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On Sunday January 30, 2011, at Chovevei Torah on Eastern Parkway, well over 150 Crown Heights residents attended the Know-Your-Rights seminar. The seminar was organized by Brooklyn college student Yosef Bergovoy and law graduate Eliyahu Federman. The presenters included Federman, Attorney Norman Siegel and Earl Ward, District Attorney counsel Lance P. Ogiste along with Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Eric Adams. Community members found the presentation informative, empowering and inspiring.

Healthy Attendance at Know Your Rights Seminar

On Sunday January 30, 2011, at Chovevei Torah on Eastern Parkway, well over 150 Crown Heights residents attended the Know-Your-Rights seminar. The seminar was organized by Brooklyn college student Yosef Bergovoy and law graduate Eliyahu Federman. The presenters included Federman, Attorney Norman Siegel and Earl Ward, District Attorney counsel Lance P. Ogiste along with Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Eric Adams. Community members found the presentation informative, empowering and inspiring.

In the introduction, Federman explained that the educational seminar was a response to a WABC Channel 7 segment that uncovered questionable police practices in Crown Heights, efforts of some to quell members of the Crown Heights community from complaining about the police and to give the citizens of Crown Heights a greater appreciation of their constitutional rights. Federman described the delicate check and balance between effective policing and citizens rights as analogous to the teaching in Pirkei Avos (Ethics of our Fathers) that we on the one hand pray for the welfare of the government but on the other that we be weary of those in power.

The panelists mostly discussed citizens rights and responsibilities when interacting with the police – emphasizing how knowing your rights will ultimately lead to better police community relations. Other topics addressed included the police obligation to accurately report instances of alleged criminal wrongdoing – including filing police reports in response to citizen complaints – and the right to videotape the police in public so long as one is not interfering with police duties.

The event was sponsored by Ben Federman, CEO of 1SaleADay.com.

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24 Comments

  • Jimmy Justice

    it was a very informative program. I want to thank the organizers for all the hard work they did to put it together.

  • wow look at that set up!!!

    Mendy g. u did an awesome job, really awesome work a great talent. :)

  • chanie

    i don’t see any women in the pics… was it only for guys, or was there a mechitza?

  • from a fan!

    Mendy Geisinsky great job with the catering and setup it’s really beautiful work!

    and although i missed the seminar I’m sure it was great!

  • POLICE VICTORY

    Looks nice, but obviously many many more could have came
    fact is that when the police see how we dont even have interest in such an event, they are encouraged to continue with their recklasless

  • Shimon Cohen

    “…but on the other that we be weary of those in power.”
    Although I’ve often felt that way, I think the quote in Perek is best translated as“..wary of those in power.”
    Yosef, we’re all proud of you-keep it up!

  • To #3

    There were women there – seated separately. They were not as represented as the men probably because of the kinus hashluchos…..

  • proud 2 b chabad

    the tables , color scheme and presentation all have flair and a fresh ATTITUDE . your mother would be proud. it elevated the seminar out of the category of same old same old and there is a creative signature evident. MENDY GEISINSKY MAY YOUR TALENTS BE RECOGNIZED AND MAY YOU BE HIRED TO PLAN MANY MORE SIMCHAS

  • important ppl were there too

    all at one (unifying) event
    Rabbi Israel Shemtov
    Rabbi Noteh Shemtov
    Rabbi Chaim LaPine
    Rabbi Mosheh Feiglin
    Rabbi Lipkind
    Zaki
    Tisha James
    Some others this seems to be an issue that crosses all partisan lines

  • to #9 (from a fan of his work)

    His name is Mendy Geisinsky (of Uptown Productions) and he is an up and coming party planner and does an amazing job, and is starting to do Lechayim’s and parties, really great guy to know and work with.

  • To 3

    There were some (few) women, I would say the small amount was due to the convention that was going on at the same time.

  • Boruch Sholom W

    To number 5:

    I don’t think it is a victory for the police in anyway. For crown heights seminars, 150 people is a huge showing. That is not to mention the thousands of views the video will probably attract.

    Thanks so much Yosef, Beni/1saleaday, Eli, panelists etc. Though I was going to attend and at last minute couldn’t make it, I watched the video and it was well worth my time.

  • Yanky

    Thanks to Yosef for taking his incident with the summons and turning it around for the better..
    And thanks to CHI for getting the original footage of the cops doing what they did!

  • WOWWWWWWW athsteticly pleased!!!!!

    OMGGGGGG THE TABLE LOOKS INCREDIBLE…AND CHECK OUT THOSE FLOWERS…AY MAY ZINGGGG!!! MENDY GEISINSKY OF UPTOWN PRODUCTIONS..U HAVE AN EYE!!!!