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Gov. Hochul says she stepped in to block demolition of historic Brooklyn shul
(New York Jewish Week) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday she has intervened to prevent the destruction of a nearly century-old synagogue in Brooklyn.
Officially known as Congregation Chaim Albert but known colloquially as the Kingsbrook Synagogue, the synagogue was part of a Jewish hospital founded in 1928 in response to antisemitism in nearby hospitals and to meet the needs of local Jewish patients. For nearly 100 years, the synagogue has served Jewish hospital patrons and residents in the surrounding neighborhood of East Flatbush and Crown Heights.
But in 2023, plans for a state-funded development project called for the demolition of the synagogue’s building. The synagogue filed a lawsuit against its hospital owners, One Brooklyn Health, in June 2025.
“Kingsbrook Synagogue has been around since the early 1900s and is a testament to the strength and resilience of the Jewish community,” Hochul said in a statement. “I’m proud to have led the effort to save the historic Kingsbrook shul from its demolition and encourage leadership from the hospital and synagogue to find a path forward where both sites can prosper and serve the community.”
According to the governor’s office, the original design of the project contemplated the demolition of the synagogue on the One Brooklyn Health System campus, but following intervention from Hochul, the synagogue’s demolition has been removed from the plans for affordable housing.
Hochul’s office did not specify in what manner she intervened to prevent the synagogue’s demolition.
Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, the hospital that housed Congregation Chaim Albert, merged with two other hospitals to form One Brooklyn Health in 2018, and under guidance from state officials, sold the property to real estate developers. A 2019 Q&A from state officials involved with the project proposal said that the synagogue “is not part of the redevelopment of Sites on the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, and the Synagogue building will be preserved.”
Though the hospital owned the synagogue, a longstanding agreement between the two permitted the congregation to use the synagogue for religious purposes, and its members funded its upkeep.
But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, members were denied access to the site, which continued even after statewide religious gathering restrictions were lifted. Congregation Chaim Albert alleges in the lawsuit that while their community has been restricted from entering the synagogue building, the medical center has not maintained the synagogue, allowing it to fall into disrepair. The medical center also informed the congregation that due to this deterioration, it is not safe to enter.
According to the synagogue’s estimates provided in court records, between 60 and 70 people who consider themselves members have been praying at other locations.
Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, a liaison for Chabad Headquarters, president of the civic engagement group Jewish Future Alliance and an advocate on behalf of the synagogue, said that the “congregation is willing to move in immediately, and stands ready to fix anything that needs to be fixed.”
Before 2020, the synagogue held services every Shabbat and on holidays, where about 40 congregants gathered for services.
Construction began in 1926 and was completed in 1928, and the hospital had a kosher kitchen and a prayer space. The current synagogue building was constructed in the 1950s after part of it was demolished to create additional space for X-ray rooms. It has marble floors and stained glass windows.
The northern half of KJMC was sold in Dec. 2023 to Monadnock Development as part of New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s 266 unit Vital Brooklyn Kingsbrook Estates project, an affordable housing initiative of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The synagogue filed a lawsuit against One Brooklyn Health in June alleging that the medical system and New York State did not make provisions for the future of the synagogue in the wake of the sale to developers, which released plans that included the demolition of the synagogue.
With Hochul’s intervention, Jewish community leaders are breathing a sigh of relief.
“I have been active in this synagogue for over twenty years,” Congregation Chaim Albert trustee Rabbi Zalman Goldstein said in a statement. “I hosted my son’s bris here, and my family and I look forward to celebrating his bar mitzvah in this synagogue as well. Thank you, Governor Hochul.”
“The entire complex was built in response to antisemitism, and at a time when antisemitism is once again on the rise, we appreciate Governor Hochul stepping in not only to help preserve the synagogue, but in doing so also sending a clear message that our history is respected and that our future as visible Jews in New York is secure,” said Rabbi Yaacov Behrman.
New York’s Attorney General Letitia James also thanked Gov. Hochul for her intervention in the dispute between the synagogue and the medical center. “This synagogue has been meaningful to the community for decades,” James said on X. “And I am grateful a treasured piece of Jewish history in New York will be preserved.
The post Gov. Hochul says she stepped in to block demolition of historic Brooklyn shul appeared first on The Forward.
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Israel Court Extends Detention of Gaza Flotilla Activists
Activist Saif Abu Keshek, a member of the Global Sumud Flotilla detained by Israel, sits at a magistrate’s court for a detention extension hearing in Ashkelon, southern Israel, May 3, 2026. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
An Israeli court has extended by two days the detention of two activists arrested aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla that was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters near Greece, their lawyer said on Sunday.
Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national, and Brazilian Thiago Avila were detained by Israeli authorities late on Wednesday and brought to Israel, while more than 100 other pro-Palestinian activists aboard the boats were taken to the Greek island of Crete.
A court spokesperson confirmed that their remand had been extended until May 5.
The governments of Spain and Brazil issued a joint statement on Friday calling their detention illegal.
The activists were part of a second Global Sumud flotilla, launched in an attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance. The ships had set sail from Barcelona on April 12.
Israeli authorities requested a four-day extension of their arrest on suspicion of offenses that include assisting the enemy during wartime, contact with a foreign agent, membership in and providing services to a terrorist organization, and the transfer of property for a terrorist organization, said rights group Adalah, which is assisting in the activists’ defense.
Hadeel Abu Salih, the men’s attorney, said that the two deny the allegations. Their arrest was unlawful due to a lack of jurisdiction, she told Reuters at the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court after the hearing, adding that the mission was meant to provide aid to civilians in Gaza, not to any militant group.
Abu Salih said that Abu Keshek and Avila were subjected to violence en route to Israel and kept handcuffed and blindfolded until Thursday morning.
Asked for comment, the Israeli military referred Reuters to the Israeli foreign ministry, which said that staff were compelled to act to stop what it described as violent physical obstruction by Abu Keshek and Avila. All measures taken were lawful, it said.
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Israel Initiates Project to Counter Drone Threats in Sweeping Military Upgrade Plan
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participates in the state memorial ceremony for the fallen of the Iron Swords War on Mount Herzl, Jerusalem on Oct. 16, 2025. Photo: Alex Kolomoisky/POOL/Pool via REUTERS
i24 News – Israel is moving forward with a new initiative to counter drone threats, as part of a broader strategy to expand military capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign defense suppliers, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
The drone project, ordered several weeks ago, is already in development, with officials preparing to review its initial progress. While details remain limited, the effort reflects growing concern over the increasing use of unmanned aerial systems in regional conflicts.
Netanyahu framed the initiative within a wider defense doctrine centered on “strengthening and independence,” emphasizing the need for Israel to maintain a decisive military edge. He noted that Israel is acquiring two squadrons of advanced fighter jets, including the F-35 Lightning II and the F-15IA, to reinforce its air superiority.
“These aircraft strengthen Israel’s overwhelming air superiority,” he said, referencing recent military operations as evidence of that advantage. He added that Israeli pilots are capable of operating at long range if necessary.
Alongside procurement, the government is planning a major expansion of domestic defense manufacturing. Netanyahu announced that Israel will allocate an additional 350 billion shekels ($95 billion) to the defense budget over the next decade, aiming to produce more of its own armaments and reduce dependence on foreign countries.
He also pointed to future ambitions to develop advanced aircraft domestically, describing the effort as potentially transformative for Israel’s defense industry.
The drone defense program, though still in early stages, is expected to become a key component of this strategy. Netanyahu acknowledged that the project will take time to fully develop but stressed that it is actively being pursued.
Despite the evolving nature of the threats, he reiterated Israel’s long-standing objective of maintaining military superiority across all domains.
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Iran Presents US 3-Step Plan to Move from Ceasefire to End of War
Atomic symbol and USA and Iranian flags are seen in this illustration taken, September 8, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
i24 News – Iran has reportedly submitted a new draft agreement to the United States outlining a three-stage framework aimed at de-escalating regional tensions and restructuring oversight of its nuclear program, according to reporting from Al Jazeera.
The proposal was allegedly delivered via Pakistan and combines military, maritime, and nuclear commitments with a long-term regional security vision.
The first phase calls for transforming the current ceasefire into a permanent end to hostilities within 30 days, alongside a regional non-aggression pact that would include Iran’s allies and Israel. It also proposes steps such as gradually reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing maritime restrictions on Iran, and reducing military activity in surrounding waters.
The second phase focuses on Iran’s nuclear program. It reportedly includes a freeze on uranium enrichment for up to 15 years, followed by a return to limited enrichment at 3.6%, in line with earlier international agreements.
The draft explicitly rejects dismantling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. It also outlines possible arrangements for existing uranium stockpiles, including export or reprocessing, and calls for a structured sanctions relief mechanism tied to compliance milestones.
The final phase envisions broader regional engagement, with Tehran proposing a strategic dialogue between Iran and Arab states to establish a comprehensive security framework across the Middle East.