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CROWN HEIGHTS [CHI] — Our neighborhood has its fair share of panhandlers in our Shuls, on Kingston, at store entrances asking people to give them Tzedakah. Some are Jewish others are not, some are respectful and some are downright rude! This new face though prefers to call the cops on storeowners who ask him to move along, and we got it all on video.

Panhandler Calls the Cops on Storeowners

CROWN HEIGHTS [CHI] — Our neighborhood has its fair share of panhandlers in our Shuls, on Kingston, at store entrances asking people to give them Tzedakah. Some are Jewish others are not, some are respectful and some are downright rude! This new face though prefers to call the cops on storeowners who ask him to move along, and we got it all on video.

According to Zalman Raksin, owner of Post-Mark It, this new character has hours that he is open for business, every day from 11:00am to 2:00pm he is sitting on his chair holding his cup along with his city appointed home aid and caretaker watching over him.

Though today it was the manager of Regency Cleaners, Fishy Vail, who had asked him to move away from his store and stop harassing his customers, but the panhandler refused saying that it was he who was harassing him and called 911.

The punch line of the story was when the police arrived the cop had to check his cheat-sheet to see what, if any, violation the panhandler was committing. Turns out there was none, all he has to do is stay 10 feet away from the ATM machine. But while all this was happening one of the cops found it pertinent to write up a double parking ticket for a car.

The New York City Subway system has signs all over saying “Give Charity, Not Here”, perhaps this is a motto our community need to adopt. There are many Chesed organizations, KSCVK, Keren Simchas Shabbos V’Yom Tov, Ahavas Chesed, and many others that are devoted to doing go, which these people can turn to for the help they need, maybe it is them that who should be the beneficiaries of our generosity.

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54 Comments

  • anonymous

    is this what he spends his tzedoka money on? SODAS? with his diabetes? he’s complaining about not enough money, but he’s spending about 8 bucks on soda a day. CRAZY!!!!

  • Charity begins at home

    Actually, he’s busy on his Blackberry a whole day. He shops at Sterling Electronics without his walker or health care aide (paid for by our tax dollars). His hours are 11am – 2pm if you want to meet him in person. FYI – he does NOT buy 8 sodas a day. He smokes like a chimney, even with little children and babies passing by in strollers. He waits till he has enough $$$$ in his cup and then he runs to buy cigarettes.

    PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE – save your change for a reputable charity like Hachnosas Kallah, Hatzolah, our schools or other needy families in our neighborhood.

  • lashon hara

    leave the poor guy alone! why publicise him for the whole crownheightsinfo viewers community to see?
    whats it our business?

  • C-mon

    C’mon. Why are you bothering this man? Our job is not to judge, but give. He is not bothering anybody and please don’t tell me he is scaring anyone. I am scared by the lack of compassion that people in this commmunity show. The fact that he is begging, whether he needs it or not, points to his desperation for money or attention. Have rachmanatot!

  • awacs

    Why can he block the sidewalk,but bochurim can’t stand in the courtyard adjoining the sidewalk … ?

  • Tzedakah

    since i dont know what the Tzedakah is being use for i stop giving them and only give to ppl like Devorah Benjamin or rabbi Lieder where i know the money going to help the right ppl in need

  • Stop anoying!!

    Why are you bothering this person?? Don’t you think he’s unfortunate enough that he has to collect money!? Stop abusing this site. It makes no difference if you have a ta’ana against him, it still doesn’t give you any right to harass him like this.

  • Midos S-dom

    Let the guy live – it is extremely inappropriate to post this video on a website

  • me

    what is with this guy? we need to get ALL panhandlers OFF THE STREET!
    we work hard for our money and don’t want people in our faces asking for it, making us feel guilty for continuing on by.
    there are many tzeddakah orgs, so please go to them for help.

  • Kingston shopper

    Was that a cigarette in his hand? Also not great for his health condition. Personally, I never carry cash and always use credit cards in stores so I almost never give anything to panhandlers. It gets really annoying when they get angry about people who walk down Kingston without cash. Do people have a right just to take a walk or window shop?

  • Ha!

    He doesn’t look like he needs money! Nice clothes, and cigarettes! If you don’t have enough money, STOP BUYING CIGARETTES AND KAPOTES!!!!

  • collate

    poor guy, he obviously has a Personality Disorder.
    When people have that, they often turn the problem against the other person. After a while, nobody wants to have anything to do with such a person.
    Its called Borderline Personality Disorder. Its a very bad disorder for anyone who is connected with someone who has it. People don’t understand why the person is doing something against them and they make it seem like its something that is justified. very sad and unpleasant disorder.

  • Renegade

    That car deserves that double parking ticket.
    Double parking on a bust street like Kingston Ave where you’ll be disrupting traffic is wrong and should be ticketed.

  • Spare Change

    As a child, to my surprise, I saw one of the beggars go into the pizza shop and bought pizza and a coffee. My father used this opportunity to teach me… az men shtekt arois der hant, muz men geben! And… it is not up to us to judge just what these people do with the money.

    People should learn Hilchos Tzedokoh. There are many sforim written on this subject, in all languages.

    NO ONE should be reduced to that position! Thank Hashem for what you have and dig into your pockets, even if it’s for a few coins.

    Wishing alleh yidden, only prosperity and the opportunity to help others.

  • go-d-s right hand man

    well he certainly isn’t perfect yet leave the diagnosis to freud ~*&!&8`he is there because the ATM got thiefed from~!*& he is also seeking donations because greed is good~!*if he volunteers for bikkur cholim who would get the schar~&!&~

  • also fed up

    Too many beggars round here, harassing us. It’s important to teach our children to give tzedaka, but this harassment is ridiculous. Fridays are the worst. You have 2-3 of them sitting outside House of Glatt, bothering everyone. 1-2 hang out by Kol Tuv, a couple sit on the steps near Kahans, & I saw the “sheinkeit lady” in Mendys, enjoying her supper (I gave her $1 because I felt bad & she didn’t bother me this time.) Let’s not forget that young druggie & the non-Jewish woman on her crate (how old is this woman?!), plus the Russians on the other side by 770.

    On a general basis I NEVER give these people. I object to being pressured by professional schnorrers. It’s bad enough we have collectors banging on our doors every couple of days, begging for us to save their Chabad Houses in Yehuppetsville. Write a check to a legitimate organization. We have to stop being a safe haven for every crackpot beggar in the tri-state area. I don’t see them in WB!

  • Support REAL causes

    Thanks for posting this! The streets need to be cleaned up of this garbage. The only way is to stop feeding it.

  • Lady threw pennies at me!

    I was in front of 770 and gave this lady beggar some change which included a few pennies. She threw them out of her cup at me and others. One fellow picked up a few of the pennies and threw them back in her face and said it is forbidden to give money to this lady.you should catch her on video throwing pennies at pedestrians.

  • Kingston shopper

    Tzedukah is a mitzvah but according the halacha, one does not have to give large sums to street beggars. Walking down the street does not have to cost a large sum of money.

  • Shygetz Aross Patrol!

    I don’t see them in WB!
    =-=
    I was in WB one night and was approached by a known tziganer who walks around with a phony note in Hebrew and pretends to be Jewish. I told him “Shygetz Aross! I know you are not Jewish. GET OUT OF HERE before I call the COMMUNITY PATROL”! He ran like a rabbit with his hands up in the air, looking back in case I or the patrol was about to give chase.

    You see, in WB there is a unified patrol that puts some real yiras chet into the criminal trash, rather than one that moisers Yidden and holds back the work of the one that does want to fight crooks.

  • Tzedaka Tatzil...

    A great Tzadik once explained the posuk “ach toiv vochesed yirdifuni kol yimei chayoy” in the following manner; every person is destined to be “chased and harassed” in some way or another, some with sick children, others with debt etc etc. By saying this posuk we are asking Hashem that we should only be “chased and harassed” with opportunities to do “Tov V’Chesed.

  • Be kind to everyone

    Mr Bogolubov told a powerful story at the Kinus Hashluchim:

    When he visited Rabbi Kaminetzki’s soup kitchen for the first time, he asked him how they knew who was really needy. Rabbi Kaminetzki asked him if he is able to stick out his hand and ask for a donation, to which he answered no. “ if someone is able to stick out his hand and ask – we don’t ask any questions” replied R’ Kaminetzki.

    None of us should ever feel so in need and broken to the extent that we are able to stick out our hand and ask for help.

  • Shame on you

    I love the way we are all detectives figuring out, “does he really need it” “is he really jewish” etc etc. ALL YOUR GIVING IS A LOUSY 25 CENTS. Are you willing to take the risk for 25cents? Perhaps they really do need it? Is it so dificult to give 25cents to tzedaka?

  • reuven

    if you have a problem sharing with another human being; just say, i am sorry but not today. you spend elul begging for foregiveness and to strengthen your soul; but you judge without truly knowing and sooooooooooooooooooo much l’shon hara. on top of this i don’t know the agenda of vin by publishing this article. putrid neighborhood. this is why HaShem keeps you in the mess you are in.

    gee, i wonder if this comment will make the blog?

  • Give to a worthy cause.

    Give to the likes of Devorah Benjamin. She is someone who will take every penny you give her and use it for a good cause. I guarantee there is not one wasted penny in here organization.

  • disgusted

    Shame on you Crown Heights info for posting this video. Is this the way you are waiting for moshiach…oh wait, you’ve given up already…

  • Do the Right Thing

    To those of you who have posted comments on this page in support of shnorers: First of all, you ought to know the halachos of tzeddakah. You cannot argue with halacha, nor can you bring Moshiach by going contrary to halacha. And halacha does not support these kinds of people as ones who tzeddakah money should be going to. Also, if you truly feel compassion for these dysfunctional people with mental health issues, the biggest chessed you can do for them is not to give them money. Their parents showed them too much rachmanus, and now you are doing the same by giving them money, encouraging them to remain stuck in their dysfunctionality. Also, you don’t know if these shnorers aren’t hurting anyone. I personally know a family who has been terrorized for 13 years by a psycho who is squatting in their basement. The reason the psycho is able to remain there is because people give him money. Ironically, these people think they’re doing a chessed, but they’re doing a cruelty both to the psycho and the family.

  • Hanoh Teller

    Rules for schnorres

    1. Dress neatly ( Hat , Shtreiml, Kapote )
    2. Be polite
    3. Compliment the host or hostess
    4 Be brief
    5 Speak the languge of your patrons

  • dadada

    There is a begger who wont go to everyone. he speaks a good hebrew and ok english. he where a chassidishe garment (yerushalmy style) and is a total con-artist. one day he’ll complain he shoes have holes, the next day he’ll be wearing new shoes, and the next day the same shoes with holes saying the same story. He also will one day wear a ugly looking splint and say he needs money for the Dr. next morning nothing of the sort. rumor has it he is a drug dealer as well. benyamin I would imagine you know who I am refering to and suggest you post him also online.

  • Kingston shopper

    32. Shame on you wrote:

    I love the way we are all detectives figuring out, “does he really need it” “is he really jewish” etc etc. ALL YOUR GIVING IS A LOUSY 25 CENTS. Are you willing to take the risk for 25cents? Perhaps they really do need it? Is it so dificult to give 25cents to tzedaka?

    25 cents to a couple of beggars is fine but it should not cost several dollars to shop on Kingston unless a person wants to give his tzedukah this way.
    Ask a rav. The Litvish hold that a person is not obligated to give each beggar if there are many in one place.

  • 32 to 39

    I am not saying that you are obligated to give everyone. I am expressing my feelings of disgust at the tone of these commenter’s – If you dont have dont give but why must you slander a fellow Jew, just so you can feel justified in not giving.

    When the Rebbe would come in to shul for mincha on erev yom kipur He would put money into every pushka without investigating first where it was going.

    Why is a street beggar any less of a legitimate tzedaka? I understand giving in small amounts but why “unless a person wants to give tzedukah this way”?

  • Menachem Meyer Blau

    To ALL the OPINIATED people & COMMENT MAKERS…
    May I suggest, that before you make your comments,& give your ‘Boich S’voros’, you study Hilchos Tzedokoh in the Shulchon Aruch!!!

  • My disgruntled Kington shopping friends

    To #39 You wrote “The Litvish hold that a person is not obligated to give each beggar if there are many in one place.”
    Well, that’s why they are Misnagdim, and we are Chassidim. The percieve the poor as a Cheftze, while we view them as a Gavreh.
    And to all those who post in the name of Halocho, Im certain you are aware that according to Halocho, one must give a poor man stuffed duck (an elegant meal), if that was the standard he/she was accustomed to prior to the latters need to beg for alms. We really do not know the backgrounds of these people.
    Additionaly, as a mental health professional, I turn to #19- please do not through around diagnoses without the credentials to do so, particularly when you are far from the mark. This particiular beggar has been antagonized by the merchant or “manager’, whom was simply abusing his self percieved superiority. (We all have our peklach…)
    How do you think our children digest this scenario? I raised the subject at our family dinner table. One of my children reacted with horror, saying: ”Tatty, thats just like the miser in that story, the one who throws out the ppoor people who come to his door“ (refering to a story I recently recounted).
    I agree with the oppinion that those individuals who endanger themselves or others should be taken (even with legal force) off our streets. This includes any form of harrasment or nuisance. However, if the panhandler is not posing a hinderance to our ”Kingston shopping experience“, let him/her be. Of course, by nature, these individuals tend to be ”nudgy), well thats because they cannot function in the normal workplace.
    Lets remember- Gedoilo tzedoko, shemekareves es Hageulo!
    Lets not try to emulate “WB” or “Litvishes”. Vehivdilonu min hatoyim. Those of us who do not feel this Vehivdilonu”, I humbly encourage you to meditate, and try to reach a cognitive realization of the great tresure we have as Chassidim…

  • #36 is a brilliant Halachick scholar

    #36 wrote:

    “Their parents showed them too much rachmanus, and now you are doing the same by giving them money, encouraging them to remain stuck in their dysfunctionality”

    Hey Mr Halocho, I’d like some Mareh mikoimos (sources)for your babble. Id also like to see your degree in psychiatry.

    Editor: how did you let comment #36 slip on to your site?

  • CHT

    I love this guy. This wreck of human being is able to defend himself from all the haters.

  • Kingston shopper

    To #44, you took me out of context. I said to ask a rav. If there are many beggars on a city street, or at a chassunah or other affair, is someone obligated to give each one? If you are capable of doing that, then by all means do so, but to say that it is not chassidishe to do otherwise, are you a rav? What if a person never carries cash, such as myself, or what if someone only has enough cash to make their purchase? Remember that the beggars sometimes get angry when people give small change. What if I would rather shop on a street without beggars if I don’t have sufficient cash, therefore depriving the Kingston stores of my business? It is wonderful if you have the rachmonus to give generously to each beggar every time you shop but maybe that is where you give your tzedukah and don’t have anyone else depending on you for it.

  • Kingston shopper

    To #42, I can put a penny or a nickle in a pushka but the beggar will be offended if I give such a small amount. The beggar may also get accustomed to seeing the same customers each day and figuring that they will give each day. The pushka can get different amounts each day and we can decide how many pushkas to keep and feed. Also, there is something in halacha about trying to find worthy causes to give tzedukah to. If a beggar buys drugs or cigarettes with the tzedukah, I am not sure that it qualifies as a worthy cause.
    There might be 4 or 5 beggars on Kingston on Sunday through Thursday, depending on the time and even more on Friday. Maybe there are some who can give several dollars a day to beggars but can everyone? Should they shop elsewhere if they can’t?

  • Kingston shopper

    Dan, maybe the rabbonim of the community should be consulted regarding the street beggars. Store owners are obviously feeling that beggars scare away customers and they need to keep their stores in business. Obviously everyone has a choice whether or not to give but sometimes these beggars get aggressive to non-givers. If a beggar is standing next to a store’s entrance, forcing every shopper to make the “choice” some shoppers may be intimidated about entering if they don’t want to deal with the beggar. Maybe the store owners are afraid for no reason. It sounds like some people like beggars.

  • 25 wrote...

    “It’s bad enough we have collectors banging on our doors every couple of days, begging for us to save their Chabad Houses in Yehuppetsville.”

    I’m sorry? Does it bother you that there are shluchim who can’t put food on the table? Would you rather they starve? Cuz why don’t you just tell them that next time they knock on your door.

  • student

    #20 Albert Canada who asked about what personality disorder is. It is recognized as a formal disorder in the psychologyists formal books.
    this is for starters. If you Google it you will find more.
    alot of people are victims of people like this. Nobody wins, everyone struggles
    http://www.chabad.org/blogs…

  • Leah

    The highest level of tzedakah is to help someone find a job or give them a skill so they can provide for themselves.

    I don’t live in Crown Heights, but we have the same problem here (with goyim). THEY DON’T WANT TO GET A REAL JOB! I actually spoke with a begger here. I told him of an available job, and all he said was, I need new shoes. My friend offered another guy $20 to rake her leaves, and he told her NO.

    Someone recently told me that if you put out a little milk for a kitten, they will drink, but they will not get full. By everyone give drips and drabs to shnorrahs, you are actually HURTING them. You should be encouraging them to get help, get their lives together, and stop begging.

  • crown heights= beggers haven

    i was at a wedding here in crown heights and i saw at least3-4 beggers there walk up in middle of everything and start asking for money they even asked the chosen who pulled out a few dollars and gave it to her,guests come to the wedding to partake in the simchos not to walk out broke,the biggest chitzpa is they come in to the wedding they sit down eat all the food and make lots of noise so u cant even hear the mamer of the chosson b/c they are speaking and cursing so loud then they start harrasing ppl that have come from half the globe away for the simcha and not to give out their hard earned money to a million diffrent ppl crown heights is starting to look like the beggers haven i say stop giving money to ppl on the streets give ur money to the directors of orginzations that deal with these ppl

  • Kingston shopper

    I do agree here that the beggars are often mentally ill and alone and even though cigarettes seem to be an expensive and dangerous luxury, to a mentally ill smoker they may be necessary.
    I also agree that it is not our place to judge what is a “need” for another person.
    I also agree that the Torah teaches us not to ignore an outstretched hand. There are however exceptions to this in halacha and it would be nice if the webmaster could get a rav to write a scholarly article for this site to offer it’s readers on how to halachally deal with street beggars. It could include advice on how to handle running out of cash.
    However, the news clip here was of a beggar who has been asked numerous times to move by the store owners and the beggar pulled out his cell phone and called the police. If beggars were simply sitting with their begging cup, grateful even for pennies, we would all be happy to contribute but too many have acted like the one in the clip, or even more aggressive than the one in the clip. He called the police on his fellow Jew (if indeed the beggar is Jewish). The shop owners had to take time away from business to deal with police and the whole matter.
    I would also say that if someone walks down Kingston everyday, and gives just $2 a day total to beggars, he has given $48/month to beggars. For some people that is a minute percentage of their maaser and for others, it just about eats it up. I would think that rabbonim could answer the public on how large of a percentage of their tzedukah should go to beggars who may not even be Jewish.