Embroiled in Fake News, Chabad Center Launches #Share4Justice

By COLlive reporter

Last week, the White House tweeted a video showing a compilation of images and videos claiming that “Antifa and professional anarchists” were collecting rocks to instigate violence in the aftermath of George Floyd‘s death by a police officer in Minnesota.

One of the images in the video showed Chabad of Sherman Oaks in California. Only, Chabad of Sherman Oaks immediately released a short statement dispelling the rumors.

They pointed out that the rocks outside their center were nothing other than security barriers and explained that the rocks were temporarily removed to alleviate concerns that the enclosures could be vandalized and the rocks used by rioters.

The White House has since deleted the tweet and video which has been called out as “fake news.”

Rabbi Mendel Lipskier, Director of Chabad of Sherman Oaks, was very disappointed by the mistake. “It’s unfortunate that our Chabad Center, a place which stands for love and kindness, was mistakenly implicated in divisive behavior,” he said.

Rabbi Lipskier believes that the way to heal our divided society is not with destruction, but by restoring the bridges that connect us to one another with goodness.

Rabbi Lipskier shared that in the aftermath of the 1991 Crown Heights Riots in New York, the Rebbe was visited by the then New York City Mayor David Dinkins. The Rebbe told him, “We are one side. We are one people, living in one city, under one administration and under one God.”

Rabbi Lipskier explained, “The world is seeking justice and we have the answer. The Hebrew word for Justice is Tzedakah, which also means charity. The greatest expression of justice is helping one another because we recognize that all God has given us is meant to be shared with those around us.”

“The way to achieve justice is not by smashing windows, looting stores or burning cars. Justice is attained by doing something good and sharing it with a friend.”

Rabbi Lispkier announced today that Chabad of Sherman Oaks is launching Share4Justice campaign in response to the misleading social media reports. Share4Justice encourages all to do a mitzvah. Perform a good deed that’s meaningful to you like making a donation to charity or light Shabbat candles or wear tefillin, or even join an educational class and share it with a friend, encouraging them to do the same.

“If this happened in front of our building, it’s for a reason; it’s a sign that we need to spread this message of positivity,” Rabbi Lipskier points out. “While some saw rocks to be used for destruction, we see stones that can be used to build.”

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To join the Share 4 Justice movement or for more information and media inquiries, visit share4justice.com