By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Shea Hecht, a veteran activist in the Crown Heights Jewish community, said the recent spike in attacks against Jews in the Brooklyn neighborhood is the result of… marijuana.
In an interview with Hamodia, the Chairman of the NCFJE organization said that he believes the problem can be traced back to 2014 when then-Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson stopped prosecuting low-level marijuana offenses.
“I am afraid to say it, but it seems to be the truth: that with the availability of marijuana and the rise of its usage, there has also been a rise in crime,” said Rabbi Hecht.
“There are certain drugs that sedate the user. But it seems that using marijuana increases a user’s chutzpah, and they may be doing things that they would not be doing if they weren’t using.”
Though he believes patrols can be increased further, Rabbi Hecht generally spoke highly of the police response. “But personally,” he says, “I think it’s time for some type of town-hall meeting with the mayor’s office.”
Rabbi Hecht believes that when discussing the issue with authorities, the Jewish community should focus generally on the increase of crime in the neighborhood, rather than pushing law enforcement on the hate crime issue per se, because it is “too early to say whether it is specifically a hate-crime issue.”
“My message to City Hall is give us more police; my message to the community is to let the police do their job.”
Others, including Brooklyn’s chief law-enforcement officer, make it clear that the recent spike in crime –11 in the past month alone– is driven by hatred.
Crime statistics released by the NYPD Tuesday show a significant increase in hate crimes in New York City, even while overall crime has dropped. More hate crimes were anti-Semitic – 14 out of 19 last year, 28 out of 42 in 2019 – than against all other groups combined.
“This issue of hate crimes has creeped back into our communities, and it’s something that as a District Attorney I’m committed to stamping out,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said Sunday, in an interview on 770 WABC.
In December, Gonzalez created a new Hate Crimes Bureau; it had previously been a unit in the Civil Rights Bureau. Gonzalez vowed in the radio interview Sunday that his office would “vigorously prosecute” hate-crimes cases.
“We’re going to hold people accountable,” said the DA. “We’re going to make sure that these cases result in very stiff penalties for anyone who commits a hate crime because these crimes are horrendous. They not only impact a person who’s been assaulted, but they impact a whole community. They create fear in an entire community.”
Marijuana is a racist word. Cannabis heals 100s of conditions and is one of the greatest things to put into the organism, if organic and not smoked. This guy is tripping na sspwaking loshon hora about the most healing substance in the world. The spike in violence is because Jews think they are better than the rest and do not show love to their beautiful black neighbors that are just distant cousins. I send love and with good morning and good evening to everyone in the street. This guy is just as off as a lot of racist yidden out… Read more »
the police department the government loves the crime. Why? ( sounds stupid or crazy?) because if they really hated it they would do something powerful against it. let’s say the seven noahide laws let’s say much tougher laws. America is a Christian Nation they preach love your neighbor as yourself if they really loved the population the laws will be extremely severe and proportion with his so-called love. I’ve spoken to hundreds of Blacks, Hispanics and Whites in Crown Heights about the noahide laws. I went into a number of local schools, primary and secondary schools and spoke to the… Read more »
I have been using edibles for several years for extreme insomnia. The only ones I want to attach are judgemental NY Lubavitchers. My mind is sharp enough to leave
The real problem of smoking marijuana is not only a problem in the black community but only WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY how many times I pass “frum yidden” on Kingston with a strong scent of marijuana. Bochurim would out smoke any black guy any day, walk into any yeshiva dorm, youll find at least half of the boys smoking weed. This problem is happening under your own nose and no action has been taken against this. PLEASE RABBI HECHT STOP ALL THE POLITICAL BIG TALK, would have said such a ridiculous statement over 20 years ago by the riots??? I really… Read more »
to blame their blatant hatred of Jews on marijuana! Stop excusing hate crimes! The marijuana and the violence are two separate issues that need to be addressed. Violence and hate should be dealt with as priority.
Shea are you serious????????
I live in Monsey and 50% of Chabadniks smoke weed.
#48 is spot on….
The violence comes from us not saying hello to people and thinking we own the place.
Shea…you’re done…retire.
Good Shabbos.
If any of ya’ll did any actual research on weed, you’d know that that’s all completely false and doesn’t make any sense
Everyone stop blasting Shea Hecht! He is a great individual who helped tons of hidden and has a great perspective on human relations. AND it’s ikvos dimishicha! We need achdus! Maybe the reason for all the crime is because of the friction there is in our community, would the Rebbe be happy with the way we treat or think about one another???! We’re coming from mattan Torah, where we were bilaiv echad keish echad. And as is says in today’s rambam (perek echad) “May He Who causes His name to rest in this house, cause love, brotherhood, peace and friendship,… Read more »
Come on guys! Are you reallt saying this to rabbi hecht? He puts so much work and effort into our crown heights community. Not even just our community. He toils every day to make this world a better place. You guys just give me a break. You are the ones that don’t know what you are talking about! Do you guys really think that rabbi hecht doesnt know what he is talking about? Trust me, he knows A LOT MORE than you think he knows.
I actually think Rabbi Hecht has a strong point. We do as all of us agree have a drug problem in our community/sadly. That’s what we should address not rabbi bashing! Let’s discuss the issues. Sounds like some of you have personal stuff against the rabbi not concerned with the issues!
An admirer from Williamsburg
Maybe this is early Purim shtick?
It’s the only rational explanation, to this op ed.
Why are the streets of crown heights allowing girls to dress not a hundred percent cent tznius. Besides Shmira for crimes,a modesty squad is needed to keep the youth in line. Why can other frum communities enforce tzneus. Enough is enough. You want to greet mosshiach with leggings and short skirts. Feh
How come they are only hitting Jews must be also part of marijuana that they only want to hit Jews right 🙄
But not marijuana, cocaine makes more sense, you’re naming the wrong drug.
Easier to blame Marijuana than to acknowledge that maintaining a relatively racist separatist community is hard.
It’s embarrassing that this guy is publicly representing Lubavitch making such dangerous, reckless, delusional comments to a newspaper on behalf of all of us in the community. He should be forced to step down from his position as community activist. It says that right before Moshiach comes, erev rav rabbis will be leading the jews. He should be put out to pasture along with the guy from the big rich modern orthodox shul in Boca Raton who caused an outrage a year or two ago when he invited in and paid a large speaking fee to a preacher from a… Read more »
Michael Savage who says he is an expert on herbs and other consumable plants, has said on his radio show, that not only does Marijuana cause such behavior, but that in India the Thuggies used to get high as a precursor to hype them up for their violent attacks that they used to carry out.
If you think you know more about it then Savage, you are free to call his radio show and argue with him.
There is an opiate epidemic in our communities. You’re still spreading 1960s propaganda.
This is so embarrassing.
Then why aren’t all the bochurim and girls that are smoking up going around and punching black guys on the street? It has absolutely nothing to do with that and saying that is removing any sort of urgency surrounding the rise in recent hate crimes. (This all aside from the fact that he clearly has no idea what weed leads people to do, because I’ll tell you this, it certainly doesn’t make people more volatile.)
Talk about being uninformed.
B
what he said doesnt even make sense. that is not the nature of marijuana. How much information does he have on this issue, and to say what he said…….doesnt make sense.
Pot does not increase agressive behavior either. This is embarassing.
Read the book blitzed.. May be enlightening
He couldn’t be more out of touch…
Bochurim smoke way more ad he turns a blind eye overtime.
you have something hear do not give up
Who made him an expert? He thinks he is but he is not. What a joke.
Reb Shea says that marijuana availability and use has increased since 2014 since the city “stopped prosecuting low-level marijuana offenses”. To my knowledge this is simply false, and marijuana availability and use in the city has not significantly increased in the past few years. Please cite studies or statistics to support this claim, otherwise it is pure conjecture.
Drugs only in Crown Heights? There’s drugs all over yet this level of consistent historical aggression is is unheard of even in other religious communities. It’s painful to see the truth being diluted. Only when we can look the truth in the eye and put the blame squarely on the individuals and communities that perpetrate and encourage these atrocities, can we find a solution.
The fact that our jewish community deals with insecurity leaves room for other ehtnic groups to bully us. Marijuana has been used as vacation drug to chill after most likely dropping out of yeshiva. Marijuana can be used as an antidepressant or in many cases cause some one to stay in a state of depression. We are only humans after all and may be well all want that natural high. I disagree to agree that nothing fixated to standstill point. Yes, marijuana may not be the most attractive to some but G-D planted it. I could come up with many… Read more »
So you do have to ask why things are now so different. I still don’t agree about the pot. Most likely crime is up because criminals think they can get away with it under diblasio. But we will have lots of photoops so everything will be ok, right?
Perhaps he should have some marijuana and then come back and see what he has to say then….
Too many things have shifted and have been in flux for a simple correlation the pinpointed as the causation of this disgusting phenomenon
What has happened to this world.
Really????
Oh I’m sorry im so high k so weed makes a person very relaxed when I take a few hits I can barely stand up never mind punch people 😂
These are our Bochurim that trade and smoke, unfortunately Crown Height become a place you can get drugs easily.
When one lives a sheltered life, they are ignorant. Marijuana is definitely not the cause.
Be kind to anyone you come across. It may seen fair to be quick to judge someone based on their looks and small actions.
Putting on a smile or saying a warm goodnight to a fellow neighborhood man could have an effect on their views.
Stop walking around like you own this town.
You’re actions may prevent another misconduct in this community.
Be true be you.
Good luck people
We need to teach each other about jewdisn we need to stop seeing The words of god as any different. Most of You have forgot your purpose forgotten why your hear. We’re hear to spread the spark of moshiach so it permiats the world. When every Jew starts to bring moshiach into the world by speaking about it freely bezrat hashem by taking apon them selves to spread the awernace that it’s the final mission. I’m knot telling you to drop everything and spend everymoment speaking about mosiach I’m telling you carry on your lives and by bring moshiach into… Read more »
To all of you who do not agree with this article. Smoking pot causes a spike in anger. The more you smoke, the angries you will be. Here’s a spitbit of an article from NY Times Best Selling Author Malcolm Gladwell. “For example, in a 2013 paper in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, researchers looked at the results of a survey of more than twelve thousand American high-school students. The authors assumed that alcohol use among students would be a predictor of violent behavior, and that marijuana use would predict the opposite. In fact, those who used only marijuana were… Read more »
I didn’t know marijuana causes people to abuse Jews
There seems to be a consensus here. Are you really in touch with what’s happening here and our needs? You ought to be when you represent us.
If anything, smoking weed should be encouraged 😂 they are smoking crack and drinking, rhats what makes them aggressive.
A dispensary in Crown Heights would be a cash heavy business. And if this is a big enough issue for rabbi hecht to address there must be a ton of usage in the CH. More so than any other area in the great tristate area. Sounds like a great business
Please contact the NYCPD Gang unit and have them address the extent of gang related crime in CH. I attended a lecture by them where they explain the various gangs, peer pressure, signs in the community such as each group wears certain sneakers, clothes colors, use specific hand symbols, etc. The more aware we aware of what to look for, we can report to the police and try to move the gangs out of CH.
That explains it. So we can’t really blame those who attack. We need to blame the Marijuana… lol
The hate crimes are down because of marijuana. Now regarding all the crack houses and heroin sales north of eastern parkway…. different issue. Maybe the Jews can do something to help with the real deug problem
Have you actually smoked pot. It just doesn’t do that.
If Rabbi Hecht blames marijuana for this, I am really questioning his credibility!!
#4 What a Chutzpa!!! Where are your manners
#9 Dont bring the nazi’s yemach shemam to this story!!!
CHILL!!! Stop being so Negative!!! We need Ahavas chinam not Sinas chinam!!!!
If you can bring a point of reference if how you know that Marijuana is directly causing more violence it can be discussed, to come up with a conclusion like this is preposterous.
Did you ever consider the fact the alot of black majority areas like in East Flatbush are being bought out by jews and now they can blame their issues on the “jewish slumlord”.
Shea I expected more common sense from you
Ever heard of a Peace Pipe? Do you know what was in it? Research maryjuana and its effects! It’s not violence and chutzpah. It might be dulling and quieting, but it’s nothing to be so up tight about. I stopped several black people on Kingston Avenue just to speak with them and they’ve said that not in 20 or 30 years had anyone of the Jewish community ever spoken to them like that on the street. They lived all their lives in CH and not a Jew spoke with them. And the Rebbe said they’re ready for Moshiach – obviously… Read more »
I don’t appreciate collive posting a satire article for such a serious situation.
so smoking up makes one attack only jews ?!
THE LAST THING WE NEED IS ANOTHER APOLOGIST , ESPECIALLY ONE OF OUR OWN. THERE ARE ENOUGH LIBERALS OUT THERE THAT ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY THE NEFARIOUS ACTIONS OF THESE PERPETRATORS. ONE WOULD TEND TO THINK THAT SOMEONE THAT IS ALLEGEDLY FAMILIAR WITH DRUG USE AND IT’S EFFECTS WOULD KNOW THAT USE OF MARIJUANA HAS MORE OF A CALMING EFFECT RATHER THAN A CATALYST FOR HATE, OR IS THIS JUST A PLOY TO SECURE MORE FUNDING FOR DRUG PROGRAMS THAT GO INTO THE COFFERS OF A FAMILY RUN ORGANIZATION, OR TO FURTHER THE CHANCE FOR MORE PHOTO-OPS ? INSTEAD OF PANDERING… Read more »
Will tell you that it relaxes you
Marijuana doesn’t cause violence and it certainly doesn’t cause antisemitism. This claim doesn’t deserve any recognition and only distracts from the real issue: widespread antisemitism in the black and progressive communities.
It’s Rabbi Hecht’s opinion.
In my opinion he’s totally wrong on this one, although I do respect him and all his efforts.
This is a situation where thugs are getting away with violence and a deterrent must be created before someone gets killed c’v
The activist definetly hasn’t smoked marijuana before, nor has he done enough research
Where in the goyishe community do you read of such ongoing outrage???
Do they go round pushing & attacking goyim ??? Get real
And a lot of antisemitism comes from delusional views about Jews controlling the world d
The criminals that were arrested have to be very deeply investigated and Cross-examined to find out Who Is Really Behind All The Crimes – Who is Sending them, and who is directing them what when and Howe to commit the crimes. And than we will learn the reality what is going on here for real.
we should sponsor weed for them keep them happy and locked to their couches!
Most people dont know this, but the 911 hijackers were high! Hence the word “hi” in hijackers.
Thank you shea Hecht
Wrong wrong wrong. Nazis didn’t smoke pot.
i’m wondering what Shea hecht is smoking!?
Someone right away get on the phone to Netanyahu and tell him Shea Hecht solved all of Israel’s problems. There’s no need for an iron dome. Hamas and Hizbullah and Iran are not trying to kill the Jews. It’s marijuana. Just get them some Marijuana counseling. The people in sederot can now sleep well at night thanks to this brilliance.
No, marijuana won’t turn a good person into someone who wants violence.
It will, often, turn someone paranoid and that will make them violent.
It can also mess with the brains and actions of a not so good person.
Any counselor can tell you this.
I don’t know Rabbi Hecht well and don’t have a bone in this fight, but his comments would/could be stated by any drug counselor and are not some kind of chidush.
If it’s true Hecht is saying this is about the attacks on jews are about blacks smoking marijuana and these are not hate crimes, it’s probably the most moronic and disturbing response to a serious problem I’ve heard in my life. This guy Hecht should resign his position as a ‘community activist’ immediately. Maybe he should go work for CNN or al Jazeera because he’s clearly delusional about reality. He should not be speaking publicly representing Lubavitch and being interviewed by news media etc on behalf of the community. Was the shooting in Pittsburgh and when the black guy came… Read more »
Guess he had an afternoon without the opportunity of another photo op. needed to do something to look good thus writing this post. Lol.
Pot subdues one…not increasing one’s energy level to commit crime.
Hard Drugs on the other hand, such as heroine, crack, etc, raises one’s energy level & alters one’s brain function to one of total lack of control.
Sorry Rabbi Hecht, I totally disagree with your comments. My suggestion is to first speak to a Psychiatrist who specializes in this area. Rabbi Dr. Avraham Twerski would be a good choice from whom to seek advice.
Anyone can be Anti-Semitic or commit a Hate Crime…regardless of his/her race, colour, or nationality.
Preposterous, nice try though!
You couldn’t have said it better. Rabbi shea Hecht, wants to be to justify these sick peoples actions by giving an excuse. Rabbi Shea Hecht couldn’t have said a better excuse. Marijuana? Really? So Antisemitsm is a hoax?
I’m sorry but this article makes absolutely no sense ! I’m very surprised with rabbi Hecht
If our mezuzos where kosher we could understand to worry about the tznius, the lack of tznius is angering the goyim
and the nazis build the death camp bc they were hi…
I don’t appreciate collive posting a satire article for such a serious situation.
Let’s be real….. these guys want nothing more than a little action, the drug trade in crown heights is fueled by our own community not the people that have no money to spend. This article is absolutely ridiculous. Crack down on drugs and see where the arrests end up, it’ll be our bochurim not these teenagers. Unfortunately the non-Jewish crown heights community has nothing to occupy their time with other than loitering and getting in trouble. All weed ever did was make the guy go for a snack run.
its bad enough that he made such stupid remarks and put more yidden in danger, why put it on this site unless he needs to see every1 commiting how much damage this can bring
Let me tell you that if someone hates and they drink the hate shows more doesnt mean there isnt hate in our communities and doesnt mean the act wasnt a hate crime so whether with marijana or without its a hate crime. What if they were not haters and they took marijana they might be hugging every yid they see. is that a crime???
I think he must me smoking some himself.
The guy really seems to know his stuff, must be from all of his experience in field.
What Rabbi Shea Hecht is saying that the crimes are due to the high usage of marijauna these days makes a lot of sense. I still think that “sheEisav soneh l’Yaacov” and we are in the birthpangs of Moshiach, which during that time Yibola hamuves lunetzach, death and all bad will be swallowed up. So the reshaim are clinging in their last threads and trying all they can to hurt the yidden. We are so near Moshiach, may he reveal himself NOW!!
They are doing this crime out of hate ,and to be part of gangs .
They need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law