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A Billboard Grows on the BQE

Jewish commuters are warned to shield their eyes.

by
Adam Chandler
June 18, 2012

Today’s image of the day comes from the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, where according to sources, a billboard—sponsored by the Congregation of Yad Moshe— has been erected to warn commuting Jews about the temptations or perils of Manhattan:

The sign on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway reads in Hebrew: “Dear Jew: You are entering a dangerous place. Shield your eyes.” The words “Shield your eyes” are repeated in English.

Now, beyond the natural dangers of taking that message literally while driving a car, a better question would be to ask what dangers does New York City, recently named the safest large city in the country, hold for Jews that a great of number of religious Jewish enclaves in America not have themselves? A cursory glimpse at some of the biggest stories over the past few years would show a not insignificant number of criminal and social problems exist in communities that are exclusively Jewish. So, what gives?

Looks like we’re gonna need a bigger sign.

Related: Sufjan Stevens’ celluloid and musical paean to the BQE

Adam Chandler was previously a staff writer at Tablet. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, Slate, Esquire, New York, and elsewhere. He tweets @allmychandler.