Late Rivington rabbi gets his way

A corner of Rivington and Ludlow Sts. was co-named Rabbi Yaakov Spiegel Way last week in memory of the beloved late head rabbi at the First Roumanian American Congregation. Neighborhood residents and friends turned out to watch the proceedings as Councilmember Alan Gerson, second from right in photo at top right, joined the late rabbi’s sons, Gershon, right, and Aryeh, left, and Rebetzin Chana Spiegel, at the dedication. Schmuel, the rabbi’s third son, is not pictured. At left, Rabbi Avrahm Spiegel, the late rabbi’s twin, shook hands with one of Gershon’s sons, Yasroel Spiegel, 10. When the paper covering got stuck as the sign was being unveiled on the lamp post, one of the brothers said it was the modest rabbi’s way of saying he didn’t like being honored.