By COLlive reporter
Officers of the New York Police Department are roaming the frum Jewish communities of Williamsburg and Boro Park and issuing summons to people not wearing masks or keeping social distancing regulations on Thursday.
“The police officers are closing down 43rd Street and 14th Avenue,” reported radio host Heshy Tischler. “They are issuing tickets to people without masks even if you leave it in your car. I have no understanding what Mayor de Blasio thinks he is going to do with us.”
Photos and videos being shared on social media show officers stopping frum Jews in the streets and entering shuls that are open. One report claimed that 75 tickets were already issued today. On one of them, the title of offense reads “Mayor Executive Order.”
Some said that the crackdown was Mayor Bill de Blasio‘s retaliation for the heavy criticizing – from frum Jewish leaders to the ADL and World Jewish Congress – about his tweet that the “Jewish community” as a whole was violating distancing rules and thereby responsible for endangering lives during the coronavirus pandemic.
De Blasio did not publically say he instructed to target Jewish communities. He did announce on Thursday that 1,000 officers were deputized to crack down on illegal gatherings of people in parks and public spaces across the city.
“We’re going to keep building this ability to be out there in public spaces — educating, patrolling but also enforcing,” de Blasio said during his a press briefing, saying fines will be between $500 and $1,000. “If you’re talking 100 or above, there’s just nothing to discuss, you’re going to get fined – and if you resist you’re going to get arrested.”
While some Jewish leaders admitted that the funeral this week of the Rabbi Chaim Mertz OBM of the Tolaas Yaakov community did break social distancing rules, the majority of the Jewish community has been careful, with Orthodox Jewish leaders calling for the closure of schools, Shuls and Mikvahs.
I googled it and it doesn’t say it’s the law to wear a mask outside. How can they give a ticket if it’s not the law
Mayor Deblasio said that he was going to give tickets out ifyou don’t have a masks on on his briefings shows on the radio
but I have heard that Prospect Park and Utica Avenue areas are full of people not practicing social distancing and not wearing masks. The individuals in these areas are NOT part of the frum community.
I do not live in NY, but would it pay to take video/pictures (if there are indeed groups of non-conformers, and use against him to show his bias.
Do not know the legalities, but it would be so nice “out” him.
To clarify, Prospect Park is a Park accross from the Brooklyn Public Library, Utica Ave is many blocks away. Closer to home, I was on Kingston Ave yesterday and only half of the people were wearing masks. This was a directive made by the Govornor about one week ago, I believe it was last Thursday starting at 8pm
By throwing doubt onto the law, it’s possible to misdirect the truth so be careful there. The mayor made a clear directive to social distance and requires a face covering in public period, not optional.
That is not how the legal system works in this country. If you actually look, they are using the language of requesting, because that’s all they can do. It’s not a law to wear a mask. Period. It’s not a dictatorship or a monarchy. This is an elected official. There are times for how laws have to be instituted and enacted. They’re not actually going to be able to enforce these penalties. Their only real hope is to try to scare people into compliance. It’s unfortunate too, because the city is probably going to go bankrupt after this. NYS is… Read more »
The directive is actually that you only need to wear a mask when social distancing is not possible
Which means the street needs to be “busy” to require a mask
I live on Utica and Sterling, and there are non jews out all hours, no masks, not social distancing, partying away as if nothing going on. Not a word from the mayor
Wow! Job well done all you “JEWISH HEROES” for snitching and literally not stopping to complain to the NYPD about your fellow jews!
If you see something, either walk over and tell them to stop, or just MOVE ALONG… once you get the NYPD anti semites involved it will NEVER END!!
THE CITY AND THE NYPD ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS PERIOD!
WHEN WILL JEWS LEARN??? WHEN WHEN WHEN??? ENOUGH!
I’ve been noticing more and more “do-gooders” coming out of the woodwork recently. This has been getting worse, as if they’re medical experts – clearly, they are not. This is a governmental power-grab plain and simple.
We lost 80,000 people to flu in the winter of 2017.
Hospitals had people lining the floors and sitting in the halls, no rooms available for them. Why didn’t we lock down then? What is really going on here? This cannot end well.
1) A vaccine for the FLU. There is no vaccine for COVID-19. 2) And we had Tamaflu which, if administered early enough to a person who has the flu, lessens the severity and duration of the Flu. When COVID-19 first hit, we had neither for it. You are comparing “apples” (flu) to “oranges”(COVID-19): not a fair comparison. We still have no vaccine for it, and the drugs we now have for sufferers of COVID-19 have only in recent weeks become available and the doctors only recently know better how to use them. But even now, the medical community is still… Read more »
Regarding this applies to oranges comparison, your argument is very flawed. First of all, this idea that we have a vaccine to the flu is very misunderstood. The flu vaccine takes a guess every year and uses a few random strains of the flu to make the vaccine. If the strain of flu that goes around that year has some relation to the strains in the vaccine, the vaccine helps, and if not, then not. This is all documented in medical and scientific journals. Regarding tamiflu, there is no medical consensus on its efficacy. There are studies that show it… Read more »
The flu vaccine is BAD SCIENCE. If you go to the CDC website and look up Vaccine Effectiveness rates for those aged 65 and over, the rates are very low. The vaccine is only 16% effective for those 65 and over, meaning, the vaccine is ineffective 84% of the time. Do doctors tell you this?
To be a shining light into the nation’s, at a minimum we need to follow the laws and not flaunt them. Who cares what other people are doing! Using the excuse that people ignored the social distance rules to watch jet planes fly overhead is ridiculous at best.
Please elaborate as to how derech eretz is something to discard when it’s convenient? I get the mayor is saying nasty dumb things and trying to backpeddle but the directive is for pikuach Nefesh.
It’s the clandestine driveway weddings and surging funerals that make a chilul Hashem which doesn’t apply to other people. A Kiddush Hashem and a chilul Hashem are exclusive to Yiddin plain and simple
Yup,, spoken like a true nazi sympathizer,, they will come after you too dont worry,, thats what happened in Germany.
You sound like someone who doesn’t vote or pay taxes or bothers to pay attention to the real world around them. Every time a yid does something wrong and get called for it, it’s Nazi Germany again to people like you. That entitled sense of being above others is a dangerous way to think. I detest Nazis and my family suffered like yours, so puuleeze don’t attack those who are concerned with upholding the law, which by the way is to protect simpletons like you from a horrible, incurable, never before seen virulence disease. This is a safety issue and… Read more »
Well you obviously don’t understand what fascism nor do you hold liberty as a value worth defending and standing up for.
We’ve seen bird flu, swine flu, and the “regular” seasonal flu that mutates every year and kills over 50,000 each winter. You sound like a media sounding board. Why are the ERs half empty around the country right now? Why are doctors and nurses being furloughed? What happened to “millions dying” from COVID-19? 50% of people who get COVID have an extremely mild illness. Why are you saying it’s “horrible” and “incurable” when the vast majority experience nothing. Is flu curable? Is the common cold? You’re using fear tactics – tactics used to control people. The vulnerable in our communities… Read more »
Happens in oilam hazeh is what it seems. Alma dshikra. I would suggest you consider doing what Chassidus says regarding reflecting on achdus hashem, and you will see how ein oid kpshuto
It’s good to introspect, but the mayor is clearly wrong. He is picking on Yidden because he can. He would never do what he did to other minorities and that’s a fact. Every community has members breaking social distance, but to single out an entire community is 100% wrong. He should have major pushback and even protests calling him out. There is no need to wear a mask in the street if you can social distance – I hope they challenge the ticket.
You know what else is picking on jews who don’t wear masks? Coronavirus. Deblasio may be a jerk but getting intubated will be even worse
Masks do not save you from contacting the virus. Please. Go look at most of these masks, there is little to no facial seal, who knows the quality of the filter, etc. If someone is caring the virus, either infected or just carrier, wearing a mask will keep them from spreading what they have. But one who is conferrable and wears a mask still has a 70% chance of infection according to the present numbers (which, who really knows how value they are anyway). This whole thing smells of hysteria and it’s interesting how the entire behala came after the… Read more »
I thought the law was you only have to wear a mask if you’re in a place where you cannot social distance?
Nobody passed any laws here. After spending a month blabbing about how make have not been proven to help with corona, the mayor did an about-face and said that masks hello and people should wear them. They requested, they asked, they suggested, they advised. They didn’t make a law punishable by a fine or an arrest. This is not a fascist police state. Actually, it’s becoming one. Anyhow, I’m not saying people shouldn’t wear masks, on just saying that there government shouldn’t be dining and terrorizing people for not listening to their suggestions. It’s like the kid in the sand… Read more »
We said never again and it’s starting again!
Are we going to let this happen!?
You made the mess, now YOU clean it up #BillDeNazio
Why not to offer free masks from the Mayor to all NewYorkers? To educate and be nice …. why to put pressure in so difficult times and give fines when all without jobs
Sadly there was so much negligence and it costed us so much… if only it was enforced much sooner
THE MAYOR IS 100% CORRECT, NO QUESTION.
THESE IDIOTIC STUPID IGNORANT ROCHTZIM CHASSIDIM NEED TO SEE THE BODY BAGS POURING OUT OF HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES.
BILL DE BLASIO NEVER SAW ANY OTHER ETHNIC GROUP FLOUTING THE LAW TO ATTEND A GATHERING IN THEIR THOUSANDS.
CHILLUL HASHEM GOMUR!
OTHERS SHOULD DIE BECAUSE OF THEIR GHETTO MENTALITY?
ARREST AND FINE THE ROCHTZIM
Deblasio is claiming all Jews are at fault so when the anti semites come for you, who will come to your defense?
A harshly worded truth, but true nonetheless.
Thank you!
Well, at least you’re marginally better than De Blasio. He blamed the entire NY Jewish community. You’re only attacking the Chasidim.
You are 100 % correct. Please all keep social distancing & wear your PPE’s. All Yiddin, right, left, center follow the rules of our Mayor & Governor. This is for all of society including all of our Jewish brothers. We should be setting the example & not being shown how we’re not following instructions
Central Park is full when the weather is nice. No they aren’t all wearing masks.
Not wearing a mask?
In no community throughout NY is everyone wearing a mask.
This is shameful. This mayor is shameful.
Fascism has officially come to NY and us Jews yet again do nothing! We need to have civil disobedience! we have to stand up for ourselves in the face of tyranny! we can not sit idly by and watch our liberties stripped away from us day by day. I find it abhorrent and deeply disturbing that the mayor of a city can shut down shuls and stores indefinitely at whim without any objections at all. How can a politician regulate how we walk in the street? it is unconstitutional and it violates basic human rights! when will we open our… Read more »
I live in Eretz Yisroel where “shuls and stores have been closed” for many weeks, and how and how far we can walk from our homes is also strictly regulated. Is this antisemitism? No, it’s the Mitzvah of ונשמרתם מאד לנפשותיכם! Halevai that NY would have taken this situation seriously from the beginning; perhaps many more Yidden would still be with us! But better late than never. De Blasio may not be an Oheiv Yisroel, but he is not the enemy—Covid-19 is. May Hashem eradicate this Mageifah quickly! But until then, take responsibility. Calling this fascism is inappropriate at best… Read more »
Today people are confused. They think since it’s a war against all of humanity, the it’s ok because it’s not directed specifically against the Jews.
Its is a war against humanity. The world leaders cooperating together to carry out big master plan of World Elites to reduce world population thru spreading lab made viruses and vaccines while robbing people of their human rights and their possession. Oppression and Tyranny at its Best!!
Why bother screaming into the internet when theres literally a respected body of elder chassidim youve already elected to speak on your behalf? And guess what? They agree that these measures are necessary. Yes, it’s crazy and unprecedented but so is this virus for vulnerable populations which I’m sure you are related to one or two. Time to research biology and chemistry a bit, perhaps immunology a flake or two and realize this NOVEL coronavirus is the worst thing to happen to the ENTIRE WORLD in a long long time. It’s not a conspiracy over your rights to go to… Read more »
This is a health pandemic. The Rabbi’s, the Dr’s and the politicians mostly say it as such. Who say’s it isn’t? Mostly people who have no understanding of science, sociology or real politics. Is it possible our “leaders” are wrong? Sure, but why put the the Holocaust survivor who was truly under fascist Nazi Germany or Communist European regimes under risk at their old age? You wan’t to prove a point at the risk of killing our loved ones? The WHOLE world is showing restraint, why be an exception? You don’t have to like our Mayor (I’m not a fan),… Read more »
Regardless of your take, this was his motivation during the measles outbreak, as comments wrote back then. Either he worked back then to couch it a little better, or people had a vested interest in ignoring his hatred back then.
This is such a chilul Hashem to everyone around the world! Especially since he emphasizes on specifically the jews. But what he is saying is true! The jews are the ones who are doing these “secret minyanim” and all these thing, that are violated by the law and even Rabanim!
See:
https://theintercept.com/2020/04/03/nypd-social-distancing-arrests-coronavirus/
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/nyregion/coronavirus-nypd-social-distancing.html
https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2020/04/10/video-what-nypd-enforced-social-distancing-looks-like/
However, for the mayor to say what he said about the Jewish community is very disturbing, indeed. It seems that, although arrests are being made in other parts of the city, the arrests seem to be most focused on the Jewish areas.
First off, I strongly believe that the Mayor is reacting to pressure he is facing from people in the media, and from ‘other’ community groups who were accusing him of favoritism and worse when it comes to the Jewish community. Which is why he used that phrase. Because people are using it to him. My main point though is that it is not a bad thing to enforce public health standards in high density areas during a pandemic. Wear a mask in public and keep social distancing. I don’t see that this is a bad thing until deaths come down.… Read more »
He sure has a funny way of showing the world how he loves yidden and we’re his favorite. Let’s not forget the very pathetic half measures he took during open Jew-hunting season in NYC only a few sorry months ago. If i remember correctly he made a press conference and took some pictures, put on a yarmulke by 770 and then he went off to fress with the Rev. Al. Take this favoritism baloney somewhere else.
The law in NYS does not allow for the enforcement of public health standards except those that are directly under the supervision of the state government, such as programs like WIC. The mayor can’t enforce a public health standard. He can only enforce laws. There is NO LAW WHATSOEVER that forbids a person from leaving they’re home without a face mask. I’m not saying it’s advisable, I wear a mask, but not because I’m being forced to, because I’m choosing to. We have free choice and the mayor doesn’t get to take that away just because he doesn’t like what… Read more »
The bottom line is the uneducated men in Williamsburg should have stayed home and had the funeral pass by their homes and honored from their porches. I am NOT a fan of the mayor….but I understand why he is cracking down on our frum communities….because so many people are idiots and don’t follow the law. Honestly, it is very embarrassing for those of us that do follow the law!!!
The people in Williamsburg had NO RIGHT to gather for the funeral. They have sparked anti-semitism in our communities…they had no right to put us once again in this situation!
The mayor is wrong but so are we. In crown heights by levayes even of choshuve yiden we really tried hard to keep it socially distant not only of fear of chilul hashem but becouse of pikuach nefesh. Why in Williamsburg do they think that they are immune to the virus? Havr they not had enough of their own kehila which passed away? Why do they think that they are different than everybody? As for the mayor yes the levaya was wrong. But go check crown heights and you will see one of the most socially distant neighborhoods, many Jewish… Read more »
The majority of comments is busy blaming the mayor instead of focusing on the real issue. The mayor’s reaction is unacceptable. However, people in Williamsburg are not following any of the rules. they are taking the situation lightly. Why were there thousands out there? they claimed that it was coordinated with NYPD. I really wonder if the police department knew how many people were going to participate. This was a huge chiul hashem. And people justifying their behaviors and saying that there’s no law that requires to wear a mask, are also making chilul hashem. didn’t our community not suffer… Read more »
Doing Torah and Mitzvos is not a chillul Hashem. A chilul Hashem is lying on your taxes, etc. Going to a levaya is a mitzvah and a kiddush Hashem and an inspiration to the rest of America to stand up for their rights.
New York Times 4/28/20: “Sweden’s death rate of 22 per 100,000 people is the same as that of Ireland, which has earned accolades for its handling of the pandemic, and far better than in Britain or France.” Sweden with zero lockdowns and a flourishing economy has a lower death rate than Britain and France (with complete lockdowns) and the same death rate as Ireland (with complete lockdowns). They have had no lockdowns whatsoever. Schools are on, parks and businesses open – people aren’t losing their life savings and businesses that took them decades to build. Unlike in NY, people are… Read more »
Sorry to tell you this, but they don’t have to follow these rules. I agree that it is wise to follow the rules, but not obligatory and certainly not punishable. And I have to disagree with the argument that our community suffered so much due to this disease and therefore we should be following the rules now. It community lost chassidim and anshei maaseh, yes, but primarily due to hospital neglect and the incompetence of the city government and policies. Now that they’ve proven themselves to be inept we should start to buy all of the nonsense they’re peddling? And… Read more »
Last week a nurse released a video talking about the “horror movie” neglect going on in NY hospitals. She claimed most of the patients who died could have recovered, but medical staff refused to give them proper care. She also said ventilators were killing patients, and staff weren’t allowing family members to advocate for the sick relative. Patients were being pushed into being placed on a ventilator when they should have been on a cpap machine, something more gentle on the lungs.
Nurse explaining why so many are dying: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gptynRvTErI
Hospitals are paid alot more when Medicare patients are listed as having died from COVID – and hospitals get 3 times as much money when the patient is on a ventilator. Most patients who are put on a ventilator won’t survive.
As of today we have 63,746 deaths WITH the lockdown, SO FAR. Stop comparing this virus to the flu!!
63,000 people who have died of many things but are called coronavirus victims because either they tested positive or because the doctors ‘suspected’ it
First the government took whatever it could get ‘voluntarily’ like closing down shuls and yeshivas. That was easy for them. Now they will keep going and going, long after there is any danger. Next time think about the bigger picture before closing shuls and yeshivas.
Even if giving the ticket was wrong, it is still VITAL for everyone to wear a mask. It is very important for all of us to make a kidush hashem and wear masks as good citizens should. We must also keep the proper social distance and avoid crowds. Deena demalchita deena. These laws are to protect people. This can be an issue of pikuach nefesh. Please wear masks outside. Please keep social distance. Do not form crowds or groups. This is for everyone’s safety. I do not want to tell you the difficult stories I have heard in hospitals. God… Read more »
The CDC COVIDView Weekly Surveillance Summary states the following: “For people 65 years and older, current COVID-19 hospitalization rates are similar to those observed during comparable time points during recent high severity influenza seasons.” “For children (0-17 years), COVID-19 hospitalization rates are much lower than influenza hospitalization rates during recent influenza seasons.” WE WERE TOLD “MILLIONS” OF DEATHS. THE DEATH RATE AS OF 5/1 IS 37,308: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/index.htm NOT 66,000! NOT “MILLIONS” OF DEATHS! THE COVID MORTALITY RATE IS COMPARABLE TO FLU (AVERAGE 50,000 DEATHS PER YEAR). HOW MANY COVID DEATHS ARE DUE TO MEDICAL NEGLECT? WHY ARE WE LINING UP… Read more »
You’re counting a year of flu deaths. The CDC has said the mortality rate is equal to the flu. But by the end of this year, they may have revised that mortality rate. You’re using data that has been figured out from just the 3 months we’ve dealt with this. Not even the CDC can tell you what the mortality rate will be in July or Sept. The virus is way more contagious than the flu, says that same CDC, people don’t have symptoms for a couple of weeks after they’ve caught it, so they’re spreading that whole time, and… Read more »
You need to get rid of all the liberal democRATs. Vote them out.
This is a disgrace. If you think this is Appropriate behavior to protect the lives of not only your own people but your neighbors around you then you really need to do some deep reflection of your spiritual self. This is an embarrassment to those of us who are watching. I already had 14 people die that I know. Because the disease is so deadly and all of you or ignoring the health conditions and not helping to prevent it from spreading should be ashamed of yourselves. You are threatening the lives of the nurses and doctors as well. People… Read more »
Throwing out terms like Nazi and Gestapo against American police officers is offensive.
These people are wrong for endangering everyone else’s lives, they deserve the fine! The NYPD is trying to protect everyone, this virus is not a joke! Thank you to the NYPD for protecting us from arrogant idiotic people! To all the people in the comments that are making horrible remarks about the NYPD in the comments, you are honestly wrong and a Chilul Hashem, they are heroes, they put there lives in danger to protects us! I can assure you that if the people that made horrible remarks about the NYPD feel unsafe or they are getting chased or anything… Read more »
YOUR 100000000% CORRECT!
NYPD thank you for protecting us!
true!
The Peoria County Sheriff in Illinois said that an executive order even from the governor is not a law, therefore it is NOT a crime for people to disobey the mayor’s order. These people should not be getting summonses to criminal court! However, why AREN’T these people wearing masks in NYC, of all places? Why tempt fate, God, the police to stop you because you’re not wearing a mask, just when you’re in a great hurry (the police DO have the right to do that); what are you trying to prove? Of course this is Anti-Semitism. Simply put, in a… Read more »