Posted to Op-Ed on
by N. P.

As an early subscriber to the energy and intentions that Chevra Ahavas Yisroel brought to the table, I have to say I am truly proud of their accomplishments… a new building, a loyal following and packed house every Friday night, with people who genuinely care about davening. Apparently they now have a consulting Rov, and are continuing to grow by leaps and bounds. Kol Hakavod.

Parody Op-Ed: Chevra Ahavas Yisroel’s Barbaric Purim

by N. P.

As an early subscriber to the energy and intentions that Chevra Ahavas Yisroel brought to the table, I have to say I am truly proud of their accomplishments… a new building, a loyal following and packed house every Friday night, with people who genuinely care about davening. Apparently they now have a consulting Rov, and are continuing to grow by leaps and bounds. Kol Hakavod.

One of the most evident maalahs of the shul is their true community feel. It is almost on the level of Co-op living. Everyone contributes on their own level, and gets more than they bargained for in other areas of life. B“H they are teaching a solid value of what it truly means to be a community to so many young people who either forgot, or felt disillusioned by what Crown Heights has to offer.

One of the more enjoyable aspects of the shul, at least for some, is the kiddushin, with their homemade vibe and heimishe people – but increasingly abhorrent menu.

Let’s cut to the chase…. When I started attending CAY, I understood that this would be a shul where anyone could feel comfortable. But after a Friday night meal in Mimulo back in the day, at which a beloved butcher donated near full sides of cow, I realized that this is truly a slippery slope.

After an initial complaint to the ”Rabbi“ of the shul, and receiving a verbal patch in ponim, I decided – out of concern for my fellow animal lovers – to watch this congregation extremely carefully. First, they claim to be a shul for everyone, and yet, that meal had zero vegan options and perhaps one GMO free. Freakin’ chutzpah! The audacity!

Let’s fast forward to Shavuos, the highly acclaimed Cheesecake competition! Some delightful looking fare, and out of 30 cheesecakes guess how many were vegan friendly… one! I was enjoying the sweet carcass-less delicacy, and people would approach and say, ”are you a vegan?“ in such a disgusted tone. Where is the so called ” love?”

Not to be ungrateful for that one cheesecake, however, this so called “Rabbi” of the shul – who by the way was seen by a credible witness eating MSG and preservatives laden potato chips – assured me countless times that they would work on this issue, and that it was a genuine concern. What a crock.

Sure enough, moving to Purim…. CAY had the audacity to put on a huge purim event, packed with talented musicians, plenty to drink, and of course – more meat. Franks n’ blanks, chicken pasta… what is going on here people?! As a vegan, I am not only appalled, but deeply offended. It is time this community stood up for something.

Crown Heights used to be a place of morals, values, and vegan friendly opportunities. Now, we are faced with carnage, moral depravity, and a Rabbi in our midst who supports such carnivorous behavior.

I implore you, the good citizens of Crown Heights, kan tziva hashem es habrocha, to put an end to this madness now. Take a stand for what is right! Take their Rabbi to din Torah. CAY must be stopped before they corrupt our youth into eating challah that was not purchased in Apple Drugs on Tuesday. Ugh, I can’t even bear the thought.

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39 Comments

  • Outsider

    So many of the complainers in Crown Heights feel that their outlook is halacha, and this article is a perfect example. If the food is kosher, you have nothing to complain about. You’re the one with the chutzpa problem.

  • I love me

    The most self-indulgent group of goons I’ve ever had the misfortune of meeting.

  • The joke-s on you

    Thanks for the telling pic – Looks like shomer negiah is now optional at the CAY frat house! College, anyone?

  • Just pointing out, but enjoyed

    appreciate the humor, and found it cute, but a couple of the cliche’s that were used when showing your “disgust” can be scaled back on a family frum website, they are borderline gateway foul….. Happy purim to all! ;)

  • moshe

    with a bit more courage you could have taken the word “parody” off the title and drawn a few more shirty types out of the woodwork

  • disgusted

    hey n.p. the “rabbi” of the cay is a bigger mentch then you will ever be.sos top complaining and start acting normal.you have nerve to right this article.you chutzpinyak.ho cares if your a vegan .therefor they should stop having meat.what is this.we should take you to a din torah for bashing another jews heart.so start acting like a chassideshe jew.

  • a member

    the best place the best place to doven no one talks during dovening .

  • Self indulgent clowns

    Selfish kids with dwindling trust funds looking for sympathy. Need I say more?

  • eb

    there is something positive and something negative about everything. I’m sure I can praise and also criticize this shul as well as others.
    however,
    in the words of a Jew who has frequented Chabad

    “get out of the new world if you can’t lend a hand, for the times they are a changin’”
    (Bob Dylan)

  • Chevras Ahavas Yiroel - The Chutzpah

    They serve non-organic crackers and get this, I twice ate chips there with MSG.
    Perhaps they think they are being cool, but this has gone too far.
    The rabbi wears leather shoes.

  • Chevras Ahavas Yisroel - The Chutzpah

    I will personally NEVER attend their services again after experiencing friendliness and love there.

  • Chevras Ahavas Yisroel - The Chutzpah

    In Kremntchuk they would have never hired a California rabbi. How the generations have fallen!

  • sara from cay

    You people can laugh, and I hope you laugh so hard that the tears roll down your face, but the truth is no laughing matter. Chezzie operates a shul where the young and young at heart have a warm friendly place to daven and congregate.

    Chezzie was raised on shlichus. He knows how to do it. And he came back, as one of our own, and show us how it’s done.

    Mark my words. Moshiach will come because of Chezzie Denebeim.

  • Not funny

    1938: The world’s first kosher style restaurant opens in Manhattan.

    2012: Congregation Ahavas Yisroel breaks tradition with the first tznius style Purim party.

    What’s next? A monkey reading the megillah?

  • To number 22

    You should practice and capitalize the first letter of your sentence… Its ok, I do it too.
    (I used speelcheck while writting this post)

  • Vayzassa

    When once asked for a definitio of a ‘shvantz’, my instantaneous response was “Someone who does in public, what would best not be done in private.”

    If this were distributed or broadcast within the CAY group, then it is a poor peice of humor. Posting it for the world to see (and not understand the innuendo’s nor even the players) this is to be called in the vernacular of the public, “stupid.”

    In concluding this, an idea flshed into my mind. This would be a true repreentation of Litvishe Purim Humor.

  • ALL JOKING ASIDE

    All joking aside…….you think your cute, but I will put it in a few short words.
    PURIM PARTY IN A BAR ON FRANKLIN AVE, A RAVE PARTY!
    OVER 1500 DRINKS SERVED TO A MINGLING MIXED CROWD OF “SO CALLED LUBAVITCHERS”.
    CAY, YOU are CORRUPTING our community. Achashveiros also made a party and made it seem kosher for all, but in reality it was poison for the soul. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING!

    YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED AT YOURSELVES!

  • you destroyed the joke, commentors.

    Wow, this JOKE of an article went south real fast…. People… The shul is very vegan friendly… NOTE THE WORD “PARODY” in the title… OK wait, I forgot, many don’t know what that means…. It means a joke or way to make light of a situation through humorous interpretation….

  • Sam

    Oh and you forgot: They only make Kiddush on wine that no Blacks were involved in producing!

  • What about the mini potatoe blintzes

    Wait you didn’t see the potato blintzes and pasta? Come on with all the carrots you vegans munch on, I am sure your eyesight is far better than us carnivores – and you would have seen the pototo thingy mabobs even in the dark. Must be the lack of Vitamin B12!

  • To #27

    How do you know what happened in CAY if it didn’t even take place in this community? Did you go there, and in that case you’re a low life and a backstabber, or did you hear third hand and in that case you’re just an idiot.

  • to comment 26

    If you havent noticed Crown heights chasidim are very litvish in nature. Being a chaisid one day of the week doesn’t make you chasidish.

  • To the Righthous #27

    #27 is a self hating pea brain.

    His future is selling flowers on Eastern Parkway corner Rochester.

    Trust me on that.

    Thanks for posting this parody made our family LOL tonite

  • Let-s see who falls for THIS one!

    Far more heinous is the barbaric refusal by Farshidine Greens, Ratspleens and Yellow Mold, as well as by Crown Heights groceries, to sell baby spinach that has been torn out of the ground and away from its parents at a very tender age to satisfy our desire for such a decadent and coarse product.

    The Vaad haNarronim d’Khal Tikkun Goilem hereby place all stores in Crown Heights in industrial-strength cherem until full proof is made available that no baby vegetables are sold in these stores of iniquity and that all vegetables and fruits offered by Crown Heights merchants of sin are harvested in a manner that causes no pain to the vines (and no psychological pain to the deluxe fruitcakes and assorted vegetables who so proudly and humbly serve on the Vaad haNarronim).

    Signed this day of 16, or is it shoyn 17, Adar 5772, Continual Hemshech Purim, R Building of Kings County Hospital, lezecher churban G Building, may it be rebuilt on speed and in a daze:

    -Rabbi Moishe Ziechmach – Kapoyer on being a half or maybe two-thirds of the Vaad.

  • CMK

    All I ever wanted was microbiotic. What does a person in Crown Heights have to do to get some microbiotic fare around here?

  • way to go, you look ridonculous.

    To number 9…. have you even registered who wrote this PARODY?