Wake up Yidden!
The pain has been festering inside for a while now, but as the Chasidic adage goes “אז עס טוט ווי, שרייט מען”, when it hurts, you cry. You scream.
It hurts me. It hurts me and I’m crying out because I want it to hurt you too. Not because I don’t love you. I want it to hurt because now, the pain is being smothered. It’s being shut down and ignored; we’ve become numb and apathetic.
There is a travesty going on in our midst, in Crown Heights, and we can no longer turn a blind eye.
I’m referring to the beautiful, joyous, and unity filled Simchas Beis Hashoeiva each year. It’s beautiful. It’s joyous. It’s full of unity. But it hurts. It cuts deep and makes me cry.
Simchas Beis Hashoeiva is a time for Simcha BeTaharasa, joy in its purest form. It’s a time to leave boundaries and rejoice. But just like everything in our lives, to do that, we must follow the safety precautions that Hashem has put in place for us. We have to make sure that we don’t cross the danger signs that He set up.
Whether or not we see how it’s for our good, and whether or not we think we have a better and more efficient way of doing things, we follow Torah to the last detail.
Even in the Beis Hamikdosh, the holiest place on earth, this was a challenge. It took a few years of trial (and fail!) to be able to have a proper and Tznius’dike Simchas Beis Hashoeiva.
And in the end, they prevailed. A successful system was set in place and the joy of Simchas Beis Hashoeiva became such that מי שלא ראה שמחת בית השואבה לא ראה שמחה מימיו!
They prevailed because they cared and it bothered them. Because it hurt and it made them cry out; It made them uncomplacent.
Uncomplacency is the breeding grounds for change.
Let’s become uncomplacent. Let’s stop getting stuck at the status quo. It may SEEM impossible to change and it may BE impossible to change. But when we band together and care, when it bothers us and we lose sleep over it, the impossible becomes possible.
Where there is effort, there is success. In the police coordination, in the stage set up, the lights, the sound, the musicians – someone cared enough and put in effort to make it happen.
We have to care enough and put in effort to make Simchas Beis Hashoeiva happen properly. To make it happen in a way that would give the Rebbe joy and Nachas, and ultimately, in a way that makes US most happy.
Wake up Yidden! I beg you. There is one night left for this year, and you CAN do something.
Tonight, at Simchas Beis Hashoeiva, look around and notice your surroundings. Speak up to improper behavior. Support those that are falling and make them a part of caring about Simchas Beis Hashoeiva. Their actions are crying out, asking us to help them stop it.
Tonight, we will be kind. We will be strong and determined and we will make a change!
This will be a significant step in heeding our Rebbe’s call of being confident that we can succeed in revealing the Geula reality. Together, we will dance to Yerushalayim with the Rebbe, king Moshiach, smiling in nonstop appreciation!
– Mushka of CH
Are you talking about covid, meron or kiruv? I’m confused…
I think tznius is the topic.
I think you’re referring to tznius but it’s not clear
(There are multiple things that are not so perefrct with simchas bais but I just focus on the positive)
Tznius is positive. Would you turn a blind eye to assault? A lack of tznius causes a domino effect. Being tzniusdig causes tremendous Bracha to flow.
No question that tznius is the topic
but why is it not clearly written?
We need concrete practical ideas that can be implemented
We need concrete practical barriers
What do we need to fix and improve and be safe about exactly? Very eloquent writing, but very unclear message
Just say it straight up…
As a teenager/grownup i can say that the last years I’m avoiding going there because this same reason sadly…
The large stage is very nice but cuts into dancing space for the men. This has the men dancing all the way by Montgomery by sunshine pharmacy but the mechitza/ gate ends by kol tov . Then you have some wise women and girls inching in with no common sense . I would love to bring this to the organizers attention. I’m sure they would happy to fix this..
The author quoted a Gemara that talks about the trial, failure and eventual success with regard to keeping Tznius and prevention frivolity with men and woman in a unrefined manner by the Simchas Beis Hashoeiva, in the BHM”K itself- So I guess the article is about (the very prevalent problem of) a lack of tzenius and keeping within the boundries set by Hashem, ALL IN THE NAME OF SIMCHA, during our beautiful Simchas Beis Hashoeiva. Please ANA”SH, do not be in denial, if this problem can occur in the Bais Hamikdash it can happen everywhere else, so please step up… Read more »
All young people need to be United under one big program with whatever talks to them… in their own language run by energetic young open minded people
Ps. Yes we are not perfect let’s take all something on ourselves first, tznius it’s not only levushim, it’s also our nefesh /pnimiut
smart you hit the nail on the head
We need gelt set aside for programs our Yiddshe Youth
This need be the focus
For those of us who don’t know, what are you referring to?
Yes is good to focus on the positive but we can’t close are eyes in this one ,is all depends from us, we are a community and we need to make sure the tznius,the lighting stuff that the sale is totally not properly, as a mother of young kids is very hard, kids in this days think that simchas beis hashoeiva is buy all the things that they sale .
Ever since they started selling glow in the dark, there has been small, dangerous fireworks, too. Where are the parents?
im a bochur and i want to say this article is 100 percent correct. The fact that the bochurim are inches away from the girls is totally not tznius. Imagine if it was like this in 770? I think the only solution is to put up dark see through walls in between or something that will block the sight. Anyone have any better suggestions?
But thanks for your honesty
Maybe just more space and distance and more organized seating viewing for the women
In terms of sight, putting a spotlight on the dancing will eliminate this issue. The women side will remain dim. There are a few things that can improve simchas beis: It will be costly, yet so productive. I may be naive to bring this up, but I’ve been going all night for many years and these things keep coming up: Cover to protect from rain Professional baseball stadium-like seating. The milk boxes are so unsafe. They topple easily. Professional seating will also allow for more space. BAN DRUNK PEOPLE. They just push the entire crowd, crushing people and pushing the… Read more »
Have you seen the stage this year? I feel like money’s not an issue
Though it may seem to most that with a large stage that money is not an issue, it is VERY COSTLY. We are not talking a few thousand dollars, we are talking tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars
Is she complaining about harassment, lewd behavior? Or just innocent proximity? The Rebbe MHM said that simchas Beis was for women also and was m’oded women being at the event (see Maayonei HaYeshua)
The writer should right again exactly what she is referring to. We have to know the issue in order to fix it.
Are you saying there’s not enough ahavas yisroel and acts of kindness?
Writer should have been to the point. Guessing tzniut … Can she please clarify.
That’s the title/problem, for those wondering. To the author: simchas beis hashoeiva has nothing what to do with improper behavior. It’s an all-year- round problem! Improper behavior begins at home, with mothers who are encouraging their teens to behave in such a manner to “prepare them for marriage”. I’m speaking blunt here because I’m “crying out” and sick and tired that no one is doing anything!
We take tha arba minim which includes the aravos. Even for those who may be like aravos, we must join together and go in all directions and dance, dance, dance and bring Moshiach now.
To all the haters. What is your method of Mivtzoim? Do they have be a certain category to be shayach? כל ישראל ערבים זה לזה
ערבים מלשון ערבות
There seemed to be people there who were running for political office. Simchas beis hashoeva is a holy event and should not be treated like a political opportunity.
Separate simchas beis hashoeva for women and girls.
No point in going as it is now. I won’t send my daughters either.
Many events for women to dance have already been arranged for a couple of years. Some women have joined, yet they resort to the general SBH event afterward, because women and girls aren’t interested being second class citizens. If professional lighting and musicians and signers are being arranged for men, women should have an equally beautiful event.
A small sukkah with pre-recorded music and 5 ladies dancing will not attract the entirety of CH, yet arranging two large, separate events of the same caliber is extremely expensive and, I think, Baal Tashchis.
Why baal tashchis? Are women not as equally important as the men? We would also like to celebrate the Chag and not just watch the men have a good time.
…to watch, because we find it holy and interesting.
And ALSO to dance in our own sukkot. Not to have a big party for women. Not to ketch and point fingers. I personally like watching. I never feel bad. Feeling bad is bc you are buying into a false narrative.
I went to a beautiful one for women. More women should be arranging in their own Sukkahs. Why don’t we take the initiative?
People come from elsewhere and even people from Crown Heights and may not be aware of the different sides for men and women, which is hampered by people going to various shops. Large signs need to be put up and monitors need to be hired to enforce standards of where people can be . I was standing on Montgomery and Kingston and didn’t see any barriers set up near the street.
…to find that the dancing extended down past Montgomery.
As a female walking east on Montgomery as I do every year at SBHS, it was a bit embarrassing to find myself on the extended “men’s side” when I got to Kingston Ave. this year.
I figured out what to do to get to the east (ladies’) sidewalk, but it was a surprise to have to do so while standing amidst the men.
If they have permits for such an extensive stage, they should also build an elevated platform for the girls on that side of Kingston spanning the whole block.
Besides for that, the issue of tznius has to be tackled at the root, not during Simchas Beis specifically.
Yeah what’s the situation with the Israeli girls and their crates?? They take up the entire street and nobody behind them can see
They should only be allowed to go to the back.
There’s a moshil that goes as follows: a community sponsored a member to attend the sholesh regalim in the BH”M. Upon his arrival back to town, the community asked him how his experience was. His response, being that there are many people. The bathrooms are just horrendous!! His community bemoaned at this answer. They asked him “thats what you took out from the BH”M”? You can decide how to view any event. Is it a beautiful gathering of yidden dancing away the simchas beis ? Or some frivolous youngsters? LEAD BY EXAMPLE. To all people who think are to frum… Read more »
It’s been like that for years
Probably won’t ever change.
Move or stay away.
Keep your kids home.
I’m glad you found what works for you.
I don’t think this is the best thing for everyone to do.
It can be done … will need more funding.. people will donate happily if proper partitions or area where all can see & enjoy the simcha all in adherence to Halacha and tniut are put into place. It seems to be an ongoing problem that needs much early planning.
It can be done!
It will make our Rebbe proud our community stronger!
Chag Sameach
When we are will be more mehudar in mitzvos and Ahavas Isroel – kids will join … otherwise it’s pointless
All you don’t care about them at all and only care if they tznius
Are you careful in all your mitzvos ?
They be struggling with it
Its a public affair so it must be dealt with
A lot of people complaining and making suggestions no one actually contributing.
People spend a lot of time and money putting this together for the community. If you know much better, go ahead and help with the organization, I’m sure they can use the help.
Who can I contact to get involved in helping with the organization?
I would like to contribute and pitch an idea for an elevated experience for the coming year.
Write your comments on the back of the check!
The yesod of Chabad.
I humbly suggest a concrete area to work on would be Shmiras HaLashon both in schools and at home. It is so easy to forget the Halachos so a lesson a day on Shmiras HaLashon is a very practical way.
Keep our mouths holy, maybe then the Mageifa will end and no masks will be needed.
People here miss the boat , we have to be more loving and accepting . Our Rebbe taught us different that when a certain events were going to breach tznius he didn’t tolerate it . We are בשכונת המלך we can’t be complacent or compromising in any are of Halacha. The אייבישטער will find ways to deal with those souls that can’t comply not for us to be מיקיל for anything under the Chabad umbrella.
And everyone selling those junk stuff that make the street filthy !!!t
hose horrible sprays that end up on ladies sheitels and clothes, ….
Who needs all those selling Tzatzkes.
It is NOT A BAZAR! seems like a market more than Simchas bais hashoeva.
Pp come to sell their goodsand make money instead of dancing.
Or maybe this is the only way they will get involved with SBH? Maybe try to look at the other side
It’s hard to look at a situation that we don’t have control of. The idea of stepping up in a situation that isn’t acceptable, in the form of a comment, is not for everyone. In fact, it is for a select few, almost for no one. There is so much involved in each individual; a person is an entire world! The potentially good outcome isn’t worth risking the almost inevitable damage that can result from taking action. When it comes to the Avodah of other Yidden, we can daven for them, we can be preventative through teaching them (in Yeshivos… Read more »
This IS the Rebbes shchuna & if are lucky enuf to live here then it comes with the responsibility of dressing Tzniyus’dig ( & u will bez’h see special Brochois in ur life!!)
Try it!!!
the bleachers created with the crates that so many girls bring cause so many women to not be able to see, they make many women go into the path that is between the men and women because the crates literally form a wall resulting that in most places you can’t see the dancing if you are not on the crates…it was not always like this…there were NO CRATES and everyone got to see.
Also, the stage stuck out too much and created a bottleneck in that area
Otherwise, Simchas Bais haShoeva is so beautiful and amazing…THANK YOU to all involved
The issue here isn’t that the boys and girls don’t have enough space between them. However the issue is that when I am standing on the women’s side watching the dancing and music their are boys just pushing through. Their has to be strict rules that the boys can NOT go on the block of Kingston and Montgomery. That’s the only rule that should be in place if their are rules that no boys and girls together then they are you gonna find other places to hang out. All these ideas that people have are great but really they are… Read more »
Inappropriate behavior? Tznius? Wake up Crown Heights. This is classic ‘what you don’t see doesn’t hurt You’. There is a a crisis here. It’s not about kids behaving inappropriately. It’s us adults who are guilty of inattention. The youth in Crown Heights (some, not all) are in unprecedented pain and are acting out calling out for attention, asking for love. What’s our reaction? ‘Ooh, I don’t want me or my kids to see THAT!’ This behavior happens all year round, it’s just we don’t see it. After my performance on Motzei Shabbos, I walked up Kingston Ave, targeting struggling kids,… Read more »
100%
Thank you for your comment
I’m assuming the author refers to the tznius issue.While I am not minimizing this issue at all, there is a very big issue in CH. the issue if pedofiles.
A guy came to my daughter and her friend and tried to coerce them to go with him. He offered them weed and other things that are inappropriate to write here.
Two weeks ago she was followed by another person. my daughter is not little and she handled the situation well. The police was involved. But these pedofiles are on the loose!!!!
It’s one thing to make a LeChayim. But seeing frum boys standing on the corner smoking Marijuana and drinking beer, it was disgusting. There has to be some sort of dress code. Like not walking around in short shorts. I was shocked, and I am not FFB.
Better that these teens should be in a beautiful, Yiddishe atmosphere doing drugs, than alone, away from anything Jewish, doing drugs.
Stop being shocked. Start thinking about the teens and what is best for them.
It seems that the stage takes up more and more room every year, is this really necessary? There should be enough space on the avenue for a men’s section, a ladies section, and a walkthrough path for pedestrians/shoppers
How about you mind your own business. Don’t tell other people how they ought to dress, act or whom they can talk to.
It’s a public area they can do what they please
Yes, it’s an issue what’s going on. But why not see the beauty! Yes the crates are annoying and block, but you could go in front of the crates and watch. And its beautiful how the crates make a semi mechitza and the girls in the back could dance and experience their own SIMCHAS beis. And something i noticed that was beautiful watching these young girls dancing behind is the achdus. Yes there is garbage on the streets. But these girls are so b’achdus. They included everyone. There was Israelis, out of towners, and some girls who were on the… Read more »
How can you go in front of the crates to watch? That’s a walkway for men and women to walk through to get to the other side of town.
In the beis hamildosh they would have dancing together till it got a little crazy so they made a Ezra’s noshim which the women can see the men but not next to them
Not going to work. Thousands of people come, the girls want to see as well. Unless they make a special platform or something. You can’t trap the girls, and there is NO way to stop the men. It is a crushing wave that pushes them around. They can’t help where they get pushed. It is not the end of the world. Look at all the other positives. Like the girls dancing behind the crates as someone posted before.
Ban drug pushers etc. I spotted a small group of YOUNG KIDS pal-ing up with a couple guys who were being way too chummy. One said he was a friend of the crossing guard.
There need to be parents and Shmira combing the place, preventing little pyromaniacs from firecrackers too.
Kids have to know their parents will make them accountable for getting into trouble. But good parents who stay near their kids will INSPIRE their kids.
Why dont they have the Sbh in a park or were people dont live it is not fair if you have to go to work and all the loud music is keeping you up nobody talks about about that because most people dont live on theblock, and this year the music was so loud it has never been this loud