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MURDER IN CROWN HEIGHTS

The minivan on the right is the car the deceased was driving

This just in, a Lubavitch member of the community was shot and killed.

Update: The Victims name is Efraim Klein HY”D from Union Street, and was going to marry off his son next week.

The incident took place on Schenectady between President and Carroll where many witnesses said they heard 3 loud gunshots followed by a series of crashes. The driver was hit by a bullet which entered his right arm then exited and reentered his chest, he immediately lost control of the vehicle and made a left onto Carroll St. where he went barreling into at least 15 parked cars and finally coming to rest on one parked car.

The car then caught fire and 2 black men rushed to the rescue, one of them shut off the engine and put out the flames, while the other extracted the wounded man from the car. during all the commotion a resident saw what had happened and alerted Hatzalah who had responded instantly with over 15 members, EMT’s and Paramedics, who treated the injured, then transported him to Kings County Hospital where he was pronounced Dead On Arrival.

Details are still sketchy but you all know where to check up for the latest news and updates.

More pictures of the scene of the Murder/Accident in the extended article.

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69 Comments

  • toshav hashchuna

    i hope the mayor will wake up now and send a real leader to our community police station.

    remember :

    the riots of 1991 was ended by the murder of hakodosh yaakov rosenbaum hy"d .

    the mayor of nyc has the blood of hakodosh efraym klein hy"d .

    mayor bloomberg wake up . you sent to crown heights the wrong men to lead the police station.
    he is very good in tikets blitz but do not have the idea how to protect the nighborhood.

    wake up ! wake up ! wake up !

  • Moishe

    I think the Shluchim of the world have to send a petition to the mayor (and have the press in on it) so he understands that millions care… just making pictures with Chanina is good but it’s not what we need…

  • heat off them?

    mabe just mabe this might be somthing to do with the 2 officers # 1474- to take off some heat off them?

  • motty

    it’s an old story the muggings and hold ups were not taking care of by the police or the vaad Hakohol members nor the community council nor the netzigim

  • avrohom

    it’s time this community did something about it. WHY ARE WE SILENT? WHY DON"T WE RIOT ABOUT THIS?? crimes are commited against the jews everyday and this community does nothing!

  • Chana

    this is truly a tragic thing, the man was a neighbour of ours and we’ve had some reporters here to find out about him, the NYPost wants to write about a story about him, unfortunatley i did not know him other than seeing him occasionally so if anyone has anything to say about his life or achievements or if you knew him, please email infoforreport@yahoo.com and i will forward the info to the reporter. I think its important to make this as public as possilbe to make people aware that crime is rising in our neighbourhood.

  • Boruch ben Tzvi HaKohaine Hoffinger

    …If the citizenry of a country doesn’t fear the law, people will swallow each other alive… Pirke Avos
    This government has the merit to instill fear?
    If this country wanted to virtually eliminate crime they could do it. During WWII America, because of Achdus, produced more war materiel than all the 3 Axis powers combined!
    I’ve known Ephraim (HY"D) and his brother Boruch for over 30 years.

  • Boruch ben Tzvi HaKohaine Hoffinger

    As I sit here with tears in my eyes my anger grows at, at…what? At the government, for being weak? At us in Crown Heights for there not being proper Ahavat Yisroel? Do we spread the Sheva Mitzvot with love as The Rebbe, MH"M, requested?
    Let this be a wake up call to us all to strive harder to end this dark, perverted and ugly gaulus.
    I, for one, whenever I can, try to talk about the Sheva Mitvoth, and to spread the knowledge and understanding of the Taryag Mitzvoth to Jews. My sons Chanany, Yaakov and Hershy also go mivtzoim.
    MOSHIACH NOW!
    I hope to see Ephraim (HY"D) soon!

  • Boruch Dayan Haemes

    Reb Efraim Klein HY”D was a property owner in Williamsburg and some other locations. I heard from his own mouth a few moths ago that people are trying to buy his land. Perhaps he was in contract in selling one of his properties and the negotiations broke down and someone decided to take the law in their own hands.

    I don’t know that there is a connection between the murder and his ownership of property, but it should definitely be looked into.

    Again it is pure speculation, but he did mention that people really wanted his parcel of land.

    A Concerned Member of the Schuneh

  • Sad

    It’s sad that there were MANY more comments about the machlokes with the beis din than there are about r’l a death! Why is is that we are all silent when a Jew is killed but when there is strife and argument we all suddenly pipe up?

  • Got me Thinking

    TO: "Boruch Dayan Haemes" – Very interesting – I don’t wanna sound like a conspiracy theorist, but I wonder if this is in any way related to the burning of the apartments in the Crown Heights/Prospect Heights/Williamsburg/Bed Sty area recently..was his land ownership tied to it? Gets ya thinkin’..either way, Hashem Yikom Damo

  • disturbed

    boruch dayan hoemes
    i met him a few times in frankels shul mostly on weekdays may hashem help us to be united with the rebbe all others speedily in these days of simcha.

    as i look at the pictures and see the vaad hakohol and other officials or read about hecht talking to the police i think of how much time and energy is being spent by all thinking who is going to be rov and who isnt speaking to who and how can we csr…w the other in order to get more power and fame.
    how much of a ksav did he put out and how much didnt he want us to see
    hey guys think a second all this energy can be focused on our children and making this community better and safer
    we are dealing here with nofoshos, acheinu bnei yisroel
    wake up and open you eyes
    moshiach now

  • timetotakea stand

    The Crown Heights community must stop being so lax and start acting more like the Williamsburg community who "chap" ANY criminal, and show him the law. "Chapts’em" for Crown Heights or we will continue to be victims in the hands of our neighbors (cv"s)!

  • ch resident

    Boruch Dayan Ha’emes

    This is OUTRAGEOUS and we musn’t stand by our brothers blood!

    Let us all get together and protest tho the mayor the governor, police commisioner, or anyone else to put a stop to this unruly violence that is rising in our streets.

    Let them concentrate their officers on protecting the community, and hire civilians to give tickets. When was the last time you saw a parked car fight back with a cop who was giving it a ticket?

    We need the protection not the ticket revenue!!!!

    Is this why we pay the city hundreds of thousans if not millions of dollars a year as a community????

    Let us again get together to fight this nonesense!

  • crownorion

    A full CSI should be conducted by the nypd.
    Justice should be served.
    crown heights isnt exactly bullet free.
    wake up crown heights residents!!The nypd does great on tickets for cell phones and red lights, wheres our protection for this neighbourhood. stop tickets,stop gun crimes!!

  • Hashem Yishmor

    This is an extremely tragic time for the entire Klal Yisroel. "Kol Yisroel Areivim Zeh L’Zeh" It’s a wake up call to all of us. DO TSUVAH NOW, AVOID THE ELUL RUSH!"

    Whoever did this to him, should burn in hell and have a Missa Meshuna (tragic painfull death) forthwith. We cannot and should not stand by idle to such a tragedy. We most unite B’Achdus as ONE, and fight to protect our communities and our children.

    If it is by volunteering or donating to your local Shomrim/Shimra Patrol Orginizations, or if its to call 911 and/or 1-888-NYC-SAFE to report ANY and ALL crimes that transpired or in progress. The NYPD and the mayors office go according to their CRIME STATS (visit the NYPD website) to evaluate precents and crime statistics. If EVERY crime, BIG or small gets reported YOUR LOCAL POLICE precent will react to LOWER their STATS.

    Be sure to follow up with the 911 operator, because at times the NYPD members will down grade the severity of the crime to keep their STATS down. Keep on calling and reporting. Use 311 for non emergencies and/or to file a complaint on the NYPD precent and request a follow up on the crime you reported.

    STAY SAFE!

    Im HaShem Loh Yishmor Eir, Shov Shokat Shomer.

    Hopefully, Mishinichnas Addar Marbim BiSimchah. May HaShem redeem us from this Golus and help us in our time of need like the miracles in the times of Esther and Mordichai.

    Finally: Show your support for the Niftar, by participating at the Levya today at 1pm in Shomrei Hadas in Boro Park, Brooklyn 14th Ave corner 39th Street, the niftar will be pacing the 770 Eastern Parkway at approx. at 2pm.

    Boruch Dayan HoEmes!

  • an upset crown heightser

    we cant be silent are mayor is at fault when gulioni was mayor such things didnt happen mayor blumberg doesnt know what he is doing we keep hearing that are community is safer who sees that we have muggings on kingston ave. at 6:30 pm we have gun shottings what is going on here i think we need to do something not just talk we need to make a change in the womens tzniuiss the the synius chinam going on in this community we cant just sit back and say thats so sad we have to do something strengthen our yiddishkiet and our beliefs and achdus in this community
    hashem help us send us moshiach now
    send us back our leader the rebbe MH"M and get us out of this dark and bitter galut

  • jas

    if it is a stray bullet it is worse than a direct hit, becasue a stray bullet shows that the gunshots were fired becuase there are guns on the street, if it was a directed hit a him personaly then that is bad and dangerous but not as bad.

    i think we should all call 311 and protest the fact that we feel insecure!

    if there would have been police there in the area no shots would have been fired!

    there are no words to console the family, all i can say is the customary words "hamokom inchaem eschem besoch shar avley tzio v’yerushalayim"

    baruch dayna haemes

    may we only hear of good news

  • moish

    remmber it could of been you or anyone passing by at that minute. it is all of our tragedy!

  • Chaim

    This situation in Crown Heights after hours at night is becoming very dire. We must do something about this. I’m afraid to drive or walk on my own streets past midnight. We need to form a rally or something …. this issue must be addressed.

  • wants better for the Rebbes community

    (after reading "the upset crown heightser") The Tznius is a MANIFESTATION of the Sinas Chinam. This is what I’m worried about. I see people that have crossed the halacha line on Tznius who daven and have more ahavas yisrael than some of us who do dress tznius. We have to find out what is the true way for a yid to be, and then be like that…regardless of what our own parents did and didn’t do. This is our responsibility. We have to show love and ahavas yisrael to each other, and we have to learn what IS ahavas yisrael, because if we don’t know enough about it, how can we do it.
    Yossi Jacobson has been talking to the community for a few years now, who is listening? And if they’re listening, are they really DOING and taking in what he says? Are they thinking about what he says? We need to wake up and look at ourselves and do what we can do.

  • Chaim Yaakov

    Boruch Dayan HoEmes

    An emergency meeting must be called tonight. All Rabbis and leaders of our community must demand an investigation into the escalation of violence in Crown Heights over the past 18 months. And the investigation must look into why the police are spending more time on parking tickets then in protecting life and property. The policing in Crown Heights is a scandal. The unreporting of crimes is part of this scandal. Police under political pressure to have lower crime statistics for the Mayor, don’t write up or follow up citizens complaints. Crimes are being shoved under the carpet to make the Mayor look good with lower crime statistics in the meantime our streets are becoming more and more dangerous and he the mayor has the police out making traffic tickets to increase revenue.

    A mass show of disgust and a strong message must go out from our community. We can not risk any more precious Jewish life by our silence and inaction.

  • Fed Up on Frustration

    Look, this is all horrible. But it appears gang related and the NYPD has to ELIMINATE the gangs from the east end of Crown Heights, even if means busting them beyond belief, but within the law.

    Chanina will get his photos al right, there is a press conference by the children’s museum at 2:30.

  • Chaim Yaakov

    This was posted on another site and my comment follows: Apparently, no one knows anything yet. There’s speculation that it was gang related and he was caught in the cross-fire. Who knows?

    My comment: Such speculation does no one any good. This kind of sloppy conjecture is thrown out as propaganda to allay people from thinking this was a hate crime or a business related assassination.

    Being that it was a gun attack in a town that has blacks who have been known to attack Jews the Feds should be called in to investigate immediately. Where are our community leaders?

  • Mo berg

    Hamaysah hu haekor, doing is the main thing,Physical: any info. Abut the victom, can help, and dont fill stupid to report, you dont lose any thing, it only helps. Spirtual: unity (g-d rest’s only where there is unity – are shcuna is named like the rebbe said kan tzivah hashem es habracha). charity (tzdoka tatsil memoves – charity saves lifes),

  • was there last night.

    THE COPS WERE THE LAST TO SHOW UP TO THE CRIME SCENE LAST NIGHT.

    The fire dept. Hatzolah and Shomrim were all there in minutes. Where were the cops??

    just to prove it to you, you can look at all the pictures and you’ll see that the cop cars where only at the corner of the block, because the entire street was full of Hatzola vehicles and the cops could’nt get in.

    Great thanks to Hatzolah. they were swift and they worked mighty hard. I don’t know how many of their members were there, but they just kept on rolling in even at that early hour in the morning. There were more members there then I would have ever believed there are in Hatzola.

    Great thanks to the Crown Heights Shomrim who also responded very quickly and as the call came through to collect the blood, they were down on their hands and knees.

  • disappointed

    Mr. upset Crown Heightser – What does a murder in Crown Heights have to do with the womens tznius? It’s tragic that your justifying the death of a fellow Lubavitcher with this excuse. I feel sorry

  • LivEvil

    This is so terrible. How someone can take a life has no heart at all. I hope whoever did this rots away and thinks about how he destroyed a man’s life and his family’s. I hope when he is found, he is treated the way he treated others. He should rot in hell and pay for his crime. This is one of the reasons why Moshiach is not here. No one gives anything about anyone else but themselves. Thank G-d there are some normal caring people in this world, otherwise we would be doomed.

  • Concerned Mother

    I moved to the CH to raise my family around the Jewish people. I am a BT, so i’m not scared to walk around the black people. This is insane that things like this are happening here. People need to wake up and realize that no matter what your race, religion, or whatever, things are only going to get worse if they don’t start acting less selfish and care more about others.
    May the person/s who did this rot in eternal hell and have to relive this situation forever over and over again in their heads.
    May G-d bring peace to the family and friends who have had to go through this awful tragidy.

  • Beth Rivkah Staff

    As I sit hear trying to comprehend what happened. The man was in a car… He was not walking the streets….

    B"H we have many Simchas in the neigborhood and we are always coming home at all hours of the night. May Hashem watch over us and protect us from any harm.

    We should not be silent, we should not let this happen again! Moshiach Now!

    Boruch Dayan Emes

  • anonymous 3

    to toshav hashchunah:
    you wrote:
    "the riots of 1991 was ended by the murder of hakodosh yaakov rosenbaum hy"d"

    actualy the riots BEGAN with his murder. (he was murdered during the first few hours of the riots. the riots didnt end for several days. i cant remember right now what it was that convinced Dinkins yimach sh’mo to order the police to finaly start protecting us. i think it was the governers threat to bring in the national guard if he didnt do something.)

    also, with all the demonstrations etc. we had back then his killers are out on the streets right now so dont get your hopes up too high for justice to be served.

  • a P-R-A-C-T-I-C-A-L crown heightser

    what does tznius have to do with an innocent person being killed? get off you high horse and use your brains. we need more PROTECTION. we need shmira to carry guns and hunt down those MURDERERS.
    someone else said we need achdus. again. practically speaking crown heights has had politics for the past 87 years. what we really need is a union between shmira & police etc. to fight and stop being so politically correct, and get rid of the human scum.

  • to jas

    hey jas i read your comments last week regarding the rabonnim politics. when we read of such a story, we must make a hachloto to start treating each other with more respect. especialy rabonim. please make the haclotoh

  • Let-s do something in his zechus.

    B"H
    Maybe we can all take a lesson from Reb. Efrayim, who ALWAYS made an effort to daven with a minyan, regardless of the time; circumstance etc. He never ceased to amaze me, but he managed to have a minyan.
    Let us all do something in his zechus, and put a little more energy into davenig with a minyan.
    Just my suggestion, please post yours.
    May he be a mailitz yoisher for all of us!
    A humble admirer

  • Investigation

    I think they should focus the investigation around his Real Estate Property. There were people that wanted his land that he owned.

  • ----

    i think everyone should just do something on their part that can change and make a better world… and dont go blaming it on tznius and things… none of you are G-d so dont make youself his secretary too.. and if tznius is something you want to improve in.. then do so… but everyone has different things to improve on…

    hamokam yenachem….

  • Menachem Mendele

    This community needs many more police to keep patrol andensure the sfaety of our city. It didn’t help in the past, when we voiced this complaint. All they did was biasedly increased the ticketing blitz unjustly agains the Jewish members of the Crown Heights community. Let us finaly see some true ACTION, where the police department will truly care for all segments of the communty and prvide sufficent safety.

    Not to forget, we must always pray to Almighty God to watch and gueard us for we may never rely on corporeal man for our real protection. Hashem yishmor!

    Do one more kind deed to hasten the immenet revelationnof the Rebbe as Moshiach speedily.

  • marc

    the police were prob. giving out tickets!
    bloomberg needs to come up with other ways of getting money for this city and use the cops for what they are here for

  • young girl

    dibur me’at v’asai harbai we have to do s/t and not sit ere talking about it! for Efraim Klein and for the future of ch! moshian now baruch dainhaemes

  • shimon

    This message is to all citizens of crown hights. people who commit crimes of this nature can only be stopped by instilling a fear of punishment in their hearts. as of the past few months these criminals have been roaming free with absolutely nothing stopping them. We MUST find and punish this murderer and set a strong example of him/her. To those who say that we should riot I say this, we the jewish people are not animals, we do not go out and attack everyone and enyone just out of spite. we must direct our anger toward the criminals responsible. In conclusion, I believe that the law inforcment in this community is inadequet to deal with our situation and we should take this matter in our own hands through a calculated harsh and fearsome show of strength. Thank you for the opportunity to express my ideas.

  • Crime Scene Neighbor

    Baruch Dayan Ha’emet

    We hope that the police can start
    sending more patrol units around
    areas known for crime.

  • sister-in-law

    it truly was a tragedy. ephriam loved his mother and was a wonderful son. he left three beautiful children behind and a granddaughter.

    i think that whoever did this deed should be caught and punished.

  • The Chabad Angels!

    We need more Shomrim and Shmira Patroling the streets!

    People should vollenteer to roam the streets at all hours takeing pictures and video.

    This is insane, but if we all work together we can make this happen alot less often.

    Maybe we shoudl start and new vollenteer Civilian Patrol.

    The Chabad Angels!

    Whos with me!?

  • Just an Idea

    How can a Frum Jew say that Tznius, Achdus, etc. have nothing to do with this. I would never say they Chas Veshalom caused it. However a Yid’s real life in every way including safety is connected to our following the Torah and going in Hashem’s ways. Just about ALL Sichos on Purim bring out how a Yid’s true succes comes from Torah and Mitzvos ALONE. Come on people wake up a little.

  • Just an Idea

    How can a Frum Jew say that Tznius, Achdus, etc. have nothing to do with this. I would never say they Chas Veshalom caused it. However a Yid’s real life in every way including safety is connected to our following the Torah and going in Hashem’s ways. Just about ALL Sichos on Purim bring out how a Yid’s true succes comes from Torah and Mitzvos ALONE. Come on people wake up a little.

  • Anonymous

    To: Just an idea

    Regardless of whether tznius and other spiritual issues have something to do with this situation, attributing the blame of this murder on the spiritual state of our community is both insensitive and stupid. No one can argue that no one but the murderer is responsible. If you want to encourage us to be more frum so that we have a zchus then do it. But don’t do it in a discussion board where we are grieving about the loss of a member of the community. I hope they catch the jerk that did this.

  • Shlomo Bialo

    Please put me on your mailing list, if there is one. I just discovered your site. Thank you.

  • CROWN HEIGHTS RESIDENT

    I AM SURE THAT THE BLACK NEIGHBORS WHO RISKED THEIR OWN SAFETY TO GET EFRAIM A"H OUT OF THE
    VEHICLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MURDERER APREHENDED AS WELL AS THE REST OF US. BOTH BLACKS AND JEWS WANT TO LIVE IN A SAFE CROWN HEIGHTS. WE MUST PROTEST TOGETHER AGAINST USE OF POLICE AS FUNDRAISERS FOR THE CITY OF
    NEW YORK AND HAVE THEM PATROL OUR STREETS AND KEEP THEM SAFE FROM CRIME. AS FRUM YIDDEN WE
    KNOW THAT EVERYTHING BAD THAT HAPPENS TO A YID IS DUE TO OUR OWN SHORTCOMINGS B’RUCHNIUS. WEHTER IT IS AHAVAS YISROEL, TZNIUS
    ETC. WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE A CHESHBON HANEFESH.
    AS FAR AS SPECULATING ABOUT MR. KLEIN A"H REAL
    ESTATE INVESTMENTS ETC. I THINK IT IS WRONG TO
    SPECULATE AND JUST TAKE IT AT FACE VALUE. A PERSON WAS KILLED BY SOMEONE ON THE STREETS
    OF CROWN HEIGHTS WHO WAS CARRYING A WEAPON
    AND THEREFORE WE DEMAND OF THE MAYOR USE THE
    POLICE TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK CITY. TO MR. KLEIN’S FAMILY: HAMOKOM YENACHEM
    ESCHEM B’TOCH SHAAR AVLEI TZION VEYERUSHALAYIM .

    DUE TO OUR

  • MENACHEM MENDEL

    THIS IS TRADGIC. WHEN A TZORAH LIKE THIS BEFALLS US WE MUST DO INTROSPECTION. WHETHER IT’S TZINIUS OR BETTER YET THE MOSHIACH ISSUE- MAKING A BEN ADAM "YOUR MOSHIACH "- THE REBBE WOULD BE HORRIFIED BY WHAT SOME OF YOU SAY- PRAY FOR MOSHIACH AND DO NOT SAY THAT THE REBBE ZAICHER TZASDDIK LIVROCHA IS MOSHIACH. LET THE REBBE PRAY FOR ALL OF US.

  • YEHUDA A

    what did this man do deserve this ,i did not know this man but from what i hear he was a good,kind and loveing person with a family that he traeted well as i sit hear with tears in my eyes i wonder why does this word have do be like this.a world full of violence,hate and discsust with each other why cant we all just get along with each.this thoght brings a question to my mind and that is what can we do as an idividual to make thing better in this world in this comunity in our homes in our schools to make this comunity a better and safer environment for our tomorow and for all the tomorows to come
    let not blame anybody or shift responsibilty i think one of the most efective things that we can do about this situations is to try on remain positve in an aggresive yet calm way would be the best way to handle it.

    SO PLEASE PEOPLE TAKE WHAT I HAVE TO SAY TO HEART

    THANK YOU AND LOVE

  • moshe

    i think its abuot time we get this c"h moving GET US POLICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Eli

    POLITUCIANS TALK A LOT
    BUT WHAT IS IT THIS GOING TO ACHIVE????

    WE NEED TO ACT NOT TO TALK.

    PATROLING EACH BLOCK BY ITS RESIDENTS IS A GOOD IDEA BUT I THINK IT IS NOT REALISTIC BECAUSE PEOPLE IN THIS NEIGBOUROOD ARE VERY MUCH APATHETIC.

    PUTTING MORE COPS ON THE STREETS IS ONLY TEMPORARY SOLUTION BECAUSE THEY WILL NEVER BE WATCHING THE STREETS FOR THE LONG TIME. AS SOON AS THE EXITMENT IS OVER THE POLICE WILL DISSAPEAR AS IT HAPPEND MANY TIMES BEFORE.

    SO WHAT IS THE PERMANENT SOLUTION WHICH WILL INSTEAL FEAR IN THE HEARTS OF SAVAGES WHO COMMITS THESE TERRIBLE CRIMES??????

    DO WE HAVE STREET LIGHTS ON EVERY MAJOR INTERSECTION? YES.
    FEDERAL GOVERMENT PUTS THEM THERE FOR OUR PROTECTION, RIGHT?

    WHY DO NOT WE AS A COMMUNITY INSTALL VIDEO SURVELLANCE ON THE SAME MAJOIR INTERSECTIONS FOR THE SAME PUPROSE: SAVETY OUR PEOPLE?

    OF COURSE IF THE GOVERNMENT WILL DO IT THET WOULD BE NICE, BUT I DOUBT THEY WILL HAVE A FUNDING FOR THIS.

    I HOPE THAT SOMEONE FROM COMMINITY COUNSIL IS READING THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A REAL POWER TO MAKE THIS HAPPENED.

    I AM SURE THAT THE FUND CAN BE ESTABLISHED FOR ALL THE MEMBERS TO PITCH IN AND THE MONEY CAN BE USED FOR THOSE CAMERAS.

    WAKE UP PEOPLE ——————>WE REALLY NEED TO DO IT!!!!!!!

    HAMOKOM YENACHEM
    ESCHEM B’TOCH SHAAR AVLEI TZION VEYERUSHALAYIM