Crown Heights’ Tefillin Star Yossi Farro Steps Up To The Ballot Box For The First Time

Crown Heights Turns Out in Record Numbers

Yo, Crown Heights is bringing the heat this election season, and it’s all thanks to a powerhouse push by COLlive and the Jewish Future Alliance (JFA). We’re talking record-breaking voter turnout that’s got the neighborhood buzzing like a summer night on Venice Beach. In 2024, a whopping 5,783 Anash members hit the polls, including 1,200 first-timers - that’s a 30% jump from 2020!

Even the June 2025 primary saw 3,322 voters show up, a solid 23% increase from 2021 and a mind-blowing 593% spike since 2013. Folks who once shrugged off voting are now stepping up, especially with the big NYC mayoral election looming on November 4, 2025. And in our ‘New to the Ballot’ series, we’re shining the spotlight on one of these fresh faces - no endorsements here, just straight-up stories.

Meet Yossi Farro: The Tefillin Wrapper with a Mission

Enter Yossi Farro, a Crown Heights native with a heart as big as the Hollywood sign. This guy’s all about the neighborhood vibe, calling President Street and the iconic 770 Eastern Parkway (the heart of Chabad-Lubavitch HQ, for those not in the know) his fave spots. When he’s not soaking in the shtetl-like community energy, you might catch him grabbing a bite at House of Glatt, a local kosher gem.

Yossi’s life mission? Wrapping tefillin on Jews far and wide. It kicked off after his Bar Mitzvah at Oholei Torah and took him everywhere from Israel to the star-studded streets of LA and the sunny shores of Miami. Out in SoCal, he even got some celebs to join in, giving him the extra push to keep spreading the spiritual love wherever he rolls.

“I’ve always felt that putting tefillin on someone is like connecting them to something bigger - it’s my way of keeping the community strong, from Crown Heights to Cali,” Yossi shared with us.

From Political Sidelines to Front Row

What flipped the switch for Yossi politically? None other than Donald Trump’s underdog victories. Yossi was straight-up inspired by Trump’s 2016 win and doubled down on that energy with the 2024 comeback. He was there, y’all - chilling in Palm Beach on election night and just thirty feet from the man himself at the DC inauguration. Talk about a front-row seat to history!

Now, Yossi’s got his eyes on New York’s issues, from Jewish education to the gritty reality of the subway system. “It’s gotta be cleaner, safer, and hey, better Wi-Fi wouldn’t hurt,” he says. He’s also real about mental health struggles tying into safety concerns on certain city streets - a problem he feels needs urgent fixes.

Why Vote Now? A Personal Wake-Up Call

So, why’s Yossi registering to vote for the first time? He used to think the city was doing just fine, no need for his input. But 2025’s got him rethinking that laid-back attitude, thanks to the JFA’s awareness campaign lighting a fire under him.

His big concern is the potential rise of Zhoran Mamdani in the mayoral race. Yossi’s worried the city could veer into a radical, socialist direction, with extremist vibes taking over. “If that happens, I might not hang around as much - not ‘cause I feel unsafe, but the whole energy of NYC and Crown Heights could shift,” he admits.

Yossi’s Message to the Community

Before we wrap, Yossi’s got a final word for Crown Heights. “Don’t get dragged down by the negativity, fam. Stay strong - Moshiach now!”

He’s all about keeping the faith and the fight alive, whether it’s through spiritual acts or hitting the polls. Want to get in on the action or learn more? Peep AnashVote.org for the full scoop on how to make your voice heard in this historic election season.