Posted to Crown Heights News on

Black Hasidic Jew’s Winning Essay Offers Dream for Healing Rift

Tamer El-Ghobashy – NY Daily News

NEW YORK, NY — He’s someone everyone should be able to agree on.

Yosef Abrahamson, an African-American Hasidic Jew, took his place as commanding officer of a Crown Heights precinct for a day Tuesday.

More pictures in the Extended Article! (Click Here to read the Essay)

It’s a symbolic gesture that the 16-year-old Brooklyn boy hopes could heal rifts in the neighborhood racked by fresh violence between the cultures he claims.

“There’s a lot of trouble in my community,” said the teen, who wears the distinctive black suit and fedora of the Chabad Lubavitch Orthodox Jews.

“But I’m willing to do anything to help,” he said.

Yosef won an essay competition for the honor of being named the top cop of the 71st Precinct.

He joined 120 other city teens who won similar recognition for a ceremony yesterday at Police Headquarters.

The Yeshiva student never intended on becoming outspoken on the issue of bias violence in Crown Heights – nor was his unique background known to the judges who selected his essay as a winner.

“Some people become leaders, some people are drafted,” said Rabbi Chaim Perl, the administrator of Yeshiva Darchai Menachem, where Yosef studies. “We’re drafting him.”

Yosef arrived last year from Nebraska, where he was home-schooled by his mother, Dinah Abrahamson – the daughter of a Jewish woman who fled Nazi Germany and an African-American father.

When he landed in Brooklyn, Yosef was the subject of innocent curiosity from both the Hasidic and black residents of Crown Heights.

But as instances of ethnic violence erupted, he became keenly aware of the simmering tensions.
In April, a 20-year-old son of a black cop was assaulted by several men believed to be members of an Orthodox neighborhood watch.

Last month, a 16-year-old Jewish boy was robbed and beaten by two black teens.
The violence has led to protests from both communities and accusations that the NYPD has favored one group over the other.

Yosef was subjected to sharp comments about his mixed heritage. Some Jews have told him he doesn’t fit in and some African-Americans have warned him that his schooling is turning “him into a Jew.”

But for the most part, “People have been very welcoming of us,” said the boy’s mother.
“I hope I can make some difference,” he said. “Things have to change.”

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19 Comments

  • JJ

    I read this kids winning essay which was published online a few weeks ago.He is a very bright person with great ideas.I want to congratulate him on winning the contest.

  • Hindy L.

    Great job, Yosef…you look so distinguished. What a Kiddush Hashem!!!

  • Moishie

    Mazel Tov to our Sammy Davis, JR
    He makes us proud! A real mench!
    Look out Obama :)

  • ceo

    We learn alot from this article. ONE is that Darchei Menachem helps the boys find their potentials. They do not create “factory” children, the children from that school THINK on their own with the framework of Torah and Mitzvos.
    I pray for Darchei Menachem that they always maintain their wonderful ability to give personal attention, and the Torah’s ways of giving each child positive love and attention!!

  • 1642 carroll street, top floor

    awesome :) !!!

    woohoo, way to go..

    rabbi chaim perl, good to c u may it to the web, once again!

    keep up the gr8 work!!

  • sheichen hash-chuna

    He is a Lubavitcher, period. Please dispense with the qualifiers that are irrelevant, misleading or distract from the truth.

  • chossid

    I want to meet the Jew who told him he “doesn’t belong.”

    I HIGHLY doubt this actually happened.

  • m.

    you could see by his eyes that he has a jewish neshama…he must be a very very special boy.

  • dana

    well done yosef.. and mrs abrahamson..
    we are very proud and believe in your ability to make significant changes.

  • proud

    mazalto mazaltov
    well done
    but to the reporter you never ask what some one wrutes to the rebbe thats personal