Rabbonim Encourage Gabboim to Enforce Order in 770

By COLlive staff

The Crown Heights Badatz have issued a letter Monday, encouraging the 770 Gabboim to enforce order in 770 Eastern Parkway.

The letter comes as a follow up to a letter from the Gabboim banning a group of bochurim from 770 due to an outcry in the community after a violent scuffle broke out at a children’s rally in 770.

Residents have started a petition, calling for new Gabboim to be elected to “oversee the shul’s day to day functioning and, most importantly, to stand strong should there be any efforts ch”v to undermine their authority.”

In response, the Gabboim banned Yosef Yitzchok Assulin, Sholom Dovber Assulin, Levi Botnick, Moshe Blumenfeld, Yaakov Yosef, Leibel Notik, Avishai Landa, and Yisroel Reichman, from the Shul premises and surrounding area. 

But organizers of the petition voiced concern that “the same group of bochurim have been seen in 770 the same day the letter came out.”

“The same bochurim were seen doing their usual activities on Sunday afternoon inside the Shul,” witnesses said.

On Monday, the Rabbonim issued a letter in support of the Gabboim’s actions.

“This letter is to help strengthen your hand in keeping and running order in 770,” they wrote.

Although a Gabbai’s job is usually to conduct themselves in a kind manner, it is sometimes necessary to enforce order with a strong hand, they said.

“The Gabboim have the merit – and obligation – to remove any form of violence, which leads to unprecedented Chillul Hashem and a mockery of the Rebbe’s honor,” they said.

“We are very pleased with this action,” organizers of the petition told COLlive.

“Now that the Rabbonim have given their endorsement, a restraining order will be filed with the NYPD and is expected to be issued in the coming weeks,” they said.

Many parents in the neighborhood have been vocal about demanding change, sharing their shock and disappointment that their children had been exposed to the violent incident.

More than one parent told COLlive that they will not be allowing their children to attend any events in the 770 Shul until the Gabboim “take real action.”

“At a Chanukah event…my children watched in horror as their beloved Rabbi Shimmy Weinbaum was attacked by terrorists,” one parent wrote. “I call them terrorists because they fit the literal definition of that term. And, as with all terrorists, there’s no reasoning with them. As with all terrorists, the more you allow them to get away with their toxic ways, the more emboldened they become.”

Many schools in Crown Heights have taken a stand as well, telling organizers of the petition that they will not be allowing their students to participate in any program or rally in the Shul until the situation is rectified, COLlive was told.

“I know we don’t like to get authorities involved, but the red line was crossed – requiring them to actually press charges and get a legal restraining order,” a parent said. “I won’t allow my kids to be put in harm’s way.”