by Dr. Meir Shlomo Spinner

Op-Ed: Returning Democracy to Crown Heights

It’s been more than 3 years since the last election for Vaad and Rabbonim. The turn-out last time was unprecedented, and I believe it demonstrated the Schcuna’s desire for change.

I ran for Vaad that time, also hoping to make a positive change in our community, the Rebbe’s Schcuna. But I, and I imagine many of you as well, am very disappointed that the change that was so much desired did not happen. To make matters worse, the current stalemate between the Rabbonim, makes the possibility of change appear hopeless, at least for the foreseeable future.

This is precisely what those in control would have us believe. But I refuse to lose hope, this is the Rebbe’s Schcuna, not Stalinist Russia.; the Rebbe never lost hope in us, and as a chassid of the Rebbe, I refuse to lose hope as well.

Last January an Interim Committee was formed with the express purpose of reforming the N’tzigim, the delegate body of the Community Council. Five n’tzigim, including myself, volunteered to serve on the Committee, and I was elected Chairman of the Committee. We reached out to many of the shuls, encouraging them to send delegates; but there was little response, which is understandable given the current climate in the community.

Not giving up, we drafted a letter with the Community Councils letterhead to be sent to shuls and to be posted as well on Community Council’s e-mail. But this letter was never sent or posted; Eli Cohen, Executive Director of the Council, and who was also involved in drafting the letter, initially said the delay was because the Vaad HaKahal had to meet and approve it, which took months, and then because of supposed concerns by unnamed parties that once formed, the N’tzigim would not follow halacha!

To me this is obvious chutzpah and unnecessary interference. Understand that these concerns were purely hypothetical, nothing of substance had happened. Also, neither Rabbonim nor the Vaad should have any say in the formation or the running of N’tzigim, unless and until there is a clear violation of halacha or the by-laws. This interference is totally uncalled for and appears to me a thinly veiled attempt to stay in power.

Let me state upfront that I don’t believe new elections alone will really change things, as we have seen time and again.

What I believe is necessary for real change in the community, is to put in place the system that functions properly, according to the By-laws of the Crown Heights Community Council, so that there is transparency and true accountability. This is the function that N’tzigim should serve, but never truly and fully did.

There are now nearly 60 shuls in Crown Heights, 3 times as many compared to 20 years ago. I call on all shuls to appoint 2 delegates, a principal one and an alternative, to re-establish the N’tzigim. There is hope and we can make a change in our community by uniting in this effort.

If we don’t believe this, that we can change our own Shchunah, then how can we hope to bring Moshiach and change the world?

26 Comments

  • YMSP

    The “stalemate” with the “rabbonim” should just be ignored and doesn’t stop anyone who wants to effect “change” as long as it’s al pi halacha.

    The “stalemate” can’t end if there are those who want to put up a rosho/moser Aron Yakov Schwei as a “rov” and a modern-orthodox ignoramus or kofer, Braun.

    If they had a group of yirei shomayim who met the basic requirements to be a rov (as Rabbi Osdoba) does, that would be a different story. Not sure why people don’t draft a Rosh Yeshiva or magid shiur who knows halachos l’iyuna and demand that he becomes a rov.

    If you want change, ignore the moser/apikoros (Schwei/Braun).

    • Reb Shmaryahu

      Here we go again. You’re not allowed to talk like that, and you’re also mistaken.

      Try to stay focussed on what matters and with a renewed positive approach we will outdo the darkness.

      Moshiach now.

      Friends.

    • Anonymous

      Who are you to speak out in such a chutzpa about our Rabonim, whoever they are? you are the one who wants our problems to be continie! Do a tshuva!

    • YMSP

      Look up halachos and tshuvos concerning a “rov” who paskens against halacha. It’s considered connected to nevius sheker. If the “rov” does not do tshuvo when confronted privately, the din is “mevazin oiso bgalui ad sheyoshuv.” That’s for less serious things than encouraging mesirah R”L and in Braun’s case, a puny man who tramples on Torah and disgraces his position over and over again. What about kovod for R’ Osdoba? What about people who try to establish Torah like Rabbi Segal who shouldn’t even be mentioned with the circus clowns.

      Torah has standards. A rosho who encourages false imprisonment (the Shomrim Six), a complete lack of values, anti-family and paskens hepech haTorah without even pretending to give sources – defending such trash keeps Moshiach away and exposing it brings Moshiach closer.

      What about what it says about ivus hadin, R”L (will not go into details – al tiftach peh). There’s an obligation to stand up to this and if anyone tries to introduce new ideas that are hepech Torah it’s a chiyuv to speak out.

  • RIGHT TO THE POINT !!!

    This letter may not be “politically correct”, but it is 100% honest and correct.

    The time is ripe for change.

    If we want to fix our problems — which I think we all agree exist — then we had better do something.

    Dr. Spinner is right. Without n’tzigim there is not even a chance for us to express ourselves– or to try to institute any sort of change.

    I will get our shul involved ASAP, and so should we all.

  • CHLEAKS.COM

    New Elections, what for?

    In 2010 (as was written above) the turn-out was unprecedented. All the Crown Heights communities came out to vote. They came out to vote out the corrupt cabal of Mossrim of Crown Heights and were successful.
    The Mossrim Chanina Sperlin and Elie C. Poltorak were voted out.

    We were also fooled into thinking that change would come. Like i said, we were fools.

    (this that Zaki Tamir let Sperlin back in after the fact that he was voted out is a Chutzpa and a spit in the face to every voter…but what to expect when it’s the Cabal that run the CHJCC).

    At this point I don’t think anybody really cares whether there is or isn’t elections.

    The CHJCC and its corrupt cabal is irrelevant and does not represent any community or faction in Crown Heights.

    Before moving forward to the future we must know what happened in the past and therefore I ask:

    How and Where was $41 Million Spent By The Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, Inc.?

    Bellow is a list of all monies the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, Inc. has received via government grants and contracts throughout the years. Have in mind that this does not include any real-estate (the Buildings etc…), this will be for another day.

    http://whoisshmira.wordpress.com/2013/09/10/how-and-where-was-41-million-spent-by-the-crown-heights-jewish-community-council-inc-2/

  • Sruly C

    Can someone remind me why would the current Vaad won’t a election THEY CAN JUST STAY IN POWER AS THEY ARE DOING NOW.

    2. The people actually running the community council aren’t elected so they keep thier high paid jobs REGARDLESS.

    3. We still have guys like Chanina Sperlin who run around pretending to represent us without every getting a vote.

    4. Will the Rabonim respect each other and sit on Din Toras if a new election was held.

    5. Will I and the rest of CH stop going to the Williamsburg community council after a election. Or this place will still be worthless.

  • Lol!

    You were unsuccessful in recruiting new Netzigim so you’re blaming the Vaad Hakohol? Am i reading this right?

    • member

      No your not,
      There was resistance from shuls as to confirm who we are. That is why we asked for and worked on a letter with the Chjcc to present credentials to the shul’s in June. That letter has not been approved.
      6 months later
      ch.info please post Eli cohens response to the article
      you have to remember we are all volunteers (how many individuals in our community would donate 100’s of hours of there personal time for this?!

  • ?

    Why do i or anyone really care. There are those who have an agenda and will do what ever it takes and they have all the negative energy necessary so why will an honest residents want to vote. I don’t see a point in who is there. Makes no difference to the average mishpocho

  • CHLEAKS.COM

    “This interference is totally uncalled for and appears to me a thinly veiled attempt to stay in power.”

    This is as obvious as the sun coming up in the morning and setting in the evening.

    The corrupt cabal who have been running and operating the CHJCC since it’s inception have never ceased to run and operate it, (expect for the Rubashkin years…Rubashkin was also corrupt but he didn’t share with the cabal and that’s why they fought him tooth and nail).

    In 2010 all we did was vote in new puppets. Chanina Sperlin was not chosen by Zaki Tamir to be an “intergovernmental”. The cabal made it clear to Zaki Tamir that Sperlin is in or he’s out.

    Whose the cabal? Just to name a few…

    Yaakov Spritzer,
    Yosef B. Spielman,
    Chanina and Dovie Sperlin (family),
    Yaakov Herzog,
    Yisroel Sandhaus,
    Mendel Schneerson,
    Mendel Hendel,
    Abba Paltial
    Etc…

    What now?

    We all need to forget about the CHJCC. Taking it over is out of the question, it’s not gonna happen.

    What needs to be done and what I’m doing is shutting the place down.

    1) Stop the funding.
    2) make it clear to government (agencies, officials and politicians) that the CHJCC and it’s people do NOT represent, in any way shape or form, the Jewish residents of Crown Heights.

    You can help. Write letter after letter to all and any official or politician protesting or explaining that these individuals do not represent you or YOUR community.

    Every politician has an email, fax and address in which you can send such letters. I suggest you use all three.

  • Kashrus

    When Kashrus will be given back to the Vaad Hakol
    and the Rabbanim will be able to work for a salary,
    then we can think about new elections. However if
    this doesn’t happen and there is no income coming
    in there is no point of new Vaad Hakol elections.

    • CHLEAKS.COM

      It’s all because of Rabbi Osdobo and the Kashrut,
      and before that it was because of the Shomrim and their hate sites,
      and before that it was because we didn’t have a full Beth Din,
      and before that it was because of the Hershkops,
      and before that it was because of Krinsky and Shemtov (Aguch and Merkoz), and before that it was because of Dovid Fischer.

      CURRENTLY 5774: It’s because of the Maple Street Shul Controversy ;)

      The money is all sitting in the CHJCC waiting for all these “issues” to work out. Once these issue are dealt with, only then will the cabal use it to help those in need.

  • Ch'er

    same old same old………………

    we hear this time n’ again,,, each time there are elections for the vaad and or rabonnim.. we all have this intrinsic feeling of hope that this will finally bring some change to CH,,,,

    however,, de ja vu all over again,,,

    when the last vaad was elected there were posts all the time with their ‘so called’ actions, then as the months passed we heard less and less from them,
    in the last 12-18 months hardly anything at all.
    i fear that this will only be played out all over again, as in the past,

    hhhmmmm….. should I even care to hear this out, to vote, to take action

    ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,,
    GENUG SHEIN MIT ALE DI NARISHKEITIN

  • Yitzchok Halevi

    “Rosho”, “Moser”, “Apikores”. This website should not allow yidden to talk this way about other yidden. Why else do you have “moderation”?
    Nothing gets solved without reasonable and civil discourse. Name calling just inflames tensions.

    • YMSP

      Fine – a Jew who reports Jews to the police is a moser. It’s a halachic term. That’s why the brocho Velamalshinim was established (by the same Rabi would said “binpol oiyivcho al tismach” btw). Someone who lends help to someone who does this is an “ozer lmosrim” and not much better.

      A rov who decides halacha wrongly and does not retract, the din is mevazin oso brabim. A rov who decides halacha based on political preferences, including mesirah, is not a rov, rather a moser. A rov who destroys families is also in a similar category.

      Ahavas Yisroel demands that we speak up sometimes, lhasir es hamichshol. Would it be better for this to be organized and a vaad, but bmokom sheain ish wanting to deal with this, whatever words of protest are probably necessary.

      Civil and reasonable….

  • shlomos allways with bad english

    why , and since when jewish need a democracy? it our story for goim. we need MALCHUT DAVID isn’t that so?

  • MJ

    I have very fond memories of being a ntzig of Ahavas Moshe. The Ntzigim at the time was a great institution and a book, Daas HaKahal, was published about the Vaad HaKahal and the Ntzigim and featured pictures of all the ntzigim plus some action photos. It would be great for the ntzigim to be re-established.

  • declasse' intelelctual

    Enough of this smelly smaultz. Crown heights better get its act together or everyone will be hurting within the community. Hausing is over priced for its supposed worth and value. The streets and home are still unsafe in spite of the supposed improvement and reduction of the crime rate. You have a newly elected city council women spouting already racist remarks, you have an education system in flux, you have a kashrus organization that fights amongst itself and points fingers, you know already what has been said about the Rovs, everyone takes pot shots at the leadership for justified reasons. The new administration is not friendly towards the Orthodox, he has announced that he will support the changes to Bris Milah.

    You can keep your heads in the sand or start at the very bottom and be willing to see it thorough even if it means outside intervention such as civil law suits. The next years will be very difficult

  • Yitzchok Halevi

    YMSP, have you spoken to your Rov about this? Did he recommend that you go about it in this way? Do you have a Rov that you ask?