Rabbi Angry At NYPD Over Jaywalking Ticket

Says Officer's Behavior On Sabbath Left Lot To Be Desired

November 29, 2010 10:30 PM

Orthodox Jews (Photo: AP)

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NEW YORK (CBS 2) — Members of Brooklyn’s orthodox Jewish community were angered Monday after a rabbi was given a ticket for jaywalking and then subjected to what they say was insensitive treatment by a police officer.

Rabbi Sholom Emert and his wife are upset not so much that he got a ticket for jaywalking on a busy avenue in Midwood, Brooklyn. But rather, he said, that the police officer forced him to violate the traditions of his Orthodox Jewish faith.

“This officer did not understand my religious life,” Rabbi Emert told CBS 2’s John Metaxas.

Rabbi Emert goes to a synagogue on Avenue M to pray three times a day. On Friday evening he was coming home, as he does every Sabbath, on foot.

While crossing Kings Highway, the light turned and he was stuck.

“And he stopped traffic and he pulled me to the side, right over there,” Rabbi Emert told Metaxas.

The officer began to issue a summons for jaywalking and demanded identification.

“I told him I’m a Sabbath observer. I don’t have ID on me. I live down the block. You can come to my house and I’ll give you my ID. So he said if you have no ID we have to take you to the precinct,” Rabbi Emert said.

After 15 minutes of back and forth, Rabbi Emert said the officer told him to write his name down instead or face arrest.

“Finally I was forced to write my name down on the Sabbath, which is something that is not allowed in the Jewish community,” Rabbi Emert said.

Already the incident is reverberating through the Orthodox community.

“If you are an Orthodox Jew and you follow the rules, you do not carry on the Sabbath. You don’t carry a wallet, keys, money,” said Assemblyman Dov Hikind, D-Brooklyn.

Civil rights attorney Norman Siegel said there is no requirement in the United States to carry identification, but: “If you break the law, you have to have ID so the summons can be filled out.”

But many here said the officer went too far.

“The only thing the policeman should’ve done is instead of writing a ticket, advise him of the dangers and give him a warning,” resident Tony Ross said.

“They should have a talk with this cop to brief him about the Jewish community. I’m sure he’s been around long enough to see there’s plenty of Jews around here,” said Shira Emert, the rabbi’s wife.

The sentiment here seems to be this could have been handled better.

An NYPD spokesman said the Department is looking into the incident. Rabbi Emert has a court date in February.

Rabbi Angry At NYPD Over Jaywalking Ticket

Peter

Why couldn’t the cop write down the Rabbi’s name?

Jim

The smartest comment yet. Thanks, Jerry!

Jim

Oops, sorry! I mean Peter, obviously. Jerry’s comment was terse but dumb. Peter’s makes sense to me.

mike

who do you think you are you are probably the most anti semitic person i read I am not Jewish but you have no right to call their religion a scam if G-D told them not to write on the sabbath then they can’t and where do you get your info about them paying taxes how do you know, my neighbor is Jewish and he doesn’t claim his house is a temple so before you open your fat trap check your facts arrogant piece of trash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dean

Mike said: “if G-D told them not to write on the sabbath then they can’t ”

Hey Mike, Just wondering…if Zeus or Apollo had certain behaviors required of their followers, could I use that as an excuse to jaywalk or do other minor crimes when obeying the law was inconvenient? Maybe I could go swimming in a public fountain on a hot day, and say Poseidon told me to do it when the cops came to bust me? Sounds reasonable to you I am sure, since blind obedience to ignorant primitive.superstition seems to be very important to you.

How about this for a radical idea? How about worshiping whatever you want, but don’t ask for any special applications of the rules of society just because you think you have a little invisible magic friend?
james

Mike, I don’t believe you when you say you’re not Jewish. As far as I know, only orthodox Jews write God as G-d.

Ted

Rabbi should know the law… next.

Rex

And you obey every law Ted I hardly doubt it NEXT…………..
Rex

Ted do you obey every law I find that hard to believe NEXT…………….

Aaron

“Auchtung Juden! Are your papers in order?”
Greycoat

Had this been a Muslim iman, NYPD would be apologizing profusely as Muslims got all up in arms. Then again Jews don’t fly planes into buildings, wear homicide vests, and engage in threats and intimidation.

If you’re not driving a vehicle you are not required to carry identification.

I know of a judge one morning out doing his walk in sweat pants and sweat shirt. He didn’t have any ID and wouldn’t have given them any if he had. They arrested him and quickly apologized when they found out who he was. I was threatened with arrest when I refused to tell the cops who I was when I and a friend was out late walking at night in a nice neighborhood. However, my friend blurted out I was a lawyer and they backed off.

This rabbi allegedly committed the infraction of jaywalking and this rude cop made it out to be a federal offense or a felony. The rabbi offered to take the man to his house a block away, but no the cop had to be an ass.

KPMc

Jews don’t engage in threats and intimidation? Tell that to the politician that dares disagree with something favorable to their (Hasid/Orthodox) community.

Are you suggesting no Jews receive preferential treatment in NYC but Muslims do?

Now that’s funny!

bill

Guess God nor the Rabbi cares about breaking the law on the Sabbath? Pretty easy, don’t break the law!!!
Secondly the officer had every right to ask this moron for proper identification, maybe , just maybe a potential criminal may give false information to avoid an arrest….lol

Will

bil, your an idiot.

jw5745

Poor baby….
Lou

“This officer did not understand my religious life.” “I told him I’m a Sabbath observer. I don’t have ID on me.”

What exactly is his excuse? How does orthodox Judaism condone or excuse jaywalking and/or not carrying ID on the sabbath?

The Rabbi sounds like just another indignant but guilty party.

roger

you are not allowed to carry extraneous objects (objects not used for observing) outside the aruv— but i didnt expect an ignorant anti semite like you to understand that
erin

did this rabbi mention anything about being wrong for jwalking no so shutup about it and as roger says its against jewish law to carry anything so keep your mouth shut you antisemite
Methodist Reverend

You are obviously ignorant when it comes to Jewish law. It is against Jewish law to work on the Sabbath. Carrying anything or writing is considered work and is therefore breaking religious law. This rabbi’s CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO FREELY PRACTICE HIS RELIGION were violated by an officer sworn to uphold the CONSTITUTION. Even Jewish inmates in US prisons and rabbi’s who visit them are not forced to carry ID or write on the Sabbath. The officer was insensitive and should be trained on how to deal with the Orthodox community. I am a Christian, not a Jew, but understand the Rabbi’s anger and hope he sues for his CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS being violated to freely practice his chosen religious faith in America. PS- He can only walk a certain number or steps from home to synagogue and back before it becomes work. Hope this was his reason for crossing the street where he did. A warning would have sufficed.

Dean

Blah, blah, blah reverend. You too seem to think that religious belief trumps the laws that the rest of us have to obey. Does the rabbi’s constitutional right to freely practice his religion (I won’t yell that in capitals like you did) trump the safety of the drivers in the traffic into which he is jaywalking? If someone has to swerve to avoid someone as they “jaywalk for god”, whose fault is it if an accident occurs? How dare you think this guy or anyone else has a right to walk out in front of my vehicle in a manner that is against the law, and endanger me and the drivers around me, just because they think they have a little invisible friend who told them to do so? What is it about religion that makes people think they are above the law? What pompous nonsense.
I live in Ottawa. Last summer, I saw an Ultra – Orthodox man in his 60′s look right at my approaching transit bus, and then jaywalk out on the red light in front of me as I was approaching on the green light at 50 km/hr. That would have been bad enough, but he was followed by a child of about 5 years old who lagged so far behind the old man that the man was on the curb when the child was just at the center line. He completely ignored the child as he crossed, and never once looked back to see how the little guy was doing. I tooted my horn to get the attention of this negligent jerk, but he didn’t even turn his head. He walked on with his head held high, as if he were proud of the gross negligence his behavior displayed.
I of course stopped the bus far short of endangering the child. But I will never forget the look of arrogance on that man’s face as he endangered that child.
And you dare to think this kind of behavior deserves some kind of special consideration reverend? From what I can see, the more fervent the religious belief, the more likely the person is to be somewhat mentally unbalanced. You and your religious beliefs/delusions aren’t special reverend. And neither is this rabbi, no matter what your little magic friend tells you. Get over yourselves and obey the laws like everyone else.
Methodist Reverend

I for one do obey the laws of the land INCLUDING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF OTHERS. Many of you anti-religion idiots in this country simply have no respect for those who WANT to practice their faith. No, the Rabbi should have used a crosswalk, but the way it was handled in respect to his faith is irresponsible, insensitive and in this great country we used to at least show respect for one another including our differences. The greatest threat to the law and liberty is people like you who don’t respect the FULLNESS of what the Constitution protects.

David

Perhaps if the Rabbi, was, instead, a black Harvard professor, he could defy the cop and ask President Obama to chastise the officer, who would then be required to apologize on bended knee.

lou

i am jewish and it is very simple we live in the usa and we have to obey the rules like anyone else. The Rabbi could have easily found a different route to his synagogue. He could easily hire a driver to drive him if he is not allowed to drive himself.
This is not Israel, not Mecca, not the Vatican. We are Americans .

louis

you are jewish you say but you dont know basic jewish law first of all if he cant write on the sabbath how could he go into a car and how can he find another way he still has to cross streets and what does this nhave to do with being in america you make absolutly no sense think before you write
Henry

These are neighborhoods that a predominantly filled with Orthodox people who have walked to synagogue for their whole lives and everyone around them knows exactly why they don’t drive. He got stuck in the street and was apologetic about it. Does this guy have anything better to do? Do you see cops writing tickets to street performers and homeless people drinking liquor out of a paper bags? What about every person who doesn’t use their turn signal when they change lanes in New York?
billyjoejimbob

Probably the most sensible post on this entire issue. Freedom of religion does not impose special rights for one religion over another in the public forum. Using the anti-semite card is just as repulsive as using the racist card. Most of us Christians are sypmpathetic to the plight of Israel with the terrorist muslims. This behavior doesn’t help the cause of Jews.

Jason

Just sign the damn ticket. You cannot jaywalk no matter who you are.

Also, we demand to see your birth certificate Rabbi. Who are you to break the law on the sabbath. No excuse!
born catholic-converted to Judaism

Pubs, Angel, and the others that appear to vent hate for the Jew; educate youselves – read Genesis 12:2-3. Just for knowing, the Jew doesn’t consider himself/herself as ‘chosen.’ They didn’t crown themselves as such; THE Creator did! Why not redirect that anger/hate towards that ‘other group’ that like to blow people up. You know what I mean?
(If you’re Christian, remember that your Savior was a Jew..observed the Sabbath, and observed ALL that the Orthodox Jew observes……..AND was ‘Chosen!)

Bob Sakamoto

I’m sorry but I found your comment to be “idiotics”.
ppavli

save yourself by becoming Atheist!!! u have too much hatred for religious groups.

David

Hmmm… You’d think that a cop in NY would have just a little knowledge of Jewish tradtions. And some of the people leaving comments don’t seem to have much respect for the religious beliefs of others…..

steve

very well bsaid finally someone with some brains thank you

steve

i mean very well said

Rolly

antisemitic? I never said a word about an Arab !!
K.S.Sidhu

After 5000 years its about time that jews start understanding what they were told.
Moses told jews not to work 7 days a week like slaves. take a day off and on that day thank God who released them from slavery. in those days as well in modern
times jews do have a tendency to overwork.in islam they have word called ‘ramz’.
what it means is that when a wise man says something, always go to the depth of his words. jews over the years have attached all kinds of idiotics to whatever wisdom they were given by wise jews. so be rational understand things then act.

IDA

Insighful…thanks.

JJ

Bad cop, bad Rabbi. No reason for ticket, no reason to call CBS
dave

Why did he have to write down his name? Why couldn’t the cop just give him a ticket?

Niall

How could the cop give him a ticket when he had no ID and refused to write his name down?

Carlos

Nice to see the antisemitic commenters are back in action.

Alex

It’s not antisemitic to believe that everyone should have to obey the same laws regardless of religious beliefs.

dave

What law is there that he had to write his name down? It seems that some are quick to judge before we know all the facts?
Seamus O’Reilly

Apparently it is.

dave

Why did the cop insist on him writing his name down?

ammo17

KING MIKE ISN`T GOING TO LIKE THIS TOO MUCH.
Pete

Question is, is there a double standard? What about Muslim women who are not required to uncover their face for photo ID’s? What if this was a Muslim woman?

Oberon123

I believe that drivers’ licenses are denied ton women who refuse to show their faces.
ppavli

covering your face in public in New York state is illegal my friend.

KPMc

It’s also nice to know you can live by a different set of rules than the rest of us.

The next time I see a cop stopping some kid or immigrant and asking for ID can they just say they don’t carry any because of their beliefs?

I’d like to see how well that goes over.

It’s not the cop’s job to provide special treatment to people.

But don’t worry Rabbi… if you are a decent person I am sure G_D will forgive you for using a little ink at the insistence of a law officer.

You didn’t commit some mortal sin. I’m sure there are plenty of other areas in your life that could use some spiritual improvement. Get over it!

IDA

Nice…intelligent….correct. Pity I did’nt hear the Rabbi admit his mistake by jaywalking. If he had most cop’s would have let it slide.

Larry

Oh good gravy just write your name down and move on, if you were a Christian, then Jesus would have understood

Steve

If you would have read the whole article you would have read that the rabbi offered to have the cops go to his house (a block away) to show them his id or is reading and comprehending a whole story only for chosen people as well

Hagen McNalley

If you knew jack about cops, they don’t do Ted Kennedy favors for unpriviledged citizens who jaywalk. Including Rabbis. You have to have ID on the street.

Teresa Montgomery Wendt

Sabbath or not I did not realize it was mandatory to carry ID at all times. This did happen in the United States of America???
Alex

Awww. Better get the ACLU out in full force. Dopey religious fanatic.
ChezDee

If this were a Muslim Imam instead of a Jewish Rabbi…

IDA

The Rabbi would have blown himself up and we would not be having this discussion……sorry just had to say it
Dean

Hmmm…If it were a Muslim imam, he too would likely be whining, wanting special consideration, and expecting the rest of us to conform our rules to suit his religious beliefs. Kissing people’s butts because of their religious fantasies is a slippery slope that never should have been started down.

Mike

We have so many problems in the city, its reassuring to know that police has time to issues tickets for jaywalking, Resources well spent. Its a joke.

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Rabbi Angry At NYPD Over Jaywalking Ticket

Says Officer's Behavior On Sabbath Left Lot To Be Desired

November 29, 2010 10:30 PM

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