Dear COLlive,
On Monday this week, I sent my child to daycare as I do every morning as part of my daily routine as a Crown Heights mother. During the day I received a phone call from the Morah regarding my daughter. I had to come back to Crown Heights in order to pick her up.
My first thought obviously was that she was either hurt, in danger or chas v’cholom may have endangered another child, but it didn’t make sense because my daughter is boruch Hashem a very calm child and I know the women who run the program and they are very responsible with the kids.
Perhaps it was health? I knew she was feeling well recently but who knows.
Well, I was close.
The main Morah at the day care began to explain that she was calling all the parents in the play group because the Health Department came to visit and would not leave until all the children had been picked up from their location on Montgomery Street. I came within the hour and brought my child to a friend.
After the day’s end, I called the Morah to ask the details. She said she wasn’t sure exactly who called the Health Department but the Health Dept representative did say she’s surprised they were called because the play group is so neat, clean and organized that it would pass a health inspection in a heartbeat.
The Health Dept representative continued surprisingly, “It’s weird that we got this call because we know there are many play groups in the area because of how many kids you guys have – but it’s weird because Jews don’t usually tell on other Jews, the only reason we followed such a lead is because its location was so descriptive.”
My fellow readers, for me it’s not the biggest deal in the world for me to disrupt my day for my child. The reason why I’m writing into COLlive is because I care for the community. I’m sure I am not the only one who struggles to make sure I can depend on a play group that I know she (my child) is getting a positive atmosphere in a cute and clean environment. To hear that another Jew will put another 15 children struggling to find another similar establishment is somewhat overwhelming.
My request is simple. As Jews we are family. If we have an issue with one another that doesn’t affect our day to day lives so horribly perhaps sometimes it is in everyone’s best interest to confront the person and try to resolve it together before calling. We are unfortunate to have read where it is important to go straight to the authorities when the time is right, but something like this makes me sad that it couldn’t have been talked out first. I love this Morah’s play group and hope everything is resolved as soon as possible.
Thank you for listening.
I live in a condo building.
If my neighbor above or next to me decides to start a day care business in her apt, it effects me and all owners of the building. This is a residential building. It’s not designed to have a bunch of little kids in a play group stomping and yelling throughout.
I dont know details about these story, but if I was the neighbor and was suddenly confronted with this situation and after asking politely to please stop: if the person didn’t or refused, what other option does the neighbor have?
We just learned that: megallgelim chova (bad) al yedei Chova or something like that. Hashem causes bad to happen (be done to others through bad people) and good done to others through good people (al yedi zachai. ) Still should never do massorimg. No good in fact WORSE happens to the masserer. So MOSSER remember this when stuff start happening to you
Did everyone miss the fact that this place was a GARAGE?!?! Even I this Morah had her place inspected it wouldn’t have passed. I worked in this field in the past. Cleanliness albeit of utmost importance it still isnt on the top of the list. Safety regulations are. I.e. Fire hazards. Sufficient space to children ratio. Staff must pass certifications to handle emergency situations i.e. CPR, First Aid and etc. The DOH of health doesn’t just walk in and say it looks pretty good. The inspections are pretty rigorous. That supposed “neighbor” was a blessing in disguise because she could… Read more »
There’s no reason not to get licensed and be legal. Follow the rules and you won’t get in trouble. Have you people learned nothing from Shalom Mordechai’s saga?
Loshon Hara?????????? No names were said. People need to know and be aware and be careful around these people. Lifnei Eiver . . . You can not harm people and get away with it. You are right Hashem knows
Lashon Hara UH UH NO NO
Please stop saying that what the neighbor did is ok. It is not. Stop making the morah as the one who has a bunch of yelling and screaming kids. The place was quiet and clean. and if someone is indeed bothered by it either noise (not the case) cleanliness (not the case) anything else (not the case) only jealousy, then say something to the morah and if it doesn;t help go to a din torah or speak to other neighbors to make an issue but to go to mossuring, uh uh, no no. not a “frum” yid. The neighbor did… Read more »
there are several other babysitters in the area doing well. Baruch Hashem Savtas Gan was not affected.
I agree with #53 whats the fuss. Give me a break people, You don’t know the entire situation so stop assuming, I personally dont know the people involved, but those who are saying that a neighbor did, if that is indeed the case then maybe there was a reason. I live in Queens and have neighbors who are renting the house next door to me they yell and stomp all day long. when my children are asleep they are up all night partying, to the point that my husband had to go a few times in the middle of the… Read more »
#46 IS RIGHT We all have our own way of handling things and while some of us wont necessarily be a whistle-blower we just have to live with the fact that some people are. While most of us agree that this could have been handled better, the fact is that lashon hara and sinas chinom is very high on that same list and we should avoid being part ACTUALLY tearing apart the community #38 This play group was inspected and the rep said it looks good. The problem with legalizing all the play groups is $. If you feel your… Read more »
to relocated: does this justify mossoring?
I’m a parent of one of the kids in the playgroup and the playgroup relocated, so what’s the fuss? the kids r fine. The parents fine.
I agree with #38!
Did it affect the neighbors in a negative way?
The pointing fingers in this article is insane..
As being intelligent Jews one must stop and THINK, is there another side to this story????
I know for a fact that there are a few goyish neighbors on the block itself
Why don’t the affected parties call this mosser to a din Torah for damages (which he must pay)?
The property owner – for loss of rent of garage; the morah – for loss of playgroup tuitions; the parents – for additional damages incured,
A mosser is responsible to pay for ALL damages caused by his mesirah. Go after him and teach him: Mesirah does not pay!.
People. How can you say that without knowing for sure. I think people should be careful about what they say about others. I don’t think that there is any real proof as to who called or how it happened. This is turning into to a bad case of Lashon hara. I think this whole subject should be put to rest.
One door closes and another opens. I’m sure the play group will find a better place to run rather than a garage.
Yes, the entire few blocks know which jewish neighbor called the health department. By now most people know who it is. The parents x 10 each tells their 10 friends and family x each one etc. etc. I live in the other side of CH but I also heard and know the name of the messorim. There is a way for the family to try to do teshuva even though it says that there is no teshuva for messira. The first step is to come out and apologize to the morah and to the parents. That is not going to… Read more »
WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?
They should be put in cherem by their neighbors, all the neighbors know who did it. I do too and I don’t live on that block. Word gets out. I won’t have anything to do with them.
I totally agree with you.
Maybe, just maybe, we should all take a lesson from this and countless previous events when people who were not operating their affairs with 100% honesty- let’s stop complaining and start straightening up!
stop trying to justify messirah.. There is no ok no justification for this. Only the low do that . I would question if this Yid is indeed a Yid
It’s a terrible thing that to some in our community (albeit a tiny minority) MESIRA became a way of life. They look with a microscope to find fellow Jews to maser on.
This is beyond shocking and disgusting (not this particular case but that state of Mesira in crown heights)
This is a terrible Mageifa amongst us.
While I never personally considered “mossering”. woul it be SO bad if our children were in properly inspected environments? Sorry, but it may be a good thing in the end if the playgroups are forced to become legal
Maybe someone did complain to the Morah and she didnt take their complaint seriously? Maybe she disregarded it. So what to do next
how many times have we heard of children being molested in schools by their Rebbes and people knew about it but kept quiet, was that good? Excuse me if reporting something like that is Messira but sometimes ceratain things need to be brought out in the open. People need to look outside the box and think, If something G-d forbid happened to them or their child would they want people to keep quiet, or would they do something about it.
Bottom line is that running a play group out of a garage is not safe. Its ver irresponsible of the Morah who runs it and irresponsible of the parents to send their kids there.
I agree with #31.
I hear that the people on that block know the family that is massering. on others. Hashem Yishmeriem. Someone should confront them for there own good. Everyone has something to hide so everyone is afraid to confront them because they will masser on them.
#31 stop trying to change the subject.. No one says that if you see something wrong you should not do something but the torah way. not a low life way. hope the family that massered is not sleeping at night or most likely they have no conciseness anyway.
also I understand this playgroup was great and ask any and every parent who will say that.
there is someone massering on all the small businesses on that block. You are at least the third one that i know about
What if, G-d forbid, something wasn’t “kosher” about this play group, but because it was cheap and convenient, no one said a word? What if a child became sick from the conidtions or was mistreated? We shouldn’t say anything because we would be taking away someone’s parnassa? When we see something isn’t right, should we just be quiet? If a child is being bullied, do we sit back and tell our child not to play with the other kid and hope nothing happens to our child? If we know that certain play groups are allowing our children to play with… Read more »
the playgroup was closed the entire yom tov and first opened again on monday. so the mosser new when to call to masser
to #27 the city would never have seen, heard or known about this as it is quiet and not seen from anywhere. The inspector said that “someone called and complained about an illegal playgroup” and so we have to investigate. She found this surprising as “Jews do not do tell on other Jews”. # 25 is right. There is no other side. Messira is Messira no matter how you spell it. This is a great loss to me and others. Why??? Why???? Why??? did you do this???? Is it jealousy or just sinas chinom? Which causes so much damage.
I sent my child to this play group previously. This was a wonderful play group. The morah is fantastic. The place is spotless. It looks like a classroom not someone’s living room. There is heat, air condition, and a place for the kids to play in a pool in the summer and a backyard with some toys and a slide etc. The parents were able to drop the kids off through the alley and not have to get out of the car and park. The kids loved it. It did not bother anyone. When the door was closed as it… Read more »
I know for a fact that the Department of health goes around inspecting playgroups, schools, headstart programs randomly and without prior notice. So its very possible that thats what happened. And people why be so judgemental right away? And start accusing fellow Jews? Remember those who judge there fellow Jews harshly Hashem will Judge them the same.
I agree with “Resident” When the city comes to investigate they never give specifics on calls. Even if a caller gives a name the dont give that information out!
There is no “2nd side to the story”. This is a converted garage with carpet, painted sheetrocked walls, a real door, a bathroom, real preschool furniture (not a little kiddie table). This is an amazing playgroup with an amazing Morah who now has to worryabout her parnassah!!!
I dont live on the block so wouldnt know ,but it is horrible to point fingers at jews. I also dont beleive that the dept of health woudl say it was a jew, something bout the story doesnt sound rite. especially if this took place in a garage. That is a big NO NO for dept of health. lets love our fellow brothers. I am sure there is a second side to the story as wonderfull as the morah is.
Do the ladies who walk around CH dressed as ‘prutzos’,with total disregard for tznius, think about what they will get in the World to Come? If they would really think about it, they we wouldn’t have the problem that we have in CH. Hashem sees everything and records everything.
you want to know who said it was a yid? THE DOHMH WORKER THAT’S WHO!
we miss you, morah!! we’re still sad my girl is too big for this years group!
Bubbe miriams gan was also reprted on recently. I certainly dont believe in mesirah.however maybe the person feels children should be in a licensed setting. Perhaps community council can assist people in getting a license. Who said it was a jew ? maybe a goy who feels that we need a licensed place. This place provided wonderfull quality care to the infants and toddlesrs in her group.
TO in the know, there are a lot of goyim down the block who are real nasty. They meanwhile eat off the jews and enjoy nice treatment from the jews. These churchgoers dont deserve our kindness.
who said it was a jew? there have been several play groups reported on recently. one of them was by a guy who is inside a real anti semite. he quietly reports every littel dumb thing. I was his victim last year. Why are we blaming jews??
I have two cousins who live on the block for many years. One of them is suffering from his anti semite neighbor. The guy takes him to court for every little thing. Recent episode- a bottle on his roof. There are plenty of nasty old goyim on the block. could easily be one of them. they all look ok yet act disgusting to him and his family. this guy reported someone last year on the block , dont understimate these old foggy guys. they are the worst of them
The point here is that someone called the doh on the playgroup. They never would have known if not. The doh would shut down all the playgroups in crown heights if they found them.
Someone maasered. I know the situation and I think i know which “frum” neighbor did it. But without proof there’s nothing to say except this – after 120 you have to deal with what you did. You can’t undo it. Let this be a lesson to all prospective mosrim out there. G-d will deal with you.
my son went there for summer session and was really happy . However the playgroup took place in a garage. That could be why they got busted.DOH can be very picky bout these things.
did they say a jew called?
the cops went to the wrong play group
this place was an amazing place and i wouldnt be surprized if she one day opens a preschool, she is that good, very super clean, the kids all adore her, and have learned so much, its not a baysitting or day care its a mini schoool, they eat healthy lunches everyday and have proper naps on little cots used in every school, safe sturdy furniture and extremely well run, the inspector said to the teacher herself, she doesnt understand why she was called out bc it would have passed only the teacher neede a permit and for the place/property to… Read more »
miriam tovah,
believe me this play group is NOTHING like the one you’ve described!! our morah loves our children like her own!
Hashem rules the world!!
There are many playgroups on Montgomery. One however, is horrible, not only because its not clean. Because of the mistreatment of children. Children coming home with uneaten lunches. Children left in their high chairs all day even to sleep… I personally took my kid out and would not maaser but i understand why someone would. There are many parents in the know about that place and many are very angry. and when it comes to children I and they dont care about the persons parnassah.
its almost certain it was i a jewish neigbour im a parent of this adorable loving playgroup…dont worry, Hashem runs this world…and there is no place u can hide from Him…ide love to hear the torah perspective of a messira and how wrong it is …ppl are forgetting the laws of the torah…incl this halacha!!!
they shouldn’t let people make false alarms anonymously, they should have to give a name (at least in an instance where it was a false call)
there are no goyish neighbors who live close enough to even know the playgroup was happening.
I am also one of the parents who sent her child to this wonderful playgroup. It is astonishing how low a person can become, and the ugliness that a person can display. How do you sleep at night? Do you do everything “KOSHER” Do you realize that you just ruined a person’s parnassah? Do you realize how much you have inconvenienced so many parents? Do you realize how unsettling it is to take toddlers out of an environment of comfort and place them in other strange surroundings? You should ask mechilla from the people you hurt, before you get what… Read more »
it could be a jew hating neighbor, has happened many times before. This is most likely what happened
This is something that people don’t take seriously any more. The concept of meseira should be one to have everyone quaking in fear but we see how neighbor masers on neighbor for building a wall too high or too near to a property line. Organizations are masered on by other organizations who want a piece of the pie or who think they deserve it for doing nothing to help the community. Crown Heights is Mesiraville. Do you mosrim know the results for meseira? Do you know what will happen in the World to Come? Which expert is willing to host… Read more »
this is exactly how the beis hamikdash was destroyed…by telling on authoritues about something within our community, that isnt “right” in someone else’s eyes!!!, i am a parent of this wonderful palygroup and was sooooo distraught to hear it came from a jew who simply wanted to put a nother yid in trouble and try ruin her parnasa,Ultimatly Hashem runs this world and decides who is supposed to earn what, that year…but for a person, so soon after yom kippur to have the chutzpa to make another yid suffer…shocks me!!! I dont know how a person could sleep at night… Read more »
this article isnt explicit enough. obviously someone maasered on soemone running a private business in their private home. there are several home run daycares in the neighborhood who have been reported on and had to shut down until they were brought up to code. I dont agree with the mosrim, but they might be thinking they are protecting our children by forcing the daycare providers to make their mini business safe
How do they know it was a Jew? It could have been anybody with a gripe. Is there any history of Jew haters making up lies? No, of course not……..
pple!! you gotta lose your yeshus