by Chaim Gravitzer
I don’t want to turn this into a “bashing” session — that is not my intention. But I feel this must be said, or at the very least seriously considered: Our community is under siege, and the silence from our elected officials is not just disappointing — it is a betrayal.
For the second time in one week, violent agitators are planning to march into Crown Heights, waving the flags of terror and intimidation, aiming to bring fear to a peaceful Jewish neighborhood.
And what do we get from Mayor Eric Adams?
An attack on us, the victims — blaming the Jewish community for not allowing our homes, families, and children to be terrorized.
Hate has no place in New York City. pic.twitter.com/8wlliBFjMx
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 27, 2025
But even worse than the Mayor’s disgraceful betrayal is the deafening, shameful silence of the people who were elected to represent us:
State Senator Zellnor Myrie
Assemblyman Brian A. Cunningham
Council Member Crystal Hudson
Why are you silent? Where is your leadership when we need it most?
You were more than happy to show up for photo ops and election rallies. You campaigned for our votes, promised to serve us — and now, when real danger comes to our doorsteps, you are nowhere to be found.
And to the best of my knowledge:
No official permit has even been issued for this so-called “protest.”
Why are they allowed to block streets, obstruct traffic, and disrupt pedestrian movement without any consequence?
Where are the arrests for illegal gatherings? For obstruction? (If I am wrong, I invite you to correct me in the comments — but I believe the facts speak for themselves.)
Meanwhile, our community — peaceful, law-abiding, and proud — is left wondering: What are we supposed to do as Yidden?
The message from our Rebbe was clear: The Rebbe quoted from Bereishis Rabbah (65:20): “הַקֹּל קוֹל יַעֲקֹב וְהַיָּדַיִם יְדֵי עֵשָׂו.” When the ‘voice of Yaakov’ — meaning Torah study and davening — is strong and present among the Jewish people, then the ‘hands of Esav’ — symbolizing violence and oppression — cannot overpower them.”
The Rebbe once told Israeli journalist Geulah Cohen that if the bochurim and yungeleit would do what they are supposed to do — in Torah and mitzvos — then he (the Rebbe) would not need to speak about Israeli issues or politics at farbrengens.
That message is just as urgent today: We must strengthen ourselves in Torah, in davening, in achdus, and in visible pride in who we are.
We will not be intimidated. And we will not accept betrayal in silence.
Call and email your so-called “representatives” now. Demand action. Demand that they stand up for the Jewish community they were elected to protect.
Sen. Zellnor Myrie
Phone: (718) 284-4700
Email: [email protected]
Assemblymember Brian A. Cunningham
Phone: (718) 287-4436
Email: [email protected]
Council Member Crystal Hudson
Phone: (718) 260-9191
Email: [email protected]
Flood their phones. Fill their inboxes. Demand leadership. Demand protection. Demand accountability. Because if they won’t stand with us now — we will remember when it matters most.
Was disappointed to see Mayor Adam’s post.
Dangerous, masked, terrorist sympathizers are the ones who marched into our community.
Let’s not forget that!
הבה להרגך השכם והערב
הבאה
It’s הבא not הבאה.
If you’re going to correct someone at least be right lol
He was just saying it in the feminine term because the story above included a woman lol
correction.
most of them are men so it should be הבא 😃
the whole article was very confusing as what your point was, but once you said what the rebbe said, then you started making sense but if thats the message then why are we again flooding the senators email?
anyways the point is the same, every one should just live their lives as normal and pretend there’s not even a protest and then Sholom al Yisroel
he is saying, learn torah and daven and do hishtadlush like a Mentch, diplomatically
This op-ed’s reminder of the Rebbe’s teachings is powerful. In times of fear, our strength comes from Torah, prayer, and unity. Let’s focus on what we can control: supporting each other, deepening our faith, and showing the world our pride and resilience. No one can take that from us.
it does
For your voice of reason
Stop voting democrat and elect curtis sliwa for mayor.
Kaparos might be in danger with Sliwa’s animal rights.
I am on a lot of social media. And I am seeing the reaction to what happened. Because the two women were injured and that is plastered all over social media and the news there is little sympathy for the Jewish community. There was plenty of violence on the pro-Palestinian side but that isn’t being highlighted or show widely. I want to add what happened to those women shouldnt have happened and it’s a very bad look for our community that some members resorted to that behavior. I also think what some Jews are saying on social media isn’t helping… Read more »
If you’re going be guided by and live your life based on what is written on social media then you’re almost guaranteed to not live it properly in at least some ways
what you might want to consider that social media more often than not will be hating on the Jews no matter what
did you ask yourself for a moment why in the first place social media is erupting about these two women getting shoved, and not that these women and counterparts came to terrorize a community and scream how they want the Jews shoved into the sea
It doesn’t work to fight with the Yetzer Hara, you have to schlep him to the Bais Medrash. I’m not suggesting that people go to the protest, but would like to suggest that if the protesters c”v come to Crown Heights, that instead of fighting, we educate them regarding the Sheva Mitzvos Bnai Noach. If anyone would like cards, my husband Daniel will give them out today between 5 and 7 at 1533 President St. Send him a WhatsApp message at 6464645685. OK to publicize.
Or get them at tzach, multiple languages, all free of charge
305 Kingston Ave, downstairs
When our own community leaders side with a non jew (wheelchair incident recently) instead of their own, then all the non jews know they can get away with anything.
So to flood the phones, can be done. But at the end of the day – nothing. Yes they are horrified by what happened last Thursday night but results? Nothing. No protest, no demand this may not happen again, no nothing. But for a non jew all that protest?! What a hypocrite. It’s a joke to the non jews, a laughing joke.
Assemblymember Brian A. Cunningham
Phone: 718-771-3105
While I understand the fear and frustration expressed here, I worry that framing this as a betrayal by all our elected officials only deepens divides. We need to demand safety, yes, but also to seek dialogue and de-escalation. Let’s not paint every protester with the brush of violence, nor every official as indifferent. Crown Heights has a history of tension-let’s work together to break that cycle, not reinforce it.
every single protester that came, came for one thing, and that is to spew hatred, share the terrible thinsg that they would like to happen to the Jews and glorify people who murdered, tortured and violated Yidden
Not paint every poster with the brush of violence? Do you not understand the chant from the river to the sea? You sound so dumb
STAND UP and be Proud JEWS, we need to act as yiddin do, by following the Torah!
its all in our hands.
if we unite together – and care for one another: no one in the world would be able to stop us.
the only issue is when each one thinks of himself as an individual – i am living my life, my neighbor is living his life, and sometimes we end up meeting in shul…
that is the definition of golus – when each jew is a separate enttity.
when we overcome that challenge – and come to realize that we are one – then nobody in the world can get between us
Just spoke with C Hudson Office, and they said that we should call the 71st and 77th precinct community affairs – regarding these protests that do not have permits…
Call both because they blame the other precinct, and then you can tell them that you spoke to the other one already and they said to call them…
718-735-0527 71st
718-735-0634 77st
No person answers, but you can leave a message, which I did until I was cut off.
our representatives’ silence is deafening. When our community feels threatened, we expect those we elected to show up, speak out, and take action. We’re not asking for special treatment, just equal protection under the law. If our leaders won’t stand with us in times of crisis, why should we stand with them at the polls?
This is sick! This is what happens when you have so called community leaders who show up for themselves and what to look good and do nothing for their ppl.
The truth that we all knew has come out
Where are Shea Hecht and Yaakov Behrman? They work so hard from them to come to their dinners, but do they ask them to intercede on the community’s behalf?
Working behind the scenes. Who do you think liaises with NYPD? And City Hall?
Behrman I know is personally moving mountains behind the scenes. Sometimes in order to keep other avenues open, he needs to keep his mouth closed. Its just politics, but know that hes getting stuff done. Cant say the same for others.
When lehavdil a non Jew was hurt not so long ago, we got to hear from Yaakov Berman, Eli Cohen, Chanina sperlin, vaad hakohol
On record they went against the Jew which will make his sentence much worse, they took part of a rally ect.
It’s very nice that Berman put out a tweet last week, but what are they doing for us in a practical way ..
You’re wasting your time
They’re getting good personal favors
What do you want, that they should help another Jew?
How dare you assume as a given that those community leaders and activists engage in their communal activities to “get good personal favors” and are not interested in helping other Jews? It is simply a disgrace that you ungratefully denigrate well-meaning people and that you cannot understand how someone might just be good. Shame on you!
I would laugh if I can
Great job. I read your book too. Great writer 🙂
…”Well said!
Show up.
Mentshlich and calm, but like a proud Jew!
Let’s sing proud jewish songs, pesukim, am yisrael chai, show them WHO WE ARE
A light unto the nations
Let the contrast between us and them be clear as night and day…”
can everyone just chill
Unfortunately your statement of “Bc if they don’t stand with us now-we will remember when it matters most” means nothing bc the Jews community all over the 5 boroughs makes the same mistake time and time again. Eric Addams stood with Jews and called us brothers then went to the Muslim community and said the same thing as the Jews of the 5 boroughs didn’t flinch to hold him accountable and look at what’s happening today they are going to march into our community unharmed bc we voted in these politicians time for some new blood in our community.
Great writing. Love your book.
As an outsider, I see both sides. The right to protest is fundamental in America, but so is the right to feel safe in your own neighborhood. The city must ensure that demonstrations don’t cross the line into intimidation or illegality. Balance is possible-if only officials would enforce the rules fairly for everyone.
Why are illegal protests tolerated here? Try this in another neighborhood and see what happens.
We’re not threatened. They’re a bunch of losers who won’t do anything.
The cops show up in force whenever this happens and are usually very quick to act.
Our community members along with shomrim, shmira, and many adults and bochrim are well prepared and will greatly outnumber them.
Thank GD we have little to worry about.
We should be prepared but not scared.
Is the mayor supposed to ignore the horrors committed by some in our community against defenseless people. Regardless of their message, there is no excuse to attack woman in the streets who are not physically threatening us. We are not the victims here. Get your head out of the sand and recognize what we did was wrong.
Not sure how other don’t see the same. Stop pointing fingers and just accept that we’re in the wrong.
Violence against people is abhorrent, especially women.
What occurred was wrong and brought dishonor to our community.
Yeshiva bochurim should be inside learning Torah not marauding on the streets in a wild and undisciplined manner.
Let the Police Shomerim and security deal with protestors.
If feasible Yungerleit could potentially reach out and speak to the issue of the Noahide Code etc.
Obviously, if a Jew is being endangered one must intercede, otherwise the misled protestors should be ignored.
מוחין שליט על הלב
the way to go about such situations is not by saying: let others do the dirty work…
its not that i think its wrong to sit and learn – its that there are times that call for urgency
is wrong against women and men EQUALLY
IT IS US that were violated by having these violent, hate filled people be allowed to come to this neighborhood
do people not seem to understand that these people would like to see you eradicated
that these people support what happened on October 7
that these people consider all Gazans innocent
that these people help spread violence and lies
and that they actually really know the truth on some level at least, because if you asked most of them if they wanted to move to gaza, i give you two guesses what their answer will be….
She wasnt defenseless – she had a personal police escort. I wish our jewish students on campus had the same.
After they were kicking her and harassing her
The community needs to have trucks with videos and signs showing genocide going on in India, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria, Congo, etc where Muslims are killing non-Muslims. Then people will understand that Jews and Israel are just trying to protect themselves from the same same Muslim terrorists who are killing people in these countries. Oh and there should be no violence bc the cops are harsher on Jews than anyone else especially since the non-Jewish protesters are wearing masks to seal their identity. This happened in California where only Jews were charged while the non jews got away with their crime… Read more »
about people that are being murdered or suffering
they care mainly about people if they have a way to curse out the Jews while they are so called caring
Know learn the Mitzvah and clear instructions when dealing with Amolek
Total complete destruction
Zero leftovers
Let’s call it what it is-when protests turn to threats, it’s not free speech, it’s intimidation.
Our reps love showing up for votes, but vanish when we’re in danger. Remember that on Election Day.
If the mayor won’t protect us, is he siding with the agitators? Silence equals complicity.
I just tried emailing to all but they came right back
Quick copy paste of the email addresses above and write!!! takes a whole 3 seconds!
Seems like it’s about time everybody moves to Florida… make a gaited community… and rent out what is left behind. Pancho
Do you want statements from politicians after the massive chilul hashem perpetrated here? How are they supposed to put out a statement defending us? They will be completely vilified. The only thing that their statements will do is cause more people to talk about CH. Get your head out of the sand and stop this Chilul Hashem!
every one should just live their lives as normal and pretend there’s not even a protest and then Sholom al Yisroel
[email protected]
Ritchie Taylor said there are no known threats
Y’all know it’s a fictatious name, right?
They missed condemning fueling antisemitism; chilul hashem; misgarim; and more.