NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited the Crown Heights neighborhood on Tuesday, stopping at the home of longtime community leader Rabbi Chanina Sperlin. The visit focused on hearing directly from community leaders about local concerns and recent incidents affecting the community.
Commissioner Tisch met with members of the Vaad Hakohol and other community representatives to discuss issues facing residents and concerns following recent antisemitic incidents.
The visit came in the aftermath of the terror attack in Bondi, Australia, which took the lives of 15 innocent people, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger of Chabad of Bondi and Rabbi Yaakov Levitan. It also followed a stabbing of a Jewish individual Tuesday afternoon near Kingston Avenue and Lincoln Place in Crown Heights. The commissioner came to reassure the Jewish community of the NYPD’s commitment to security.
Joining the commissioner were NYPD Chief Richie Taylor; Inspector Igor Pinkhasov, PBBS; Deputy Inspector Ron Perez, Commanding Officer of the 71st Precinct; Captain Christopher Vincente, Executive Officer of the 71st Precinct; Sergeant Michael Baratta, 71st Precinct; and Police Officer Jonathan Connors.
Also in attendance were Fred Kreizman, Commissioner of the Community Affairs Unit; Jacob Itzkowitz from Shomrim; Matt Abrams Gerber, Vice President of the JCRC of New York; Rabbi Shmuli Butler of Chabad at JFK Airport; Shmuel Rosenstein, Chairman of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council; Meir New, Vice Chairman; Zalmen Lazell; Eli Cohen from the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council; Eli Slavin, Community Liaison to Congresswoman Yvette Clarke; Yoel Lefkowitz, Director of Outreach, New York State Attorney General’s Office; and noted askan and law enforcement chaplain Rabbi Joel Eisdorfer.
During the meeting, Commissioner Tisch spoke about how the NYPD is “pulling out all the stops” to keep the Jewish community safe.
She said, “It’s not lost on me what I represent — the first Jewish police commissioner in the history of the NYPD. I will always protect all Jewish New Yorkers and all New Yorkers.”
Commissioner Tisch added, “The NYPD will follow the law, and we will uphold the First Amendment, even when the protected language is deeply offensive to our own sensibilities. But make no mistake — anyone who commits a crime will be arrested, they will be held accountable, and our city will not go backward. Not on my watch.”
She emphasized that the NYPD will always stand with the Crown Heights Jewish community and the greater Jewish community, telling residents, “You are not alone in this city.”
Rabbi Chanina Sperlin thanked the commissioner and the NYPD for their continued support and friendship with the community.
Following the meeting, Commissioner Tisch lit a large menorah in front of Rabbi Sperlin’s home.
thank you chief Ritchie taylor for keeping us safe, we owe our safety to your dedication
What safety are you referring to?
IY”H the visit to Chanina house will be successful in eliminating the constant attacks against the Jewish ppl of NYC.
Why are we always satisfied with a photo op, a few more police officers on the streets for a few weeks (or days) and then back to “normal” where it’s dangerous to walk the streets by day!
It seems like her way of “protecting” the Jewish community is by pretending that all the antisemitic attacks were not antisemitic. She’s not a friend or ally at all.
It could get worse, h’vsholom, so don’t be so eager to complain.
Don’t we do this every year?
wow amazing