By COLlive reporter
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio made an early phone call on Tuesday morning following the bloodshed at Chabad-Lubavitch Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights.
“We will leave no stone unturned in the investigation and we will hold back nothing in regards to security for Crown Heights,” de Blasio said in a 7:00am phone call.
He spoke with Chanina Sperlin, governmental liaison of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council following a tumultuous night that left a Yeshiva student in serious condition.
At around 1:00am, Calvin Peters, a 50-year-old African American man, walked into the main synagogue and stabbed Levi Rosenblat, a 22-year-old rabbinical student from Israel.
Rosenblat is currently at Kings County Hospital and family members are requesting the public pray for the stability of his condition. Please say tehillim for Levi Yitzchok ben Raizel.
According to New York Post, a Chabad source said witnesses reported that the man said “Kill the Jews,” but police said the man may have said, “I will kill all of you.” One witness told The Post that the man did not talk about killing Jews.
COLlive.com reported that the attacker was seen at the 770 synagogue earlier and was asked to leave.
The NYPD has round the clock presence in the vicinity of Eastern Parkway and Kingston Avenue, a busy intersection in the neighborhood, but officers do not regularly patrol the entrance of 770.
In the phone call, de Blasio indicated that the NYPD will be placing uniformed officers at 770 and around the Crown Heights neighborhood and indicated this security measure might also be taken at Jewish institutions around the city.
“I am deeply disturbed by the senseless attack at the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters,” said New York City Public Advocate Letitia James.
“Thankfully, the NYPD’s quick work prevented the assailants from harming anyone else. My office will continue to remain in close contact with the the community and law enforcement and offer any support necessary.”
UPDATE (1:44 PM):
The office of Mayor Bill de Blasio released the following statement:
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Levi Rosenblatt and the entire Chabad-Lubavitch community in the aftermath of this disturbing attack. New York City stands with the Crown Heights community, and under the leadership of the New York City Police Department, we are monitoring this case very closely and conducting a thorough investigation.
“Commissioner Bratton has also ordered the NYPD to increase security at Jewish religious institutions across the city as a precaution while the investigation is underway. I look forward to visiting the community in the coming days to hear concerns and reassure people of the City’s commitment to all of our safety and security.
“This incident also highlights the urgent need for increased services for emotionally disturbed or troubled people. Preliminary reports suggest the assailant in this case suffered from mental health issues. We as a society must do more for those who struggle with these challenges, and it is why the City has launched a new plan to improve access to mental health care and treatment for those in need.
“Finally, we commend the police officers who answered the call to this incident. They responded quickly to a tense and dangerous situation, and while any loss of life is tragic, we are fortunate that, thanks to the actions of our officers early this morning, more people were not injured or worse. The job our brave men and women perform on a daily basis to protect the people of New York City is often perilous and difficult, and we thank them for their service.”
After the Crown Heights riots the Rebbe said that the area should be protected by ARMED guards!
B H that the police were there and did the right thing.
How dare the Tzfatim yell, Don’t shoot. Are they nuts.
When Anash will stop supporting the ‘shfichas domim’ of our very own through the horrible “motzei shem ra” website, I’m sure the Aibershter will give more protection. Not that chv we shouldn’t have protection until then but the terrible sinas chinam needs to stop.
Stop looking for who to blame and look inside YOURSELVES. Baal Shem Tov taught that from everything that happens we can learn something in avodas Hashem. Maybe WE have to do something? maybe WE have to grow in a certain area? Erev Yud Tes Kislev, Chassidim – let’s do better! Especially with achdus
To #5 the. Yiddish was telling the cop not to shoot per video not setting him up to be shot
The doors of 770 are unlocked 24/7. Why isn’t there already an armed security guard posted at the front door of 770 24/7, for the past few years???
In today’s climate, I find this shocking.
How many times have I heard totally negative things said about “Tzfatim”. a negative name for Israeli bochurim. As though they were not even yidden! Yes, ahavas chinam is definitely in order. and let’s hope the cop does not have a hard time for doing his job properly.
The police in our neighborhood are patrolling for our safety and put themselves on the line to protect other individuals last night, are we doing anything to thank them?
#12 should be taken out.
RIGHT AND WRONG AND POINTS TAKEN become invalid when insults are the basis of the message. This is not the Jewish way. Educate someone who doesnt have the right message, or whatever, but no insults. At a time like this, we can’t afford ourselves to rely on negativity and insults and hurting ways. This is not the midah of a yid. Shame on you.
Learn , Lekutei Sichos Aleph
Parashas Veyeshev
The Rebbe explains why the goyim are starting with the Yidden
should be installed unnoticed and go off when somone is carrying a heavey mertal item
There is no reason to automatically shut the lights at 12 midnight. Shutting lights is a security breach and is an announcement and a CALL for all Tefilin – Ganovim I’m and all other criminals to feel safe and comfortable in the relative darkness to do, what they do best during darkness. The ABC of security to leave the lights on to deter criminals. Shutting the lights is SO stupid, especially since the Goyim start cleaning 770 at 2:30 am every night so what do the Gaboim gain by shutting the lights for 2.5 hours out of every day, except… Read more »
you are a fool – the cops did great last night – what did you do today to make the world better?
shees!
was a police car in front of 770 at that hour???
THIS IS WHAT YOU WROTE. just talk If the police would have been stationed in the front of 770 ,and not sleeping in a command post this would never of happened Now I ask you; How ungrateful can one be? How many other institutions have a 24 hour post? What would have happened R”L if the police would not have been in so close proximity? This Police Officer, who with G-d’s help and the Rebbes brocho, avoided a greater tragedy, is now in for a very hard time. And all that you have said is “NIVUL PEH”, you kofu-tovah……. The… Read more »
From Israel Hatzola:
URGENT: Public asked to Daven for Levy Yitzchok Ben Reizel wounded in todays stabbing attack at Chabad HQ in Brooklyn, now in critical condition,
For the 1st time ever we can legally protect ourselves.
. We should have our own protection, and lawyers advicing
us what are our rights. The goyem would respect if we can legally, and morally protect our selves, with power and stregnth
Supernatural protective means are even more important, like checking tefillin and mezuzot, as well as getting all yidden on board with being observant. Ahavat-Israel!!!!! Achdut!!! Stopping with the cursed machloiket!!!! Letting down pride and being humble and respecting each other. Let’s all be one group of one family and get along. We have Moshiach as our Redeemer.
This will increase police, and therefore ticket, presence in Crown Heights for a few weeks.
Then things will get back to before.e.. repeat etc v’dal.
If the police would have been stationed in the front of 770 ,and not sleeping in a command post this would never of happened
Like I have been saying the whole time………..Maybe now the frum community will pay attention!!!!! To # 3.. Asides from Hashem alone YOU are your own best protection! Get a concerted effort together to change the INSANE Concealed Carry Laws of NYC, get a gun and learn how to use it and start protecting yourself and you community!!!! To # 5.. A .22 is a child’s toy, it’s what my 7 year old learned to shoot with…. A 9mm at the very least!! (.40, .45 or .357 preferably). This guy probably wouldn’t have had a chance to get the knife… Read more »
why didn’t the white Jew take pity on an obviously deranged black man move out of the way and call for help? HUH? because the Jew was inviting the problem so he can have an excuse to have the black man shot dead!!! NO?
no peace no justice — or was it, no justice no peace.
Every Jew a 22 .
It’s funny that a crazy person didn’t try to kill anybody else but a Yid ! I believe that it’ss because they are being so brained wash about us ! He could of turn to another person in a street or another religious place but he went to 770 !
We need 24 hour police protection, serious protection, in front of the doors of 770. How many more deranged nuts are out there???
i hope that is what deblasio meant