Rabbi Tal Ginter Released from Prison

POSTVILLE, IA [CHI] — Yesterdays release of R. Tal Ginter, a Shochet and Menaker in Agriprocessors, prompted great Simcha in the small town of Postville. After 5 weeks and 1 day Tal was released yesterday evening after the Immigration Service admitted a mistake on their behalf and canceled the deportation order.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Jail and INS bureaucracy almost had Tal needlessly sitting in jail for another day, throughout the day the transfer of paperwork between the courts in Chicago to the jail located in a town as remote as Postville.

After delivering the paperwork to the jail authorities, they attempted to delay the release by stating issues with the paperwork even though the judge’s order was clear, but just before 5:00pm as the jail offices close the release order was given and Tal was released.

Throughout the day they waited for Tal in a remote town located nearly 3 hours away from Postville a number of people that were involved in the Shochets release. Reb Gideion Gretieni who helped with communicating with the lawyers, R. Zev Frimerman who was in constant contact with the jail and made sure Tal had daily visitors and arranged for a Minyan on Shavuos and R. Aharon Shimel.

When the group got back to Postville they took Tal to the Shul where the community awaited his arrival around tables set for a Farbrengen. The simcha, which was evident on the faces of all those present, exploded into joyous dancing in simcha which Postville hasn’t seen.

With Tal’s release a vicious and bitter chapter is closed where the immigration service rocked the small town of Postville. Agiprocessors, the plant owned by the Rubashkin family, has returned to normal operation.

26 Comments

  • mendy

    Tal should sue the hell out of INS and the poice for unlawful arrest, malicious prosecution, etc.
    R’Tal – get a good lawyer. Hatzlochoh Rabba!

  • Moshe

    “Agiprocessors, the plant owned by the Rubashkin family, has returned to normal operation.”

    I’m not sure what news source you use, but this is simply untrue.

  • Baruch Hashem

    Where are all the apologies from the resho’im who commented negatively when they saw the original article?
    such as….
    “Just wondering wrote:
    Maybe he should have procured a working visa prior to breaking our country’s employment laws and working unlawfully”
    or
    “Frustrated watching a Chillul Hashem wrote:
    I totally agree with “just wondering”.
    It is legal to get a visa to work in the US. (It is time consuming and difficult-deal with it!)
    It is legal to buy insurance.
    It is legal to have a drivers license.
    It is legal to immigrate to the US-there is no reason to sneak into the country.
    Somehow, we have developed an attitude of Torah’s laws are the only real laws and the “goyishe” laws, they are meant to be circumvented. That may have been good in Russia, but here in the West, we CAN do things legally.
    So often we hear of saying Tehillim for someone who broke the law…WHO COULD HAVE DONE LEGALLY!
    (let me predict how this will be answered: “This is not the time to preach. We have to get our fellow Yid out of jail” Let me ask, when is it time to preach? I preached in my first paragraphs. Has anyone listened?”
    or

  • ploni

    To all the ‘Lubavitchers” who were quick to bash this unjustly imprisoned Jew:

    Not a problem! Wait for his lawsuit and then you can ask him for a donation!

  • Chaim,ch

    What is the exact story here?
    Why was he arrested,why did it take 5 weeks to let him go?
    I think we’ve seen a small portion of the story and just looking to jump at any good news.

  • LEVI BUKIET OF CHICAGO

    i TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN KNOWING THAT MY NEPHEW RABBI ZEVY FRIMERMAN, THE OFFICIAL CHAPLAIN OF THE PRISON WAS EXTREMELY INSTRUMENTAL IN HIS RELEASE. I WAS TOLD THAT HE WORKED DAY AND NIGHT AND LOOKED AFTER ALL THE DETAILS THAT HAD TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE HIS RELEASE. CREDIT HAS TO BE GIVEN, TO WHOM IT IS WELL DESERVED.

  • wow!

    thank you zevy frimerman! you truly did a great mitzva in working to get tal out of jail! hashem should bentch you and your family with brochos just pouring down from shmayim! thank you

  • yashar koach

    WAY TO GO ZEVI FRIMERMAN!! YASHAR KOACH ON ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND DEVOTION TO HELP ANOTHER FELLOW YID. YOUR AHAVAS YISROEL IS ADMIRABLE. A TRUE CHASSID.

  • Non-Crown Heightser

    I am sure that Zevy Frimerman did a great job but is it really appropriate for Levi Bukiet to publicize his nephew’s achievements. Those who know and read the article are aware. The aggressive nature of the accolades should not detract from the simcha of the former detainee being reunited with his family and the community.

  • ShKoach

    to Non-crownheightser
    the pain and agony that R Tal and his family have gone through is known to us all and we absolutely share in his simcha…
    it is noteworthy to point out the pride that some have in their friends/relatives namely Zevy Frimerman, Gavriel Levin and the Rubashkins involved, and others who have given endless hours of work and driving and packing their families to be with Tal over Shavuous as well as some much work BEHIND THE SCENES, that it is incredibly impressive and encouraging to know how much people genuinely care about the welfare of their fellow yid.
    Thank you to all those involved, yes, we are proud to know you…

  • ??

    att non crown heightser: does it really pain you to see someone else prais someone other then yourself??? this just reflects on your own nature, instead of being bothered by seeing others be praised, maybe use your time to do even HALF of what reb zev frimerman achieved.
    i know it may be hard for you to face it, but zev frimerman did an enourmous amount of goodness. and perhaps take him as an insparation to act the same.

  • ploni

    Why is Lubavitch so full of people who are so quick to jump into the spotlight, draw attention to themselves, and squeeze every ounce of publicity for themselves from everything they do?

    I thought it’s supposed to be about humility, quiet service to G-d, and truth?

  • Boruch Matir isurim

    Hopefully that state has learn it’s lesson before it entirely goes under water. …

  • Miriam Shear

    Now I understand why Moshiach is not here – just read the outrageous nitpicking comments on this thread. You people should be ashamed of yourselves. I cannot believe the Rebbe would have sanctioned some of the garbage on this thread. Of course, you won’t print this letter.

    Furthermore, let’s all understand clearly why Agri got raided and why Tal was in jail: Agri is being investigated for ANTI-TRUST LAWS; the raid was just a pre-text. And Tal was a great bargaining chip for the Feds.

    Stick to the emes. The Rebbe would be proud of you if you did.

  • TO PLONI:

    To Ploni:
    As a close friend of R’ Zev, I can confidently say that he is of the humblest and the last person in need of attention, fame, or honor.
    This is where praise is given where it is due, without any strings being pulled on anyones part.
    It’s pure, straight praise.
    Nobody is trying to draw attention or being gaughty.

    Please stop these ridiculous comments and hurtful accusations.

  • Kop Doktar

    Sounds like this is a “machlokes in metzias” an argument who’s metzieos is greater! Levi Bukiet, Zev, Ploni…