New York – Heads of Oorah attended an important meeting on Monday, May 10, at The State Police Troop G Headquarters in Albany, NY, with key law enforcement officials in several New York counties to put an end to the problems that the Jewish outreach organization has experienced in the towns of Gilboa and Jefferson, NY.
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Organized by Rabbi Bernard Freilich, Special Assistant to the New York State Police Superintendant, participants included Major William S. Sprague (the Troop Commander of Troop G in Albany) and his staff, Captain Michael St. Jeanos (of the New York State DEC Environmental Conservation Police Dept.), Lieutenant Brian Handy (of the New York State Department of Environment Protection), Anthony Desmond (Schoharie County Sheriff), Ronald Stevens (Schoharie County Undersheriff), Thomas Mills (Delaware County Sheriff), BCI Captain Steven G. James, Rabbi Joel Gold (Ulster County Sheriff’s Chaplain) and Rabbi Simcha Bernath (Sullivan County Sheriff’s Chaplain).
Everyone in attendance was concerned to learn of the continual problems that Oorah and its staff have experienced in Gilboa (where Oorah owns and operates a summer camp) and, more recently, in Jefferson, where Oorah is upgrading 400 acres of land into a state-of-the-art camp facility.
The problems Oorah has experienced includes a bombardment of calls to local 911 police emergency lines regarding alleged crimes on Oorah’s part, and the current withholding of building permits in Jefferson.
Oorah was assured by the sheriff’s departments that matters will be handled appropriately. The law enforcement officials in attendance said that the complaints they’ve received have not been justified. One incident in particular was noted where police in Jefferson were recently called and told that 300 members of Oorah’s staff were blocking the street. When the police arrived, they reported that they found several quiet people in a parking lot behaving lawfully.
“This meeting gave all of us a real understanding of what’s Oorah has been going through,” explained Rabbi Freilich. “The police get calls constantly when the lights are on, when people are crossing the street; they get calls that there are 30 people in the road and they come and it is three people. Everyone has the right to live. They police are there to make sure that the law is being obeyed… All of the law enforcement people in this area now understood that Oorah wants to live in peace but they are here to stay. The law enforcement and political establishment are here to make sure everyone gets their rights. The camps have a right to be there and to do whatever they can to have a successful summer for these children, and we will do everything to help them get to that goal.”
Rabbi Gold added, “We have to see that there is communications between law enforcement and the community. With good communications, things will improve. I’m sure this meeting will have a positive impact.”
This has got to be the most one sided article I ever read. No mention of Oorah blasting music over their PA system late into the night or keeping on their glaring stadium lighting. They have singlehandedly destroyed what once was my favorite place in NY.
I Bless Oorah and the State Police with Shalom. May HKBH guide them and the children with Shalom and Hatzlucha. I hope the camp is successful and the children have much fun and learn to love HKBH and Am Yisrael. There is nothing better than a fun summer in a Frum Yiddish atmosphere. I was blessed to have one summer in Camp Morris and I will never forget how great it was and how fortunate I was to attend. I have tremendous Hakaras HaTov to the supporters who sponsered me. Thank you.
whats the story behind this story?
why dont they track the caller id of the complainers and file against them for false reporting??
Lt. Brian Handy is with the NY City (not State) DEP Police
You didn’t identify Rabbi Eliyahu Mintz, CEO of Oorah on the far right of the photograph.
check out the site which the local employees setup & see the article
http://www.dandoesntgiveadamn.com/
Kudos to Rabbis Freilich, Gold, and Bernath. Bringing everyone together was a Kiddush Hashem in its own right.
Now that the police have vindicated Oorah’s assertion that the accusations against them are untrue and a vendetta, they have also removed a terrible Chillul Hashem.
Beruchim Ti’hiyu!
I’ve met kids who have gone to that camp…Oorah does such wonderful work.
If law enforcement disarms the haters from doing unjust harm, everyone will be able to sit together and ensure that these kids have a successful, safe and fun summer.
Everyone that is, except for those nisht-farginners blinded by hatred, like Commenter # 4 —
I’m glad he had an opportunity to continue to to spew his venom. I hope he feels relieved.
Now that the local cops have stood up to him and called his bluff, he better “tell it to the Marines.” It’s so easy to lie to those far away. And he won’t get arrested.
I’d suggest that he get a life.
As a parent of a camper of Oorah’s boyzone camp i can attest these are the most amazing and caring people. I was so impressed when i went last year on visiting day. I wish they had such a camp when i was younger.
it’s unbelievable how biased some people can be. all oorah wants to do is run their camps, according to the law, and with all the proper paperwork in place. they have the full support of their non-jewish construction crew, so it’s apparently a government conspiracy against them. it’s a shame there are such people who’d want to stop underprivileged kids from experiencing a summer like no other.
Jefferson — let oorah build us a camp!!!!!! me and all my friends will have nowhere to go this summer!!!
It’s heartwarming to see the strong support from the local workers and their families.great news for the town and all the residents