Popack Helps Rebuild Preschool

In less than a year since a fire destroyed the East Flatbush Oholei Torah Kindergarten campus, the building is now near completion.

Oholei Torah’s dear friend, Yosef Yitzchok Popack was the first person Rabbi Joseph Rosenfeld, executive Director, met with after a devastating fire ravaged the entire Kindergarten building last year.

A major philanthropist and real estate mogul, who has dedicated himself to Oholei Torah time and time again, Mr. Popack was ready to help out with this dire situation as well.

With Mr. Popack’s commitment to the re-building of the Kindergarten Campus, Rabbi Rosenfeld set out to make it one of the most modern state of the art kindergarten campuses in the area.

Rabbi Sholom Rosenfeld, Director of Oholei Torah, who was on the scene that tragic day when the two alarm fire broke out, has taken upon himself to personally oversee the construction and improvements to the building. “As the plans were being prepared, our dedication to the rich heritage of the shul, and our commitment to giving the young students the very best, were our most important goals. ”

Sholom Rosenfeld explains how the insurance money only covered the damage to what was in the building before, but Oholei Torah undertook to enhance and improve the building much more than that, and at a great cost.

Central air and heat units were installed for the entire building, a high level security and camera system, and a steel roof were added so that a new playground area and equipment can be placed on the rooftop, giving the children much needed exercise and play areas. A professional designer was hired to make sure that the whole interior would be bright, enjoyable and welcoming to the young children. Three new classrooms were added to the existing ones, in addition to new bathroom and kitchen facilities. Yanky Sufrin, of YHS Construction Corp, has been hired to do the construction.

The end result will be nine classrooms which will accommodate close to 200 children, a lunch room, recreation area and large rooftop playground, new bright restrooms, plus much more. The total amount for this project is well over one million dollars.

The dedicated Kindergarten staff are anxiously awaiting to return to their beloved building, which hopefully will be in the coming months.

Mr. Popack, who has been following the progress, has made himself and his devoted staff readily available to see that everything is built in a sturdy and safe way so that it will last for years to come.

Mr. Popack has been quoted saying, “We need to give our children the very best, give them the opportunities and comforts that they will succeed in their education, and life. I am proud to associate myself with Oholei Torah, and my dear friend Rabbi Rosenfeld.”