Badatz of Crown Heights Launches ‘Ask the Rabbi Hotline’

As part of the Vaad Hakohol’s ongoing investment in strengthening and professionalizing our community services, they recently undertook a full upgrade of the Badatz phone system (718 604 8000).

This revamp included a modernized call platform and a redesigned menu structure, with the goal of making it easier for every caller to reach the right department quickly and receive timely, organized assistance.

“We hope these improvements will enhance accessibility, reduce delays, and better serve the needs of our community,” they said.

The Badatz of Crown Heights would like to inform the public that we have recently updated our phone menu, in order to help callers reach the correct service more quickly and receive a clear and direct response.

A key part of this update is the Ask the Rav Hotline (Press 1). This hotline is designed for short to medium halachic questions that come up in everyday life, where the public needs real-time guidance from a qualified rav. The hotline is answered with a live, human response from 11:00 AM until 10:00 PM. The rabbonim answering include Rabbi Menachem Mendel HaKohen Weissfish, Rabbi Sholom Dovber Lew, and Rabbi Menachem Mendel Rotenberg. We are also grateful that Rabbi Yosef Yeshaya Braun, Mara D’Asra of Crown Heights, personally participates in answering hotline calls as part of his ongoing commitment to the community, even alongside his many responsibilities. Baruch Hashem, the hotline serves the community on a very significant scale, handling an average of approximately 200 phone calls per day.

Mishpat Shalom (Press 2) is a mediation service for the Crown Heights community. The goal is to resolve each case through pshara (compromise) rather than psak din (a strict halachic ruling), for the benefit of all sides involved. Each matter is reviewed by a neutral panel consisting of rabbonim, community members, counselors, and professionals who work together to understand the situation in depth and help both sides reach a respectful and dignified resolution. All proceedings take place under the auspices of the Beis Din of Crown Heights. This initiative aims to strengthen Ahavas Yisrael and bring our community one step closer to the Geulah with the coming of Moshiach.

Safrus (Press 3) is dedicated to questions and guidance in matters of Sta”m, for both sofrim and magihim as well as for the wider public. This line is intended for halachic and practical questions such as writing standards, batim and retzuos, and proper mezuzah placement. Calls are answered by Rabbi Menachem Mendel HaKohen Kahn.

Vaad HaKashrus (Press 4) connects callers to the CHK Kashrus offices. You may call with questions regarding kashrus for restaurants and businesses, as well as general kashrus questions from the public.

Members of the Beis Din (Press 5) is for those who need to reach the Beis Din directly. Within this option, there is an additional submenu:
for the Secretary of the Beis Din, press 1;
for the office of Horav Osdoba, press 2;
for the office of Horav Braun, press 3.

We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we implement these improvements, and we hope this updated system will help the community reach the right place quickly and receive the assistance they need in a timely and organized manner.