Dear Crown Heights Residents of Kan Tziva Hashem Es Habrocha,
Every day, over the past month living in Crown Heights we all feel less and less safe by the day, every day it just gets worse and worse.
From the constant high crime that we always had on a regular basis, to the recent stores looting and riots in Manhattan, Bronx and Downtown Brooklyn to the very violent demonstrations on the large streets on the edge outskirts and through Crown Heights, to the constant war zone of fireworks, gunshots and shootings that we are currently living in every night.
It used to be that you would need to be careful when going outside at night, now it is unfortunately so bad that we need to always be careful when going outside during the day and going outside at night is not even a safe option anymore.
On every WhatsApp Group that we are on, And every CH Facebook Group, it is flooded with everyone writing that we need to take back our streets and bring back law and order.
All this is 100% true, but at the same time as planning and preparing for the best outcome of this horrifying situation we are in all around us, we need to be prepared, to be proactive in case Chas Vishalom there is a sudden large increase of violence on our streets.
We need to obviously have Emunah and Bitachon and hope for the best, but at the same time, we need to be prepared if it is bad.
I am not writing this to scare anyone, but just the opposite, I am writing this so we can safely prepare ahead of time to all defend ourselves, our families, our friends, our shuls, our schools, our homes, our businesses and our community if needed. A Chochom thinks ahead, we all need to be realistic to the current situation going on around us, and what we can do to stay safe before it is too late.
Below are a bunch of different ideas to help with the Safety and Security of Kan Tziva Hashem Es Habrocha (If anyone has more ideas, please share them on the comments section below, The more ideas the better).
Firstly as Chassidim of the Rebbe, we must Daven to Hashem and say Tehillim to end this Galus and beg for Moshiach.
We as well need to do our hishtadlus and make a keli which includes:
Mezuzahs
It is important for everyone to have their Mezuzahs and Tefillin regularly checked, especially now as we are approaching the month of Elul shortly. As well to make sure that all door posts in your home have Mezuzahs.
Store Owners / Store Gates:
We saw what just one night of looting in Manhattan looks like, as well Manhattan “supposedly” is the place with the most Police stationed, Every high-end store with their luxury high-end strong glass windows had their windows broken at best and fully looted and ransacked at worst.
Store owners in Crown Heights that do not have gates, and only have glass windows/doors, should very seriously consider getting full gates on their stores for safety as soon as possible (Although this may be expensive for many stores but this extra cost of installing gates is a much cheaper cost than constant broken windows and property theft…)
As well, store owners that have gates but have see-through sections on the gates so we can all see their display and selection of items when it’s closed, these gates are much less strong, and way easier for people to get through. You should consider possibly either fully filling in the sections that are see through or getting new gates. In the current situation that we are all going through now it is best and safest for all commercial stores to have full covered strong store gates, over gates that are semi-open with the items on display through the glass.
As well a lot of store owners that DO have gates, Only use 1 of the 2 slots to lock their gates, Leaving their gates vulnerable that if enough people lift the side that does not have the lock they can easily get in, as was done to almost every store in the commercial district in South Bronx on June 1st/June 2nd, It only takes an extra 30 seconds to lock the 2nd gate lock every night, all stores should be doing that.
If anyone knows of good store gate installation companies in Brooklyn please share their contact details in the comments section below for all those that it can be helpful for.
Homes / Window Bars:
We can see from the past month that windows break, many homeowners in our community don’t have bars on their windows, leaving their windows very vulnerable to get broken which can give criminals an entrance to a home.
Even with the windows being locked, now with gangs roaming the streets and doing what they want, all it takes is just a few clapping on windows or something strong thrown at a window to get full access to someone’s home. We must take this into account very seriously, I think it is about time that all home owners in our community that don’t have bars on the outside of their home windows on the 1st Floor which is easily accessed to from porch area etc, as well as their basement windows which anyone can have easy access to, front and backyard of the home.
It is time everyone in Crown Heights together gets bars on all their windows that are on these 2 floors where anybody can get to. If there are Chas Vishalom incidents outside this will protect the residents inside from intruders and if the residents are away this will help to protect their home.
If anyone knows of good window bars installation companies in Brooklyn please share their contact details in the comments section below for all those that it can be helpful for.
(It would also be a good idea for someone to arrange is to maybe have a ChessedFund campaign to help subsidize the cost for all those that can not afford to pay the entire cost/as well to get a large discount from a company if there are multiple customers interested, which there should be a mass campaign for all homes in our community to have window bars installed).
Video Cameras:
Although video cameras may not stop most criminals from committing crimes, after the crime has happened video cameras play a crucial role by viewing what actually took place, and in either identifying the criminals and/or having proof of the crime so the criminal can be fully prosecuted if caught.
In our community, almost every criminal that was arrested at a later time after they ran away from the scene of the crime was because they were able to be identified by video cameras. Because of video cameras/footage, every year lots and lots of criminals attacking our community are identified, apprehended and prosecuted, thus making our streets safer for everyone.
In a time like now with crime overtaking the streets it is very crucial that the more video cameras on homes and businesses the better.
If anyone knows of good video camera installation companies in Crown Heights (I believe there are a few local Lubavitchers right here in Crown Heights that do this) please share their contact details in the comments section below for all those that it can be helpful for.
Join Shmira/Shomrim
At a time where the police are almost nowhere to be found, nothing stands between us and the criminals on the streets of Kan Tziva Hashem Es Habrocha.
Shmira and Shomrim, both great organizations, are out all day and all night doing their best for us all, they are also probably currently stretched thin because they are getting double or triple the amount of incidents more than usual that they need to respond to over the past month.
These brave individuals are volunteering their time for you, for us, for our community, but they both need more brave individuals to join to help our community stay safe.
It would be great if all the Yungerlait and older mature working Bochurim in Kan Tziva Hashem Es Habrocha that are able to volunteer some of their time to benefit their community to consider joining one of these volunteer organizations.
Best is if you have a friend or relative in either of these safety organizations to contact and inquire with them directly about possibly joining to help our community, your community.
הנה לא ינום ולא יישן שומר ישראל
A Resident of Kan Tziva Hashem Es Habrocha
Zadok Zvi
PRESIDENT at KENDI IRON WORKS, INC.
Greater New York City Area
Company Name KENDI IRON WORKS, INC.
Dates Employed 1980 – Present
Employment Duration 40 yrs
Location 236 Johnson Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11206
Owner, manufacturer of structural and ornamental ironworks. Kendi Iron Works, Inc. owns and operates 6 patented inventions as well as two trademarked names; Kendi® Fire Exit Gate and Sunshine Gate® Fire Exit Gate. The most prominent legal and approved emergency egress gates in NYC.
Zadok’s Profile
linkedin.com/in/zadok-zvi-3662592b
Website
kendiironworks.com/ (Company Website)
Thank you!
Moshe Sabbach did a great job for us!
Polite and courteous.
Works with the client and their budget.
He works, fast, efficiently and extremely neatly.
Leaves the work area cleaner than he found it!
A real mentch and a gem in the community!
His number is (718) 326-1875
The only protection a Jew needs.
We need outside lights on every corner of every building!!!
Light up the night.
There is law couple years old regarding any new store front roll up gates that half needs to be sectional where you can see inside old gates are grandfathered..
Most NYC Stores rather have their Merchandise then get looted so they have Full Strong thick gates regardless, Some have a full gate but thin enough in the center to very lightly somewhat seethru it but still being a full gate so its considered seethru but it is full, Regardless this law is crazy, stupid & reckless, the city council decided this law about 10 years ago and the result is stores get looted, We need someone to reachout to Council Members, Kalman Yeger & Chaim Deutsch to Draft a bill eliminating this stupid law that tells stores to Not… Read more »
“We took great pains in this bill to make sure we balanced quality-of-life issues and graffiti eradication with the real-life financial challenges small businesses are facing in this recession,” said the Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn. “That’s why the bill has a lengthy time frame.” “The solid gates have a forbidding quality, recalling the bad old days of 1970s-era New York, when a desire to encourage window-shopping was superseded by a concern over rampant crime and occasional looting” “But in other cases, solid gates might have helped. During the blackout that struck the city in the summer of 1977, looters… Read more »
There is a reason why half of Manhattan is currently boarded up now, Because most Stores in Manhattan did Not have Gates during the Riots 3 weeks ago, If you don’t have gates and a Mob comes to riot like Manhattan had in the beginning of June, Then you end up needing to board up the store but After the items were all stolen from the store, Lets Iyh pick in CH Gates over Bordered up wood.
I got gates during the riot time. There may be better, but I used Neal and he came fast and did what looks like a good job to me. I think the company is Iron Gates or something like that.
(347) 202-3327
Tell him Isaac from Crown Heights recommended him. He did give me a a cash discount.
Yaakov Avinu showed us the way to deal with an approaching enemy.. first davening, then attempt appeasement.. and then, preparation for physical war. This requires a adequate supply in each community of klei zayin in the hands of responsible people. It’s a worst case last resort scenario and one we hope to avoid but, like life insurance, better prepared than unprepared.
Right!
Form a group of strong men. Armed with baseball bats, etc.
Make a decoy.
Follow on bikes or foot.
When the decoy is approved or attacked, strike the perpetratos hard!
We have to do what the government doesn’t do– protect us.
Have a lawyer available.
We have been taking these reactionary precautions for the last fifty years in Crown Height and yet nothing has changed. Yes, if you lock the door to your house you decrease the chances of you home being robbed, but the stats of the safety of CH hasn’t changed! Perhaps it is time that we take another approach to this issue. I believe that when some people see bars on every window they become more likely to commit the crime. It’s almost as though they view it as a challenge. Furthermore, the average black male in CH knows just how racist… Read more »
Those of us who lived in CH before, during, and after Giuliani, saw the incredible difference that law-and-order leadership makes. As far as your other comments, it’s hard for people who have been victimized to get past that. I heard recently, (not an exact quote) that the Rebbe advised saying good morning to your neighbor. It prevents difficulties. If someone knows the exact loshon, please post it.
The rebbe spoke about saying good morning to your neighbor and also teaching him about the 7 laws of noach. It was in the same sicha at the fabrengen. The rebbe stressed the importance of teaching 7 laws of noach because without fear of hashem you have what we have now. Fear of police is not enough. Must fear an eye that sees and an ear that hears.
In addition to the 7 Laws, we must push for a Moment of Silence in the public schools.
As a gentile living in Crown Heights my Jewish neighbors don’t bother with me but they also don’t bother me. I’ve lived in different parts of NYC among all types of groups. It’s only in Crown Heights when I see a group of Jewish teenagers male or female am I not worried. I know they are not going to hurt me. I cannot say that about any other group in NYC. I also know that if I asked for help from one of my Jewish neighbors they would help me. In the end I just want to be treated respectfully… Read more »
Your comment is labeling and offensive. There are frum black skin folks that are part of the community examples aren’t necessary because it’s petty and feeding into your racism. The color of skin doesn’t effect the way most people in this community treat others, that said most violent crimes in the neighborhood are done by black people and calling it any other way is in fact racist
Oh, do you mean it is our fault that we are Jewish? Or, do you mean that it is our fault that we are law-abiding? Or do you mean that is our fault that some people choose to live a life of crime and we should be available to be their punching bag? Yes, that is what you mean. And you know it too. Stop pulling out the race card.
Why did you answer that rasha?!
Perhaps he’s Black?
Literally insane. The writer belongs in a straitjacket and a padded room. Criminals commit crimes because they are BAD PEOPLE, and for no other reason. Being nice to them may make them choose a different victim, but it won’t stop them doing what they do. And it is a FACT that the proportion of criminals among black people is far higher than it is in any other community. There has to be a reason for that, and it is NOT racism. It is not anything external to that community. There is something about that community that makes its members MANY… Read more »
“The average black male in CH knows just how racist the Frum community is”. How dare you make such a false and vicious accusation against a whole community you racist antisemit. And you do so without post your name, so a coward as well! We will not allow this to stand. Not only are we attacked from the outside, we are attacked with slander from the inside, which always hurts more. Post your name so we can have a real face to face (civil)conversation. And live by example, post your address and inform everyone (Jews and non-Jews) that your home… Read more »
I totally agree with you, but the fact is that there are quite a few people in our community that have racist opinions. I mean, nearly all of the kids in chedarim act racist, even though they might not understand the problems with doing so. The source of this is probably not teaching kids that being racist is bad and not enforcing it, and also, of course, the fact that the Black community does, and I repeat does single us out from other people and willingly attack us.
When our kids start attacking black people, well have something to worry about. In a court of law and in life, you can not testify on what someone was thinking, you can only testify on deed/action.
Kids are kids, they are mean to each others, that’s another issue. This does not mean they are evil or are taught this at home etc… Contact me to speak about this face to face.
The good and hard working Jewish people of Crown Heights don’t have time for this garbage. Most of us are busy with raising our own tribes and all the great challenges that brings B”H. We get up, we go to work and want to live in peace. MOST of us get along with our neighbors. Are there issues? Absolutely!! issues between Jews and Jews and issues between other neighbors. In general we get along fine with those who we live with. Most trouble comes from the outside (except the trouble that comes from within…see comment above for example…the enemy within… Read more »
Is this comment directed towards me? The one above it. Oh, and also, I don’t understand why six people disagree with me, it is true that there are quite a few Jews that are racist for any reason.
This right here in what a self hating Jew looks like. He has bones to pick so he targets his own brothers and sisters. Why? Because we are easy targets and he knows it. He knows he’s safe spewing this venom towards us (especially by not posting his name – Coward!) Know this, there are proud Jews who stand up for their fellow Jews, you will have to come through us!! Who are we, we are out there everyday 24/7 looking for ways to make our neighbors lives a little bit easier, with acts of goodness and kindness. While YOU… Read more »
Your comment belongs in the trash bin together with you.
Motzei Shame Ra, Loshon HaRa, etc
You’re also a coward.
No name.
Proof?
Thanks for holding back Redemption.
Perhaps you’re a spy?
Nebuch.
Everything you write screams racist, “you are doing all the labeling/generalizing for the black community, “the average Black male in CH Knows… makes him more likely to commit crimes” what a racist statement, I don’t see color, there’s criminals and law abiding citizens, protecting your homes and not standing as a punching back doesn’t equal racist.
You are absolutely right about greeting neighbors. But…. “Our fault?!” Avi Goldman was NOT our fault! R’ Dovid Okunov was NOT our fault! Shlomo (“Vaad Seudas Shlomo”) was NOT our fault! Mrs Lapine was NOT our fault! Yankel Rosenbaum was NOT our fault! Are you even aware of these names? Shame on you! ask mechila from all the above and their families! “The voice of your brothers blood is screaming out to us from the ground”!
We were warned about missionaries in CH. Don’t you have other websites to visit?
Are you out of your mind? I can take your entire comment and disprove it, fact by fact. But for now, I’ll settle with just a few sentences. 1. “The average black male knows just how racist our community is, etc.” — When we were persecuted in Russia, in Poland, in Spain, in the US, in Israel, and in countless other places, did we react with crime? NO!!!! By being rightfully wary of random people, we protect ourselves, we don’t help commit crime. Fact is, 95% of crime in CH is caused by blacks. So of course I’m going to… Read more »
Instead of just dealing with antisemitism, we also have to deal with the consequences of the racism of Frum Jews towards the black community. Those who ignore that are just in complete denial. But I gave up trying to tell them this since they are sure they are so perfect and they don’t need to change a thing..
So true! Everybody here is denying that there’s a problem with racism in the Jewish Community, I got 10 downvotes lol from people thinking that there’s no problem.
WAKE UP PEOPLE AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO STOP THE RACISM
Tracht gut vet zein gut why so pessimistic
…because you just live on emunah?! You don’t look both ways before crossing the street, because you have emunah that you won’t be hit?!
Cobble stones that surround our trees are simply weapons in waiting. As our friend learned in the park a short time ago. When he was almost murdered, with a cobble stone. Please dispose of these immediately.
Powerful vigilantism and strong attacks against the perpetrators will spread a feeling of fear of the Jews throughout Crown Heights.
Shimon & Levi
Be proactive not defensive.
Gun gemach and training groups for license
Vigilantes.
Government won’t help us.
There’s too much money invested in crime.
Check the code !
You did not mention once מזוזות
Your scare tactics won’t work (קליפא) .
We had the 1991 riots , Same Hashem watches us
THe first thing he mentioned was mezuzos
Are window bars a fire safety hazard? If there is a fire, sometimes people need to escape via windows, especially from basements with only one exit. Experts, please respond.
That’s why I recommended Kendi Ironworks. A unique design that can be opened easily from the inside.
On Most Basements that have 2 or more Exits putting Bars outside All Windows are recommended, But correct just like by Apartment Buildings, Most Apartment Windows that are by a Fire Escape have a Bars Gate/Door from the inside & It fully locks but it can open from the inside in case Chas Visholom of a fire, That would be ideal for a basement with only 1 or 2 exits
It is also a good idea in general but especially when having bars on all the windows to make sure that your Smoke Detectors / Carbon Monoxide Detectors Batteries are working, As well there are these new model dual Smoke Detector/Carbon Monoxide Detectors that are sold in most hardware stores in Usa that have 10 year built in battery’s so you don’t need to change the battery every year.
Thank you for practical advice and words of wisdom! With all that has happened safety has been weighing on my mind. I’m glad someone not only spoke up but outlined excellent ideas.
Move out of NYC to a place with low crime and establish the community there. I doubt the Rebbe would want us to live in dangerous environment.
For your info, The Rebbe spent YEARS of Effort into saving Crown Heights. The very fact that crown heights still exists is a testimony to the Rebbe’s success. In one sentence which the Rebbe cried, screamed and begged: “WE DONT ABANDON A YIDDISHE COMMUNITY!!” The Rebbe asked Rabbonim to pasken and even had a mugeh sicha printed in Hapardas (the prestigious Halocha journal edited by Rabbi Simcha Elberg) FORBIDDING Yidden to abandon en mass a Jewish neighberhood. And before you tell me that it was different back then, let me inform you A) The police did almost NOTHING (unlike today)… Read more »
Heh, that’s interesting. Didn’t know about some of CH’s history. Could you please explain what R’ Yisroel Shemtov did, and why did he earn the namesake The Red Devil?
By Rabbi Yossi Paltiel
from 6:05 (8 min)
https://insidechassidus.org/wp-content/uploads/classes/SPCL/SPCL_01-11_BGRPHY_16_MSCH_SFT_BR_72.mp3
See also this excellent article by A Chassidisher Derher
https://derher.org/wp-content/uploads/50-Cheshvan-5777-09.pdf
I believe Beis Moshiach also had an article in their English weekly Magazine over the past year but I can’t find it at present
Just some thoughts, tznius in our neighborhood can protect us as well, like the mezuzos. Skirts, not pants, and dresses not shirts.
This is vital!
I am begging every home owner to please turn on your outdoor light! It’s for our own safety . Since the city switched to led streetlights and lowered the voltage the streets are just not bright enough ! Please put a reminder or anything to ensure this happens. If you need then set it on a timer !!! Please please
Light at night needs to be between red and yellow. Blue light at night disrupts our internal clock so that we cant sleep well and it makes people sick.
LED’s and fluorescents always have blue. Regular tungsten or halogen will always be broad spectrum and towards the red.
Vigilantism…break heads
Get OUT Of Crown Heights. Move to Monsey, Batimore, Cincinnati, Philadelphia
Those are the worst places to live what really should happen is that frum people must lobby the local government to allow us to practice are constitutional 2nd Amendment rights all of the problems will disappear immediately( do you hear of problems in Florida or Texas!)
And read the above comment “MOVE NOT!”
Every word that person wrote is true. And there is much more he didn’t write
Chabad does not run.
The Rebbe spoke about this.
Vigilantism — break heads.
The fear of the Jews will spread, and peace and quiet will reign.
When people are mugged/robbed/threatened there, where do we go? We have to stand up for ourselves in CH.
Every home should have lights that turn on at dusk and off at dawn automatically
Everyone should check mezuzos.
There should be more torah learning for everyone as it protects us and cleans the air
Mezuzos should be checked and there should be more learning as it protects us
Lights that go on at dusk and off by day should be installed.
Motion detecting lights that go on when someone appeoaches are good too but are a problem for shabbos and yom tov
Did anybody mention our Homeland.
Monsey is not the answer.
Shmira and shomrim are great
Yes Shmira & Shomrim are both BH very good, But the more community members that join, the more effective they can try to be by having more members respond to help our coummunity.
everyone should go online at licensing.nypdonline.org and do the paperwork for a home premises gun and those with businesses can do the same for business premises it takes 6 months but if you start today you’ll get it faster then if you wait till it gets even worse and you lose time
What! Run to a Palestinian state!
Ha!
Shimon & Levi… Vigilantism.
Thank you Shmira!
Thanks so much for your concern about other people and writing this article. In my point of view I think checking your mezuzah is the thing that can help most.
get yourself a firearm license now
personal jails aka window bars etc are not the answers protect yourselves make sure the women at least have pepper spray air horns. baseball bats other legal weapons should be present by every entrance door for example a 12-18″ piece of metal pipe 3/4, 1″, 1 1/4″ 1 galvanized is cheapest then black or if you are handy a 12,14,18″ iron monkey wrench a large size open end wrench. one might think about weapons training & licensing. Don’t count pon the police chances are they will respond either late or not at tall & in any case do nothing learn… Read more »
I think now would be a great time for Shmira and shomrim to unite together!
Thoughts please!?
Long overdue, BH the relationship between both groups have been much much better recently, Its time for whatever small different opinions both groups have to be fully put in the past & have a United Shomrim-Shmira group, Together they will be able to accomplish much more together in helping to protect ch.
In a time of danger Yidden have always united together, Obviously we don’t need a time of danger to make shalom between both shmira and shomrim organizations, But with the current dangerous Matzav in New York City and in Crown Heights, What better opportunity to show Hashem that as Yidden we can come together and join as one, Please if anybody from any of these organizations has the ability to bring both organizations together to make full peace and shalom between both organizations, now is the time, in general since corona started Yidden & Shluchim throughout the world that have… Read more »
If 1 person tries to carry something heavy, he can carry it for a certain amount of time, But if 2 people carry that same heavy item they can both carry it for many many times more than if just 1 person tried, Because when 2 people work as a team there is much more accomplishment, Same for our neighborhood, if 2 groups help with safety & security, But they are doing it separate by themselves, They can accomplish but nowhere near the amount of accomplishment that the 2 groups can do by teaming together, By being together with Achdus… Read more »
Hashem please give us moshiach,we need it so much more at this time! AD MOSAI?????!!!!!!!!!
I think out is a good idea to look into getting a handgun licence or rifle permit. It’s not an immediate abet because it takes 6 months to process, but it can be done, and who knows what will be in 6 months.
Maybe even purchase a rifle upstate – you don’t need a licence for any long send update. Get your gun upstate, begin practicing and familiarizing yourself win it, so by the time you get your NYC permit in 6 months, you’ll be ready.
AD MOSAI?????!!!!!!