Brooklyn, NY – A viral video showing members of the volunteer Jewish security group Shomrim escorting a yellow school bus through Boro Park traffic Friday afternoon has ignited fierce debate online over religious accommodations and public safety.
The footage, filmed just before sunset, shows several vehicles with flashing lights escorting a bus carrying children returning from JFK Airport after a trip to Uman, Ukraine, for Rosh Hashana.
@lights_and_sirens0 On Friday afternoon, just as zman Shabbos was approaching, a bus full of Yidden arrived in Boro Park at 14th Avenue and 50th Street, coming straight from JFK airport with passengers returning from Uman for Rosh Hashana. Members of Shomrim, Chaveirim, and the NYPD were on scene to clear the area and escort the bus, making sure that everyone was able to get home quickly and on time for Shabbos.
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As the group approached 14th Avenue and 50th Street, witnesses said Shomrim and Chaveirim volunteers coordinated with the NYPD to clear traffic, allowing the bus to reach its destination before the start of Shabbos.
The video quickly spread across social media, drawing both praise and outrage.
Critics call the escort “reckless and illegal”
Hundreds of online commenters accused Shomrim of abusing their role as community volunteers, saying the group acted above the law by speeding through city streets. “I don’t care what the excuse is, this is illegal,” one user wrote. Another added, “They can wait in traffic just like everyone else.”
Others expressed frustration at what they viewed as unequal enforcement, arguing that city authorities routinely turn a blind eye to infractions committed by religious groups. “Absolute abuse of power,” one commenter wrote. “The NYPD will do nothing about this.”
Supporters say it was about safety and respect for the Sabbath
Members of the Orthodox community defended the effort, noting that the travelers had just returned from a long international flight and were racing against time to observe Shabbos before sunset. Shomrim volunteers, they said, were ensuring the safety of passengers, including many children, in a congested area while working alongside police.
Community leaders stressed that the escort was organized, coordinated, and supervised in cooperation with local authorities to maintain order and avoid chaos in a busy residential neighborhood.
NYPD confirms presence but offers no details
Police officials confirmed that officers were on scene but did not specify whether the escort was officially sanctioned or whether any traffic laws were broken. The department said it is reviewing the incident but has not indicated if disciplinary or enforcement actions are under consideration.
Growing tension over religious exceptions on city streets
The incident underscores ongoing friction in New York City between religious community groups and the public over street closures, emergency escorts, and traffic control practices that occur around religious observances. Critics argue that volunteer organizations like Shomrim and Hatzolah operate with limited oversight, while supporters counter that their rapid coordination and familiarity with the community fill critical gaps in response time and safety.
No injuries or collisions were reported during the Friday escort.
By sundown, the bus had safely reached its destination — but the online firestorm shows no sign of slowing down.