Brooklyn, NY – A yeshiva is planning to boot two dozen families – including many elderly and disabled Russian immigrants – from a rent-subsidized apartment building in Brighton Beach.
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"I'm very old, very sick. How am I going to find another apartment?" said Batskina Vjenia, 89, a disabled tenant who relies on a paid caretaker.
Like fellow residents at 35-45 West End Ave., Vjenia is at the mercy of the Mesivta and Yeshiva Gedolah of Manhattan Beach, which operates a high school and dormitory for 40 Orthodox Jewish boys out of the apartment building next door.
The school, at 59 West End Ave., purchased the adjacent site for $4 million in January, inheriting tenants who pay fixed rents ranging between $700 and $1,000 a month.
Eight of the residents, including Vjenia, pay far less out of pocket – about $100 – because they are poor and get reimbursed by the Section 8 program.
The school is relying on a loophole in state housing laws that allows nonprofit groups to kick out tenants in rent-stabilized apartments if it's being done for charitable or educational purposes.
The yeshiva wants the building for additional classroom space and a study hall, according to eviction notices it has started serving some tenants with.
"We're not doing anything illegal. We need space, and we're trying to do this nice so no one is on the street," said the yeshiva's dean, Rabbi Joshua Zelikovitz.
But Pat Singer, founder of the Brighton Beach Neighborhood Association, called the law a "disgrace" because this loophole "gives eminent domain powers to nonprofits" and sets up the potential for affordable housing to be replaced with luxury condos.
Singer, who has lobbied unsuccessfully on the tenants' behalf with local officials, said she wouldn't be surprised if the yeshiva forces the residents out and then flips the site, which includes a massive parking lot, to a developer for big bucks. Zelikovitz said the school has no desire to sell. [NY Post]
I don’t think any of you have been at the Yeshiva recently. They have been in a new building for the last few years now and that is more than ample space for a yeshiva that has a mere 40 talmidim. I can see no other reason for them buying the next building other than trying to make a flip and make some money, but hey! if the law allows it, why shouldn’t they do it? Grab a good deal when you see one.
The $$ they pay in rent is nuts! The yeshiva bought the building with the intent to use it for themselves. Granted had they intended to flip it or something like that, there could be a ta’ana but in this case they need it as their building is in terrible shape!
that anti-semitism just flows out of this woman.
if the catholic church or some budist meditation organization bought the building nobody would think condos.
but since it’s jews the first thought is those jews are going to flip and get rich.
this woman’s hatred and race incitment makes me sick.
The rent law is ridiculous as it is and when you look at million dollar buildings with tenants paying $400 rent you will agree.
The Yeshiva bought the building and has the right to expand the yeshiva. To make people happy they can promise not to “flip” the building for 5 years or 8 years or whatever.
This move is not to sell an empty building. They need the space and let the tenants move into the real world.
It is unseemly and a Chilul Hashem for a yeshiva to be treating elderly tenants like this even if there is a loophole in the law that allows it. Talmidei Chachamim are expected to go Lifnim Meshuras Hadin and to display mercy, pity,compassion, and Chesed to people, especially old, poor, immigrants. Is this the kind of behaviour that they want to impart to their talmidim. this could also be applied to other scenarios where yeshivas are acting like ruthless real estate tycoons at the expense of their neighbors. I am thinking for example of the Cheder/Chynka Hall and its expansion and the associated controversy. One wonders if someone like Rav Avigdor Miller or Rav Pam would have approved of this kind of Hanhaga.
Having seen the yeshiva and its buildings, they do need the space and if the law allows it, well what can you do (aside for changing it). I am sure if the shoe was on the other foot they would be taking advantage of the law as well.
Oh, and BTW, this has been going on for MANY years so its not like the tennants havent known this was happening.