By COLlive reporter
The kitchen at 1414 President Street resumed activity on Monday morning preparing take-out meals for the bochurim who haven’t returned home to Israel during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Individually packaged meals – scrambled eggs, hashbrowns and Israeli salad – were available for pick-up for breakfast for those enrolled in the Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch at 770 Eastern Parkway.
Its renewed activity brings an end to a public saga that began when New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Crown Heights Beis Din instructed to close all shuls and schools, including the main shul of 770 which also serves as a study hall for bochurim.
With the widespread infection rate in frum communities, the Yeshiva’s dormitory at 1414 was closed as well and bochurim were told to return to their parents’ home in Israel before Pesach. Many were immediately taken to quarantine in a hotel upon arrival in Israel.
Nevertheless, about 200 bochurim remained in Crown Heights and have rented apartments and basements as sleeping accommodations. They relied on the 1414 kitchen for meals until it ceased activity.
Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Zalman Labkowsky insisted that the 770 Yeshiva wasn’t closed as learning continued online. The remaining bochurim demanded to be fed by the Yeshiva.
The 770 Yeshiva’s director Rabbi Moshe Meir Gluckowsky said in a video statement on COLlive.com that the remaining bochurim, who led a noisy protest outside his private home, were unauthorized to remain in Crown Heights and should have returned home.
He also said that they have stopped charging tuition during the pandemic and that the Yeshiva did not have the funds to keep the kitchen in operation. He said that government funding, once received, was only to be given to U.S. citizens or those with a Green Card.
In a later statement, Rabbi Gluckowsky said that support was provided by individuals for meals and that he would open on Sunday. That didn’t end up happening, he said, because of a lack of communication on behalf of those representing the bochurim.
On Monday, as mentioned, the kitchen was opened and bochurim were provided with meals. “I just hope they won’t close again,” one bochur commented.
if they want to stay in Crown Heights, they need to wear masks when outside!
Because they do not care about you or your safety. That’s why.
Some of them wear a mask. And they don’t walk the streets
and yes, they do walk the streets
They should be gezunt and do their part to keep themselves gezunt and others gezunt as well
it is in the water it is in random animals.
Its everywhere. Relax and live life. stop bullying
They someone’s children take care of one of them, but then masks or whatever to support instead of making them feel not welcomed here
They’re past it
The executive order was that the nose and mouth need to be covered either by mask or a scarf or anything else when using public transportation or in public IN SITUATIONS WHERE SOCIAL DISTANCING ISN’T POSSIBLE.
The governor said clearly its OK to walk around with uncovered faces on quiet streets. Even on a busy street it’s OK to walk with the mask on your chin and only pull it up when getting near ppl.
And thus he gave in to the crazies destroying 770
Thanks for all the community support and special thanks to the rabannim for helping make this happen despite the narishkeit that preceded it!
Bhh I’m so happy
Why bringing more darkness.
B”H. They are sons and brothers and very relieved that the kitchen
is back for them.
they need to go back then we can have a quieter community
That actually looks pretty good. Es gesunderheit!
The law of the land is to be upheld by all, this is what our Torah teaches. Why did they stay here when the Yeshiva along with all other schools closed?
Why are they roaming the streets disobeying the distancing rules?
Why aren’t they wearing masks?
It’s very nice that they don’t care about their own health but why infect the rest of the Kehila
The hanhola told them to stay. Regardless most of them probably had it, and know can’t transmit it by mouth.
Looks delicious 😋!
If they chose not to go back to Israel, if they were disrespectful to Rabbi Gluckowsky, then let them figure bout where to live and eat.
It’s their own problem.
Rabbi Gluckowsky doesn’t decide what happens. Rabbi zarchi does and he said to stay
BH so happy they are finally getting food from the kitchen!
Jewish ppl deserve to eat, I am happy to see that the community took A stand for what is right, thank you COLLIVE for helping make this happen!!! And to comment # 1 plz don’t be ignorant and generalize especially in a case that U are incorrect, let’s all spread love not hate!
Whatever is the reason but students can’t be here hungry, feed them first and then deal with all issues
They were told to stay… by the yeshiva and by the Israeli health ministry. The ones that went back caused a fiasco.