At the wedding of Binyomin Lifshitz the Shomrim Six posed for a photo. [L-R] Yudi Hershkop, Benny Turk (not a defendant), Binyomin Lifshitz, Zalmy Pinson, Nossy Slater, Chaim Hershkop, and Gadi Hershkop.

Two years ago, on the 22nd of Kislev, just days after Yud Tes Kislev where Alter Rebbe and Chassidim celebrated the triumph of light over darkness, the Shomrim Six mark their vindication from the vicious blood libel and Messirah against them.

Today: Shomrim Six Vindicated from Vicious Messirah

At the wedding of Binyomin Lifshitz the Shomrim Six posed for a photo. [L-R] Yudi Hershkop, Benny Turk (not a defendant), Binyomin Lifshitz, Zalmy Pinson, Nossy Slater, Chaim Hershkop, and Gadi Hershkop.

Two years ago, on the 22nd of Kislev, just days after Yud Tes Kislev where Alter Rebbe and Chassidim celebrated the triumph of light over darkness, the Shomrim Six mark their vindication from the vicious blood libel and Messirah against them.

Shomrim did not celebrate the verdict as a victory, but as a salvation. The motto of cases conclusion rested in the song which is sung at Yud Tes Kislev Farbrengens around the world, “Podo Beshalom Nafshi… Anshei Domim Umirma Lo Yechtzu Yemaihem” ([g-d] has redeemed my soul in peace… men of blood and swindle may their days be halved).

The trial, before the Hon. Judge Albert Tomei, dragged out a grueling 6 weeks, in the same courtroom in which murder and mob trials took place, and a guilty verdict could have resulted in 15 years behind bars Chas Veshalom. In the court room the six defendants sat behind their team of six defense attorneys, and watched the mockery of the New York State courts unfold, as witness after witness stuttered and stumbled over each other’s words and stories, through the aid of a translator.

Meticulously, the defense picked apart the prosecution’s case and witnesses, to the point where the judge tossed out the majority of the charges even before allowing the jury to deliberate the case.

Out of the six lawyers hired four of them were legal aid assigned council and the two others were hired and paid for. Between the two of them the costs of the trial exceeded $200,000. The Shomrim emergency defense fund raised close to $25,000 in donations from supporters.

A civil lawsuit, filed by Levi Paul Huebner the attorney and member of Shmira, on behalf of the Mossrim sought over $149 million from Shomrim and their volunteers was defeated and sealed the Shomrim victory against those who sought to imprison and harm them.

Shomrim has maintained their innocence throughout the two years leading up to the trial and the trial itself, the verdict proved that. Shomrim also alleged that there are bigger matters at play, beginning with political pressure to embellish the charges, and the fact that the DA did not fly the witnesses in, yet they were flown in from around the world and their transportation to court was all arranged.

Despite being put through this grueling ordeal, these Shomrim volunteers remained active and continued doing their good work, helping and protecting the community with the support of Shomrims’ loyal supporters.

Tonight the Shomrim Six will get together for, what has become, their annual Farbrengen in which they celebrate their vindication.

Related Articles:

“Podo Beshalom Nafshi… Anshei Domim Umirma Lo Yechtzu Yemaihem”
Op-Ed: R. Shea Hecht on the Court Case of the Shomrim 6: A Very Sad Day for Klal Yisroel, and Lubavitch
Op-Ed: From One Shomrim Volunteer to Another
Call for Pidyon Shevuyim as Criminal Case against Shomrim Goes to Trial
Op-Ed: I Was There… Then and Now
Rabbi Osdoba: “I Never Gave Permission for Messira C”V!”
Day 1: Jury Selection for the Shomrim Trial
Day 3: Opening Arguments, Witness Testifies in Shomrim Trial
Day 20: Final Day of the Shomrim Six Trial

9 Comments

  • thank g-d thank g-d

    you guys could of all be sitting in jail right now, b”h you are not
    you guys are the best love you shomrim

  • Fan of SHOMRIM!

    Very nice! What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Show that you guys are different and find ways to assist Yitzchok Shuchat.
    We love you SHOMRIM!

  • Baroch Hashem

    In ‘Among Righteous Men‘ (page 172), Matthew Shear writes:

    …”Hershkop wondered how long his brothers and friends would last in lockup. He gave Gadi a few weeks, maybe a month, but the rest? Dicey. Six Yids in yarmulkes and thick beards. Might as well plaster targets to their backs.

    For months now, long before the grand jury came down with its indictment—long before the civil lawsuit was served—Hershkop had attempted to use every ounce of his considerable political sway to get Huebner to back off. He had spoken to members of the Jewish Community Council, pleaded with cops and liaisons with City Hall, requested audiences with the most senior of the Chabad rabbonim, and thus far, he had gotten mostly lip service. Sure, moderates regarded the messianists of 749 as a nuisance at best, and they agreed that Huebner’s involvement in the criminal trial was disgraceful, but what could be done? Huebner was his own man, they told Hershkop. He would get his comeuppance, in this world or another. Be patient.

    Hershkop thought of the computer printout that Ben Lifshitz had hung over his computer desk: “When a good man is hurt, all who would be called good must suffer with him.” But Euripides hadn’t understood Hasidic culture, how messed up things could get, how two-faced people could be. He made suffering sound noble. In Hershkop’s experience, it was not noble. It was excruciating—a dirty business.”

  • justice

    Yitzchok Shuchat couldn’t help himself, now no one can help him. He is in the grips of ‘the system’ just like Shomrim was, now we need to let justice take its course.

    If he is innocent he will be vindicated, if not, perhaps he can write a weekly torah publication from prison, a la smr.

    Mazal Tov to the Shomrim Six upon their renewed victory by beating Shmirah, Huebner and their cohorts in the civil lawsuit!

  • love shomrim

    I love shomrim especially the hershkops. Thank you for all you do for community. Now if the hatchet can be buried and you assist shuchat, I think it will elevate the shomrim’s image in the eyes of those are unaware of how much shomrim do for our community. Even if you have no way to help him per se, just by not rooting for the other side despite what he may have done to you in the past, makes you look good… And Shmira can be embarrassed by how they did nothing to assist “their own”

  • a real shomrim sopporter

    To Number 5:

    This is not a beauty contest of political elections.

    It is Shomrim that supports the people of the crown heights community and not the other way around.

    “makes you look good”

    To whom?

  • Jeez Louise

    I personally don’t understand all the crazy politics in Crown Heights. I never felt vindictive enough about anyone or anything to the point where I would waste my time and money trying to make them suffer. And I have an ex-husband who abandoned his family! This need to get Nikama on every person who slights you or has a different opinion then you is ridiculous. You don’t like someone’s opinion/behavior it’s none of your business. Leave it for the ultimate Judge to handle. His punishments will be far worse than anything a person can dole out. These stories are huge Chilol Hashems and they turn many people away from Yiddishkeit.

  • achdus

    #7 I have to agree with you. This is even worse than yud tes Kislev! Then it yidden were being moser on yidden. Now Chabad Chassidim are being moser on Chabad Chassidim! What has this world come to? Precisely these kind of things are Me’akev the Geulah! We need achdus in the world. Only then will we have Moshiach Now!