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CrownHeights.info has received a number of emails alerting us to missionary activity in the neighborhood. A group of 5 to 10 has been seen knocking on doors all around the neighborhood, targeting Jewish homes specifically.

Alert: Missionaries Targeting CH Door to Door

Mobile photo sent in by a reader.

CrownHeights.info has received a number of emails alerting us to missionary activity in the neighborhood. A group of 5 to 10 has been seen knocking on doors all around the neighborhood, targeting Jewish homes specifically.

The group was seen yesterday around Lefferts and East New York Avenues, and Today on Crown and Carroll Streets.

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22 Comments

  • Here-a an idea

    Each time they knock on a Jewish home, open your door and throw a cup of water at them, after a few soakings I think they will get the message.

  • Chaim Gruner

    Why in the world do we freak out every time missionaries come? We aren’t insecure about our commitment to Yiddishkeit, sor do we simply enjoy the concept of a common enemy?

    It’s hard for me to say this but let’s be completely intellectually honest here. When I was a little kid doing Mivtzoim on a tank I once asked my father what the difference between us and the missionaries that everyone hates.

    While chabad reaches out mainly to fellow Yiddin and they reach out to everyone, treating this “grave threat” to our community can simply be done with diplomacy I.E. Asking the organization to stop sending these people to our neighborhood.

  • BIG DEAL?!?!

    You tell them that you are not interested and that’s that, it’s not as if they’re threatening to burn us at the stake if we don’t convert.

    (and please non of this “oy vay our children are gonna sh”mad zich g-d forbid” that wont happen – the kids are barely interested in Yiddishkit I dont see them running lihav’dil to another religion)

  • cup of water??!!

    dont be rude!!!! Just politely say no thanks I’m not interested. When you show any passion or excitement even if its to argue against them, thats what they ENJOY! They want you to argue! If you show bland disinterest thats what frustrates them and they will turn away.
    Just simple. No thanks. Not interested.

  • Crown street

    They were so obvious! They wanted Russian speaking people & my neighbor let them in….I’m not worried, I’m sure they left with their tails between their legs. But they ARE very pushy. Blond Russian woman, a couple of white/asian looking guys in suits. The pamphlets under their arms & briefcases are a dead giveaway.

    HOWEVER….our Russian elderly neighbors are vulnerable. Please warn them in your buildings these are missionaries.

  • Ariela Yael

    When that happens to me I just say no thank you–99% of the time it works and when it doesn’t then I close the door as politely as I can.

  • 7 laws

    Ask if they believe if someone smacks you in the face are you sopposed to “turn the other cheeck”? Then try it.

    Tell them the Natsies and the inquisition all believed in Yoshka and I would rather share hell with the inocent children they killed than go to their heaven.

    Seven Laws of Noah: 1) Belief in G-d.
    1. Have Faith in G-d

    2. Dont Lose Trust

    3. Be Humane

    4. Build a Good Family

    5. Respect the Property of Others

    6. Be a Good Citizen

    7. Respect the value of all life

    SEE http://www.noahide.org/

  • Ruth

    When missionaries come to my door, I point to our mezuzah and politely tell them, “What this means–the short version–is that you’re wasting your time. If you see anything that looks like this on any other door, it will mean the same thing there as well. Have a nice day!”

    My 80-year-old mother is a LOT less polite and pleasant!! But then, she has more free time than I do as well… 8^)

  • hmmm

    ok 2 things:
    A. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT THE REBBE WANTS AND TEACH EVERYONE THE NOAHIDE LAWS

    B. this kind of scares me because there are many bal teshuvas & ppl beginning to become frum around CH, missionaries/jews for yoshke can sometimes have a way with their words and scare ppl and who knows what.. yikes cvs

  • This is what I-ve done...

    When someone comes knocking on my door “selling” another religion, I treat them politely, and merely tell them very firmly that I have my own faith which is not negotiable. Thanks but no thanks” and I gently close the door. They get the message.

  • chana

    to number4

    chas veshalom these people can offer money or presents to the kids
    Also, it has already happened to me that someone asked me some questions about the judaism… I answered naturally …
    After 5 minutes,he started to speak about his religion and to compare… i realize that he was a missionairy
    they don’t tell u !…

    that’s why it can be dangerous.
    but i agree that u shoudn’t freak out…

  • Not everyone-s cup of tea

    I had a non-Jewish co-worker who was also annoyed by missionaries coming to her house, so she told me she opened the door completely naked. The missionaries never came back.

  • to #13

    they do not get the message…
    if they did, they wouldn’t continue on

    they are missionaries, and should not be treated kindly by us

  • Remove your orlah

    I always ask if they hear of our forefather Jacob, when he came to shchem/Bethlahem he was prepared to intergrate with the goyim, provided they become circumcised.I tell the missionaries that I have a sharp knife and a butcher block and as soon as we do the covenant, I will listen to them.

    Not one has yet taken me up on the offer.

  • Chanah R.

    BS“D
    This means we all need to increase our efforts to spread the 7 Noahide Laws in Crown Heights! We know we are really lagging behind in miftsoyim when we see door to door missionaries :-) To those of us that are blessed to own property, can you post the 7 Noahide laws prominently outside your home/business? Can anyone host a shiur for non-Jews on the 7 Laws of Noah? Is there a Rabbi in Crown Heights willing to teach the Noahide Laws to non-Jews? I mean this is still the Rebbe’s neighborhood, right? The fact that there is no Yeshiva for Noahides in Crown Heights completely baffles me. IM”H we will start to see all the places of avoda zara in Crown Heights transformed into Noahide learning centers, but that’s not going to happen by itself my friends. Remember, we’re supposed to be a “light unto the nations.” We’ve got our work cut out for us.

  • Missionaries Aroys!

    These missionaries prey on Russians, Israelis and Iranians in CH who are not necessarily integrated into our lives. They are also a threat to confused OTD kids.

    They need to feel as unwelcome as possible. We have a missionary problem where I am, and I just take their pamphlets, rip them up in their face, and explain to them that they better not approach one more Jew if they know what is good for them.

    Do NOT be polite with them and do NOT argue with them. Just make it clear, in the strongest tone possible, that they are not welcome in the Rebbe’s shchuna. Water is not a bad idea, and bleach is even better, but this may constitute assault in NY.

  • NO THANK YOU?

    What’s with “NO THANK YOU”?! What is there anything to thank them for? For trying to covert yidden you are saying “thank you”?!
    I JUST SAY DROP DEAD AND GO TO HELL WHERE YOU BELONG!
    that usally does the trick!

  • ceo

    ask them nicely (and slowly, because when YOU are talking to them, they are not talking to someone else) for their materials so you can give them out to your friends and relatives. If they give them, then shred them immediately.

  • bilshon

    donwt deside on your own call יד לאחים (yad l’achim) etc. the rebbe said not to get into any disscussions with them just tell others and yourself AND THEM that its wrong what thier doing