Would I be able to expose my children to the true and intended nature of the most joyous celebrations in Jewish history dating back to the Bais Hamikdash? Or would I be risking their safety by allowing them to be bombarded by what appear to be insane asylum escapees with smashed hats and beards that betray what they had for breakfast the week before, violently waving tattered yellow flags on broomsticks, while pushing and shoving in a circular fashion – their version of dancing?
As I approached Kingston Avenue, I first passed the children, teens and adults of all ages who, as in years past, were crowding around the on-duty police officers, marveling at the sight of a real gun. “Is that a real gun?” I overheard one young adult asking with a tone that betrayed a childish glee. “Did you ever shoot anyone?” asked another.
Op-Ed: Whose Event Is It Anyway?
I guess the seven year itch theory is true. Or perhaps I was just being optimistic that things had, perhaps, changed for the better. Either way, I finally decided that after seven years of avoidance, I would risk venturing out to Kingston Avenue during Simchas Bais Hashoeiva. My objective was to observe and report on its current state, to determine if it was safe yet to bring my little children to participate in the celebration.
Would I be able to expose my children to the true and intended nature of the most joyous celebrations in Jewish history dating back to the Bais Hamikdash? Or would I be risking their safety by allowing them to be bombarded by what appear to be insane asylum escapees with smashed hats and beards that betray what they had for breakfast the week before, violently waving tattered yellow flags on broomsticks, while pushing and shoving in a circular fashion – their version of dancing?
As I approached Kingston Avenue, I first passed the children, teens and adults of all ages who, as in years past, were crowding around the on-duty police officers, marveling at the sight of a real gun. “Is that a real gun?” I overheard one young adult asking with a tone that betrayed a childish glee. “Did you ever shoot anyone?” asked another.
Following my nose, I knew I was getting closer to Kingston Avenue. No, I am not referring to the smell of hot dogs and cotton candy. I’m referring to the stench resulting from the masses of unbathed, sweaty human flesh, clothed in unwashed garments, and crowded into a small space. I had arrived at Crown Heights’s annual Simchas Bais Hashoeiva celebration.
Or had I?
I scanned the crowd to see if I could spot anyone I know. To my surprise, despite being a member of a relatively small and tight-knit community, I could not locate even one familiar face. Virtually every single person in sight looked unfamiliar.
Perhaps I’ll have a hot dog, I thought. “Do you know where I could something to eat?” I asked one man. “No Anglit,” he replied in an Israeli accent. I looked around and tried asking someone else. “Je ne parle pas d’anglais,” he said with a confused look on his face. The next person I asked was of no help either. All he could offer was “Não digo ingles”.
I felt like a stranger in my own land.
One of the fundamental laws of science states that things head toward a state of destruction and decay unless acted upon, preserved and maintained. A structure that is not maintained will eventually fall apart, and a body whose health is not maintained will eventually become sick.
And a system left to its own devices will eventually decompose and evolve into chaos and disintegration.
Apparently, with time and lack of maintenance, oversight and organization, what was once a spectacular display of love, unity, acceptance, and, most of all, pride for the Crown Heights Jewish community, has become an embarrassing spectacle.
When I was growing up, Simchas Bais Hashoeiva was an opportunity for members of the Crown Heights community to participate in or simply watch and enjoy a public display of celebration. Local merchants were also able to capitalize on the large crowds and to generate traffic and business. Guests from other communities were welcomed with open arms and made to feel comfortable and at home. Troublesome teens were out of view or at least isolated to the outskirts of the main event.
It has now spiraled into a disorganized mass of people from other neighborhoods, communities, countries and continents many of whom behave without decency or consideration for others. Residents of the very community that started the celebration many years ago and in whose streets it takes place are sidelined and viewed as outsiders. Many of the vendors are not members of the local community, while local merchants are now forced to try to be noticed and patronized in the very neighborhood they have served for decades.
Dejected and saddened I turned around and slowly headed home. Would I bring my children to view this disaster? Not until the initiative is taken to lift the event out of the quagmire and abyss into which it has plummeted. Not until the event is reclaimed as a local, Crown Heights event to which all are invited and welcome. Not until our local merchants can once again benefit from the business it generates. Not until the disheveled, unkempt outsiders cease to be the primary presence there, misrepresenting the true Crown Heights community. Not until the troubled teens who treat it as a hangout are once again sidelined and forced to stay on the outskirts of or far away from the holy event.
Not until me and my children who were born, raised and educated in Crown Heights can feel welcome at and be treated like an integral part of an event which was founded and which takes place in our very own community and on our very own streets.
This Op-Ed reflects the views of its author. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CrownHeights.info nor of its Editors.
A reader that wishes to make his or her voice heard on any topic of their desire is welcome to submit his or her Op-Ed to News@CrownHeights.info.
crown hts resident
do you know that without the gust in crown hits the kingston avenue merchant will not be able to survive??? are you insane you bring your hate into simchas bies hashoeva??? the so call outsider are the rebe gest in crown hits and you sould be theching your kids ahavas isroel. gute moed for everybody
inside looking in
i doubt you’ll publish this comment, but here goes:
politics and turf-wars aside for a moment; the author of this article comes as across as self-absorbed, morose, and i’m guessing didn’t have a loving relationship with his parents.
beyond that, the whole thing smacks of a work of fiction. the piece sounds disingenuous and contrived. a bizarre effort to somehow make us feel sorry for his pain while communicating his superiority because he is an american (or something).
childish, at best. or, put another way, a poor use of the thesaurus!
Positive Existentialism
I live here in the Shechuna for afew years. I open my home to the guests who arive to be in the Rebbe’s court for the Tishrei season. They are welcome both for lodging and meals- Shabbos, Yom Tov, and weekdays. Yes. I feel part of the festivities. It is all a matter of how you approach the matter. This is the fundamental principle both of Chassidus as well of modern-day psychology; Moiach Shalit Al Haleiv or Rational – Emotive – Behavioral theory.
I think you were actualy describing a beautiful scenerio of unity; Jews from all corners of the world uniting in song and dance – yes! in OUR neighborhood. Are we not LUCKY?
Now as far as the appearence of these guests- maybe we can help them both financialy and socialy. Just for the record- many of the guests are placed in qurters that lack basic facilities like showers etc. The only chance they have to bathe is at the mikveh in the morning! I think this is a display of pure dedication to the priority the hold dear- spending a month in the Rebbe’s Shechuna at the cost of all comforts! Do you have any idea how some of these guests save up every agura and shekel they earn just in order to be able to come here?
Yes, I know the neighborhood is crowded and maybe abit “balagan-ish”, but we must train our children to be not only tolerant, but loving of our great merit to be able to host these dear fellow Yidden. I don’t mean to pat myself on the back, but my children CRY in real tears when we don’t have guests. They refuse to come to the table untill I run out into the street, or back to 770 to bring back guests.
In answer to your question ‘WHO“S EVENT IS IT ANYWAY?” – It is YOUR event, – a gift from Hashem, – don’t look at the dull wrapping; unpack the treasure! Don’t leave it laying on Kingston and Montgomery. Feel the spirit; learn about the deapth behind all the great activities of this great time- the time in which Hashem is waiting for YOU and YOUR CHILDREN to come dance with Him and – yes, you Israeli, French, and South American brothers.
Wishing you a truly Happy Yom Tov, Lechaim!!!
Shut up and Dance
Hey english speaking white man who tries too hard to write! Get off your high horse and dance. I also didnt like where it was heading with the girls and boys mingling (years ago). This year I went with my kids and this is what I saw: LIVE MUSIC, JEWS DANCING IN A CIRCLE and JEWS SELLING KOSHER FOOD. It was nice. You got issues man.
Joe Brooke
Unfortunately, I agree with you and haven’t ventured out in years.
mosh der g
so sorry to hear someone write with such love.
love for a fellow jew
love for a fellow lubavitcher
love for hachnosas orchim
yes it is not perfect.
yes we need to improve
yes we need to be more mindful of each other
but your article has has was way too much love for all to be taken seriously. and not viewed as wriiten by someon with a big ax to grind.
may you enjoy shemini atzeres and simchat torah
lost soul in crown heights
article lower than a piece of garbage
you missed a great opportunity to ues your mouth for speaking good.
I feel bad to watch how your level of perseption of our great community , you are depressed , sad and feel unforfilled , maybe its the economy, guilt from watching tv and shmutz ,when was the last time you attended a shiur make an effort and look for strenth from torah and chasidus .
get a life , we are at the end of golus , the first generation to geula. the achrayus is yours, why are you not dancing the last few years .
simchas beis hoshoeiva was spetacular , go to 770 watch the video playing , 5000 bochurim dancing b’achdus .
You came looking for Hot dogs , focus on the talmidei hayeshiva , see their determination , their spirit , learn from them .
talking about showers ,these bochurim shower and go to the mikvah every single day , when was the last time you went to a mikvah .
I feel bad for you , you are lost , you do not know why you live here , you are not happy .
Come dance tonite in 770 kiss the Rebbes torah, join in , feel connected , start a shiur in chassidus .get a mashpia
refocus your life ,you hate yourself because you are empty of torah and mitzvos so you look to bash the happy ones .
see you in 770 tonite ,
antimesira
I’m with you a 100%.
thanks for vocalizing our thoughts.
warning: be prepared to be called all the names in the book,like “hater” “anti” etc…etc… for speaking the truth, a truth that must of Crown heights residents know to be fact!
here come the excuses
What goes on there is a disgrace.
What a shame, its sad that such a nice event was hijacked from the good people of Crown Heights, just so some can claim “victory” in their political agenda.
Some will try attacking the author of this article instead of addressing the issue, some will try to justify and what have you, that won’t change any of the circumstanced mentioned above.
M.N.
imagine if the mishichistim were to have parked themselves at the Ohel HaKodosh, Just imagine the scene there!
Spray paint of Yechi everywhere, Flags, loud music (of mishichist propaganda) and everything described in the op-ed above.
G-d Forbid.
I say this because I overheard with my own two ears, Mr. Mendle Hendel say to someone “it’s a pity we didn’t take control of the ohel after 3 Tammuz, there is a lot of money there”.
Noah
This article is so negative, I don’t know where to begin.
“I’m referring to the stench … of unbathed, sweaty human flesh…”
Or maybe that’s the smell of people dancing for hours on end with true simcha. If the author doesn’t like bad smells I would suggest they move away out of Brooklyn and NY in general (that’s one of the reasons /I/ left).
“while pushing and shoving in a circular fashion – their version of dancing”
I came in to CH on Wednesday night and had a spectacular time. I danced for hours. There were many dance circles that were too slow and crowded for me — I came in for one night and I wasn’t going to waste it(!). So you know what I did? I grabbed someone nearby and started *really* dancing. And you know what? Not a single person declined to dance with me — most of the time others joined in.
“Not until the disheveled, unkempt outsiders cease to be the primary presence there, misrepresenting the true Crown Heights community”
I beg to differ! I think the true CH community is the community that, unlike the author, is happy to invite guests, happy to dance with strangers, happy to celebrate Sukkos.
“what was once a spectacular display of love, unity, acceptance … has become an embarrassing spectacle”
The only person at the event, as far as I can tell, without love, unity and acceptance, seems to be the author of this article!
I respectfully urge the author to grow up a bit. You sound miserable — that’s no way to live your life! Why not let go of all your anxieties and worries, grab the hand of someone near you, and just start dancing. You might find it makes you feel a lot better!
you are a vile and disgusting!!
I would compare your intended “objectivity” in your op-ed to that of New York Times reporter commenting on Israeli/Palestian issues.
P.S. It’s “our” event – and that’s what it felt like!!
Rabbi Schewi
I Totally agree. Get medical help for all the those who suffer Hendelitis!
Rediculous Ramble!
Your article is pathetic. Perhaps you should take a deeper look inside yourself and examine where your Ahavas Yisroel stands and base your childrens education on that.
I quote directly from your writing; “Apparently, with time and lack of maintenance, oversight and organization, what was once a spectacular display of love, unity, acceptance, and, most of all, pride for the Crown Heights Jewish community, has become an embarrassing spectacle”.
Is that what you are expressing a “loving and welcoming” atmosphere and environment?! What ever happened to your own sence of allowing others to enjoy the simcha too? why must it be only in the narcicistic fashion that you see fit? Do other people’s expression of their opinion not count too? Why do you chose to blast the Lubavitcher chasidim who come from far and near to participate in this magnifincent event with true genuine hiskashrus to their melech and yet you make little mention of the real problems going on at the simcha?
It seems to bother you more that there were people “with smashed hats and beards … waving tattered yellow flags on broomsticks, while pushing and shoving in a circular fashion – their version of dancing” (not like simchas Torah by the Rebbe z’l was any different?) more so than the real problems at hand. What I observed in addition to the beautiful and lebdige dancing besimcha until 7am was the sad reality of nshei ubnos chabad dressed like they were going to the beach, pritzus bfarhesia! That’s the problem. What abbout all those kids, boyys and girls who seem so troubnled who chose the simcha as their venue of choice to express their issues, why does not bother you as much as the yellow fever?!
If you don’t like the color yellow or thei chouce of song or odor, then don’t dance in the their same cirilce. There’s plentyy of space on the avneue for you o dance and them to dance and for you to sell hotdogs too in english if you prefer. But the real issues you haven’t provided any suggestions for. If you want your kids be see the right example then you be the one to set it. Learn, daven, be tznius in all ways dress and otherwise. Don’t blame everyone else and certainly not people who are sincere, albeit not on the paradigm as you.
Gut kvitel.
What is your point???
People see what they want to see. It sounds like you have a very bitter and negative outlook.
You are projecting your feelings of feeling like an outsider, instead of seeing the beauty that so many people from outside CH and the community want to get together.
9yui
I don’t know what the purpose of this hateful screed is, or what CHI’s intention is in publishing it. (Actually, I know all too well.) How hypocritical that the author claims to be so concerned about achdus and ahavas yisroel while at the same time resentful that the Simchas beis hashoeva has degenerated into a “mass of people from other neighborhoods, communities, countries and continents.” Hmmmm so your bigotry and xenophobia is the ultimate of achdus and ahavas yisroel, right? FTR I participate in the simchas beis hashoeva every year with my family and never cease to be inspired. What you see (read: what you look for) is what you get.
Gut Yom Tov
My children were raised in Crown Heights, went to Lubavitch Yeshiva and are B”H very chassidishe bochrim. They were out every night dancing till 6 in the morning, they were inspired and happy.Look at the simcha that is in our community!!!
Yael
okay, you write well, but you do sound a bit disgruntled.
I took my kids at an earlier hour, I remained with them, and we stayed for half an hour.
Lets not overdo it. Thanks.
and no, I’m not someone that waves flags or sings yechi, but so what?
live and let live!
shliach
get a life!!! such exaggeration!!! NO AHAVAS YISROEL…you mean to say that back in those days they didnt sweat when dancing…“sweaty human flesh” such a sore loser….call your friends and go dance..ignore the flags do it because your supposed to! All you crown heightsers stay away…no wonder you dont know anyone…why dont you dominate it? let the frenchies and israeliis go down till union…
Missing Crown Heights
Your negativity is embarrasing. You obviously went (clear from your words) looking for disaster so that is exactly what you found! I grew up in Crown Heights and have recently moved on Shlichus, I am saddened that my children will miss seeing the joy, unity, and excitement of Simcha Beis Hashoavah in Crown Heights. An event which is unparalleld by any in the world (speaking from experience). For the sake of your pure easily influenced chilredn I hope your change your sour attitude so they can enjoy the beauty of the community they live in.
Moved out of CH also
I recently moved out of CH to a different area that had a nice Simcas Beis HaShueva event.
If the opiner feels this strongly about having a nice Simchas Beis Shueva, my advice would be to focus less on the negativity of CH and more on what your neighborhood has to offer or can do during this Chag.
It doesn’t have to be a closed off street with all night dancing every night of CHOL MOED to recreate the atmosphere of the times of the Beis HaMikdosh. Sometimes a late night fabrengen in a sukkah with a guest speaker does the trick too, or an event at your local chabad shul.
I also will point out that you mention that you want this to be an event for the CHers, a local event…..but yet open and welcome to all, in a sense a contradiction. As hard as this may sound you yourself have to realize that you are no longer part of that crowd, part of that community. You might have relatives there, but let’s be honest, at this time you are an alum and hence a guest…a guest who can speak english. I mean that with all due respect, as I myself am also in your shoes.
Your points are good and real, but I think you need to focus your energy on where you live now.
S. DRIMMER
Woe to those that always seek to diparage others and wear blinders such as worn by horses that in this case only seems to focus on negativity. Chassidus dictates a philosophy of positivity, and the Rebbes emphasis on Ahavas Yisroel seems to be an unknown entity to the author of this Op-Ed. The derogatory descriptives are truly unbecoming, and inappropiate for a public forum.
hate CH
Sometimes i fell that i would like to write an article like this. I agree with most of the things you said, however i must say, the organizers of this years Simchas Beis Hashoieva was a rough group of Prikie Ohl, who go by the name of “Vaad Hakohol” who were apparently (or perhaps allegedly)voted in by the Crown Hieghts community. This group of people, have destroyed and continue to destroy the community.
Last night was the first night i ventured out on to Kingston avenue. I was saddened by what i saw, and heard. Every song that was played, the people with pins in their jackets, managed to shove Yechi into it.
All i can say, without a Rabbinic Leadership in a community, that is respected, the community just goes down-as can be demonstrated by Crown Hieghts.
Sam the Internet Troll
Wow, what a sickening piece of vitriol. I am a pretty cynical guy myself, but this is just disgusting. I don’t don’t think I would want to dance at a Simchas Beis Hashoeiva with the animal that wrote this piece of hate.
Shame on you, Crownheights.info, for publishing this embarrassing piece of garbage.
Just trying to help
This is be writeen with such a bias look, when you went to simchas beis hashiavia you went looking for the bad just so you could write this article andsay what you always wanted to say but just used simchas beis hashiavia as a way to let out your thoughts and hate. What does it mean you knew simchas beis hashiavia by the smell, haven’t you been living in crown heights your whole life. The food is not so hard to find as you make it there right there in your face if you wanted to find it. Even though I do agree that there needs to be a big public sucaah right near simchas beis hashoaivia. Last thing I would like to say is that the little kid are supposed to come at 9 aclock for the kids program witch is before all the crazys come and swing flags and you being a adult and seeying wheird things before need to just block out the crazys for your mind and just and enjoy. In my oppinion YOU are the one that us destroying chabad and making all the machlokes
Nothing is the same anymore
Because the Crown heightsers refuse to come, is it only out-of-towners in attendance. For many years in the Rebbe’s presence were many Israelis and Frenchies who saved up for a whole year to come to the Rebbe for Tishrei. The Rebbe made special yechidus before all the guests left. As for the ‘troubled teens’- there were not so many back then like there is today.
When you say you are a ‘stranger in your own land’- Crown Heights is the land of every Lubavitcher, regardless of hashkofes, language, etc. If you feel you are a stranger, it is because you have forgotten that it is the Rebbe that makes it your land, not your mortgage or your language.
We are missing the watchful overseeing of Lubavitch. No one is in charge anymore. Even the shluchim have fallen down notches of chassidishkeit that would not have been tolerated before. Wiould the Rebbe have approved of Hookah in the Sukka as an event of shluchim? What kinds of people would be attracted to that? The same teens at the simchas bais hashoeva
It has been 15 long, leaderless years………….
Gut Moed
PRIORITIES, PEOPLE!!!!!
Im sorry to say this on hoshaana rabba, but you have a twisted distorted mind. You write about those people with the yellow flags, and that would be the reason for not wanting to go to the SBH. Those people as much as you may disagree with their veiws and opinions are at least joining the dancing in a chassidish atmosphere (to what they understand is the right way). To say that you wouldnt bring your children because of them and not because of the real trash that this street event atracts is twisted. being that you havent been there in seven (?) years, ill fill you in. it so happens to be, that this year atracted the least outside garbage from past years, actually i felt more comfortable to bring my children this year to enjoy SBH with flags, sweaty people and all, because i saw they wouldnt be exposed to the other unG-dly things that went on in the past years. Again, I’m sorry, but get your priorities straight. Gut Yom Tov.
Chanie
I understand CrownHeights.info wants to attract traffic to their site, but publishing a piece of writing spewing vitriol and hate about OUR guests, the people who bring chayus to Crown Heights the entire Tishrei is apprehensable. CrownHeights.info, please, I log on this site to read some good news in Lubavitch…is there really a shortage of things to write about???
Chag Sameach to everyone.
Mom and Bubbe
I do not totally agree with this guy about outsiders but I don’t understand CH parents who let their children ( 7 yr olds) and teen age girls stay out till 4-5 AM. It is not appropriate. Glad my kids are grown. My son is better off in Israel than hanging around here.
Curse some one... get posted
This OpEd is much like your comments, if you write a daring enough one it gets posted.
How ever the lack of community control in crown heights is devistating
bochur
WOW! That’s a mouthfull. I thought I was drunk when I read the word “acceptance” in your hate filled article but when I read it over another 5 times I realized maybe it wasn’t supposed to make sense, It was just to release a lot of pent up anger at the tzfatim and promote ch buissneses. Either way glad we could be of assitance on this website which boasts viewers from all across the spectrum of yidden and which will no doubt help fuel the hate of some misguided lubavitchers.
SHOCKED
i can not even believe that this article waas published
i never and i mean NEVER write comments on websites be it crownheights.info or any other but this article made my blood boil.
im not even writing what i feel just
HOW THE HELL DO YOU PRINT SOMETHING LIKE THIS. ARE YOU NOT ASHAMED?
You are one bitter person- how sad!
I read your article- and wanted to throw up after wards. You seem to be one of those people who sees the glass half empty. Wake up and smell the coffee- everything has good and bad- but it’s up to YOU to see the good. There was a lot of good by simchas beis hashueiva- its just sad that you decided to look at all the bad instead.
Maybe now, that you expressed all your bitterness of the community, of your fellow lubavitchers, of the Rebbe’s event that he initiated, maybe now you can write a positive article to inspire others.
This sounds like an article written by a misnaged…
Shea Mordche
It’s sad… the author makes a few good points about how the situation has gotten out of hand, but s/he displays such a painful lack of ahavas yisroel that those points are lost.
Is it really so awful that Jews come from all over the world to Crown Heights for Sukkos? Are men dancing for hours expected to smell like roses? Is dancing in a crowded circle really so distasteful?
And how dare anyone call the French, Israeli, Russian and other JEWS who come to CH “outsiders”? What would the Rebbe say about that?
Yes, it’s true that some (perhaps many) of the out-of-towners are ill-mannered, and it’s a legitimate point to address. It’s also true that an unfortunate number of Crown Heights natives are ill-mannered, including many of the local shopkeepers with whom the author sympathizes. But to call them “outsiders” is beyond the pale.
The author of this article seems to prefer a lulav without aravos, and that’s just not kosher.
people missed the point
I think that the author was just trying to say that the simcahs beis hashoeva that was years ago, when the Rebbe was here, it was very different. over the years it feels as thought crown heights has been TAKEN OVER instead of guests joining us in the wonderful yomim tovim here. we love having the guests and enjoy it a lot but it has come into a fact that now the residents of the community are hiding away and avoiding 770 and also simchas beis hashoeva and so it is not the same expierence it used to be. it is nice to have everyone but they should know their place and realize they are guests and in a neighborhood where people live and people besides us. there are many wonderful people that i personally know who come and then there are those who dont know how to behave. sorry for being so blunt but i think the message wasnt clear to some.i hope we can have nicer tishreis where chers and guests will know their place and behave and treat each other right. but that is not going to happen.
chai
Crown Heights is the Rebbe’s shchuna. That is the reason we are here. The Rebbe welcomed all Jews as family… your problem is that you don’t realize that they belong here as much as you do, if not more.
Nechama
While the author is negative, I do think there are a lot of positive things about so many people coming together.
My main issue is that instead of it being a neutral simchas bais hashoeva, it became a meshichist one, which is why I am hesitant to go.
Now I am a meshichist in terms of the fact that I want Moshiach, but I believe it has become a mantra and yechi has become something that it was never intended to become. There is no need to keep singing that song, or to have it written across the stage or even 770. If you really want to arouse people to Moshiach’s coming, let them have a different neutral inyon about Moshiach printed up to hang there.
I believe it has nothing to do with Moshiach, and has become a mishugas by people who don’t think clearly.
polyglot
My favorite memories of Tishrei in CH include speaking to the many guests from EY in Ivrit, and the French speakers in French. And the last time I was there it was even better because I spoke Russian to yungerleit I remembered as teenagers from years ago in Moscow. Chassidim from all over come to spend Tishrei with the community, and while there are a few bad elements (as if CH doesn’t have bad elements as well :() most guests are Chassidim just like us.
be positive
Maybe the author should write another op-ed that, instead of trying to attack people, gives concrete suggestions about how to improve the simchas bais hashoeva.
I would like to give several suggestions:
1. A curfew for children, including teenagers, without parental supervison.
2. The music does not need to be so deafening.
3. Less yechi music and more nigunim.
4. An inside place where women and girls can dance or hear live music every night instead of watching men.
5. Maybe the stores should give coupons or other incentives for people to shop there during simchas bais hashoeva. A store’s income is determined by Hashem and noone can take away their parnassah.
sir how are you
keep it b’geder, shkoyach
badcop
first of all its not as bad as you write. yes its true some people are smelly and don’t shower but thats because they don’t have a house to shower as for their version of dancing how else are they supposed to dance? is it the waltz? the break dance? come on already! next the yellow flags are not bad. as for the guys by the police officer whats wrong with that? you speak of worry about what you’re kids will see. well right now they see from you a total lack of love unity and acceptance and if you keep this up they will be the next troubled teen talking with a member of the opposite gender out side the barricades where the dancing takes place. as for you’re worry about the stores are a vendor is that why you are saddened
now if the community wants to fix the problems that there are i have some suggestions
1. take yechi out of the repertoire the music should be neutral
2. have the separate sides be done over the whole part thats blocked off
3 prohibit smoking and alcoholic beverages from being in the blocked off section while i was there 13 year old bochur offered me a cigarette
4 for the stench there should be a shower house stocked with soap and shampoo aside from the mikva
oops
Mishichist or anti, one can ignore the flags. Yechi is not constantly playing. He (or possibly a she or possibly both)is wrong on berating a true jewish occasion. The writer or this op-ed apparntly was barking up the wrong tree. There is so much wrong with SBH, but to harp on the fact that Jews from all over get together and dance, U IZ WAY GON MAN. YECHI or NO YECHI that is the question.