A Vision Rooted in Responsibility, Community, and Blessing
The Crown Heights Jewish Community Council was founded in 1969 in response to a moment of deep challenge and deep conviction. At a time when many Jewish families were leaving Crown Heights amid social upheaval, rising crime, and uncertainty, the Lubavitcher Rebbe spoke with urgency and clarity about the responsibility to remain, to invest, and to build.

The Rebbe rejected panic and retreat. Instead, he called upon the community to strengthen Crown Heights physically, socially, and spiritually. He emphasized the obligation to care for those who could not leave, to protect the vulnerable, and to ensure that the neighborhood remained a place of dignity, safety, and Jewish life. He warned that abandonment harms the poor, the elderly, and the sick most of all, and taught that lasting strength comes not from flight, but from collective responsibility and sustained action.

It was in this spirit that CHJCC was established. The Council was created to serve as a central address for advocacy, social services, and community development. From its earliest days, CHJCC worked to support residents facing hardship, to advocate for safety and resources, and to uphold the wellbeing of the entire neighborhood, Jewish and non-Jewish alike.

The Rebbe repeatedly described Crown Heights as a place where Hashem has commanded His blessing. He saw the neighborhood as one with the capacity to flourish when its people commit to one another with compassion, responsibility, and resolve. That belief continues to guide CHJCC today.

More than five decades later, CHJCC remains rooted in this founding vision. We exist to uplift every individual, family, and business in our community through care, advocacy, and opportunity. We believe that strong communities are built when no one is left behind, when help is accessible without stigma, and when responsibility for one another is shared.