By COLlive reporter
Making room in the big room.
When Crown Heights women and guests will come to daven at 770 Eastern Parkway this coming Shabbos and during Sukkos and Simchas Torah, they will have to pay attention to the signs.
The women’s section of the main shul at Lubavitch Headquarters in Brooklyn will be once again divided into three sections to accommodate both locals and visitors.
The section called “the first shul,” the largest single space for women there, was designated for the many guests from Israel. The “second shul” is for long-time residents (defined as “ages 50 and up”).
The “third shul” is for post seminary girls and Junior Nshei from all over the world. The last room is for older women guests. And the first shul on the Kingston side is reserved for the guests from France.
Responsible for the order are a “Vaad Hamesader” arranging committee comprised of Devorah Chazanow, Chaya Lang, Chana Popack and Miriam Feldman who have been working for the past 14 years alongside the shul’s gabboim, under the umbrella of Nshei Chabad.
“770 has always operated like an ‘every man for himself’ kind of place,” Chaya Lang told COLlive.com. “The whole shul experience became more masculine, so aggressive. We wanted to bring back the feminine, women’s side of the shul experience.
“This might work for the men, but for the women they need more seder. If the men push and shove each other, a minute later they’re dancing and all is fine. For a woman, if someone intrudes on their space, it can ruin their entire davening.”
The order, in place for the second half of the Tishrei month for the last 3-4 years, was well thought-out (seats on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are sold).
“The shul is really not large enough for any one group,” says Lang. “We have room for maybe 300 and we have 1000. But at least this way each group is represented. And we find that if people are with their own, they will be a lot more b’achdus and kinder, nicer to each other.”
To achieve that goal, they set some ground rules: The heavy benches were replaced with narrow benches, strollers stay outside (they can be left on the plaza or on Kingston Avenue), no lighting Shabbos or Yom Tov candles in the shul (for safety reasons),
In addition they have taken upon themselves other improvement projects, such as providing many new siddurim, renovating the restrooms and putting down new floors. They also arranged for a video of the Rebbe to play during the week.
So does the system work?
Lang: “There’s always some people that will test you, and we will have some girls manning the entrances, but for the most part the system works. It’s still not for the fragile or the delicate, but for the most part the Shul is a better place for everyone.”
but I would still be afraid to try to daven in 770. I will never be regarded as “belonging” here and doubt that anyone would allow me to sit in the women’s shul without trying to push me off a bench. Nevertheless, kol hakavod to the ladies who are trying to improve the situation. It’s greatly appreciated.
Thank you, thank you to the devoted Shul Committee for making this happen!! It’s not perfect, but it really does work!! For us bubbies who have been davening in 770 “forever”, going elsewhere just doesn’t cut it. Being able to finally daven in 770 during Tishrei once again without being crushed is just wonderful. Keep up the good work!!
OPEN YOUR EYES! If you can’t see the Rebbe, then why are you in 770 in the first place!? At least feel his presence! Otherwise, go to one of the little mushroom shuls that those too blind to see have made up…at least they are being true to their beliefs and not taking up space
I leaved in crown heights many years ago and was really a lot of fights I hope this organization will make better 770 and make more ahavat israel between all guests together with the residents.GOOD LUCK!!
great job. i think it works very well.
As a crown heightser I appreciate the opportunity to daven yom tov in 770 yet since I’m not 50 not being able to daven in 2nd shul even though I came early and went to a different section yet couldn’t hear much.it would be a good idea to have 3 rows reserved for older women and the rest of middle section for women 25 and up on first come basis for ch women thanks
(I’m a guy, so it’s all the same to me in the end)
Is blue plastic tarp really suitable for drapery on the railings outside the shul.
At-least some color coordination, you know what I mean.
(there are other color tarps)
I don’t mind it, but i still doubt it’s suiting.
Thank you for not giving up on the Rebbe’s shul, and doing it all with a smile and true ahavas Yisrael!
i am with you #26
I was about 8 weeks pregnant (with my first baby too!) and obviously not showing yet. At Naela in 770, it was very crowded and crushed together. I was pushed forward onto a well known prominent woman in CH. As soon as Yom Kippur was over, and the people behind me left, I was able to straighten up. That lady, probably in her 50’s, yelled at me for invading her space and punched me in the stomache! I have still not gotten over that punch. BH, my pregnancy wasn’t affected.
Where do I fit in? What if soneone is from Italy?
What are you pushing for? Do you see the Rebbe better when you push? Let’s be realistic…
it’s worked really well bh! All those of you that don’t think it’s good you shouldn’t talk unless you’re planning to take this task on your head! The women who do this job are truly amazing and they should be blessed with only good! We love you!
now that yom tov is over – did this work?
It’s a great idea but the age division is a bit much.once a woman reaches adulthood that distinctions In shul shouldn’t be made. I understand if you want to designate a few rows for 50 and up but the rest of 2nd section on a first come this shul not school. This yom tov it worked well for the older women but not for the younger women I hope changes are part of their plan thank you.
must be careful to do what enhances and brings peace between yidden. make choices carefully, every situation counts
There are not enough words to thank these amazing women They give their time and energy all year round to ensure that 770 is taking care of. They make sure that the cleaning help is there. After all that goes on in the month of Thisrei, they are quitting. Did you notice the new floors,the freshly painted walls and benches? Do you remember the broken ceilings in 770? Do you remember the old bathrooms? When you come to shul the siddurim are n their designated places,the current chumash is there.There is a small kiddush in 770 Shabbos. Who do you… Read more »
These ladies give of themselves to make everyone more comfortable, even at the cost of their own comfort and davening.
I daven in 770 throughout the year. I must say these women deserve all the credit in the world. They work tirelessly making sure that the women of crown heights can daven in peace. They should be given the respect they deserve. Anyone criticizing them should be ashamed of themselves.
it was becuz of Rus Devorahs Ahavas Yisroel that i saw the Rebbe many years ago! Singlehandedly she tried making a seder when we really had the Rebbe begashmius! To her ill forever be grateful!!
Funny, though, that the picture is entirely of men LOL
מעולם לא אמר אדם שצפוף לו בירושלים (ברטנורא, רבנו יונה). יש שמפרשים שהנס היה שבאמת לא היה צפוף ויש שמפרשים שהיה צפוף אבל איש לא אמר זאת מפני האהבה לירושלים.
“…..And we find that if people are with their own, they will be a lot more b’achdus and kinder, nicer to each other.”
ואם לא… שיתבשלו במיץ של עצמם. צודקים
The third shul on Eastern Parkway is designated for post-Seminary girls and Jr. Neshei. The Rebbe’s Room is for women guests. (BTW if you are a youngish Bubbe, the second shul is also available to you if there is room there.)
WE LOVE YOU!!!!
To All comments above:
a bit of Ahavas Yisroel by ALL will go a long way!!!! a freilichin yom tov to ALL neshei ubnos Chabad bechol MOKOM (in 770) sheim and around the world!!!!
The women’s Shul is too small to contain the locals, visitors, and guests from the world over. This solution is meant to give everyone some chance to experience davening in the Rebbe’s Shul. The Israeli girls are encouraged to rotate, giving every girl a chance to have a closer look, and daven within the Shul itself. Those of us of a certain age remember rotating to give every woman and girl a chance to see the Rebbe, if only for a minute, when the Rebbe appeared on the porch. Vetechezena eineinu beshuvcha leTzion berachmim. May we all merit to see… Read more »
The Israeli girls are really nice, and once they understand why the CH women need their space, they cooperate and leave the second Shul for them. #4 – This plan works out for all of us. It is orderly, and everyone knows where to go, no pushing no bad feelings. This promotes achdus and good vibes for most. # 5 – HS girls have the middle section of Kingston Shul, the last is for Jr. High ages. These rules apply on Shabbosim, and Yomim Tovin during Tishrei. May we all merit a gebenched year, with Malkeinu Berosheinu NOW!
What about the men’s shul – we local men need our safety and space too from being pushed and shoved. Give us our section and our space, keeping the Israeli and Frenchies away from us.
these crown heights woman are sometimes downright NASTY pushing and shoving people aside because they have a seat and must get to it!!
so there is a section for ch woman 50 and up. what about those from 20-50 yrs!!!????
im a cher and the ch women give me so much attitude… as if i dont live here!
I don’t fit into any of those groups. And FYI—the American women are much more rude and catty than the Israeli guests- and I would rather squish in with the Israelis than have to sit near a CH woman giving me attitude the whole davening
Why won’t this plan work? I think its a great idea! This thing of the israelis taking over the whole shul has gone on far too long. Why shouldn’t the ppl who live here, who used to attend 770 back in the day! get a chance to join as well? 770 has been all but off limits to 99 percent of regular crown heightsers for a very long time now. Just because the guests are very aggresive and rude doesnt mean we have to suffer like this. kol hakavod to the vaad hemesader, Im sure this is a difficult and… Read more »
What about those of us who have a “Makom Kavua?” Cant we daven where we daven all year??!! A
And what about High School girls? Where do we go?
There are girls “manning the entrances” to make sure the locals don’t mingle with the guests???
You’re not ashamed to do this?
wont work
they will never listen to u
I had a really bad experience a few years ago, the guests were really rude and kept bringing more and more people in to the bench where we were sitting. when we complained they just pretend they didnt understamd what we are saying.
they have such chutzapha maybe this will help.
thank you, this is great news!
most crown heights women have not been in shul for years, maybe this year ill try my luck 🙂