[PHOTO LINK BELOW] The 71st Precinct Community Council hosted its 15th annual Family Day Picnic Sunday at Lefferts Park, bringing together all the residents of Crown Heights to a fun and family-oriented event.
The event started with a parade along Empire Boulevard, culminating in a picnic in Lefferts Park in Crown Heights.
Entertainment included diverse acts from local elementary public schools, Jewish Hasidic rappers, and a puppeteer telling a story about “How the Elephant Got Its Trunk.”
The children also enjoyed arts and crafts, face painting, moon bounces, horseback rides for children and a Kosher BBQ.
NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly stopped by the annual event as he did last year.
YWN spoke with Brooklyn South Chief Joseph Fox about this event. “This event was started in the early 1990’s following racial tensions in the Crown Heights Community, and many people did not think it would accomplish much. But look at the diverse crowd which attends every year: African Americans and Orthodox Jews getting along in harmony! This is what NYC – & most of all Brooklyn – is all about. So many cultures and ethnic groups walking side-by-side, riding the subways together, and earning a living by working for each other,” Fox said.
“It’s all about good communication, and understanding each other a little better.”
PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos.
(Dov Gordon – YWN & ColLive)
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9 Responses
Very nice. I know that many blacks have respect for the way the Jewish community is organized. Any event that helps bring peace and goodwill is a good one.
why wasent obama there?
To: #2 tina 18 – not a good shidduch… The Rebbe said we should give the arabs NOTHING, -obama says we should give them EVERYTHING.
#1, I think that if it works out ok in Crown Heights, we should start doing this with Jewish groups in Williamsburg and Boro Park. Maybe it will bring peace and goodwill between us.
Unfortunately, I see that many Jews today have not learned from the past.
Our obligation as Torah Jews is to show great respect, consideration, and gratitude to the gentiles that we live amongst, but NOT to become their close friends!
There are many proofs to support this. The most obvious been Megilas Esther.
I’m dumbfound how Yidden can read every year that a death sentence was placed on the whole of klal yisrael for attending Achashverosh’s party (a mixed gathering) and then can walk away from Purim and commit the same crime! Their claim against Mordechai was that we needed to go for the sake of Shalom (to get on Achashverosh’s good side). Aren’t we doing the same here?!
Any event that brings peace between peoples who live in close proximity, is a good event. Also, many blacks admire the Jewish communities sense of solidarity. I am sure friendly bonds will be formed by this event.
@ Softwords,
You’re comparing Achashveirosh to Ray Kelly? Have you lost your mind? It’s clear someone has gotten zilch from the lessons of Purim.
Mod,
#5 (and by extension, #7) can be very detrimental if read by those involved. The internet is a public space, and google works very well…
Thank you
moshiachnow – You totally missed the point. I wasn’t comparing people at all. I was bringing out the point that Klal Yisrael has a tafkid in this world. Our responsibility is to be as holy a nation as possible. This alone earns the respect of the Gentiles. Trying to find favor in the eyes of the Gentiles historically has ALWAYS backfired on us. We do not need to scratch backs in order to build peaceful relationships.
If people would stop trying to be a Jewish version of the American melting pot and instead concentrate on Tikun Hamiddos, Yiras Shamiyim, and Gimulus Chasidim we would far more likely find favor in the eyes of Hashem and Bnei Adom.