By COLlive reporter
Photos: Baruch Ezagui/COLlive
New York City Council Member Jumaane Williams, who represents Flatbush, Marine Park and Midwood, often wondered why there was police presence in front of a specific building on Eastern Parkway.
Growing up in Brooklyn, he knew the three pointed red brick building was a synagogue but was not aware of its historical significance or global influence – until this week.
Jumaane and his Jewish liaison Boris Noble visited Crown Heights on Sunday to learn about the Jewish community and was then given a tour of 770 Eastern Parkway, known as Lubavitch World Headquarters.
Williams is running for New York City Public Advocate in the 2019 special election to succeed Letitia James and said he was glad to be able to visit 770 and meet local community activists.
The visit came after community activist Rabbi Yaacov Behrman invited the council member to visit Crown Heights, and learn about the post-war settlement of the Lubavitch community and see firsthand the important Chabad landmarks.
Williams began the visit with a tour of the WLCC offices at 770 where he viewed the old telephone equipment and photos of WLCC’s work, and heard a firsthand account from Rabbi Chaim Baruch Halberstam about the 500 phone lines that would broadcast the Rebbe‘s talks worldwide.
Jumaane then visited the Agudas Chassidei Chabad Library, adjacent to 770 Eastern Parkway, home to 250,000 books and manuscripts, and discussed the history of Chabad, and the remaining archive still being held in Russia with Chabad librarian Rabbi Berel Levine.
The evening ended with a meeting at NCFJE offices with the organization’s chairman Rabbi Shea Hecht, Mrs. Baila Olidort, Behrman, Mordechai Lightstone, Shlomie Hecht, and Mendy and Gadi Hershkop of Crown Heights Shomrim.
The group discussed with the council member the recent string of anti semitic attacks in the neighborhood, and the dire need for affordable housing for members of the Lubavitch community.
I hope Bhernan discussed with J. Williams, the Mezuzas problem.
בנין נערים סתירה
to #14 . You have a very good point . Ask the people who arranged for JW who is a Sonei Yisroel to tour the Rebbes Liberary , to arrange a tour for you . After all you like Jews .
Lol he is getting a tour of all the parts of 770 that I, as a crown heights girl never got to see
Behrman made it very clear to Jamaani that the safety and security of Israel is a very important issue to the community. He opened the meeting taking about Israel and the importance of American Israeli alliance.
Yes, we have have MANY concerns as a Khilla (community).
Our safety and the safety / well-being of our brethren in Eretz Yisroel.
JW is a known police hater, and is not with us on Israel.
See what his stance is on BDS!!!
The same comment writer who criticizes
other Askonim, and mocks their meetings as a photo opps…
Look yourself in the mirror now.
Street naming, and meetings with the likes of JW, will get us
little of anything.
What suppprt? Who supports? No one endorsed Jumaani. He visited and learned about the community.,
Jumanne Williams is a well known and documented COP Hater. Is this the kind of person we want to support when our Community needs the police for protection . We complain about the lack of protection ,
can you imagine when they hear who we are supporting . What a shame that all the people in the room did not check out this person and his background , Shame on them .
can anyone please share this candidates views on matters that pertain to our kehilla so we know for voting
Thank you to Yankel Behrman for being such an effective advocate for the CH community! We need more like you!
The job of the community center of crown heights is to do research on the best possible political leaders which will help the jewish community and report their findings to the public so they can vote accordingly.
WHAT DOES THE ABSENCE OF ANYONE FROM THE C.H. COMMUNITY COUNCIL OR C.H. PAC TELL US ? HOW MUCH LONGER WILL THE POLITICAL RESOURCES NEEDED FOR THE COMMUNITIES DEVELOPMENT BE DIVERTED TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE NO PLACE IN THE POLITICAL SPHERE, AND ARE STRICTLY SELF SERVING AND EGOTISTICALLY COMPETING FOR PHOTO-OPS. THIS ALSO SHOWS A DISMAL EFFORT ON THE PART OF OUR “ELECTED OFFICIALS” WHO HAVE BEEN OPERATING (TO WHAT EFFECT ? ) IN VIOLATION OF THE TERMS MANDATED BY THE COUNCILS BY-LAWS IN REGARDS TO ELECTIONS. TO SUM IT UP, ALL WE HAVE ARE TWO GROUPS THAT ARE CONSTANTLY… Read more »
So what good will elections do if Every eligible Yid does Not turn out to vote??
These are the results …& each time it is the same mantra. “We need elections”
CH folks don’t come out in numbers to vote. therefore CH doesn’t get support from politicians. simple you vote in numbers you get. you need organization & motivation.
Yaakov Berman, is actually getting things done for the community unlike some of the other activists.
Our only hope is to have elections, and vote for people that care about the all entire community and use the connection with the politicians to protect us and help us. We need Elections
Looks like a productive meeting