By Shainy Peysin
They say that the United States is the only country where you can get a pizza delivery faster than an ambulance. Thankfully, that isn’t true in Crown Heights. (Hatzala, you’re doing a great job. Pizza places, you gotta get up to speed!)
But strangely enough, it turns out that in Crown Heights, you can get a hot coffee all night long, but not a place to sit and daven. For women, at least.
During Chof-Beis Shvat weekend, a visiting Shlucha was kicked out of 770 because they needed to close and lock it. Chocolatte, across the street, remained open all night long.
I’m not saying coffee isn’t important. But shouldn’t women have a quiet place to go to daven? Open a sefer? Maybe have a bite to eat or take a drink?
It isn’t too much to ask for. I know it’s not because downstairs 770 remains open all night long, with lights and everything (I hear they have coffee down there and a vending machine! Cookies too, sometimes!)
Did you know that the women’s shul doesn’t even have a water fountain? And that the bathroom is pitifully small to accommodate large crowds, not to mention embarrassingly decrepit? And that they lock it at night? In women’s faces? And threaten to call the police on them if they don’t leave?
Guess what that Shlucha did? Kicked out of 770 in the middle of the night, she got into her car and drove to the Rebbe‘s Ohel in Queens. Do you know what they have at the Ohel? A warm, safe place to sit. Seforim to open and daven. Tea and cookies all night long.
Now, I’m not here to discuss where a chossid can best connect to the Rebbe these days. Proponents for both 770 and the Ohel are strong.
But I’ll tell you this: There’s only one place where a woman can go 24/7 for some spirituality, safety and comfort. And, sadly, that place is not 770. In Crown Heights, the only place where you can sit at any given time is a restaurant, not a shul.
#4. Well the customers at the Ohel don’t complain
In CH things go on late, many a time after a chassuna or even a date I would want to go to daven marive in 770, and as visitors who don’t get to go to 770 anytime would want to go in to just connect, its not about a place to daven, we can daven at home but its a special place to connect to the Rebbe so we want to go in even late at night. Yet it is true that it would be irresponsible to just allow 770 to be open 24/7 with out proper supervision. And it’s… Read more »
Before jumping in anger read the fact : SHE IS A SHLUCHA
My daughter’s home attendant cleans 770 occassionally and I know that she does a great job so three cheers for Joanna! She has been exposed to our way of life by working in my home and knows that 770 is a special place.
B”H Still not resolved.. haval… I thought everyone could already feel this, that the Crown Heights Lubavitch community, for the most part, are not able to quiet their own agendas long enough to realize that Jewish female individuals are real human beings with urgent needs, just as real as the needs of men to connect with other men in learning and even more so, as this is the fount of the next generation of Jews… I think the closing of 770 is done for security reasons – think of the proximity of public transportation; there was something that happened Dec.… Read more »
I am a Shlucha and love 770 and bring my kids there every time we visit. It is a place of Kadosh and yes even as a mother it re-energizes us. I just think that it is time to appoint a new younger committee for ezras noshim or at least add new people who are committed to 770s development and physical upkeep as per the Rebbes instruction. It should be constantly cleaned and monitored that we should never walk in and see a mess/toilet paper on floor, bathrooms not cleaned… People who care and have the time to fully dedicate… Read more »
ALL THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS ARE NOT THE POINT. A SHUL SHOULD BE OPEN FOR DAVENING AND LEARNING AL HOURS IF THERE IS A DEMAND,
AND 770 IS THE “TAIL TALPIYOT” OF THE WORLD
AND ONCE IT WILL BE OPEN IT WILL BE VERY SAFE
B/C THE LIGHTS WILL BE ON AND THE MANY NISHIM TZIDKONIYOT THAT WILL DAVEN THERE 24/7
BEZCUT NASHIM TZIDKONIYOT WE WILL BE MERIT
MISHIACH NOW!!!
since when is a shul – a holy place – a restaurant/coffee diner/bedroom??? It is not Chabad custom to sleep in a sukkah… why is it OK for anyone to sleep in this hol;y place?? I visit CH for 1 month every year and am disamayed by what goes on in there – there are some who have literally moved in… If chas v’shalom anything were to happen they would be yelling loud… even the cleaners and security have to go at some time…expecting them to “stay a few minutes” because she wants to say “a bit of Tehillim” ???… Read more »
Why would you think this is implying the woman didn’t have a place to sleep? The article implies she wanted to connect with the Rebbe and do so in a place the Rebbe is close. That’s the gratitude you show to someone who’s dedicating her life to the Rebbe’s work, claiming she should “book to stay by you months in advance”!? If you aren’t able to host, fine. There are other residents of crown heights who are selfless, and yes, if a shlucha calls last minute, they will try. You never know what the background can be. Perhaps suddenly they… Read more »
Women we deserve the same cares and environmental than man have in 770, why the predilection? Not fair at all!!!!
Why don’t you all cut out the negative comments and next time invite this woman into your home, which is what the rebbe would want instead of everyone’s unwanted disgusting comments which really won’t help the situation!!!
Tachlis people!! In a positive way!
I totally agree with number 71
We need Fundraisers.If the Rebbe would be ok with it.I think a nice glass building would be nice.We can expand the Ezras Noshim to a higher level where the rooms are upstairs.We can even have a soundproof room as a lounge for all the mommys with crying babys.- Just my humble opinion. Anyone else care to share.
There are many points in the article and comments that are valid. To fix any of them we need unified leadership and management of the building.
When a bochur was stabbed in 770 r”l, there were 2 articles on COL about 2 separate meetings with police and security officials, at each one there was a different set of people who “run” 770. What more will it take for a bunch of adults to get over their differences and make a difference?
when people write, “besides for.”
“Besides” is a word that — all by itself — means “except for.”
Locking a shul located in a dangerous city, in the wee hours of the night, can’t get too outraged. Awful bathroom, less than spotless… yes, outrageous.
The point is that a coffeeshop that’s open 24 hours a day isn’t a safe place for women and not good for anyone religious to spend time in EVER.
20 years ago NO WOMEN hung out in 770 at night. Bochrim used to make farbrengens there without ever having to worry that a woman would walk in. It was simple mufrach for such a thing to happen.
It is dangerious today for a women to be in 770 all night, anything could happen, she should be home, unless she does not have a place to call home
Keep the eating in the restauants. The shul stinks from food. Gross! Not kovodick at all!!
My wife told me that’s it’s disgusting. In the merit of righteous women and children Moshiach will come. Too bad men don’t have the merit to honour our righteous women with providing them a decent enough place. What would the Rebbitzen Chaya Mushka say? Someone start a contract with the Gabboim to make it nice, clean, secure, safe, pleasant, welcoming!
That’s so thoughtful
Thanks for your comment!Nice to see 🙂
Maybe the shluchim office, or mercoz should arrange a place to be open 24h during the kinus for the shluchim, with heat, drinks and a place to daven / learn/ eat a lunch etc.
I think they have it at the Levi Yitschak library under the kolel, is it open 24h?
For that few days, shouldn’t be hard to get someone to watch at least during the late hours.
Unfortunately there no supervision on the place, I came many times and there is no cleaning lady or if there is a cleaning ladies no one is watching them!!! This week on Sunday morning the Ezrass Noshim was an embarrassment and a big shame for the Rubber!!! There no one to talk to and no one is really care!!! About the locking the door, I think that on a regular schedule it should be located out of safety and many craziness that around!!! But on a special days they should leave one door open!!! Neshi Chabad should create a shul… Read more »
מוכרח להיות פתוח 24 שעות אנא לא לזרוק חול כאלו שהשלוחה רצה מקום לשון לא ולא, היא רצתה ליכנס ולהתפלל כמו חנה בההפטרה של ראש השנה לסגור החשמל עלינו זה מסוכן לסגור השירותים והדלתות זה מה שמסוכן אם יש כ”כ הרבה מקומות (חנויות וכיו”ב) שפתוחים 24 שעות צריכים כ”ש וק”ו להוסיף בקדושה ולהשאיר הביהכנ”ס פתוח 24 שעות מי לוקח האחריות אם יולדת בדרך ללדת רוצה להתפלל ולבקש מהקב”ה בהמקום הקדוש בית משיח הביהכנ”ס של הרבי ושח”ו יהא סגור 770 צריך להיות פתוח ללמוד ולהתפלל ולעשות מצוות ומעשים טובים כל שעות היום גם עזרת נשים ובאם צריכים שומרת יש מספיק כסף… Read more »
where is there a shul serving lounge purposes It s a shul . to davven…say thiliim and go home……U want coffee and a place to gab…..build a lounge….a cafe… whatever…..this is a SHUL
I believe that although there is beauty in the simplicity of 770, there is no reason why we cannot make it much more decent and dignified to walk into. Bathrooms should be spruced up, kept constantly cleaned, and if food is brought in (policy should be decided on that), it should be made clear that whoever brings it in, has the responsibility to clean it up (and cleaning crew should clean any left out food after 1/2 hour) It is our Mikdash Me’at. And like someone mentioned here, the Bais Hamikdosh had guards — unfortunately, in today’s day and age,… Read more »
Especially on the Kingston side! If chas v’sholom there was a need to get out quickly, it would be impossible.
As the Rebbe told someone who asked about putting bars on their windows- he said that they should install the bars, but they shouldn’t need them.
We trust in Hashem to keep us safe, but Hashem wants us to take reasonable precautions.
Well the Gaboyim charge $400.00 a seat Tishray so they can’t claim there’s a lack of funds. They also charge for lickers that’s probably another $100,000. Every Aliya in the main Minyan is sold for BIG BUCKS and Shabos Brayshis they sell another million dollars worth of Kibudim. The women’s section should be opened late and look really nice. There is no excuses!!!
we need some salutions for the homeless ppl but other wise: 1 there should be water fountains and normal bathrooms in the ladies section(especially tishrei ) 2 if a shlucha is there it might be her idea of unwinding, let her be there for a little 3 if she is there and they want to lock up, why cant locking up wait a few minutes? 4 what if she has no children? what if she has no place to stay? yes this is not the place for a homeless shelter so she wont stay there. 770 is meant to be… Read more »
yes of course thank you to chaya Lang and Devora Chazanow for really working and trying However they are not there 24/7 And I cannot even tell you how many times i come to 770 for mincha ( not in middle of night) and theres empty coffee cups and full coffee cups ,plates with food….cookies etc. strewn all over…..Disgusting and you want to bring more food there….It is a shul …..NOt a cafe…btw if 770 had the money Abba Refson raises maybe they could do something….You… when was the last time you gave a huge donation to 770 talking and… Read more »
Women’s Shul E.P. side used to be open till at least 11:00pm. Now it closes earlier. Restroom lights are turned off at least an hour before the Shul closes. Why? Lights on the Shul are turned off about an hour before the doors are locked, even if there is a farbregen going on downstairs. Lights off pose a safety hazard. Imagine the chaos of a dozen or more women cv”s having to evacuate through the narrow twisting pathways in the dark! Lights off also make it easier for someone to hide and steal but worse when the women are not… Read more »
Not to mention how they play picaboo with the doors close them open them , the cleaners don’t clean and it became like an old shelter home horrible just horrible!!!!
That’s exactly the problem. There was no need to close
as it was always LEBEDIG with decent people.
We need the REBBE’S TIMES NOW!
it is a rowdy place, we need some referees, or special guards; I have seen pushka thieves, aggressive homeless, aggressive shnorrers. but, as far as this article goes, you cannot compare a coffee house to 770, really pretty lame logic, there are also tens of thousands of 24 hour trief restaraunts, etc., etc., what does one have to do with the other??? 770 being 24 hour place is a function of having a budget, willing donors, and management – it is possible, but very high maintenance for a few people who apparently per comments above, arguably should be in bed… Read more »
Ban matches and there will be no fires
Don’t give your children a bath and there will be no accidents lock 770 and there will be no attacks
There is a solution how to do it right
AND IT’S NOT BY LOCKING THE DOORS
Yes Tzivia I too am amazed when I come daven on a weekday or Shabbos morning that the Seforim are so organized ! And I agree that the women who take on the thankless and complicated job of overseeing the ‘housekeeping’ deserve as much support and encouragement as possible.
Chocolatte is a relatively small shop; the Ohel – people don’t just wander off the street into…
770 is a Chabad House, a huge shul for the public in a destination spot and in a busy area.
You cannot compare one to the other.
How to maintain 770 is another discussion.
Return 770 to its Rightful owners: Agudas Chasidei Chabad (as is written on top of the door, and was won on 5 teves). If you elect people who kick out the owners of the place how on earth would you expect them to run it ?!?!
look whos talking!! this woman finds a need to publicly air her gripes about 770 not being open at night. she obviously isnt here often and clieless about chesed that goes on in 77o for hours on end!! 770 is a beis mikdash meat and not a homeless shelter! even cohanim gedolim couldnt enter kodesh hakedoshimat all hours!! its for our own safety that it closes at night! and besides late at night women should be at home!! also is your home open 24 hours a day???
I too am a woman who agrees that the bathrooms in the womens section are dismal, etc. but at the same time I also see that when people come from overseas they treat the womens section of the shul like a city dump. with no regard for it being a shul. they will drop food wrappings all over etc. regarding this “shluchas” complaint, it is totally irresponsible on her part to come to New York (I don’t care if it was the convention or whatever) without making an arrangement for where she will stay. 770 is NOT a hotel nor… Read more »
Gabaim are in no win situation. They keep it open, they have liability. They close it, they get criticised. Bigger problem here, shlucha probably had no bed for the night.c
…or they could build a hotel and charge serious money even. We could call it aishel too. I bet we could fundraise the whole thing…
Women could stay up as long as they like as long as they pay!
It was a sad realization, but if that’s how they keep it safe and clean I assumed it’s not too bad
to all those who believe that woman should be at home, because “that is there duty” is just another form of the perverse institutionalization of “frumkeit”. It’s appalling to see that there are people that sincerely believe that a woman’s sole responsibility is to be in the home (I.E cooking, cleaning, chinuch, putting the kids to bed..etc..). This is
Maybe crown heights needs to build a large hotel to accomodate guests?
Interesting that Chocolatte doesn’t have safety issues despite being open 24/7. The Ohel has also apparently figured out how to ensure the safety of visitors no matter what time they come. Locking the doors is a copout.
want more attacks???
I agree with #35 ,everytime i come to 770 the cleaners are always hanging out in that closet,instead of cleaning,it’s a disgrace,let’s put our energy’s into making sure 770 our makom kodosh is kept clean!
come home to the Kotel, always opened, always welcoming, anytime, a no-brainer.
In the Rebbes times 770 was opened 24/7
Would the Rebbe have wanted 770 to be closed for any length of time
Thank you for posting
Crown heights is the ONLY place u see women and girls walking alone in the middle of the night. It was shocking to me 20 years ago and even more shocking that over the years so many terrible things going on and they still don’t learn.
A Jewish girl/ women belongs at home at night ( btw I’m a women myself) .. safe and secure and in comfort fitting to a bas Yisroel!
I want to thank the women gabboyim (who work with out thanks, pay or acknowledgement, and with a low budget). Thank you! it is such a pleasure to walk in to Shul every morning. The shul is clean, seforim are all put away, You can easily find a siddur and tehillim in a multitude of different types and languages. Your staff is considerate and pleasant. The facilitates are always clean. I know your job is very difficult because you have many different groups that use the shul and sometimes some very challenging people who you don’t want to exclude. I… Read more »
And the custodians sit in their closet all day and do barely any cleaning. The closet became a hangout and they don’t do their jobs.
Hopefully this will get to the eyes of the person who is locking up the womens part of 770 every night!
I come early morning every weekday morning, I am a man, it is very messy, the homeless are often aggressive too; it is very not nice. there should be an article suggesting making 770 a nicer place, which I think would start with paying for guards, shoftim v’shotrim. but this is not a complaint, rather, there needs to be management, a budget, etc. I am sure it is too complicated of a political process to do things normal and right, but I think the focus of this article is not right, as the first priority, I would think, is to… Read more »
When the men’s section was locked also at night.
Some shluchim and ladies can only get some Time off late in the night, this is when they’re finally get sometime for themselves! You know why?they’re busy taking care of people like you!so please don’t judge her!
I have a good idea! Why don’t we start out thanking Chaya Lang and Dvorah Chazanow who volunteer their time and try to make770 Womans section better?
Hahahaha on point 👌
BH
BSD
I told my rebbitzin wife to come with me…I’m making a place for you downstairs with a mechitza…and I did…tough
Chocolatte should start giving shiurim
Excuse me for saying this but a woman, lady should not be spending nights in a shul. She can daven, learn and be spiritual in her home. make that her Mikdash Me’at. Where does it say a woman should be like a man? And regarding safety, a woman should not be walking around at night. Also in the shulchan aruch regarding the treatment of a shul, one is not supposed to eat there. How many times have women walked into 770 on a Shabbos and seen the mess left over from food being eaten there. it is total disrespect to… Read more »
And why have the locked the middle door lately??
It is a serious Fire Hazard !
There’s all this endless infighting between the people who hang there and the people in charge of various functions there. And their strong-arm solution is…
Lock up key entry points.
Create a fire hazard and inconvenience for all who want to come to 770 in peace.
Such a pathetic situation.
There’s nobody to talk to
Nobody home
Just people carrying out vendettas.
Even the chabad house in California the rebbe wanted it should be open 24/7 so for shure 770 where people come from all over the world at all hours
And if someone wants to daven at any time, who has the right to close the shul?
Aba refson should teach you how it CAN be done
So if you don’t know how step down and let those that know how to run the rebbes shul as he wants
Dear Shlucha, the women’s section is open for so many hours, I was wondering when it DOES close. Maybe u were Kingston side? If not, the Ohel being open at night is the exception not the rule. I wouldn’t have expected to find a shul open in the middle of the night. You have your siddur and Hashem hears your prayers wherever you are.
hope 770 will be cleaned up so women have the same rights as men until then I will save my hard earned money and will not visit NYC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your comment should read “770 SHOULD NOT BE a homeless shelter”. Remember the EDP whom the police shot & killed last year? All sorts of crazies can wander in.
Frankly I too don’t know why any woman would want to be in 770 at night, but #3 – this was a visiting Shlucha. This is how she recharges for her difficult tasks. I agree with the op-ed. 770 is b’gashmius disgusting for women.
770 has (sadly) become a homeless shelter. A dangerous place for women at night.
Their is a design for a expansion of 770 and money to pay for it
It is also not a homeless shelter. It is open late enough for men and women to daven, learn etc a shul is not a coffee bar. For those in need there are hachnosas orchim places and plenty fams who share their food and space. And pray tell who should pay the electric bills and snack bar foods. Sleep at night! The day has enough hours for all the other things. Shluchos and guests always welcome but do be respectful What happens in that shluchas home. Do strangers get to come and Rome all night? Just asking…. A rested woman… Read more »
The woman in question was a visiting shlucha, meaning she doesn’t have a home in Crown Heights. And this isn’t Saudi Arabia that women need your permission to go wherever they want to.
Really well written and makes a strong point.
I will just add my 2 cents worth.
I’m gonna guess that there is a reason, unfortunately, why they lock up the women’s section at night and it has to do with a) the safety of women and b) keeping the place from turning into an ad hoc homeless shelter.
Coffee shop and not a shul? That is strange. Good point.
Ladies shul as well was always open. Due to present
circumstances it has to be locked at certain hours. Daytime needs supervision as well as there are elements who take advantage of the welcoming atmosphere for the wrong reasons. May we merit the Ultimate Geulah Immediately!
Take a look at who applies for Vaad of 770 each year, and you’ll understand why this all happens. Nuff said.
Chaim the expert on where “women belong”
A) did you not read that this was a visiting Shlucha.
B) you sound like a chauvinist loser, get your head out of sand
We all remember the horrific story of the young israeli girl who visited ch for tishrai and got violated late at night while sleeping in 770. One of the easiest tactics that the yetzer hara uses is to convince the ‘victim’ that they’re doing a mitzva while they’re actually running into sin. Of course, this women didn’t sin, but the point is clear. They lock 770 for the safety of the jewish women.
Additionally women should take care of their families at night.
shouldnt you be more concerned a shlucha or anyone in general didnt have a place to sleep so she went to 770 then the ohel to sit out all night? Im concerned she thought it was a good idea to begin with?
who is willing in taking responsibility for a woman’s section to be left open at night!!!!! many worse things can happen there then on the mens side etc
On the rest of the stuff like water fountain etc. agreed
a shul has set times to daven
a beis medrash also does, BUT will be have a bit of longer hours
the mens side is ALSO(when they can) locked and lights shut off at night
but we all stand for womans rights and agree with you 100%
go to sleep
Why do all complaints have to be on the internet? Maybe sending a nice letter to the gaboim would accomplish more.
770 needs someone like Aba Refson at the ohel.
Aba does a great job with keeping the place clean, and sending out all the “Shnarers” who make the place look so bad.
770 is not a homeless shelter.
They need to hire someone full time.
Women belong at home at night not in 770.
The lights close for men also.
770 has (sadly) become a homeless shelter. A dangerous place for women at night.