Pictured Above: Flatbush Shomrim members posing with confiscated alcohol bottles from Purim 2017.

Purim is one of those holidays where it’s a mitzvah to be happy. One way to go about this is to indulge in some red wine. Unfortunately, some people, namely younger individuals, take this too far. Excessive drinking can cause many hazards on this otherwise holy day of gift basket exchanging, charity giving, and Megillah reading. Flatbush Shomrim is familiar with these patterns of irresponsible behavior in the name of ‘fun’ and annually remains on red alert all Purim night and day.

Throughout the year, the Shomrim assist with all crime related matters including break-in’s, domestic violence, missing people, and crisis intervention, etc. The Shomrim get a whopping 4000 calls a year on average and have been responsible for two to three hundred arrests per year. They recommend everyone to call 911 first, but are always equipped to come and help as much as they can.

“This is one night of the year we become very unpopular,” said Bob Moskovitz, Executive Coordinator of Flatbush Shomrim. “I don’t mind it though, and many parents are grateful for what we do.”

The reason Shomrim becomes unpopular on this one night of the year is because they are on the lookout for any underaged drinking as well as for opened bottles of alcoholic beverages on the streets or in vehicles. When they see such laws being broken, they take immediate action to confiscate and spill out any and all alcohol that is being used inappropriately.

Shomrim have been doing this for many years and now know what to look out for. Water bottles are used by many to hold their alcohol and disguise it. Last year alone, Shomrim confiscated over 100 opened bottles of alcohol.

Shomrim’s main goal is to make sure that everyone is having a safe Purim and that no one is getting arrested. No amount of fun or looking cool to your peers is worth the consequences of excessive drinking or being arrested for driving under the influence.

Police and the district attorney take DWIs very seriously and, Purim or not, they won’t hesitate to arrest anyone driving under the influence. They will take immediate action and throw the perpetrator in jail for endangering themselves as well as others.

That being said, because of Shomrim’s preventative efforts, they are more understanding on this day and join in the effort of keeping our community safe.

The danger of drinking on Purim is not just being arrested. Alcohol is poison for the body and drinking an excessive amount is extremely harmful. Shomrim has found individuals lying out on lawns seemingly lifeless in the past on this holiday. When this happens, they must act quickly because the person’s blood levels are high and hypothermia kicks in quickly. Shomrim calls hatzolah immediately to the scene to help to save the person's life.

For individuals throwing parties, Shomrim asks that you simply don’t serve alcohol. If you do intend on serving adult beverages, make sure it’s not getting in to the hands of minors.

Parents with minors should know where they are going and who they will be with or, better yet, chaperone them. Thirteen and fourteen-year-olds should not be allowed to parade through the streets all hours of the night under the guise that they are raising money for a good cause. Parents are responsible for their minors and should keep close tabs on their children, especially on this day.

Aside from alcohol, there are other threats that are hazardous on Purim that people should be aware of. When someone is driving around delivering Mishloach Manot, they might be distracted searching for a certain address or looking at all the people dressed in costumes on the street. Simultaneously, on this day there is heightened amounts of foot traffic on the streets. This is a recipe for disaster.

Shomrim wants everyone to know that distracted driving is very dangerous and everyone should take special care on this day to drive slowly and to focus on the road. People walking in the streets should also be very careful. Not everyone in your neighborhood celebrates Purim. This means people who are unaware of the holiday may not be aware that they need to slow down for the pedestrians walking the streets.

On Purim, Shomrim get a higher volume of calls than any other day. Many of the calls pertain to noise complaints, inappropriate behavior, rowdy loud people obstructing the peace, and the list goes on.

Safety aside, it is imperative that we make a Kiddush Hashem on this holiday. Conduct yourselves like you would on any other holy day and keep our reputation for Kedushah intact.

To learn more about the Flatbush Shomrim, visit their website and follow them on Instagram and Twitter @FlatbushShomrim. In an emergency, call their Brooklyn, NY hotline at 718-338-9797.

Frieda Schweky

Frieda@sephardic.org

Frieda Schweky is Sephardic.Org's official community events reporter. For inquiries and to get involved with our site, please contact Frieda via email.