By COLlive reporter
After a group of Israeli youth disrupted a children’s rally at the main shul of 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights last week, the Gabboim issued a public letter promising to have them banned with the help of the authorities.
The decision was quickly supported by all three members of the Crown Heights Beis Din – Rabbi Avraham Osdoba, Rabbi Yaacov Schwei and Rabbi Yosef Braun, emphasizing that the Rebbe’s shul must have peace and order.
But video footage taken this week shows how disrupters were back in the main shul openly flouting authority. They managed to empty the Shul and set up an event on Wednesday night, with no effort being made by the gabboim to stop them or to enforce their own decision.
“In the past, the Shul’s manager, Yosef Kratz, managed to shut the Shul down and lock the doors, as well as threaten to close the lights or electricity during an event, if he didn’t personally like the organizers,” a community activist said. “And yet, in this case, he has not upheld the decision of the Rabbonim, and has allowed these bochurim access to the Shul and the ability to hold an event.”
Following last week’s violent scuffle community activist Menachem Benchemon started a petition http://chng.it/B6kTr2zX, calling the current situation “unacceptable” and “asking for the Gaboim to reinstate order and respectability to 770, to oversee the Shul’s day to day functioning and take a stand against the unfortunate status quo that has lasted far too long.” Others have called for elections and new management of the shul.
Benchemon said he was hoping that thousands of chassidim signing the petition and letting their collective voice will be known, “will be impossible for leadership to ignore.”
“It is time for 770 to be a place that attracts Jews of all backgrounds to come learn, pray, and engage in good deeds. 770 should be our crown jewel. Whatever the best and the brightest of Lubavitch have to offer should be offered right here in 770,” he wrote to COLlive.com. “It’s 25 years. A quarter century of failure is enough. It’s time for change and the time is now. Hei Teives is coming.”
Click here to download full letter by Menachem Benchemon
Some Difficult Questions for Members of Anash on the Eve of Hei Teives
Menachem Benshemon is the only one capable of pulling this one out! He’s making a remarkable difference to the CH community.
This would be a great time for Moshiach to come. That would end all the machlokes. Isn’t 2000 years of suffering enough????? How aboutit, Hashem??
This is not a two sided fight, it’s a couple of misguided teens who need to be put in their place, before Gimmel Tammuz the Rebbe said Bochrim who fight with hands should be thrown out and can only come back with signed reshus from the Rabbonim, if anything this pushing for bringing order to rebbe’s shul is bringing kovoid and nachas ruach to the rebbe and will lead the community to be empowered to bring Moshiach now!
We need to follow Trump policy all Tzfatim deported to Israel.and A end to Kratz monopoly of 770 fees end to the hefkeirus
Historically Obama was the president that started mass deportations.
Google it
As a resident of Crown Heights I have not walked into 770 for over 10 years.
Time for a change.
Why not? The rebbes shul!
Make 770 Great Again
We’ve been afraid of dealing with it but now the time has come to end it.
Let’s get together behind our leaders to take control of 770.
This is above politics.
..and Kudos to the rabonim for sending out letters lately to keep the community safe!
Yes! all 3 Rabonim BH are showing braveness with in the last 2 weeks!! Keep it up and keep strong!
Oops…sorry.. Menachem Benshimon. But you say “potayto” I say “potahto”. Bottom line each generation has its trailblazers and גאוני יעקב. I hope his example will lead other to finally rise up שכם אחד and take back Lubavitch in the way it was meant to be and allow the Rebbe to rest again. Have nachas ruach. Happy Chanukah!
Only BenChemon can save us! Put him in charge of Shomrim and put the place under lockdown!
I dont see why its not welcoming. Just because people have different views than you, doesnt make them unwelcoming. Different views is the way it is until moshiach comes.
Also take into consideration that the tzefati yeshiva is the OT in Israel. There are over 100 bochurim a grade! Y make such generalizations for all hundreds and thousands of graduates, when just a few were mentioned……
Also why does collive only publicize when the tzefatis use their hands, so far as to portray them as terrorists. But when people on the “opposite” side use their hands it goes unmentioned.
.. that the reason nothing has changed the past 20 years, is because people like you brush it off like its no big deal.
If you like it the eay it is now,imagine it 10 X better(and nicer) without these people running the show.
Haven’t set foot in 770 in over 13 years. I see these embarrassing videos circulating. 770 is unrecognizable.
The gaboim had their chance. 25 years worth. Game over.
Benchemon, whatever you need let us know. Get it done. Now!
This that they are standing peacefully and respectfully full of emuna and bitchon in the hitgalus of the rebbe and that the rebbe is chai vkaim kpshuto mamesh!what a great hitkashrus to the rebbe .its beautiful. !
Hey Menachem I don’t know you personally, although I am a proud member & big supporter of footagers and all that you do for the ch community. My father obm didn’t go downstairs to 770 for many many years. He always complained how is it that no one does anything about what goes on there. I just want to let you know I think it’s amazing what you are doing and shinning a light on the injustice being done to 770 and Lubavitch as a whole. Keep it up we all got your back.