A large crowd filled Anshei Lubavitch on Sunday, May 3, as elected officials, city leaders, askanim, and Crown Heights residents gathered for the annual legislative brunch hosted by the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, focused on the neighborhood’s growth, public safety, housing concerns, and community needs.

The event was held at Congregation Anshei Lubavitch on Albany Avenue, with nearby streets closed off as officials and community members arrived. The program brought together city and state leaders with local residents and community activists for a direct look at issues affecting Crown Heights families.

Among the officials in attendance were New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, New York State Attorney General Letitia James, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, New York City Comptroller Mark Levine, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Council Members Crystal Hudson, Darlene Mealy, Farah Louis, Rita Joseph and Lincoln Restler, Assembly Members Brian Cunningham, Latrice Walker, Simcha Eichenstein and Kalman Yeger, former District Leader Geoffrey Davis, and Devorah Halberstam, Honorary NYPD Commissioner of Community Safety and Chair of the Board of Commissioners to Combat Antisemitism.

Governor Kathy Hochul, who had been listed on the event flyer as an honoree, did not attend.

Honored at the event were Rabbi Yossi Garelik, Rov of Anshei Lubavitch, Rabbi Moshe Pinson, founder of Bais Shmuel Chabad and Mikvah Mei Chaya Mushka, Devorah Benjamin, founder of KSCVK, and Devorah Scheiner of the Shabbos and Yom Tov Fund.

CHJCC Acting Chair Shmuel Rosenstein opened the program by welcoming the officials and residents. “Your presence here speaks volumes about your commitment to our community, and we are grateful for your partnership,” he said.

Rosenstein explained that the event was held at Anshei Lubavitch to highlight the growth taking place in the southern part of Crown Heights. He recalled the well-known story of Shirley Chisholm, who represented Crown Heights in Congress and once turned to the Rebbe after being placed on the agriculture committee. The Rebbe encouraged her to see the position not as a setback, but as an opportunity to connect America’s surplus food with those who needed it.

Rosenstein said the lesson was “the ability to see opportunity where others see limitation,” connecting it to the Rebbe’s guidance during the years when many families were leaving Crown Heights.

“The Rebbe urged people to stay,” he said. “He encouraged them not to run but to build, to strengthen what was here, and invest in what could be.”

He said that vision is now visible in the continued growth of Crown Heights, especially in areas that had once seen little Jewish presence.

“Over the past 15 years, streets that for decades did not have a single Jewish family are now filled with light,” Rosenstein said. “This shul, this very building, stands at the center of that growth.”

Rosenstein also spoke about the practical needs that come with the neighborhood’s growth, including housing, insurance, food assistance, childcare, benefits, and crisis support. “As our community has grown, so have the needs,” he said.

CHJCC CEO Rabbi Mendel Marasow spoke about the realities faced by those who turn to the council for help. “People don’t come to the Community Council because they’re happy — they come because they’re desperate, they have nowhere else to go,” he said. “The Crown Heights Community Council is not perfect, and it may never be. But the people we serve cannot wait for us to become perfect. They need help today.”

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin addressed the crowd, as did NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and New York State Attorney General Letitia James.

Speaker Menin spoke about the rise in antisemitism facing Jewish New Yorkers. “I’m the first Jewish Speaker of the New York City Council, and I don’t need to tell you what a difficult time this has been for the Jewish community,” she said. “The scourge of antisemitism — we have an epidemic in our city.” She noted that antisemitic hate crimes make up 53% of all hate crimes in New York City, despite Jewish residents comprising roughly 12% of the population. Menin pointed to a recently passed five-point legislative plan aimed at combating antisemitism and ensuring safety in houses of worship and schools.

Commissioner Tisch spoke about public safety and the challenges facing Jewish New Yorkers since October 7. She said that although the NYPD leads the city’s law enforcement efforts, public safety depends on trust, communication, and partnership with communities.

“In New York City, Jewish New Yorkers make up about 10% of the population, but they account for more than 50% of all hate crimes,” Tisch said.

She said the NYPD continues to investigate hate crimes through its Hate Crimes Task Force and warned that the threat environment has become especially serious as rhetoric surrounding the war in Gaza has moved from outrage toward incitement.

“I have not seen a threat environment quite like this one in my 18-plus years in government,” Tisch said.

During the brunch, Mendel Gerlitzky helped City Council Member Lincoln Restler put on tefillin. He also helped Democratic congressional primary candidate Mike Goldfarb put on tefillin.

Ahron Gluck, who is running for New York State Assembly District 43, attended the brunch and met with elected officials and community members.

Photos: Jay Sorid