by COLlive reporter
A report that one of the Israeli bochurim who recently arrived in Crown Heights while being infected with Covid-19 has caused concern among neighborhood residents.
The Kvutzah group of bochurim had recently traveled to Crown Heights after spending a period of time quarantining in Connecticut, however, the parents of the bochurim had been informed by the organizers of the quarantine that it had not been a complete 2 weeks which was required by the community doctors.
The bochurim had been arriving over the course of 5 days, the organizers said, and they had only been in Connecticut for 10 days in total.
Rabbi Moshe Meir Gluckowsky, administrator of the Central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch – 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, says the group should have remained in quarantine for two full weeks starting from the day the last bochur arrived.
The saga of the Kvutzah bochurim’s status began when coronavirus broke out in New York’s Jewish neighborhoods right after Purim. For their own safety and the safety of residents, the bochurim were asked to return home to Israel.
Since then, the Gedaliah Society, Dr. Eli Rosen and members of the Crown Heights Beis Din asked out of towners not to visit the neighborhood following the heavy loss of life.
Rabbi Gluckowsky says that he has been working for months to find a solution that would allow the new crop of Kvutzah bochurim to arrive safely for the new year.
“I was working all summer trying to come up with a plan with Dr. Rosen, the Gedalia Society and Rabbi Yosef Braun,” he told COLlive.com on Wednesday. “I insisted not to reopen the institution until it is safe and with their guidelines in place.”
He says that a separate organization named “Iggud Talmidei Hakvutza,” which operates independently of the Yeshiva, attempted to circumvent his concerns and objections and made their own arrangements for the new group of bochurim.
“Even though they were not authorized to do so, the Iggud promised the parents of the students that they would provide full room and board as well as student papers, circumventing the official administration,” Rabbi Gluckowsky said.
Rabbi Gluckowsky says that the bochurim who were part of this group have come to Crown Heights without having access to the Yeshiva’s official dorm at 1414 President Street.
As reported on COLlive.com, the Kvutzah group has indeed entered the United States but were sent to quarantine together at a campground in Connecticut.
“They came to Crown Heights on Thursday, before 2 weeks of quarantine were completed,” Rabbi Gluckowsky says. “Their official reasoning was that since Friday was 15 Elul (the day of the founding of the Yeshiva), they wanted the bochurim to celebrate the day in 770, however, I surmise that the decision was made to save on the expense of providing room and board for the bochurim out of state.”
The Gedalia Society and Dr. Rosen stated that they did not agree to allow the shortening of the quarantine of the kevutza in Connecticut.
“We said and still say that it has to be a minimum of 14 from when the last person arrives. It may be extended based on circumstances, but for sure no less than the 14 days,” they said.
“They went against the rabbonim and the doctors and made the arrangements under false pretenses,” Rabbi Gluckowsky says. “If they were worried about the community, they would not bring them in. They shouldn’t have come and waited until it was done correctly, for the safety of the entire community.”
All Kevutza bochurim, who have been spending time at the main shul of 770 learning, davening and joining in Farbrengens, were told on Wednesday to quarantine in their dorms.
Rabbi Braun, member of the Beis Din, was heard on a voice note expressing concern over the general disregard for health regulations as the number of Covid cases rise in frum communities in New York.
“I’m not even convinced that 770 should be open now,” he was heard saying. “The lack of adherence to (doctor’s) instructions at 770 concerns me. There are many reasons that cause this concern. Personally, I have avoided walking into 770 in the last few months (with the exception to do a Siyum and on Chai Elul, while having a mask etc).”
It is hardly possible to keep these buchrim quarantined properly. They do what they want when they want how they want and claim it to be in the name of the Rebbe.
Close 770 now or the sickness and death that will occur from this blatant disregard for human life begins. Whoever it is that has authority in CH step up now or this is on you
It seems pretty basic no ? So much harmful misinformation being repeated. My nephew, a big healthy father in his mid 30’s got this disease and almost didn’t come home from the hospital. If this was about a local store selling treif meat, would everyone say ” just look out for yourself ” ?
Thank you for being a voice of reason!
Sadly, 770 never responded to this horror. No masks, people packed closely together – including people with white beards – lack of basic handwashing mentality or supplies and now ( inevitably) this very dangerous situation . This is so NOT our Rebbe’s way – Ahavas Yisroel before everything !!! We are all going to stand before the Ultimate Judge very soon ….
I don’t understand the need for all these precautions. People are more afraid of quarantining that getting the illness. Most people dont have symptoms. And even if ch”v they do, let them get sick for a few days, they will get antibodies, v sholom al yisroel. THe ones who are hi risk will guard themselves anyway, because they dont want to die ch”v.
Are you crazy? What is wrong with you? We had funeral after funeral for weeks. The deaths are on your head for your blatant disregard and disrespect of human life. For shame
or because the doctors were awful! better to get sick and stay home if you can.
to prevent the spread of the virus in crown heights – it may be a bit to late, but what we need now, is to prevent the vulnerable and elderly (in particular, those who weren’t yet infected) from entering 770 and similar places, so we don’t get a small repeat of adar – nisan chas veshalom. signs must be put up in 770 and similar places warning these people from the risk they are taking and the potential danger they are placing themselves in, by entering the shul. (it seems that many are unaware of the gravity of the current… Read more »
why do people keep insisting its just old and sick people who get the virus? Now its young people who are getting it and some are dying. Its not a joke
The virus is less dangerous to young people than driving to and from Connecticut. It’s less dangerous to them than an ordinary flu. There is no significant risk at all, and there is no heter to be mevatel Torah for it. The median age of death from this is still over 83, and that’s even with the vastly inflated numbers that nobody believes. The answer remains what it should have been from the beginning: for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems to be strictly isolated, and for everyone else to go about their business as normal, and accept… Read more »
The original rule from gedalia society and the Rabonim was a note from a Dr stating you had carona and tested for anti bodies.
WHY was that rule changed? Why were you working hard to find ways to bring in the “ kvutza”.
I think the testing should be a higher priority then quarantining.
If everyone can get a negative test when they arrive then no need to quarantine.
It’s also easier to get people to comply with a quick test then to quarantine for 2 weeks.
It can take up to two weeks fro Coronavirus to develop in the body after exposure. A test is not good enough, quarantining and then testing is the only reliable method.
So many local americans have broken and disobeyed the rules set forward by Rabonim, Drs authorities Etc. They’ve traveled to other states and countries, ignored all mask and social distancing rules and sent their kids to sleep away camps where breakouts were just a matter of time. But now, lo and behold, the Israelis have come and brought one case with them (very likely to have been contracted locally based on the timeline) and all the hate comes flying. Sure, hating your fellow liubavitcher Israeli is nothing like the hate you get as a jew from some non-jews cause it… Read more »
Well said!!
So well said !
The reason crown heightsers aren’t wearing masks in that throughout the summer we haven’t seen an uptick in cases because most people have had the virus and have some form of immunity leaving no room for the virus to spread. Now that the number of people from out of town who did not develop an immunity had Rosen the chances of the virus spreading are bigger. That’s The reason the doctors don’t want out of towners here.
Ahavas Yisroel is powerful and provides proper answers, even when caution is needed. Sinas Chinam blinds the truth and we will get out of this with Hashem, not with baseless, yes baseless, blame of groups or people within Anash.
I literally can not believe how selfish the people who are responsible for this are. They obviously don’t have children in school and even more so don’t care for the community, rabbonim or doctors. Does celebrating the day tomchei tmimim opened really trump whatever else is going on.. newsflash people wont be davveninh in shul over ROSH HASHANA AND YOM KIPPUR. but they break quarantine for that. Next level selfish.
Our kids will have to have zoom school for extended period of time because of this ….it is crazy. No yom tov in shul and no schools because israelis were looking forward to being here. Sickness will be rampant in our community once again.
They should have never been allowed back even with qurenting for 14 days. 770 should have said this year no kvutza or wait till after tishrei and see where we are holding as a community. When will ppl start listening to the voices of the community and not just the Dr and rabbi’s, bc as we can see whatever they say goes in one ear comes out the other, these ppl do whatever is best for them and not others why should we as a community suffer for their wrong doing enough is enough. We can’t afford another wave one… Read more »
When a person lacks basic respect for others, especially disrespect for the community and its established institutions, it reflects not just character flaws of bad midos, but also lack of kabolos ol or “mashma’as” of hanhalah, lack of any minimal level of ahavas yisroel, and lack yiras shamayim.
Externals are meaningless when the internal is void and empty.
Shame on the entire group and their mashpiim,due to their condoning aborrent actions of individuals that endanger lives and risk pikuach nefesh.
Who is surprised? Absolutely nobody
I hope no one is surprised my this whole situation
The members of this “Iggud” did a great disservice to all.
They should be ashamed,…. and should not interfere,….. and should disband.
1) A number of comments are asking why don’t we all just get sick and build herd immunity. Answer: First of all there is a huge risk for the vulnerable population (and that population is hard to quantify in full). And if the young and healthy get sick it’s inevitable that the high risk will end up getting hit in a tight knit community like ours. Secondly, there is a very big difference in continuing on with life while wearing masks when needed (which is the sensible thing to do) then pushing for herd immunity and importing infected people into… Read more »
All Israeli boys should be quarentined until they have a negative covid in US.
They really do not care for anybody
they should be tested for antibody’s not for covid.
What action can be taken now, today, to ensure that the kvutza bochurim are properly isolated from the Crown Heights community for a full 14 days.
I am concerned that many will creep into 770 to daven and Fabreng, shop on Kingston and use the different Mikvaos etc etc.
The weak Yeshiva Administration has unfortunately not been able to control the situation,they have totally been outwitted by wild elements.
Rav Braun and the Gedaliah Society must be commended for their unambiguous stand.
The question remains what now?.
Will 770 be closed as a precaution….
They did not respect the rules that ensure safety for the community, and should be sent home. Let them go back to Eretz Yisroel, this is not the time for this.
We should have made them get tested and quarantine them again a few more days until they get the results
But definitely disappointed & horrified. We, as a “community “ have major problems and are not living up to our Rebbe’s standards.
“…But now, lo and behold, the Israelis have come and brought one case with them (very likely to have been contracted locally based on the timeline) and all the hate comes flying.” [note the locally]. Carelessness has become the norm now – since the virus was dimished earlier B”H. No masks anymore (no one wants to be a nebish), simchas b’harchava, zero social distancing in 770 (and other shuls). Meanwhile we hope to not get a second wave like other countries have done on relaxing the vigilance!). To all those who are ashamed to be nebeshes in their friends eyes-… Read more »
home. Or follow the rules
They should have quarantined for the full 14 days of course. However, I worry about the anti Israeli/kefutza bochurim sentiment I have seen in Crown Heights. I was shocked the first time about 18 years ago when I heard a local talk about how “they don’t need to come here” and “why should I pay for them”. Sorry but honestly, it feels sodomlike. I worry about the repurcussions of this hatred. Also, Crown Heights is not a neighborhood like any other. It’s a neighborhood that is a right for any Lubavitcher, or person who wants to connect or experience the… Read more »
there’s a whole bunch of schnorrers that also came just now from israel .please
check to see if they quarantined?????
Really saddened by what Rabbi Braun said. When will all of this end? Ad mosai!
They shouldn’t need to quarantine.Live and let live!!!
…holding my breath for this to happen. Why should anyone heed the rules if there is zero accountability?
I can’t come to CH to see a great grandchild but these bochurim can? Somethings wrong.
The lying that goes on in CH makes me glad I left. Newest. Parents who didn’t vax their kids forging Medicals. Finding crooked drs. It’s the Rebbe’s home but not mine. Sad.
Why doesn’t the yeshiva simply put out a warning and enforce it?
Of someone on the list breaks the rules and doesn’t quarantine a full two weeks(ie is spotted in public besides the dorm) … The visa will be revoked without a second chance.
Dozens of Bochurim in 770 and Oholei Torah came from out of town with 0 quarantine, why bash the only ones who actually did quarantine?!
So they quarantined for 12 days instead of 14, wow. The bochur with covid wasn’t discovered until yesterday, so the extra 2 days would have made no difference anyway!
And they are still following the rules; 770 emptied out yesterday as soon as they were asked to go quarantine in their dorms, everyone’s doing their best to follow the rules! Why are the Israelis always being bashed for no reason?!
“They came to Crown Heights on Thursday, before 2 weeks of quarantine were completed,” Rabbi Gluckowsky says. “Their official reasoning was that since Friday was 15 Elul (the day of the founding of the Yeshiva), they wanted the bochurim to celebrate the day in 770, however, I surmise that the decision was made to save on the expense of providing room and board for the bochurim out of state.” Who cares what reason they had to come to CH early, neither is justified, quarantine is useless if it’s not 14 days!!! it may be useless even if it is 14… Read more »
Horav Glucousky was pointing out that we shouldn’t think it was a chassidish motivation of cutting the quarantine early so that they can celebrate Ellul 15 in 770, no no no, that is incorrect. It has NOTHING to do with chassidish hergeishim, it was simply to save a few dollars at the expense of risking the health of the community. Farshteist?!
R’ Moshe Meyer Glucousky is a true chosid that is dedicated b’lev v’nefesh to 770 Yeshiva. He is also a tremendous talmid chochom. Everything he says is 100% emes. Everything he does is kdusha. The silent majority support him and are proud that he stands up to evil and corruption from within and without. Chazak!
One Talmid gets so much media publication yet this doesn’t get reported… I am wondering why with the onslaught of Covid coverage the Col is dedicated toBerlin police estimate 800,000-1.3 million attended the Aug 1 rally to protest government overreach & loss of basic human rights. People attending said the energy was unbelievable & felt like a bomb of light & love & peace & freedom had exploded in Berlin.
I’m sorry, these bochurim need to understand that precautions are set for reasons. And the reasons are to keep them safe. By not quarantining properly, they are endangering the area, and Corona can spread fast. Don’t we just get the message already? After so many funerals and deaths? And after so many people admitted into the hospitals? Bochurim need to learn a sense or responsibility and awareness and it’s not all about a Shtikel Chassidus and a nice Mezonos before Davening and not thinking twice that they are not wearing masks – never mind being socially distant. Yes, they are… Read more »
The CDC now says 10 days is sufficient for those who have symptoms or test positive