Nathan Lewin To Lead Rubashkin Legal Defense Team

Friends, Family Ask Help Raising Funds For Legal Defense

The Rubashkin family has announced that it will retain the services of Nathan Lewin to lead the appeals of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin. The family is working in close cooperation with a legal committee of attorneys including Professor Aaron Twerski, Irving Seidman, Robert Simins and Jeff Schwartz.

“Podo Beshalom Nafshi… Anshei Domim Umirma Lo Yechtzu Yemaihem”

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — Today the six Shomrim members who stood trial for what has been dubbed “a modern day blood libel” have been vindicated. All of the major charges against them were either dropped or found not guilty by a unanimous verdict.

A Letter from R’ Bension, Principal of Darchai Menachem

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Dear Friends and Supporters,

Let us take great pride in being a part of a community that is dedicated to its children and to the furtherance of quality education. Your child’s education and the education of this community’s next generation is priority. Baruch Hashem, we have supported one another during joyous times, as well as during difficult ones, and have much of which to be proud.

2nd Shabbos Achdus in Crown Heights

This week marked the first Yartzeit since the massacre of the Rebbes Shluchim to Mumbai. While on duty, the bright candles of Rabbi Gabi and Rivka Holtzberg HYD and their Chabad House guests were extinguished. This Shabbos is dedicated as a Shabbos of Chizuk and Achdus in tribute to these two soldiers of the Rebbe, killed on the frontlines of Shlichus.

Rabbi Osdoba: “I Never Gave Permission for Messira C”V!”

After speaking to both Rabbis Osdoba and Schwei they told us how they were hurting not only from the false statements in their name in this matter, but many others that have come out over the years. Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba released yesterday this letter in his defense, and that of the Shomrim Six. “Since it has been said in my name as if I heaven forbid gave permission to give over [Masser] and to inform [Malshin] on the members of Shomrim. I am here to clarify that this is a complete and total lie, and it is entirely not in my hands, since this sort of act is prohibited by Halacha in every way possible.”

Day 3: Opening Arguments, Witness Testifies in Shomrim Trial

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — Before opening arguments began on Monday in state supreme court, where six Shomrim volunteers stand trial for an alleged assault, the prosecution notified the court that it will be seeking to revoke bail and may bring charges of witness-tampering before a grand jury against the Shomrim Six in connection to the witnesses being summoned Friday to the Jewish Court of Law, and the community pressure relating to the court case.

On Sunday night, the Israeli yeshiva students who pressed charges, along with attorney Paul Levi Huebner, arrived at the Beth Din at 9:30 PM. None of the rabbinical authorities were present at that time, so the group was told to return at 10:30 PM. When they convened later that night, the rabbinical authorities cautioned the yeshiva students, saying that testifying against fellow Jews is against Jewish law. The students agreed with the Jewish Court and gave their promise to not testify.

Post, Daily News Report on Yesterdays Court Proceedings

Kosher Clashers – Beat-trial Defense Blames Orthodox Rivals

A long-standing rivalry between two Orthodox Jewish neighborhood patrols took center stage yesterday in the trial of a half-dozen men accused of assaulting yeshiva students in Crown Heights two years ago.

Six members of the Shomrim patrol are charged with attacking the four students after having been called to break up a melee at the school.

But one of the defense lawyers said in her opening statement that the defendants were charged as a result of efforts by Levi Huebner, a lawyer for a rival patrol called Shmira.

CH Beis Din Takes Initiative, Calls Bochurim to Din Torah and Issues Psak

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — It has been the talk of town for a week, six Crown Heights men who volunteer in Shomrim facing jail time for an alleged brawl in which Jews pressed charges against them. Many were taken aback by the inaction on behalf of the rabbinic authorities in the community, but that changed on Erev Shabbos.

Rabbis Avrohom Osdoba, Shlomo Yehuda Segal, and Yitzchok Raitport issued a summons to a Din Torah to five of those involved in what they called “the terrible sin informing on Jews to the secular courts.” Those summoned included Levi Paul Huebner, an attorney for Shmira, who Shomrim claim has been pursuing them by making frivolous police reports and bringing civil actions against the organization and its individual members. As well as four of the Tzfati Bochurim who are the ones pursuing the actual charges, Elkon Moshe Gurfinkel, Zalman Bronshtein, Schneir Rotem, and Yakov Shatz.

Call for Pidyon Shevuyim as Criminal Case against Shomrim Goes to Trial

One calamity after another has befallen the Chabad community at large. Young lives have been taken from us, Jews are facing prosecution, and others already sit in prison.

Most Crown Heights residents wave their hands dismissively when the case against six Shomrim members is brought up. “It’s just politics,” they say. Despite the fact that these are fellow Jews, the young men standing trial on Wednesday are also the volunteers who altruistically aid the community daily, in countless ways. It would be commendable of the community to now actively take a stand for fellow Jews and give support to those who have been on-call 24/7 to serve others.

Toy Drive in Memory of Alta Shula Swerdlov OBM

In a heartfelt letter written by a few friends of the Swerdlov family, who lost their precious 3 year old girl Atla Shula in a terrible accident, they decided to run a toy drive in her memory. In the letter they wrote “when a child leaves this world at such a young age we have to do whatever we can in his/her merit,” adding “I started to think of a way in which we could help other children in her honor and being that Chanukah is around the corner…”

Rabbi Osdoba Releases Scathing New Letter

The following letter from Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba was released today lambasting the new Vaad and its supporters for their failure to comply with the agreement to go before a Zabl”o Bais Din, and accusing them of Mesira.

The letter [freely translated]:

To Anash of Crown Heights – Kan Tziva Hashem es Habrocho – and all to whom the Rebbe’s shechuna is dear.

Following up to my letters of Elul 5769, I am obligated to notify the community that after receiving Rabbi Schwei’s signature on the shtar birurin- to proceed to a Din Torah, we informed the court that we are placing a hold on the restraining order against the most recent elections, in order to deal with it at the Din Torah.

I need to clarify that the entire process of going to court to place a restraining order against the latest elections was according to Halacha and with the consent of Bais Din.

Hatzalah Handles an “Unprecedented Amount of Calls”

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Abundance of joy and Simcha was not a rare sight of the days of Shmini Atzeres and Simchas Torah, but what was were the Hatzalah ambulances which seemed to never get a chance to stay put in front of 770 for too long.

Jewish Principals Kick Off Innovative Leadership Program

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Ten principals of Jewish schools across North America gathered in Brooklyn this week to participate in the Menachem Education Foundation’s Principal Leadership Program. The program began with an informal dinner on Monday, Oct. 5, and continued with two full days of intensive and challenging workshops on Oct. 6 and 7.

Our Tapestry

When I found out that my friend’s baby had been diagnosed with a malignant tumor, my first reaction was, “But it can’t be. I know her.” How could this happen to someone I knew? We were too young to be dealing with such things.

I went to visit her, but she was not home. I don’t know what I would have said. I don’t know if she knew I had dropped by. I did send a card or two to tell Chana Devorah that I was thinking of her. But I didn’t call. I was afraid. What could I possibly say? Since I didn’t call, she didn’t know.