Dear COLlive and its readers,
Following that email you got last week about the Jewish ladies being chased by thugs in Crown Heights, I would like to share an incident that happened today.
At around 9:30 am this morning, an 8 year-old Jewish girl was on her way to school, walking on Troy Avenue between Lefferts Avenue and East New York.
A vehicle soon pulled up following her with the driver – an African American male – trying to lure her in get into the car.
How do I know all this? Because, Boruch Hashem, the girl was clever enough to run away from him and even smarter by coming to school and reporting about the incident to her Morah.
Police was immediately contacted to gather the information, and an official complaint is being filed; the police told the school they are very concerned.
A situation like this can get very ugly very fast.
Another girl was approached the same way about a week ago, and in Boro Park there were reportedly a few cases which ended bad, rachamana litzlan.
We must warn all parents of the dangers of sending children alone to school or anywhere.
Kids should walk in groups or with an adult and should be alerted about speaking to strangers (even Jews I would add).
The headline -perhaps- could be debated.
The letter itself is DESCRIPTIVE & perfectly fine!
The paramount point: REREAD THE LAST LINE OF THE LETTER!
Are you stupid or what? what prejudice? try to describe a perpetrator you idiot without describing his nationality/race/color or any number of things! Get over it!!!
The headline -perhaps- could be debated.
The letter itself is DESCRIPTIVE & perfectly fine!
The paramount point: REREAD THE LAST LINE OF THE LETTER!
A bad man tried to lure a child into his car. If he was white would it have been less dangerous, less disturbing?!
Your prejudice makes your complaint suspect!
you cannot blame the schools although they should educate the kids about strangers as well. Parents need to remember that if you want to do something right then better to do it yourself. don’t leave your kids life at risk beacuse you are waiting for the school to start a “stranger danger” program. also #9…. there probably was a “4” but it got censored (thank G-d for that) lets not forget folks that we do not live in the safest neighborhood. stay alert for your protection and the protection of others. speaking of which, does any one else think that… Read more »
We should be politically correct to ALL racist. and Teach our children that anyone can hurt you, no matter the colour. Plus you could be offending other Jews, because there are beautiful jews of all colours and by not being “politically correct” you create an atmosphere not friendly towards other Jews. So yes, lets have ahavas yisroel, and love for our neighbours too. On the article, a lot of parents get too comfortable, or think their child can handle certain situations or know what to do, but we all need to do our parts as parents to make sure our… Read more »
it’s like oh my gosh
As a mother and grandmother and great grandmother (though I’m not ancient) I NEVER allowed my children at such a young age to walk to school by themselves, or anywhere for that matter. The mothers of today take so many liberties with their childrens safety, you’d think they grow them on trees… and yes, I raised a large family as well K”H. but to me my children were (and still are) precious, not something I would chance to the sickos that roam our streets. YOU mothers are to blame! YOU DON’T PLAY WITH YOUR CHILDREN’S LIVES BY LETTING THEM GO… Read more »
Do you people really think he was targeting a Jewish girl? I think maybe the pervert was targeting ANY girl walking alone.
At last week’s hatzola visit to bnos menachem, the hatzola member spoke alot about stranger danger:
not wearing clothing labeled with names,
never going with someone who claims to be a friend of “your mommy and tatty”,
being wary of imposters even in shul or school,
never taking shortcuts or abandoned paths in the country, etc.
That’s a big part of summer safety!
Talk to your kids openly and often to drive the point home!
Unfortunately, the threat is real!
to all ages !
When they get policemen to come down to speak to the children it leaves a greater impact !
Thank you !
to have Police constantly scouring their beats…. the resources and manpower are there… NY Police have to get serious or all hell will break loose.
this is a lession for us that hashem is always helping us and watching us
Assembly with police officer explaining what to do…
Quite right. Some people are smug, self-satisfied, & self-righteous. But 8 years old IS too young to walk ON HER OWN.
As for being PC…what’s all this polite garbage about “African-American” male??? You really think we need to be politically correct about these creeps??? Feh! No wonder we’re all falling apart. G-d forbid WE are nice to each other, but make very sure you don’t offend the “African-Americans”!
Your English is no better than that of the article writer.
thank you very much self apppointed mussar giver
I always love it when the sanctimonious types come along and challenge the spelling and grammatical errors in COL. But your mathematical inadequecies – skipping from 3 to 5 gave me a laugh to last the whole day.
No offence of course. It’s just stone and glass houses that come to mind. Or is that black teapot and kettle?
Under Pressure by Carl Honore. It’s about $10 on Amazon.
It will put YOUR life and the lives of your CHILDREN at ease.
The perps are all around us and as I tell my kids… they are black, white, purple- color doesn’t matter. They just want to hurt little kids. If someone tries to talk to you run the opposite way into a crowded place. Never run home and never tell them where you are going. This is not new- someone tried to kidnap me as a young girl over 25 years ago in a safe suburban community- I was right outside my house getting the mail. They tried to lure me into their car. I screamed and ran into the house. Kids… Read more »
What happened to the good old school buses?? They are there for a reason, so why not use them?? To #1, why are you driving your son to school when he can go on the bus??
Yay for you that you are able to drive your son to school. Not every one can. Please don’t be so judgemental. We all do things that on hindsight we wish we wouldn’t have, but sometimes things are very hectic and we don’t always stop to analyze and think them through.
I know people are going to start jumping down my throat and make nasty comments, but just sit and think of things you do that some of us wouldn’t!
Perhaps squads of high school students could be assigned to each block to walk the children to the various neighborhood schools. If necessary, The H.S. students could be given permission from their hanhalos to come to school a little later than usual (just until the end of this school year) in order to do this.I’m sure the parents of these little kinderlach would love to,but truly cannot walk a familyful of children to their different schools every morning;a good many of them don’t have access to cars either…
to number one – firstly you should probably be walking him to school every morning. Better for you – better for him and better for the environment!!! 2nd – to COL live – this letter is so poorly written, the words are a jumble and are extremely poor english. 3 – ALL kids should ALWAYS be warned about strangers and even about non-strangers doing inappropriate things.Its usually the uncles, friends, cousins, neighbours that are the guilty party! when kids have knowledge – it empowers them. Don’t let your kids become victims!! talk to them and let them know that they… Read more »
smart kid. BH she ran away.
education is the most important part of being safe!
make sure kids know what to do if someone approaches them.
I would never let my third grader go alone to school, and he is 9. I drive him every morning.