An Aveira Grows In Brooklyn

Chabad's effort in persumei nisa, publicizing the miracle of Hanukkah, turns into persumei aveira as this Brooklyn menorah steals electricity from the city.

Comments

[Atheodox Jew]

Are you sure they broke into the electrical box and that it wasn't handled/coordinated by the city?

[Troll]

That safe?

[gopjew]

My understanding is chabad makes a big deal against electric menorahs.

[gopjew]

Not trying to question this article, I'm talking about in ppl's homses chabad is against electric menorahs.

[Ari]

Was there another outlet that they could have used?

[David]

Ha! Looks like the wiring is up to the usual frumma non-code compliant standards. And dangerous as well!

I assume if they actually had permission to tap into the street light that the city would also insist on code-compliant wiring.

I would love to see how the wire is connected inside the junction box. With some alligator clips perhaps?

[Rueven Aharon]

usual frumma non-code compliant standards.

I thought Frumodoxy was all about adherence to law? If they're so zealous about Halacha, why couldn't they take the time to look at secular law as well?

[Baruch]

They should have called up Con Ed, gotten a meter installed and opened up a new line of service then cancel the account after a week and have them remove the meter.

Keep it legal!

[Seraphya]

I was going to say that knowing chabad and their pushiness to appear to represent all Jews that they got permission to do this, except the non-outdoor power connection do lead me to think that you are correct and this is gezaila.

[reuvain]

Wow what a nefarious plot. Shamaya never fails in his effort to uphold justice and the American way.

So an over zealous yeshiva student probably plugged it in. Alas now its a now a national scandal. Oy Vey.

[...]

Nail Mendel to the Menorah!

[David]

So an over zealous yeshiva student probably plugged it in. Alas now its a now a national scandal. Oy Vey.

Posted by: reuvain | December 10, 2012 at 04:55 PM

It is scandalous. It is dangerous and it is stealing. If the yeshiva student hasn't worked out how to behave as a decent law-abiding human being after a lifetime of "learning" Torah, then they have learned nothing.

[Rueven Aharon]

I've been turning over the following term in my mind. (Yeah, I like coining neologisms here and there. Like "Frumodox". Heh.) The word in this case:

"Mitzvaveirah" (Mitzvah-Aveira)

Yes, it's an oxymoron. Deliberately so. Which is what makes it sooo delicious. The act of committing a sin and performing a good deed in one stroke. It'd probably drive the ethicists, moralists, and halachists nuts.

[Rueven Aharon]

What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor: that is the whole Torah. The rest is commentary. Go and learn it.

-Hillel the Elder, after being dared to teach the Torah while the challenger was standing on one foot

And the hareidim had to go and wrap it up in a million nitpicking rules, while perhaps losing sight of the core.

[Yitzchak]

Oh, puhlease. Do you know how much electricity a menorah uses in 8 days? One dollar? Two? I realize that frumkeit is all about strict adherence to rules even if they make no sense, but does anti-frumkeit have to be its mirror image?

[BaltimoreYid]

Considering the ever growing crime rate within the frum world this one really is small potatoes.

[red]

There was probably a nativity scene plugged in there last year.

[mark]

i assume they coordinated with the city or con ed...

[ah-pee-chorus]

there shouldnt be religious symbols of any kind on public property.

[Electrician]

Shmarya, if you want to do the right thing, you should contact the apppropriate people as the street light they are tapping into looks like it's metal and if someone trips on the wire and pulls one connection out and it touches the metal and the other active connection stays connected, then you end up with the whole light pole becoming active and ready to electrocute anyone who touches it.

[Giggidy]

Lol Chabad is really out of control

[dd]

if you know chabad , it should not surprise you.

chabad steal and take advantage of any situation, any chance they can .

[Chabad]

Your all fucking retards.

[a]

This is just a tip of the iceberg. This crime was hatched from the highest echelon in 770. Keep digging and maybe we can bring down the entire Lubavitch movement!

[The Anti-Schmerl]

There is no sign on that menorah. I see what looks like a bracket where a sign could have once been or should be. It also appears to be incorrectly installed in general.

While it is a Chabad menorah, it could have been put there by an unauthorized party (possibly a loose-cannon meshichist) who may have even stolen it from a Chabad House. To me it looks like a discarded "older model" that someone found and installed on his own.

A news item this? Only for the perennially unemployed with lots of time on their hands. If this were a serious problem, the menorah would have been taken down and confiscated.

[Menachem]

Hater

[Yosef ben Matitya]

this would be a typical aveira! but their biggest aveiros are: meenoos, heresy and being chotei u machatee es harabbim.

[Office of the Chief Rabbi]

Your all fucking retards.

Posted by: Chabad | December 10, 2012 at 07:45 PM

Ah, but you're uneducated. An amhaaretz. An ignoramus. A jackass who never mastered 3rd grade English.

[westernjew]

ChaBaD is the new dragon of the jewish life circle. But I am afraid someone will rightfully slay it someday.

[Barry]

If a dog pissed on it, it and its walker could be electrocuted.

[Bob Moses]

Hmm, except that they had permission to use it.
And to all those that are worried about electrocution, if you have ever looked at the inside of a light post in NY -they have a standard plug socket, pretty hard to loosen a single connection and get it to touch the light post, even if you were trying to. The extension cord is also rated for outdoor use.

[Shmarya]

Hmm, except that they had permission to use it.
And to all those that are worried about electrocution, if you have ever looked at the inside of a light post in NY -they have a standard plug socket, pretty hard to loosen a single connection and get it to touch the light post, even if you were trying to. The extension cord is also rated for outdoor use.

Posted by: Bob Moses | December 11, 2012 at 12:35 AM

Hmmm. Except they almost certainly did not, because of several safety concerns that clearly are not met, and because the last time this happened, the city said it didn't give permission.

But, heck. Just keep lying. It's what you Chabadniks do best.

[Chabad]

Your all fucking retards.

Posted by: Chabad | December 10, 2012 at 07:45 PM

Ah, but you're uneducated. An amhaaretz. An ignoramus. A jackass who never mastered 3rd grade English.

--

Ahh but I at least made it out of the third grade. Griping about this nonsense is childish and vexing. Even a third grade child (such as yourself) can see the incredible Persumei Nisah that Chabad facilitates. So yeah, fuck you, and you're ilk.

[The Anti-Schmerl]

"Chabad" is a troll who wants to make real Lubavitchers look bad. Any responsible blog owner would erase such nonsense in a second.

Shmarya, himself on the level of a troll, falls for the troll bait.

Yasher koiach.

[Gevezener Chusid]

hmmmm they might be costing us $2.75 in electricity over the eight days. How dare they when the city is in a financial crisis.

[David]

hmmmm they might be costing us $2.75 in electricity over the eight days. How dare they when the city is in a financial crisis.

Posted by: Gevezener Chusid | December 11, 2012 at 06:27 AM

That is not even an issue. I am sure that the power company would gladly donate the electricity. It's not even worth metering for the amount involved (it would cost a huge amount more than the cost of the power in labor, materials and paperwork to install a meter).

The issues are (1) was permission granted? ; and (2) is the installation safe and up to code? (I won't even mention the Constitutional issue of religious symbols on public land, but, oops, I did anyway.)

[Saul]

Why are we focusing on the under $5 cost of the electricity, should not be the question if a permit existed for the menorah's installation?

[rebeljew]

You are allowed to display religious symbols on public property. However, the federal government and all state governments are not allowed to show favoritism to a particular religion. The resources available to one must be available to all. I imagine that if a tree went up, its lights would be allowed to use pole outlets. The menorah is allowed as well.

Not sure what the problem is or who, if anyone, issued a complaint. If the practice is illegal, I'm sure the police will notify the organizers and possibly fine them, but I do not believe it is.

[Bob Moses]

Hmmm. Except they almost certainly did not, because of several safety concerns that clearly are not met, and because the last time this happened, the city said it didn't give permission.But, heck. Just keep lying. It's what you Chabadniks do best.

Posted by: Shmarya | December 11, 2012 at 12:58 AM

Please.
Just the mere fact that you write "almost certainly", proves that you have no first hand knowledge on the case. If you did you would know that permission was granted and the site was inspected and approved by a ConEd. If you still have safety concerns, well I suggest you take a physical site inspection and then run it passed a electrition certified in Minnesota, because evidently you don't trust NY ones. Or heck, stay where you are, and just keep on lying. It's what you do best

[Shmarya]

Posted by: Bob Moses | December 11, 2012 at 09:55 AM

Now I know you're lying.

The liability is the city's, not ConEd's.

Go bow down to that dead rebbe of yours. He used to like to lie, too.

[Jack]

Ahh but I at least made it out of the third grade. Griping about this nonsense is childish and vexing. Even a third grade child (such as yourself) can see the ncredible Persumei Nisah that Chabad facilitates. So yeah, fuck you, and you're ilk.

Posted by: Chabad | December 11, 2012 at 01:08 AM

I'm afraid now you've used 'you're' when you should have used 'your'.

I accept that in the grand scheme of things this is not that important, especially if you immerse yourself in the world of torah and mitzvos, but if you're going to step into the big, wide world and make a statement supporting the actions of the cult to which you purportedly belong you should at least try to come across as somebody educated,intelligent and with a rational point of view.

Unfortunately, both of your posts give precisely the opposite impression.

It's a great pity that the Rebbe, who was in my opinion a great man (I had the honour of a personal yechidus with him in 1979, which I highly doubt you ever had) has been dragged into the mire by what his movement has become.

Do you think the Rebbe would be proud of the foul language in your posts?

[Brooklynstreets]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEh6T6hzPKc