By COLlive reporter
With 770 Eastern Parkway ranked the location with the second-highest reports of social distancing violations in New York City, officials at Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters reiterated their disapproval of the outdoor minyanim that are taking place.
This practice is in violation of health regulations by the CDC and city and state agencies. Video clips of the minyanim and the NYPD dispersing them have been circulating on social media.
“We have received several inquiries regarding the daily minyanim that certain individuals are conducting in the courtyard of 770, and a recent audio was publicized, questioning why those in charge of the area are not taking the necessary steps to stop this activity,” said Yaacov Behrman, speaking on behalf of the Chabad institutions on Thursday.
Behrman also told COLlive, “We state, unequivocally, that these minyanim are being arranged without any authorization and are happening despite our explicit instructions to the contrary. When the doors to 770 were shut due to the Corona outbreak, we made it known that the entire premises – including the courtyard – was off limits.”
All the buildings at Chabad Headquarters, including the Main Shul – 770, the two smaller upstairs Shuls, the Rebbe’s office, rooms and the main Chabad Library have all been closed off with metal barricades, tape and have been firmly locked.
Still, outside of 770 remained a hotspot of activity during the Pesach holiday, and was reported to the New York City hotline for social distancing non-compliance.
A source at the NYPD 71st Precinct confirmed to COLlive.com that representatives from Lubavitch Headquarters have continuously been in touch with them for assistance in ensuring that crowds do not gather anywhere on the premises.
“We have been dealing with these young men for years,” the police officer told COLlive. “These guys have been allowed to run free and do as they wish for many years – and with the support of members of the community. This is a long-standing problem that has come to the forefront now because they are doing their activities outside in public.”
Behrman told COLlive that “We have been in close communication with the NYPD throughout this entire ordeal and have repeatedly expressed our desire to put a stop to this activity. We let them know on several occasions that we are prepared to take whatever steps are necessary to put an end to this behavior, which presents a health risk to members of the community and is a disgrace for Lubavitch. However, we can only go as far as law enforcement is prepared and equipped to go.
“Finally, it is absurd to question our resolve regarding the current situation, when it is well-known that for years we have been doing everything within our power to curtail the activities of this rogue group of students who have been given free rein to do whatever they see fit at 770, and have caused terrible discord within our community, tarnishing the good name of Lubavitch.”
No doubt, we are all saddened and hurt by the inability to stand in the daled Amos of the Rebbe’s palace, but yiddishkeit flourished and will continue to do so before and temporarily without such comforts. We are Yiddin and we are resilient. We have been through more pain and suffering than any other nation in earths history and we give each other strength through new ways of Ve’ahavta le’reyecha ka’mocha. We see this every day when we call our friends an family to check in on them, when we follow safety protocols and protect our more vulnerable from this… Read more »
We’re ever you are and where ever you stand you could make that The Rebbe’s daled Amos
Now is the time for the Rabanim and Aguch to work together. I guarantee that 99% of Toishvey Hashchunah would be happy if both sides worked together against this VERY SMALL rouge group.
This is not about Mishichist or Anti. These 25-30 guys are operating outside the pale of normalcy.
NOT AGAIN, NOT AGAIN, WHAT PART OF NO TRESPASSING & NO MINYANIM ARE YOU IDIOTS NOT UNDERSTANDING?!?
This isn’t the first article regarding the situation at 770, but I sure hope that this is the last!!
I don’t understand why you don’t have these people arrested.
You have 4 good reasons
1. Pikuach Nefesh
2. Chilul Hashem
3. Not listening to the Rabonim. Daas Torah
4. Going against Dina de Malchusa. The government
What are you waiting for?? If these meshigoyim show up, CALL THE COPS.
because they are tying to lower the prison population not increase it. The high prison population represents a danger for coronavirus spread. There has to be a way to fully block off that whole area before arrest are made
The cops are right there. It’s a shame/crime that they aren’t keeping halacha and .gov laws but in this particular circumstance (not necessarily others) the reality is, it’s a bunch of teen-young adults praying and they keep some semblance of distancing.
I don’t condone their actions in the slightest, it truly is shameful and goes against the religious practice they are striving to practice, but one has to see it for what it is, and jailing 18-24yr old for praying outside …I dunno
I have passed by many times and there are gatherings and a police car is there with police ensconced inside doing nothing.
put things to take up every bit of sidewalk/stairs so that it is impossible to even stand anywhere
Torah Vedaaas Yeshiva
Spoke to NYC (police)
They got permit to open! Only for 10ppl
To Do Minyan Spiritually for every Body!
(*why they can’t do like that. Like was in western wall 2 weeks ago!)
the rabbonim said NO….no minyanim under any circumstance….who are you kidding when given the green light no one will stop at 10 people…the word of the rabbonim is TORAH stop fighting for your own ego…it has nothing to do with following torah
They should volunteer to go into the hospitals and put tefillin on the covid patients who are too weak to do so, and are prevented from their family members visiting them.Maybe when they witness the immense suffering they might come to their senses.