It was last year on this day, the 22nd of Kislev, just a day after the Alter Rebbe celebrated his Didan Notzach, that the Shomrim Six were vindicated 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).
One Year Ago Today: Shomrim Six Vindicated from the Messirah and Blood Libel
It was last year on this day, the 22nd of Kislev, just a day after the Alter Rebbe celebrated his Didan Notzach, that the Shomrim Six were vindicated 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. There 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.
Currently the criminal proceeding has concluded, but the matter of the $149 million civil suit against the Shomrim six, filed by Paul Huebner the attorney for Shmira, is still being actively pursued.
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 and their transportation to court was all arranged.
Despite all these Shomrim volunteers remained active and continued doing their work, helping and protecting the community with the support of Shomrims’ loyal supporters.
Tonight the Shomrim Six will get together for a Farbregnen in which they celebrate their victory and triumph.
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
Supporter
It has been a year already? Neither Time nor Pain has diminished the memory, but thankfully, nor have they restricted Shomrim’s efforts on behalf of the community.
Baruch Hashem for common sense & justice.
Laaniyas Dayti
The Alter Rebbe’s message on release was not “lord it over” the other side, but to remain humble…
I don’t really know the whole parsha, but am disturbed at the vindictiveness of halving peoples days of life… Even if felt, it is better left unsaid. Even if said, it is better left unwritten. Even if written it is better left unpublished.
I seek not to criticize, but to express – in published words – my dismay that that is how brothers feel about each other.
shmae on u shmira
shmirah should be ashamed of them selfs. yiden to make up not true stories so they can put away a fellow yid is the lowes of the lowest. the end will be that the so called freainds police they have will turn there back on them
Dov P.
The amount of time and energy the Mossrim -Chanina Sperlin, Elie Poltorak, Yossi Stern, Leib Skoblo, Yanky Prager, mendle Hendle, Yankle Spritzer, Henna White and Paul Huebner put to prosecute this blood libel is shameful.
To help another Jew they are never to be found but to lock up innocent Jews they are all over it, they take out all their fire power.
I am glad to see that the Shomrim are going forward with positive things, stronger then ever. It gives me hope that there are good people out there looking out for the community, myself and my family.
Thank You Shomrim for all that you do.
Can you imagine how aggravated you get when getting a perking ticked or some other ticked. Now imagine two years in court ending up in a six week trial (wasting money to defend yourself for something you didn’t do), facing up to 15+ years jail if convicted by 12 Goyim, what would you do, how would you react?
Giving back
I just donated $56 to the Shomrim fund.
I see there are still bills to pay.
simple
Jews are trying to put other Jews away thinking that is what is going to push themselves ahead in life
moshe p
hey zaki ,tell pauly to drop the suit,its your watch and the community is paying both in gashmios and ruchnios,save the money for the poor of our neighborhood.get rid of this vermin,he is only touble