Dear COLlive staff,
It is very unfortunate what happened this week at the Aliya Institute in Crown Heights. Not only because of the harmful items that the police found hidden there, but also the image it portrayed which is not what Aliya is about.
On one late night, I get a call from its founder and director Rabbi Moshe Feiglin. A call from Moshe Feiglin is hardly ever a call for Moshe Feiglin. Ever since he opened the center for youth at-risk, his time and resources have been dedicated to helping others.
On this particular instance, he told of a youngster arrested after his own mother called the police on him and is now sitting downtown in NYPD’s Central Booking Office. So at midnight, I went down to help organize a lawyer and bail him out and then negotiate with the mother (it’s an ongoing project until today…)
“Whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world,” our sages said. Let me tell you, Moshe Feiglin saved many worlds. That boy was just one single example of the kind of selfless work Moshe does on a daily basis and without fanfare.
Aliya is the Chabad House for those who the community forgot (or would like to forget). Aliya is the home for those who are not welcome in theirs anymore. Day or night, Aliya is there for them. There is even an Aliyah Girls project run by Chaviva and Meir New.
Some of the stories do not have happy beginnings, although many, if not most, do end happily. A few go back to yeshiva. Most get married and starting building a life and successful businesses. I know of a couple that started out in Aliyah and had many challenges, which thank G-d and with Rabbi Feiglin’s assistance, they were able to overcome. They are married today and have children.
The darkest of human problems are thrown at the doorstep of Aliya and it is Moshe and the staff that raise the people up high. Moshe turns no one away and seeks out help for them too. He reminds them that they were created in G-d’s image and this world will not be complete without them.
Rabbi Feiglin once called an Aliya member to report that he found him a job opportunity. It was a literally a life-saver as the youngster said that he was “about to jump in front of a train” on that day. Fast forward to 5 years later, this person is still working at this same job and most importantly, he’s alive and well.
Crown Heights, and indeed the frum Jewish community in Brooklyn, truly owes Aliya a big hakaras hatov for the excellent work they are doing and which nobody else is doing in such a fashion.
I once got a call from a woman in Flatbush (she helps my activities to support Shleimus Haaretz). She was looking for her teenage son and all she knew is that he was hanging out with a Mendy and a Zalmy. I didn’t know who she was referring to, but guess who did and was helping out the boy – Moshe Feiglin.
Once a month or so, Moshe takes the boys away for the weekend. The boys go skiing, hiking, canoeing, paintball shooting and camping. There is one condition for participation: The boys park their cell phones and get them back after havdalah. And its impact is astounding.
This past Rosh Hashana, Moshe honored a young man with opening the Aron Kodesh. The youngster was reluctant and quietly told Moshe that he wasn’t observing the yomtov. Moshe insisted nevertheless. After yomtov, he confided that when he opened the Aaron he had his cell phone in his pocket which made him feel guilty.
At that moment, the youngster vowed to keep the rest of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur as well. Later that afternoon, he met up with friends who wanted to take a drive. He told them he can’t drive because it’s Rosh Hashanah and so the entire group walked together instead of driving.
This is just a glimpse into what Aliya does. The boys come on their own and know they will be given an understanding ear, an open heart, a warm meal, some inspiration and feeling of purpose.
Of course, as in any shul or institution, you always have a few really difficult cases, as happened earlier this week. But hey, this is a Chabad House where the “magnet” is always on. For every incident reported in the media about Aliya there’s dozens of others that were successfully dealt with. Please G-d, this story will have a happy ending too. Just you watch!
All the very best,
Raanan Isseroff
P.S. I do not work for Moshe or Aliyah, but I invite you too to join the Aliyah fan club. To make a donation to support their work, visit http://AliyaInstitute.com/.
I will start by saying I’m a chasdisha shaygetz I believe in HaShem and follow the rebbe teachings but at the same time I’m a shaygetz you name the avarah I’ve done and still do it. I am not proud of thus but everybody has thee one derech. I fully believe in am proud of the Fegilin family in running Aliya both in CW and now in Melbourne The big problem is when a child “fries” out they do not understand what it is to be a shaygetz and more important s shaygetz with respect I have had many discussions… Read more »
I got a comment privately that the reader understood “Shleimus Haaretz” to mean: “Support for Israel”. Nothing could be further from the truth! It means the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s campaign to stop Israel from giving away land (for peace). It is an old Lubavitch term that the Rebbe coined which literally means: “A Whole Land”. “Support For Israel” on the other hand while it sounds fine, but really means support for Israel’s policies INCLUDING giving away Israel’s land and driving Jews off the land. Including secret negotiations to do these things without even consulting with Israelis themselves who are put in… Read more »
Aliya, is perhaps the greatest organization, that runs out of Crown heights today. Their doors are open 24/7, and their leaders are cut from the finest grain. While they are not perfect (none of us are) their leader Rabbi Feiglen and the staff he employs truly follow what they believe the Rebbe wants them to do at every moment, every day. They work with the kids that most people in Crown Heights, try to keep their kids away from, the outcasts, many who are created by the flaws of the education system, parents who had problems and people who thought… Read more »
What a wonderful organization. May it grow and continue to help the many that fall through the cracks.
He was going through a hard time drugs etc. Now boruch Hashem he is married with a good stable job. Rabbi Feiglin has the most important shlichus. Literaly saving lives and showing every individual how precious they are. I am sure his name sake is basking in nachas as well as yebadil lchaim tovim aruchim his entire family. Rabbi Feglin you must be on the right track if you have oppisition. As the Rebbe said when he came out with mivtzah tefilin and one leading Rav came out against the Rebbe. Just keep on bringing out the light! One last… Read more »
He who saves One life, has saved a World” nof said. Except in this case it isn’t. Because had just 1,just-1 o.d been prevented since it’s inception, then=Dayeinu! -as in, the ENTIRE past decade of Aliyah would’ve been justified just for that one single individual’s life. That Rabbi’s NS+F has saved dozens if not HUNDREDS over the past decade is a living breathing testamount to the incredibly astounding nature of their successful intervention & prevention. Sure it’s easy to talk about the tiny few which slipped thru the cracks but believe you me, they were unhelpable,as in way beyond over… Read more »
As someone who has greatly benefited from Rabbi Feiglin’s tremendous work at Aliyah I want to say the following: Aliya is by far one of the very few places in Crown Heights where I feel unconditionally welcomed. Like you, I too was troubled by the news that drugs and weapons were allegedly found inside of the Aliyah Youth Center. However, if you know one thing about Moshe Feiglin’s work with Crown Heights and shluchim’s kids, this news isn’t really shocking at all. What I did find more shocking were the vicious anonymous comments on websites calling for Aliyah to be… Read more »
Super couple! Doing a super job!
In 1979 my wife and I went to New York for the first time since we were married. We wanted to take our Bechor (Moishe Zalmen), at the time of his opshernisht ,with us for a yechidus and B’rocha from The Rebbe. In that yechidus The Rebbe asked Moishe to say Shma which he new very well how to say. Moishe’s Shma was not forthcoming irrespective of how hard I tried. The Rebbe patiently looked on and enjoyed watching the scene . Eventually The Rebbe’s face broke out into a complete smile almost a laugh. The Rebbe then put his… Read more »
To Moishe and sora and the whole aliya group
Brought tears to my eyes
a must have inreach program, an essential and blessed commodity in Chabad
Keep up the awosme work. There are few like you – moishe, note, and all other aliya staff who greet and treat each member as if their own family.
an shame on us for letting the failed system continue day in and out!!! We need change asap!!!
thank you i literally just cried while reading this article. maybe because im a female?
let’s all not forget his dedicated wife as well
keep it up !!
I just love Moishe
He is a beaming light that is a model of dedication and love seeking no glory and fame – a true hero of Chabad
RZB
kol hakavod
I daven at the Aliya minyan on shabbos – I personally see how They give roles to the kids to do like being chazan , gabbai etc.. there is no place like it – chabad INreach is the most difficult of all shlichus …
Thanks all those who dedicate there time – Reb Noteh Shemtov , Mendy Baitch , Mendy Sacho and of course Rabbi Feiglin
If our own ‘media’ hadn’t reported the incident earlier this week, our enemies in the secular media /blogs wouldn’t have cared one bit. Also to make a connection between this story and the E.H story is illogical.
Moshie Feglin and co should keep up their wonderful work.
And yes whoever can, please donate.
Give it up for Rabbi Fegilin!
It’s crazy how such a good institution in CH has to defend its self and prove that it actually does great stuff just because so many Crown Heightsers LOVE TO BASH and are quick to judge others.
It makes me throw up just thinking how some of the readers seating comfortably on their couches sipping hot chocolate just post these most hateful comments that destroy our great Moisdois,
Is a man that is working on the front lines. I owe him alot, and none of this publicity will mar my first hand knowledge of the Rabbi and Counselor that I know he is. Rabbi Feiglin, keep up the good work. And thank you for the link and article. I will certainly make a donation. The work that you do is literally saving Jewish lives.
Thank you for sharing.
this is incredible
Rabbi Feiglin and his team should only have hatslacha