By Meir
I am not a Crown Heights resident, though I do make frequent visits, being that I live close by. Anyone who visits here is always warned about potential muggings and the like, so I always take caution at night not to be out so late.
However one thing that strikes me (or anyone for that matter) as strange is that I have been warned to hold onto my valuables even in 770.
“Never leave your Teffilin lying around in 770, someone will take them,” “I put my hat down, went to the bathroom and when I came back my hat was gone,” – these are things which happen, frequently or not, all the same things seem to disappear in 770.
If the scene would be the mems the nuns (5740’s and 5750’s) during the Rebbe’s Hakofos and your gartel slipped off, fine that’s one thing; don’t expect to see it again.
But more recently a new phenomenon has occurred: Throngs and throngs of Israeli, French and other bochurim and yungerlite have temporarily immigrated to Crown Heights during Tishrei, some for Rosh Hashona and some even for 6 weeks.
Everyone knows that when there is an influx of a crowd, there is an increase of theft, including 770.
So when I went yesterday (Zayin Tishrei) to daven in 770, planning later to head to my place of residence, I left my small carry-on under a coat rack in the hallway downstairs in 770.
Stupid idea? Well, I didn’t think so based on experience. I learned in Crown Heights for a year and every time I went home, quite frequently, I would do the same thing the day I had to leave: Daven Shachris in 770, leave a small bag right under the same coat rack and head home. I never had a problem (it still might be a stupid idea but that’s how it goes if it works a few time it will work a few times more).
Of course I never leave my wallet or other valuables in the bag because that really is not a good idea.
For some reason yesterday I forgot to take a certain item of reasonable monetary value and extreme intrinsic value out of the bag.
Guess what? When I can back to get it, I found the bag right where I left it but my valuables were gone (a 120 giga iPod and its charger and a mobile charger).
So who stole it?
Maybe it was one of the non Jewish janitors. But whoever it was didn’t bother to “clean up” my suitcase and other bags there were untouched and and the Janitors are never seen near them.
There is a rule of “bosar acar harov” (we go after the majority). The ratio of thousands of guests to just 10-15 janitors means that according to halacha it was most likely a yid.
How can this be done on Aseres Yemei Teshuva and before Yom Kippur?!
This is not just an aveirah but a also chutzpa to take the whole point of his coming to Crown Heights for Tishrei and telling the Rebbe “I don’t care.”
The Rebbe once said at Vov Tishrei Farbrangen that there were the 3 maalos of Olom, Shana and Nefesh present: It was Aseres Yemei Teshuvah (the kedusha and malo of Shanah), in 770 (a shul, the kedusha and maalo of Olom) and many minyonim (the kedusha and maalo of Nefesh).
This ganev took all three malos and gave in to his personal demons and evil inclination.
The facts have shown that during Tishrei these situations increase. Aside from the Chassidish and serioes bochurim who come for the Rebbe (ostensibly) and really glue themselves to the seforim, there are also the “chilled Israelis” who come here as “businessmen” to make a quick buck.
A nice amount of the latter guests keep no order, have no respect, are loud and make a mess.
The barrier on Eastern Parkway to prevent jay-walking casualties was put up mainly for the “iberchachomim” who come for Tishrei or even to learn in 770 for the year and can’t wait at a red light like other humans.
I’m not calling for a boycott of Tishrei orchim – it’s important they come and the Rebbe wanted so. I’m just expressing feelings of a first-hand account and my remorse of how such a thing can happen in the Rebbe’s neighborhood and the Rebbe’s shul.
My hope is for a chasima v’gmar chasima tova to everyone. Don’t forget to daven for geulah protis for those in need and a refuah for those in need until shnas ufaratzta, poretzes chomas hagolus begeulah ha’amitis v’hasleimah now!
“kol kavua k’mechtza al mechtza dami”
-Tractate Ketubos, Chapter One and numerous other locations throughout Shas.
and all other dreamers out there: Maybe you should add tracht gut vet zain gut to your list of brilliant quotes. Do you think that by burying your heads in the sand, you’ll change the reality of what goes on in crown heights? Wake up! The goyim in 770 have to be careful what they do, because people see them all day, if they tried stealing it would be more conspicuous, and they need their jobs. There are many yidden, on the other hand, who wander around 770 with no one to answer to, and no one watching what they’re… Read more »
Every year after Yizkor,I get trampled on by Israeli girls trying to get back to their seats. When I say be careful, I get dirty looks and pushed harder. Does somone have to get seriously hurt? Why is not someone in charge of these girls. CH is chefker during Tishrei. My daughter who houses some of these girls has to wake them up at 11 every day or they would sleep all day. I am sure not all but still?????
Way don’t you all make a big sine how you all feel. like “All Israelis NOT welcome”
Or “No archim for Yom tov’ And tell all the Israelis how much you all HATE them.
rochmonus on u meir !!! on the ipod and on your strange way of thinking…
it could be almost anyone; a yid, a janitor, a not-so-nice resident or someone who is a bit smarter than you.
First of all whoever you may be. There is no such thing as going after rov even if there is 1 goy only. There is no chazoko or anything according to halacha. Second, why is it because you behave unresponsible you write a whole article blaming people. I’m sorry but the only thing you can and should do is writing in the lost and found article.
you def learned in ohr tmimim
my husband has had many things stolen in 770 though out the year,nice things,thousands of dollars,it’ so terrible diffucult to replace it,very warm coat with/inslulation put in. he doesn’t always daven there. my son has a locker,he doesn’t leave a thing laying around
we are jews and who says it was an isreali!? we dont blame other kews! it was just yom kiur so…..
soooo its ok for u to be an oreach in CH during the chaguim because u are an american who live close to CH. EXCUSE ME, but the 770 is the shul of all lubavitchers, even israelis, belive me. And have a little ahavas isroel here, because when u lable “israelis” “frenchies” etc u forget that for many centuries our ppl suffered because of this exact type of labels.
t0o 57 56 and 55, thank you for your support, it was very disturbing for me, and i had a very hard yom kippur without them. but i am glad to let you know, that on the way home from shul, motzei yom kippur, pssing the mikveh, lo and behold, were a pai of blue gatkes. might suit me fine for now. i have put in my insurance claim. thats it for now. will keep you posted.
mendel
i feel very bad about your stolen valuables and #54 stolen superman power shorts, but i think the amount of people who come every year is eautiful!
my cleaning lady cut them up for shmattehs. Sorry 🙁
LOL I sure did
i lost my gatkes in the mikvah.. and i know it was a isreali who stole them so if any one is in the mikvah thats ses the isreal with my gatkes, they are red and they say Herbert on them, they are very sentimental to me, i feel like superman in them.
dont blame other jews!
Print out these comments and put them in the Igros and see what the Rebbe says. You should all be disgusted with yourself. The entire world can read this! Religious Jews, Non Religious Jews, Goyim! They all see these this as our true colors. The Rebbe would be embarassed if any of these was presented to him in the flesh. You make his bones shake in the ohel. We all need to do teshuvah and beg Hashem to forgive us for such lack of Ahavas Yisroel. May we merit Moshiach now please!!!!
BS”D
nu, we have a problem
let’s fix it
stop squabbling
question: why is it happening?
good question, let’s think about this and come up with an answer.
WHY R U WRITING THIS? ESPECAILY EREV YOM KIPPUR???!!!!
I left my Teffilin and hat unattended inside the shul for 5 minutes to use the facilities downstairs, and neither were ever seen again! My father is ready to kill me as he must pay almost $3,000 for a new set of tefillin! So, while the author’s lomdus is certainly faulty, I understand his sentiment and feel his pain!
these throngs of “guests” have stolen our 770, our Rebbe and our lubavitch and you are worried about your ipod???
so apart from being stupid now he committed an aveire of lifnei iver? meir, according to stupid move now u have a reason for doing teshuve in yom kippur.
steeling things there is a minor thing happening there, not having security or organization in that place, unfortunately.
First I am not accusing it of not being true. However why not leave details howw the ‘ganev’ can return your items? For sure he will have an hisorerus teshuva over yom kippur and want to return them.
we were always able to trust our own, lokk at the lobbies of most buildings with frum Yidden do we lock up every stroler and bicycle??? The point being its very unfortunate that its come to this that yiden have to lock up their suitcases…
and can’t trust anyone!! Have we come so low???
Himself!!!
Let’s all be happy and simchadik from Erev Yom Kippur till the last tiring druken dancing of Simchat Torah. The reality on the ground is there is “chilled out” Israelis or “chilled out” whoever it is, looking dufke for this grand opportunity to make a few bucks!
hi having just moved to erez israel i see that people living here on very little money and definetly no extra things so a bet whoever has come for tishri worked very hard to get there please dont blame them because there israelis they may be rough but they know your not ment to steal
a fuuly agree with meir, and want to say, most of these israeli bochurim have no idea or comprehension of what to come for the rebbe for, they just want to come to america, and it is out of order what they get up to, i dont think there is anything that we could do, but noone does anything, it will just continue. you might ask how i know that these israelis cant be mekushar to the rebbe, i learnt in israel for a while and i saw the greatest dib mashpiim and rabbonim, and they farbreng as they know… Read more »
I also don’t understand why could this article be published while it is so bluntly accusing the Tishrei guests. I don’t think we would be pleased if israelis would blame their crimes on americans who come to doven by the Kotel or the resting places of Tzaddikim. Every person is entitled to their feelings, but to openly publish an article like that really means supporting this kind of attitude and placing wrong thoughts, emotions and doubts even in people who would never had it otherwise. I am neither israeli, nor american and don’t come to NY for Tishrei, so my… Read more »
Only a dummie or fool leaves luggage at 770. There is no security, 770 is an international terrorist threat target. There are thieves all over NYC ready to prey on defenseless non-English speaking Jews. And there are Tsfatim terrorists in our midst, those we refer to as our own Taliban. Buyer beware, it’s your own fault if you get taken to the cleaners.
you write: “I am not a Crown Heights resident”
So you are a guest youself! Ha… making fun of the Orchim
Jews NEVER
steal
murder
assault
molest
follow every law, all the time
Be realistic. Yes, it may well be one of the goyim stole his stuff, but you can’t say it never happens that a Jew does it.
Fact is, you don’t assume honesty because we’re in 770. After all, the whole place is full of a bunch of radical nutcases!
with no. 4
well said!
how dare you just openly blame fellow jews like that its comlete and utter ANTI SEMITISIM and thats before we look at the halachik and timeouse issues
ithink you should realy contemplate on that when hitting your heart by al cheit
you are the only one to blame for what happened to you.You should never have left your belongings unattended.
Doesn’t the Torah say Lifnei iver lo titen michshol,
simply put in this case Do not tempt the ganav
Please he has a great point. Everyone can troll around looking for problems in all articles, and you can even use some obscure quote to make him look stupid, but the facts are facts. Every Tishrei we unfortunately have the same issues, stealing, fistfights,pushing,boys and girls hanging out on the streets etc. I think the author has a great point, maybe 770 should hire security guards for Tishrei .
that we have to lock everything up and can’t trust anyone today!
My daughter had some expensive stuff taken from her room in saminary in Israel its sad to think we can’t trust our friends
Don’t be a hypocrite. Your post reeks of hatred. Seriously- “i can only hope you are forgiven tommorow night……”. Are you that perfect? Is your scorecard so clean that you can hope for others to be forgiven? Work on yourself, this guy can work on himself, and I’ll work on myself. And when you leave your suitcase full of valuables in 770 and it disappears, you can can smile and react however you like.
It is most puzzling that collive decided to publish this letter.
It’s one thing a person is upset, very upset about his loss. Anyone who had things stolen from him can confim it’s hard to think straight when it happens to you. But collive editor(s)?
What it has to do with guests? There are many different people in 770. Some were caught at their act, BTW. Not even once those who got caught were guests.
Collive, please.. We want to like you.. Ok, ok, It’s hard to get around CH on Tishrei.. But publish this???
there are lots of crazy people….. i would not blame someone who came in to the rebbe!
To #2: he’s not making accusations he’s stating facts, you decide who stole it To #3: yes it is a comlecated sugya and the general halach is bimomon azlinzn achar harov and in a place that is rov yidin we assume it was a yid. Obviously it has more details that a rov must handle, however he’s no am haoretz for stating the facts. To #4: you obviously didn’t read what he wrote, he said that some of the chilled out guys that come for Tishrei come to make a quick buck. Yes in Israel it’s hard to earn money… Read more »
You are right about the costs of these tickets and the lack of funds …and maybe that’s why some are resorting to stealing hats, teffilin, ipods and other valuables.
HASHOVAS AVEIDA….IPOD FOUND
Found an ipod at 770, to identify please call 219-614-0913 219-614-0913
maybe it is time to put up some cameras during the week. and go after them.
I think you should post this on one of the meshichistim’s sites (where lot’s of the “businessman” go) and maybe the “ganuv will see it and have charata and return it
DISGUSTING!
how can u jump to conclusions so quickly like it doesnt happen during the rest of the year? only when tishrei rolls around and the israel’s want to be close to 770? how can u even say such a thing and i’ll tell you one thing- i’m not an israeli…
I DISAGREE With #5. I have been to Israel for school in two different school. One school shared a campus with Chabad Israeli Students and the other was all american boys. When i was in the first school that shared a campus.iI had ALOT of things missing or stolen. My valuables were locked up all the time when i was not in class. All of these Israelis who only make 17G a year somehow manage to have iphones and ipods and expensive laptops from america. I wonder where they got them from. my iphone went missing in Isreal among other… Read more »
It was probably an international visitor of some sort and the irony is that they will probably not see this article, but should they happen to see it, they wont even understand it. Shame on you all out there…..
We in the neighborhood have this problem of things getting stolen all year round. It is not only now during tishrei. We have numerous Jewish drug addicts in this neighborhood who are know to steal in 770 and people continue to give them hand outs (Tzeduka) until that doesn’t stop they will not leave and more thing will continue to go missing.
How mean of you to write in the you do.
to # 4 I have an idea………..why don’t they stay in Israel and save themselves from bankruptcy! If they can’t afford to come here then they shudn’t! If they’re coming for an uplifting experience and spend 80% of their time raising the money for their tickets well, that’s hardly uplifting!
To the author: Check Shmais! someone found an Ipod in 770! 🙂
you have no proof whatsoever, circumstantial evidence!! well. not even, just accusations based on…
There’s always the concept of not doing something you cannot afford…
I want to be near the Rebbe too, but I’m not going to spend money I don’t have to do it.
It’s common sense.
but…… trust me, plenty of things get shoplifted during the year as well and it’s by people you would never suspect.
There are many security cameras in 770. Check them out and hopefully you could put an end to it.
u need policeman for other reasons, there are PLENTY OF arabs that steal tooo….com’n number 6 get a grip on life and a grip of the police ALWAYS being near 770 and the like……seriously.
Dear Meir,
Bosar Rov Azlinon? Now here are a few sayings for you:
– Dan Lechaf Zchus
– Yisroel Bechezkas Kashrus
– Motzi Shem Ra
Take the chance this Yom Kippur to have special Kavono during Al Chet:
Al Chet Shechotonu Lefonecho Beloshon Horo.
from now on stop thinking that we are above goyim that we wouldn’t steal were Jewish sadly it dos not matter any more
770 has the din from Shulchan Oruch of “makom she’rov ganvim yehudim.” Which means that not only can you assume that it was a Jew that stole your Ipod, you can also eat a piece of raw meat that you find lying on the well-trampled floors of 770.
QUOTE: “There is a rule of “bosar acar harov” (we go after the majority). The ratio of thousands of guests to just 10-15 janitors means that according to halacha it was most likely a yid.”
There’s another rule. KOL YISROEL BECHEZKAS KASHRUS. How could you make an accusation like this against Yidden on Erev Yom Kippur? And then blame (your misunderstanding of) halacha? And you’re a chossid?
Shame on you.
the goyim are totally suspects!!!!!!!
Of the first time I was in Israel and saw a police station. I was puzzled as to why they would need a police station in a country full of yidden
i totally agree
so what are you saying?! how dare you go ahead and lump together thousands of guests and accuse them of being ganovim on erev yom kippur when you write this orchim slamming crap on erev yom kippur! you should know that your average israeli selling tzisis outside 770 is just trying to make back half the money he spend on a ticket to come to the rebbe! if you would know anything about emerging country economics you would know that in israel youre average mid career salary is about 17g not 80g like the the u.s. , so they cant… Read more »
i feal bad u lost ur valubales but azlinan basar rov is a complicated sugya and has nothing to do with the above mentioned situation…
such blatant accusations!
i always said it watch those israelis they have fast fingers