NYS Thruway Minchah Area Opens for Summer 2016

Once again, travelers making their way up to the Catskills on Thursday nights will be able to stop for Minchah and Maariv minyanim at the Sloatsburg Rest Area, located on the northbound Thruway between exits 15A and 16. The Tefilos Mordche Minchah Area is named in memory of Rabbi Morton Friedman, z”l, who first established the Minchah Area 10 years ago and will be open from 5 to 11 p.m. each Thursday night throughout the summer season.

As in previous years, veteran askan Rabbi Abe Friedman and other members of the Friedman family will continue to oversee the Minchah Area. Representatives of the New York State Thruway Authority and the New York State Police met with Rabbi Abe Friedman, Rabbi Joel Friedman and Rabbi Bernard Freilich earlier this month to discuss important rules and regulations for the rest stop. Travelers are advised to:

• Park only on the upper level of the parking lot, the most private part of the rest area which creates the least disturbance to other travelers, making it the ideal location for minyanim.
• Refrain from selling any food or merchandise or conducting any tzedakah solicitations at the Minchah Area which is designated for davening only. A Thruway representative will be present at all times to enforce this rule.
• Children of all ages must be supervised at all times and should never be left unattended in any vehicle, even for just a moment.
• Vending machines on the upper level parking lot will be stocked with kosher food.
• Obey all speed limits and drive with extreme caution when approaching the upper parking lot.
• Yield to all pedestrians when driving or parking.

Rabbi Friedman urged everyone utilizing the Minchah Area to follow the above rules in order to benefit all Catskills-bound travelers.

“We are extremely grateful to the Thruway personnel and the New York State Police for working with us to accommodate the needs of the many travelers who will be heading for the country every Thursday night,” said Rabbi Friedman. “With everyone’s continued cooperation, we hope to be able to provide this vital service for many years to come.”