PHOTO LINK AT END OF ARTICLE: On Monday morning, Special Assistant to the Superintendent of the New York State Police Rabbi Bernard Freilich arranged to receive an update from the various policing authorities in Sullivan & Ulster Counties. Agencies represented were NYSP, Sullivan County Sheriffs Department, Chiefs of Liberty, Monticello and South Fallsburg police departments. Also in attendance were Rabbi Yidel Feig Catskill Hatzolah Coordinator, Rabbi Simcha Bernath Chaplain at the Sullivan County Sheriff Department, and Rabbi Joel Gold Chaplain at the Ulster County Sheriff Department. The meeting was held at the NYSP Liberty Barracks.
A discussion ensued regarding some of the recent incidents that generated and required a 911 response. High on the list was an unfortunate incident which occurred this past Shabbos afternoon involving a teenager from Brooklyn that allegedly got drunk and got behind the wheel of someone’s car. Shortly thereafter he crashed, rolled over multiple times, and hit someone’s bungalow where a child was sleeping on the other side of the wall. Bichasdei Hashem nobody was hurt in the incident. The driver then fled the scene prompting the Fallsburg Police to give foot pursuit, and place the driver under arrest.
Another problem discussed was that the police departments have been receiving a number of complaints regarding procurement of alcoholic beverages. It is alleged that some of our youth are asking adults to purchase alcohol for them. Last summer YWN reported an incident where a frum person was arrested for this offense and it would be a shame for this to happen again. Liberty Police Chief Robert J Mir told YWN that just last week he witnessed this offense take place at the Town of Liberty Shop-Rite. “Be responsible”, the Chief said. “Think before you buy a teen a drink, it’s against the law”.
Rabbi Ezra Max founder Kosher Coaching who was called to the meeting explained to the various officials that the Frum community B”H has a phenomenal and positive track record with teens obeying the laws and behaving appropriately. “An incident like this is very unfortunate and must be addressed, but it is certainly an anomaly and not the norm”.
“Most of the teens and young adults upstate are having a great summer and not doing anything wrong”, Rabbi Max told the gathered officials. “Thousands of dollars are being spent every motzei shabbos for Girls and Boys to have separate venues to have fun. Kiamesha lanes is rented out by Ohr Naava from 11:30pm – 3:00am for girls ONLY. This is for the average good kid to have a good time in an environment that will not challenge them.”
The officials all agreed that considering the amount of people (250,000!) that are coming upstate for the summer months there is certainly not a significant increase in crimes being committed by this population.
A “hats-off” to Sullivan County Sheriff, Michael Schiff who proposed a late night decal idea similar to the CAT program. One of the heimishe community organizations would coordinate a registration process for families to get a sticker/decal for their vehicle. If a police officer in Sullivan county witness any vehicle with said decal being driven past 1am, they would make a traffic stop and verify that they vehicle was being used with permission. This will be an anti theft device as well as an insurance policy against someone’s car being used for a joyride late at night.
This program would be in addition to the existing “safe teens program” which includes random traffic stops for cars being driven late at night by teens.
Undersheriff Eric Cheboty, Captain Jimmy Boyland of the State Police Liberty Barracks, as well as Fallsburg Police Chief Simmy Williams all gave their blessings to the Sheriff’s proposal.
The theme of the meeting was one of safety and security for our families and everyone living in and around Sullivan County. Rabbi Freilich ended the meeting by thanking all the law enforcement personnel for their amazing cooperation during the first-half of the summer, and said he hoped the second half would be as uneventful and successful as the first-half.
PHOTO LINK: Photos of this event have been uploaded HERE.
(Yehuda Drudgestein – YWN Sullivan County News Desk)
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11 Responses
“Kiamesha lanes is rented out by Ohr Naava from 11:30pm – 3:00am for girls ONLY. This is for the average good kid to have a good time in an environment that will not challenge them.”
Is this a typo? 3:00 a.m. ?
Can some one tell us about Ohr Naava? Maybe we’ll have a better understanding.
Please don’t take this the wrong way but where are the parents of all these boys and girls?
Who takes achrayus and let’s their kids run around so late at night?
Are they from camps or from a bungalow colony?
If parents would have healthy and good relationships with their children, maybe they wouldn’t have to look for fun outside the home.
I understand that sometimes there are kids with issues and the parents can’t do much.
However, I think that a lot of parents simply don’t know what to do or how to posotivaley interact with their teens and as a result let them “get ice cream”.
Again, I’m not being judgemental rather asking for clarification and feedback.
P.S. What is kosher coaching?
Ohr Naava is an ‘organization’ that caters to all girls. They offer shiurim, activities etc. This enables girls to be occupied with many different things and helps maintain them at a high standar. You can check out http://www.ohrnaava.com.
Either way, by renting out the bowling alley until 3:00 AM (yes AM, it means that they’re occupied and hanging out in the right environment at that hour. There’s a good chance that these girls will be out late (with or without parental consent). Given the choice of where you’d want them to be at that hour, OHR NAAVA is DEFINITELY where you’d want them to be!!!
May they have continued hatzlacha!
By keeping it Girls Only until 3 AM it ensures that whoever is bored on a motzei Shabbos will be basically covered all night.
Ohr Naava is an amazing organization that was set up l’iluy nishmas Naava Katlowitz and is lead by Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein. It was created to assist in maintaining a proper torah life for girls/women out of High School. You can check out their website here: http://www.ohrnaava.com/.
I am not familiar with Ohr Naava, but common sense says what they are doing is amazing. The stuff that goes on in these places among frum kids is terrible. The kids hung out there until the wee hours of the morning. 3 Am is not a typo. However I would assume it was not done for the average good kid, although over time it might be a kosher way to relax on motzei shabbos.
Its 3:00 am on Motzei Shabbos, when people might be out in other places.
Ohr Naava is a women’s seminary.
For those whose Jewish identity is clear to the general population, and whose behavior is less than stellar – in addition to the metaphysical chilul HaShem, please also keep in mind that you’re ruining it for the rest of us who are left to “mop up” after your careless disregard for the fact that you are ambassadors for klal Yisroel and that your poor and sometimes criminal behavior paints the entire Jewish community with a black brush.
Ayin tov – I’m curious to know the ages of your children.
This is so sad. Stop talking about it and do something! the girls are NOT the problem, girls will NOT hang out without boys. And honestly, how many of you think that “at risk” teens will really go and hang out at Ohr Nava? And if they are, Do you want the good kids with them? Then what?? I think we have a real problem here! So much for fun and relaxation all summer.
They would anyway still be up, hanging out, so might as well be in a good safe place.
to #3 thanks for the link. Very intresting. Glad to hear some one is providing this need, even at 3 AM!