. However, for the sake of our neighbors, we must make a sincere effort to find the best possible tenants.
Let us focus our initial efforts on areas like Linden, Roselle, and Rahway, where hundreds of houses have been bought and rented out. Consider similar examples: the Williamsburg Houses built specifically for artists, or the new projects on Ocean Parkway designed for distinct populations that altered the safety and dynamics of those neighborhoods. If we can convince owners in these developing areas not to ruin quiet neighborhoods for the sake of a few extra dollars, it will create a powerful precedent. We can then show others that even if a property wasn’t bought purely for profit, it is worth absorbing a small financial loss and choosing smaller families to maintain community harmony and preserve neighborhood values.
3. The Law of Mesirah and Reporting Violations Is there truly a halakhic heter (permission) to engage in mesirah by calling the police for every minor noise complaint? Which Ruv actually permits this? Doing so causes direct financial and personal damage to homeowners. If people feel justified doing this, should it also be done in Linden, Roselle, and Rahway, where neighbors routinely host large gatherings and set up outdoor grills?
We need to look at this situation objectively and without judgment. Do these communities not have the right to live in peaceful separation? Can we not respect neighbors who hold different cultural values?
These residents do not build pizza shops or movie theaters in their basements, they do not install outdoor pools, and they do not host disruptive outdoor grills. They carry absolutely no hatred toward other Jews. In fact, everyone knows that some of the greatest acts of Chesed originate from these very communities, benefiting everyone. Look at the work of the
Rubashkin askanim , the kosher respite rooms in hospitals, and the local Rabbi who has kept an open door to help anyone in need for over 57 years.
4. Our community’s actions mirror the tensions we see in Israel, where some datiim (national religious)continuously attack, scream at, and bash the Chareidim for not joining the army. The datiim feel realpain from losing their children in battle, and they have even offered to create
specialized Chareidi military units. Yet, most of us feel that the army is simply not the right
environment for our sons because it contradicts our core home values.
If you read the comments on modern online platforms, you will find the exact same animosity directedtoward us that people currently direct toward Skver. Before writing a harsh comment, think for amoment: Do you understand why we do not send our sons to those religious army units, even whileour brothers are being killed? Is it because we think we are superior, or because we hate them?
Absolutely not. It is because we want to remain in an environment where we can preserve our
religious values completely.
We must apply that same understanding to Skver. Many writers on these very platforms have
complained to their own mosdos , demanding they reject new kids moving from the city into Monsey classrooms. We all know this happens, and it has caused significant tension in Monsey, though out of respect for the community, I won’t elaborate.
Conclusion
It is hypocritical to demand boundaries for yourselves while denying them to others. You do not want certain elements moving near you, and they similarly prefer to live among people who share their lifestyle. The only difference is that they simply buy the houses legally, while you respond by attacking them, shaming them, and engaging in mesirah. If you want your children to maintain their values, do what Skver does: invest heavily and overpay for your children’s chinuch (education), and you will succeed. It is time to reflect deeply on whether our actions toward other frum Jews are beginning to resemble the behavior of anti-Semites