By COLlive reporter
Two young men, who appear to be Yeshiva students despite trying to mask their identity, were captured on surveillance cameras vandalizing one of the new murals in Crown Heights.
The mural they were filmed destroying was the one on Lincoln Place and Kingston Avenue on the wall of the Calabria pizzeria in the early hours of Thursday.
Another 2 murals were destroyed on the wall of Weinstein’s Hardware & Houseware on Kingston Avenue and Sell-E-Bration Flowers & Gifts on Kingston and Crown Street.
What all vandalized murals had in common was they were all created by the Montreal street artist who goes by the name Zrey Li and each had the graffiti-style image of the Rebbe.
VIDEO: The vandals in action
Calabria’s manager Hillel Harel said he was saddened to discover the vandalization, not only because of the stain on the wall of his store but because the art itself had a message to it.
“This work of art was created by a Lubavitcher artist who is working to promote the Seven Noahide Laws and is painting them on walls around the world,” Harel told COLlive.com.
He added, “the artist is doing it out of a sense of Shlichus and bringing people closer. Many people really liked it and connected to its messages. It seems like some liked it less and sent these bochurim to violently destroy something that doesn’t belong to them.
Harel said he has yet to file a report with the New York Police Departement.
An article on COLlive.com has given voice to those opposing using the Rebbe’s image as “propaganda art’. The author of the article did not call on using violence against the art or the artist.
The Rebbe ALSO said (11 Nissan 5745) that the picture of the Rambam is probably not him – but should still be publisised since it REPRESENTS the Rambam.
you are so ignorant and oblivious!! stop blaming everything on “meshichists”. you know nothing and speak non-sense
“104
Relax
Let kids be kids. This is their way of connecting.. I think it’s wrong to do, but after the fact I don’t think gevurah is best…”
IGNORANCE. Extremism is rooted in ignorance. and this is MY DEFINITION OF OFF THE DERECH, Off the derech of Ahavat Israel and Menschlekeit and Derech Eretz. SAD.
The Rebbe did speak about it.
The Rebbe said that they should make a post stamp out of the picture of the Rambam. Even though it will go in the trash. Just to publicize the Rambams message of the 7 Noahide laws.
This was spoken about at length by the Rebbe at the first siyum harambam. (11 nissan 1984 or5)
But I’m proud of these bochurim
TWO WRONGS DONT MAKE A RIGHT!!!!!!!!!
Just bec u think that having a rebbe picture on a wall isnt right doesnt mean you should destroy it!
#1 its prob more disrespectful to cover over a rebbe picture
#2 thats just plain immature!
you can have an opinion but dont take that type of action!
what a chillel lubavitch
the rebbe said time and again bochrim to stay out of politics and keep the seder of the yeshivah
Why is it that on the back of every sign that tells you that u can walk/ not walk across the street in ch there are stickers of our holy Rebbe which get spoiled by the rain and sun? On every pole in ch the same thing?! And on garbage cans… Right near 770 by Kingston and Union there is a storage unit which has a huge banner of the Rebbe saying “yes we can” for months!!! This is totally out of place!!! This stuff exists everywhere in Israel with posters and pictures of the Rebbe stuck up illegally everywhere… Read more »
of the story where people were complaining that chassidus should not be given to the masses because they do not know how to treat it and sheets of chassidus were found on the floor, in the mud and it needs to be protected…. they had such a good point that the Maggid himself had a hard time defending his own actions until he heard about a young bochur who argued the point that just as a king would give his own precious gems to be ground up into a medicine to save his life, so too we need to spread… Read more »
TO INFORM ALL OF YOU THAT: THIS DISRESPECTFUL ACT WAS ALSO DONE ON THE CORNER OF CROWN ST. AND KINGSTON AVE. BY THE STORE CALLED FIRST QUALITY A.K.A. ANDRUSIER’S STORE, NOT BY THE STORE CALLED SELL-E-BRATION, AS MENTIONED IN THE ARTICLE, AND NOT ONLY BY THE PIZZA SHOP ON THE CORNER OF KINGSTON AVE AND LINCOLN PLACE WHERE THEY HAD THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEOS!!
Let kids be kids. This is their way of connecting.. I think it’s wrong to do, but after the fact I don’t think gevurah is best…
please stop painting the Rebbe by walls were they place garbage, etc, paint a tree, flowers, kids, hearths, etc. Call me I can give you plenty of ideas. These 2 bochrim will love your “new” art
I can very much respect the sentiments of those who feel that reducing the Rebbe to some kind of Che Guevara street icon (what’s next? Rebbe t-shirts?) is simply very disrespectful. But I also feel that painting over an existing Rebbe picture is almost equally disrespectful. So what do you do? Simple. Just mount a big sign over it.
When one does a action lesheim shamayem he need not be known
why don’t they step forward and proudly lay claim to their actions? We know the name of the artist who actually meant well with his enormous efforts. One has to question the motives of these bochurim after all.
L
I’m sure they used garbage paint
time then surely it’s breached twice now. The matter should be brought to a Beis Din and compensation should be given to the owners of the defaced property to have their walls repainted plain. Otherwise you have the stain of these mistakes to face through Elul & Tishrei constantly, that is if we don’t merit the Geulah before that. I also feel the artist has been caused a loss. It should have been brought to a Din Torah before this happened. I wonder though if even that would have been obeyed??
#62
How is a picture on a wall different than on a flyer? On a sign on a street? On the side of a van? On the side of a rental van? On the side and back of a motor home?
How is a hand painted picture on a canvas different than one on brick?
How is putting tefillin on someone on the street different than picturing the person who told you to do that?
How is vigilante justice different than vigilante justice?
Baruch hashem its down.
Everyone is saying it’s not nice to the artist well did the artist ask permission from smash and shluhim to do such a thing or aguch it’s very disrepectful
This Jewish generation is going down, seems that you have not know how to criticize, how to judge, and how to give your own opinion. This is the behavior of a goy, we have enough people already that hate us…now you the Jew himself is gonna hate his fellow Jew to? Such a shame guys, i think none of you is a Jew
i also thought of that. i agree it is not the best place but cover it with black paint….
You r doing chilul Hashem to your fellow Jews!!! Please wake up! Is just a graffiti on the wall why are you complaining about it?? So you really think that The Rebbe will be upset because of this? Or because you don’t have Ahavas Ysroel? How can you talk and judge like this to your brothers!! If you really takes care of the Rebbe do what you must to do, the 2 second Beis Hamikdosh was destroyed a cause of Sinas Chinam, let’s change it and have only Ahavas Ysroel and then Moshiach is gonna come. Have a wonderful day… Read more »
As much as I disagree with the art, it is even more disrespectful to vandalize this painting! Bochurim like these should be ashamed of themselves and not think that they are holier than Thou…
That’s funny I thought #1 was right on.
That group caused nothing but chilly Hashem and chilly lubavitch.
Enough said. Ah kop ken men nisht
Arofstellin.
just loved what you wrote
There are much more respectful ways to publisize the same message – even in a hip style. And to farmers that are commenting about “police” “law” etc. the main thing isn’t to care (and comment) if what he did is wrong or right, but rather, EVERY single LUBAVITCHER Chossid should CARE about our Rebbe’ s Kavod. Regardles if the act is wrong or right, the Kavod of the Rebbe comes before law! Where has the Lubavitcher Chutzpa for the Rebbe’s Kavod gone? We didn’t hesitate to go against the government in Russia and neither should we in America. And the… Read more »
My first thought was how gross a picture of the rebbe o n top of a pile of garbage. ..utterly degrading
first he was brought up by his parents, 2nd he was in oholei torah, 3rd connected to the lubavitcher rebbe that we all know about, he wears a beard bc of shulchan aruch, the reason why it was done cowardly coz it was done in the middle of the night.
what the buchrim did was wrong but i dont think it belonged there in the first place
Wrong to graffiti a picture of the Rebbe like that.
I cringed every time I walked by one of those pictures.
But so painful to see it painted over like that.
So sad that our community has fallen so low over the past few years. Now the only way to go is UP.
i do not agree with it ,but also to see Rebbe’s portrait and nyc garbage around make me sick …. need better place for this art
Wow such ignorance…
Stupid to post the video, stupid of bored souls to post dumb comments and accusations, stupid of people to ‘defend the Rebbe’ by saying that his chossid should be thrown in jail for doing something stupid…
We’re in the 9 days, can’t we at least TRY to have some Ahavas Yisroel?
We Want Moshiach Now!! Ad Mosai?!?!
The Alter Rebbe did not want his Chassidim to p provoke the misnagdim. It is not the Chabad way to provoke those you oppose. I am not saying that the artist is a misnagid or was wrong with what he did, but if people oppose his. art, then defacing them is not the chasidic response.
It’s very unfortunate to see the bochur in the pictures & in the video.
For those of us who know what Mendel B.looks like, it’s him.
just like a torn pic of the rebbe u would paint over so too this pic the pic is a desgrace as a father of 8 and three of them on drugs because of the non chassidush influence ch has gave them i find these boys truly shluchim
That is not the Rov’s son!
Speaking of what’s loved for the rebbe:
You think putikng the rebbe on your bumper of your car is livid to the rebbe??
How stupid can we get. Just look at what the rebbes picture looks like after it’s on the car for. Week.
A disgrace. Would you put your grandfathers picutre on a bump Ber sticker?
I’m flabbergasted that someone who thinks himself a chossid would spray paint black paint over the Rebbe’s face.
This was long overdue! Thank you very much to the Bochrim who stood up for what’s right.
this is what is called a hate crime.
the intentional act to destroy a rabbis picture.
who consulted with his Rav first, and then did the act in broad daylight in front of everyone. These bochurim acted under cover at night with one of duo’s face’s well covered up in shame.
No one is entitled to make a decision that it’s wrong to paint the rebbes picture you don’t Like don’t do it on you’re property but to go and ruined such an investment I hope they all get arrested and shipped out from this beautiful country
9 days…
How did you guys feel about the Rebbe’s face on a billboard? We had one here in L.A. for some time, the well-known photo of the rebbe holding one hand up.
just reading all the comments…. i was shocked when i read how people want to report to the police, there are yidden!!
and shockes by the person who publicized the name of the bachur. and who said the mishichistim did it, who said the antis?
why comment on something you dont know????
THIS IS THE MOST DISGUSTING THING I’VE SEEN IN A VERY LONG TIME. TO THOSE “BACHURIM”- (I’m not even sure if they’re deserving of that title anymore) YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES! WHO RAISED YOU? WHERE’D YOU GO TO YESHIVA? WHAT SORT OF “CHASSIDUS” HAVE YOU BEEN LEARNING? WHICH REBBE ARE YOU “CONNECTED” TO? WHY DO YOU BOTHER WEARING A BEARD ON YOUR FACE FOR G-DS SAKE WHICH REPRESENTS RACHAMIM AND CHASSIDISHKEIT AND EHRLICHKEIT?!! AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST- WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING BY PAINING ANOTHER YID IN SUCH A HATEFUL AND COWARDLY MANNER??! I… Read more »
Well said!!!!
The artist might be entitled to reimbursement for his time, efforts, and expenses. And the stores for reimbursement for having their property repainted after this defacement. There are 3 separate locations.
im sorry but evan though the artist had good intentions,the rebbes respect is more important.good intentions doasnt turn a discraseful act into a kosker one.
There are those who place stickers of the Rebbe with messages on them on the backs of street lights etc. Which are later ripped off sometimes tearing through the Rebbe’s holy face r”l.
Where do you lay the fault in that situation? The Bochur who put the Rebbe’s holy face where it didn’t belong, or the vandal who ripped it off?
Think of why you answer the way you do.
The Rebbe Picture does not belong outside a pizza shop on the street where dogs walk by and pee on. I am sure the artist had good intentions but nevertheless it is not respectful and it’s not the proper koved .
They should be dealt with
I would put my lawyer on this case in finished them
Ship him back to where he belongs Australia
I’m not perfect but I know how careful I am to show respect to the Rebbe’s pictures in the zillions of magazines, advertisements, announcements etc that come to my home in Crown Heights. No matter how a person might feel about a picture of our beloved Rebbe on an outside wall, I truly cannot imagine a Chabad Chassid picking up paint & covering over the Rebbe’s holy face. That is a true desecration !! I don’t care who their fathers are – these boys are not wired properly . Get them help.
#51 I love you!….
Is the name of the bochur being published? What purpose does it serve?
If the restaurant owner wants to file a complaint, let him do that.
Why embarrass a Jew for no purpose?
While this posed a very controversial act and was felt uncomfortable / inappropriate on the part of many, the painting was already done. Now to go against the potential Shlichus of the art, and not just to go over the hard work of the painter, but to completely brush out the painting of the Rebbe is an even worse act of all! How could it be in one’s heart to do such a thing? It’s like discarding a picture of the Rebbe, Chas V’shalom. That makes me feel even more uncomfortable. The original act was done and it could have… Read more »
From where do you see it is the Rov’s son?!
The mural had Melech Hamoshiach on it!!
What is the connection to Mashichists?!
It’s probably Antis who didn’t like “Melech Hamoshiach” there!!
Halacha vein Morin Kain. an act like his must be done with Hergesh without asking a Rav
I try to be a good and sincere baal teshuva, but made some mistakes before I got to that point. Some of which I’m still doing teshuva for, and that’s since been a long time ago. Life presents tough decisions, but it’s always better not to act impulsively.
Judge urself by ur actions and others by their intentions (we tend to do the opposite). The artist has pure intentions and wanted to use his art to attract people to the Rebbe and to Torah and Mitzvos. The bochurim has good intentions too. They just learned all about Pinchas a few weeks ago who was a zealot and did what needed to be done when no one else was taking a stand. He did a violent act! They probably were after a farbrengen and decided to be the “Pinchos of the generation” in order to preserve the Rebbes kovod.… Read more »
Every day that the pictures were there was disrespecting the Rebbe!!!!
#42 you are exactly on the mark!
I was always taught in chabad that we can judge if something is good , is by its results . if one Yid saw the Rebbes picture in a public place and had a thought of teshuva then its kdai .
The Rebbe knew his picture would end up who knows where and yet he allowed it to be taken if it will help another Yid .
Good shabbos
Moshiach now !
How can someone even for a second think that what happened is ok.
It is the most disrepectfull thing I have ever seen in my life.
The Rebbe? How dare you.
All these bochurim these days thinking they are so chasidish by doing all these disgusting things like burning flags and disrespecting the rebbe.
The unfortunately think it’s the right thing to do.
They need help.
Mishiach NOW.
U should see when they pile up trash against that wall waiting fir pick up… then we will see what a big “Shlichus” this is !!!
Where were you brought up, didn’t you here the stories as a child of pidyon shvuyim don’t you know that it’s one of the greatest mitzvos what do you mean report him??!! He didn’t hurt or kill anyone even if he did we have are pin courts for that reason I’m just totally shocked and taken aback by the comments just where have we fallen??
Rebbe picture not appropriate but what are you going to do? These guys are acting like thugs. Shame.
Why noone came to discuss it with the owner I’m sure he would be reasonable but just to destroy property is not right
For them the Mikdosh was destroyed…
Harav Mendel Cohen finishes Shass and gets 12 comments vandals commit a crime (in the night) and the world comments 40 times…yes nine days …….
Street art has its own rules, part of the power of street art is how long it stays up before someone takes it down, ultimately the more powerful message prevails, if it’s appropriate more images will arrive, if it isn’t it will be taken down
Why didn’t you take the artist to Beis Din of your choice? Just Why???
Although I do not fill comfortable with having the Rebbe’s image used in this way… ( and who is the authority to say that the rebbe would or would not agree to be “used” in such a way to promote his inyanim (see the parable of the Alter Rebe about a holy page rolling in the mud)!)
to deface it is probably an even greater … disrespect!
please lets all make an effort to do the right thing without damaging and using our zealous impulses to destroy anything… להרבות אור! ממילא דוחה חושך
You an’t use such a holy Tzaddik for such a low cause, to be painted on a wall by graffiti which is usually a very low thing…maybe write his quotes but not draw a bicture of him himself.
Yet you can’t just go and physically ruin it the painting. There shouldve been a meeting or something
Now what you have looks far worse then any previously perceived. An public display of disunity & intolerance for all the world to see. Somewhat reminiscent of the Biryonim who took matters into their own hands about the same time of year. The leader also had big yichus. Not good simanim I’m afraid.
Although I thought the art was distasteful and perhaps a bit disrespectful to our Rebbe this is not the answer.
We really need moshiach and quickly!!
I don’t think painting a picture of the rebbe on a wall is the most respectful thing but painting over it is way worse!!!
Even non Jews in CH wouldn’t do this.
why vandalize the pic of the rebbe
The Rebbe never wanted anything like this and it’s very clear in the Rebbe’s answers
As this is private property, they should be arrested for a vigilante.
its time to face it. we may not want the rebbes face plastered on the walls.
not condoning vandalism…..
but…
isnt it disrespectful to grafiti a picture of a tzadik to a street wall?
did the rebbe ever speak about that?
has any tzadik ever allowed their picture to be painted on a street wall?
1) they aren’t masked
2) easy to find them
3) dumb guys.
Good Shabbos.
I managed to take a photo of this beautiful art before it was vandalized.
Those bochurim have no right to do that.
Today the world over knows the face of our Rebbe so this street art shouldn’t make a difference but be proud that we are HIS chassidim.. love not hate
Totally inappropriate to use the rebbes image in this manner. Particularly by an amature artist plagiarizing the work of real street artists.
I genuinely do not understand this. Can someone please explain. What is the reason for wanting to erase a picture of the Rebbe?
Maybe not. But they don’t belong in Crown Heights.
When you have a rov like this kids father so u end up having these things in ch happening !!!
Maybe because its disrespectable to make a the rebbe graffittj art
Stop judging the artist stop judging anyone stop thinking you know what the Rebbe wants/wanted from us. WHO CARES? Who knows if this picture would SPARK someones interest again. How dare you vandalize our streets? Is that what the Rebbe wanted from you? to “save” his face and be disrespectful to another Yid. I am horrified. COMPLETELY.
LOVE your truly
a messenger
Thats why you don’t put the Rebbes picture in places where it will likely be defaced!
Graffiti is graffiti. A picture of the Rebbe does not belong on walls in graffiti style. It’s denigrating and disrespectful.
Just like the so-called “artist” the vandals were also acting in a sense of “shlichus” to defend the honor of a Tzaddik.
They most likely hanging out in 770
These bochurim should be ashamed of themselves. Just because someone does something that you don’t agree with doesn’t give you the right to do something like this.
I don’t think what they did was right but truth the rebbes picture dose not belong on a wall outside a pizza shop
The Rebbe is not a piece of art
Please report it. We appreciate living in a civilized society and not reporting it will contribute to help turn this place into a jungle
The artist worked hard to create something beautiful, and with your vicious acts, you’ve created something despicable and ugly. And This in the NINE DAYS.Know that you have NOT done a mitzvah – despite what you may have thought….BDE
isn’t the the messianic rav’s son
Wow… So embarrassing that jews can behave like that
Have them arrested
This is a little sad. The bochurim probably thought that they were helping the kovod of the Rebbe and doing something good. As they felt the mural was disrespectful to the Rebbe. But I wonder if the artists feelings were considered. The artist who probably also thought he was doing something good that the Rebbe would like. the artist who labored to make the mural. I wonder how the Rebbe was so sensitive to people’s feelings, would respond. I wonder if we can all learn from this that everyone is trying their best to do what is right and good.… Read more »
I understand that too some this art is controversial.
I think its contemporary art, and contemporary art and therefore will have its likes and dislikes.
However, that does not give anyone the self righteous reasoning to damage someone else’s work or property.
P.S. I believe the Rebbe would have appreciated contemporary Art.
Just because you’re a ‘frum chasid,’ on a purportedly holy mission to protect the Rebbe from some sort of perceived slight to his kavod, this destruction of property doesn’t make you anything less than a common street vandal. You committed a crime of the same severity, (not to mention that you also violated the mitzvot of Ahavat Yisroel and damage to another Jew’s income, and I’m sure many more as well in the process), and, should the owner press charges (which is highly doubtful, and probably the reasons these cowards had the b*lls to go through with this), you can… Read more »
How could they do this ?! such chutzpa!!
Once a person went by dollars and the Rebbe told them a tikun for throwing a pic of the Rebbe on the floor.
I hope these guys do Teshuva
they don’t look like they’re trying to mask anything to me.
When you turn the Rebbe into a meme and a bit of advertising, what can you expect?
the son of our “rov”!!! such chinuch…
I knew all the mishchism will lead to desecrating the rebbe in an open form.
I not saying I love the mural but to paint over the rebbe’s picture with black paint??