Hasidopedia: Culture and Institutions, Vol. 1

by Jacob Gluck

Haverim (“friends, members”), is the Haredi embodiment of the American Automobile Association (also known as “Triple A”), except that it provides its services free of charge. It started in Monsey about 20 years ago, where it also functioned as the Shomrim, and spread to Borough Park and Williamsburg a few years later, after it had proven so successful. As with Hatzoloh and Shomrim, each neighborhood has its own chapter, with a few dozen or so members on call at all times to help drivers seeking assistance. Haverim volunteers drive their own unmarked vehicles (unlike Hatzoloh and Shomrim vehicles), and carry basic tools to fix the most common car problems, e.g. opening a locked car, refueling an empty tank, jump-starting a dead battery, referring and facilitating the towing of a disabled car, and so on.