How to Benefit Everyone in a City

Audio clips from a meeting in 19’69 between the Lubavitcher Rebbe and New York City Council President Francis X. Smith. At the time of this meeting, NYC was facing a surge in crime and vandalism.

The City Council President came to the Rebbe, asking what he could to help the Rebbe’s community (Crown Heights). The Rebbe redirected the whole discussion by asking that officials do something to benefit the entire NYC community. Then, that would automatically help every part of the community.

The Rebbe said that the entire community needs to have a harmonious life, which can happen if it is free of crime, with no one infringing on the rights of the citizens. For this, he said that there is a need to (1) show respect for the law, and (2) enforce the law. This helps even the criminals, because when they commit crimes, they are also harming themselves. [Therefore, effective deterrents to crime help everyone.] At that time, the judges were trying to be strict on crime. However, the police and prosecutors were being lenient on crime.

There have been other years since then, in which the situation has been reversed. Either way, what the Rebbe then said holds true:

The correctly stricter branch should have full cooperation of the other branch in upholding the law. Then they will all be in a better position, and there won’t be so much anxiety over the matter. Especially, the criminals need to see a united front for law enforcement and judging, and that will be a more effective deterrent.

– By Dr. Michael Schulman, Director of Ask Noah International