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4 Months Later: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Rosenberg Beis Din, and the Quest for a 3rd Rov

It has been four months since the election of Rabbi Shaya Braun, yet the situation seems to be as unresolved as ever. Many rumors are swirling around the neighborhood as to the cause for delay as the Rosenberg Beis Din continues its deliberations. The following article is an in depth insight into the inner workings of the Beis Din and is a result of weeks of investigative reporting, including interviews with some of the key players as well as a trove of documents which are being published here for the first time.

The Beis Din was about to issue its final ruling six weeks ago upholding Braun’s appointment, when they received several correspondences from Crown Heights personalities such as Rabbi Yoel Kahn and Rabbi Pinchos Korf raising serious questions regarding Braun’s qualifications and legitimacy. Since then the Beis Din has been grappling with significant issues. We now present a glimpse into the inner workings of what has been happening within the confines of the Beis Din.

SMICHA – DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

The first serious issue that the Beis Din took on was the Smicha issue. Although it is no secret in Sydney that Braun has no Smicha, no one bothered checking into the matter before Braun was approved as a candidate. More shocking is the manner in which Rabbi Rosenberg has treated the lack of Smicha after it was brought to his attention. At times he has said that he is not sure if it is the community’s business to see Braun’s Smicha. After some back and forth Braun agreed to show his Smicha to Rosenberg but asked him not to show it to anyone else, including the other Rabbonim on the Zabla. And at times Rosenberg has said that even if Braun’s Smicha is questionable, it is good enough for Crown Heights!

Initially, Rosenberg accepted Braun’s claim that he had Smicha from his father, until one of the members of the Beis Din, Rabbi Moshe Havlin, shot down that theory, stating that he himself spoke with Braun’s father and was told that he does not know if his son has Smicha altogether. When Rosenberg was presented with this information he dropped the father/son Smicha angle.

Letter from Rabbi Shmuel Kraus, the Toien for Rabbi Schwei.

THE ZINNER DOCUMENT

Next, the Beis Din focused on a document from Rabbi Gavriel Zinner which Braun claimed was a Smicha. In comparison with authentic Zinner Smichos this document raised many questions: 1) It was not on his stationary 2) It was not his usual Smicha Nusach, and 3) It was undated. When presented with these facts the Rosenberg Beis Din realized that this purported Smicha was very questionable and the most troubling point was that Braun had publicized this very document prior to the election as an “endorsement” from Zinner for his candidacy, not a Smicha.

A copy of an authentic Semicha from Rabbi Zinner.
<%popup(20101229-Proper-Zinner-Semicha-lrg.gif|800|978|Click to Enlarge)%>
The Document Braun now claims to
be a Semicha from Rabbi Zinner.
<%popup(20101229-Braun-Zinner-Semicha-lrg.gif|800|1021|Click to Enlarge)%>

Although Braun had made claims that he had many Smichos from Rabbonim, the importance of the Zinner document became more evident when he was not able to produce one such Smicha (he later provided the Rabbonim with a Smicha which he received post-election from a Melbourne rabbi – but this document was given no weight since it was admittedly issued after the community had already voted).

Rabbi Zinner was asked to clarify the nature of his endorsement/Smicha letter, and he subsequently wrote two letters on the topic. Initially copies of these letters were sent only to members of the Beis Din, and in the past week or so a few prominent Roshei Yeshivos and Rabbonim were also shown copies of the letters. Crown Heights Info has obtained copies of the letters from one of the individuals who received the letters and they are being publicized here for the first time.

In these letters Rabbi Zinner emphatically states that he never intended to give Braun Smicha and that the sole intent of the letter was to give Braun support in his work in Sydney. He stated that the letter was prepared by Braun and that he signed at his request. He further explained that when he signed the letter he was under the impression that Braun had already received Smicha from Lubavitcher Rabbonim He did not fathom that Braun was supervising a Smicha program, yet had no Smicha of his own!

Rabbi Zinner writes “I never gave Braun Semicha”.

Confronted with this new revelation, the members of the Beis Din became very uncomfortable that the community had been duped into electing an individual who was without Smicha.

At this point in the deliberations Rabbi Rosenberg expressed a great amount of disdain regarding the Smichos in Lubavitch in general and commented that the Smichos in Lubavitch are not of the same quality as those of other Kehilos, and therefore Braun’s lack of a proper Smicha should not be an impediment to his being named as the third Rov of Crown Heights. He then took the position that even if Zinner says his letter is not a Smicha, he is not to be believed!

Although Rabbi Zinner is a well respected Posek who had a close relationship with the Rebbe and is consulted with by numerous members of the Crown Heights community and tens of Shluchim on a daily basis, Rosenberg sought to discredit him by citing Halachic sources that Zinner cannot retract his letter, while ignoring the fact that Zinner was not issuing a retraction, but clarifying the fact that it was never a Smicha in the first place. It seems that Rosenberg recognized that if the Zinner document was not a Smicha then the Beis Din would have to own up and admit that they had committed a grave error in allowing Braun to run. As the facts became more and more clear, he dug his heels in and desperately tried to convince the other Rabbonim that they should stay the course rather than admit the error of their ways.

The other Rabbonim were hesitant to accept Rosenberg’s approach, as they viewed it as a slight against Lubavitch and an attack on Zinner who according to all is a ‘close friend’ of Lubavitch, but seeing that this was the only way to forge ahead, the two Rabbonim who represented Rabbi Schwei at the Din Torah, Rabbis Hecht and Yurkowitz, reluctantly agreed.

SHIMUSH

Another issue which the Beis Din has been dealing with is Braun’s lack of any experience in practical Rabbanus. In the original Psak the Rabbonim gave the authority to the two members of the Crown Heights Beis Din, Rabbis Osdoba and Schwei to approve the qualifications of the candidates. The Beis Din became aware of the fact that there were strong allegations that Rabbi Schwei did absolutely no independent research before approving of Braun’s candidacy and merely relied on the word of Mendy Hendel that he is a worthy candidate. They agreed that this matter required further inquiry and Rabbi Rosenberg said that he would look into the matter.

Rosenberg later reported back to the other members that Rabbi Schwei said that his own ‘research’ consisted of looking into some of Braun’s writings, talking with him in learning and reaching a determination that he is a Lamdan. Rabbi Rosenberg said that as far as he is concerned, Schwei’s ‘research’ was sufficient.

“Rabbi Boaz Yurkowitz: What
does the other candidate,
Rabbi Bogomilsky, have
experience in? Machliokes?
In being a Toen Rabboni?”

— Rabbi Yurkowitz was appointed
to the Beis Din by Rabbi Schwei

Conspicuously missing from Rabbi Schwei’s ‘research’ was the one criteria which the Rebbe has expressed as most paramount – Shimush (experience). Rabbi Schwei was content in approving Braun although he had not heard from any of the Lubavitcher Rabbonim in Sydney that Braun had any experience in Rabbanus. Indeed, when asked by others, all of the Rabbonim in Sydney have been emphatic in stating that Braun has no experience in Dinei Torah, Kashrus or other areas of Rabbanus.

CrownHeights.info has confirmed that the three leading Lubavitcher Rabbonim in Sydney, Rabbis Feldman, Gutnick and Ulman, were not contacted by Rabbi Schwei prior to, or after Braun’s nomination to discuss his qualifications.

When Rabbi Yurkowitz was recently asked whether he is concerned with Braun’s lack of experience, he said “what does the other candidate, Rabbi Bogomilsky, have experience in? Machliokes? In being a Toen Rabboni? He wrote a nice book – V’Dibarta Bam, but as far as I am concerned Braun has just as much experience in Rabbanus.” When pressed to cite which of the Sydney Rabbonim could vouch for Braun’s experience he was at a loss.

When it was pointed out to him that Rabbi Bogomilsky has been Paskening Shaalos for community members and Shluchim for decades, and is frequently asked to participate on Dinei Torah by outside Botei Dinim, Yurkowitz responded: “so he [Braun] can learn on the job.”

WHO IS AT FAULT?

There has been heated debate among the Rabbonim as to who is at fault for allowing a candidate with so many question marks, and who might not even have Smicha, run for the position of Rov. One school of thought is that the community voted, and it is their problem. You get what you asked for.

Another position is that the Beis Din made fundamental mistakes prior to the election which made it impossible for Braun to be properly vetted. One blunder was that they extended the time to name candidates without postponing the elections. As a result Braun’s candidacy was announced a mere ten days prior to the election (not thirty days before as they had originally mandated).

This left no time for the public to properly inquire as to his Smicha and Shimush, or the lack thereof.

Another critical mistake is that they left it in the hands of the current Rabbonim (Rabbis Osdoba and Schwei) to “approve” candidates. This is what ultimately led to the Schwei debacle – which Rosenberg was prepared to accept as proper “research.”

It seems that the Beis Din is having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that their decisions and the modifications to their decisions have caused such a big mess. While Rosenberg seems intent on closing his eyes and making believe that the Beis Din is not responsible and hope that the issues disappear, other members of the Beis Din are cautioning him that if they don’t right the ship now and cancel the previous election, the Beis Din could be held liable and might become embroiled in a protracted process with Halachic or even legal implications as well.

While the final outcome of the Beis Din’s deliberations is yet to be determined, many in the Crown Heights community are asking the following questions:

• Is there yet more information regarding Braun that the community is not aware of?

• Is Crown Heights being treated like a second class community? Would Rabbi Rosenberg accept a Rav in his community who has no Smicha or Shimush?

• Did Rabbi Schwei adhere to the Rebbe’s instructions that a Rov must have Shimush, when he ‘researched’ Braun’s qualifications and nominated him?

• Are the other Rabbonim blindly following Rabbi Rosenberg? Have the Lubavitcher Rabbonim of the Beis Din abdicated their duties to someone who has repeatedly expressed his disregard for the standards of Lubavitch, and the Halachic needs of Crown Heights?

• Would any of the other four Rabbonim have the audacity to challenge Rabbi Zinner’s integrity if not for Rabbi Rosenberg leading the charge?

• Are the Rabbonim objectively looking at the current issues, or are they biased, because if they were to decide to invalidate Braun’s election that would constitute an admission on their part that they made critical mistakes along the way?

• If the Rabbonim had all of the information regarding Braun before the election that they have today would they have never the less allowed him to run for Rov?

Amazingly and unfortunately, a full year after the Din Torah was conducted, 8 months after the Psak was issued and 4 months after the election for third Rov was conducted, Crown Heights is faced with more questions than answers.


Brauns email to the blogger Azimov Rants.
<%popup(20101230-braun-to-azimov-lrg.gif|1200|776|Click Here to Enlarge)%>

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65 Comments

  • Anon

    Ironically, Rabbi Zinner is one of the most popular Rabbonim with Crown Heightsers. (as is Rabbi Bogomilsky).

    About Braun, does anyone really care? let him come, the only people who will care for what he might have to say are the baalei machlokes that brought him in the first place (his biggest disqualification are his associates).

  • A Jew

    Man oh man.

    How much uglier does it get?

    This is so upsetting. It’s unimaginable that such a thing could actually happen.

    Obviously this is not a pleasant issue, and secrets should not be kept from those who need to be informed, but the embarrassment that su

  • poor us

    WE,the members of the Crown Heights community,are at the mercy of individuals who have total disdain for halacha, Lubavitch, and by extension the Rebbe. All that seems to matter is:

    the members of the Beis Din, in particular Rabbi Rosenberg, are receiving their hefty fee and

    Mendel Hendel,Yisroel Sandhaus and their clique have been able to maintain their control by promoting an unqualified candidate and excluding one that they would have been unable to control had he been elected.

    Nothing new. It’s all about money and power. Thanks for bringing this to the community’s attention.

  • Great Information.... but,

    Say the Beis Din cancels the election results and a new election is had.

    Does anyone remotely think Mendy Hendel and his mishichistim cronies won’t present a new candidate?…… Of course they will.

    However, this time the mishichistim candidate will have bullet proof smicha and shimush.

    Accordingly, the new mishichistim candidate will be certified by R’Schwei and Osdoba and will go on to win the election again, because as much as I hate to admit it, the mishichistim are a majority in Crown Heights.

    Thus, unless some of the mishichistim support Rabbi Bogomilsky, he won’t become the third rov no matter how many elections are invalidated.

  • Jurkowitz

    Rabbi schwei with all do respect is not even a person to count his thoughts he has no thoughts only hendel mendel thinks for him and tell him what to say.
    and the rabbi Jurkowitz his name show on who he is
    years ago he slept on ever pesach and missed the selling of the chometz for his Kehila. and as a known fact his hechsher is Traif Chazer.

  • moshe

    a big time chillul hashem and chillul shem lubavitch by a so called rabbi rosenberg and just one big joke of the crown heights community.

    the crown heights community has the full right to demand and see rabbi rosenbergs smicha. a man who is mezalzel in the semichas of lubavitch needs investigation “kol hapoisel bemumo poisel”. where was he picked up from dont we have our own rabbonim world wide. i remember when it was said: “ver darf zei doh hoben” now you learn your lesson!

  • Spectator

    What a circus! from someone out of the community looking in… What a circus. and a Chilul Chabad, Crown heights etc. just get your act together!

  • cocoaman

    just wondering if Rabb Osdoba approved of Rabbi Braun and if he “researched” his shimush.this article does not mention Rabbi Osdoba’s involvement. Please clarify.

  • sick of corruption here

    Whatever happens, we’re screwed. we always are, just look at this disastrous Vaad that doesn’t do a thing except take photos. They don’t even talk to us!

    Rosenberg was in charge of that election too. So let’s invalidate that one as well & have new elections with a new slate. TERM LIMITS!! That means get rid of Chanina!

  • Yeptfumat

    Well said crownheights .info but I think I would rather cookie monster as the new rabbi…

  • Joke

    What a joke! A guy that doesn’t know how to open a sefer gets smicha and would be ok to run and this guy that really knows the stuff is questioned?!!

  • Dissappointed

    When I was growing up, Rabbonim in Lubavitch were humble, chassidishe yidden, who took up their positions because the Rebbe instructed them. They had no interest in the kovod bestowed upon them.
    It is heartbreaking to witness the circus our children and grandchildren are exposed to.
    How different their impression of Rabbonim must be from ours!
    No wonder there is so little respect for the leadership.
    My worry is, how is the next generation going to deal with shaalos etc.
    Moshiach better get here fast!

  • Shocked in CH

    I was one of those who supported the Zabla as it was being run by a Chosheve non-Lubavitcher Rov who it seemd would do the right thing.
    When the pask came out i accepted it even though it looked like they had slanted it towards the Shwei camp and against Osdaba.
    Now it is clear that my initial discomfort was correct, and that the whole thing has become corrupted.
    Why didn’t we use Chabad Rabboninm like Merkos did? Didn’t Rabbi Landu and his Zabla sort out the Merkos dispute (between Rabbis Krinsky and Kotlarsky) do the satisfaction of all, the pask is still holding, months after it was implemented. I bet most of CH is not even aware that this Din Torah took place, it was handled so well.
    It is time for CH to grow up and let the “linka” in a little, you will see, they know how to lead.

  • tipshim

    It’s true that in a bakovidikeh shechunah like ours we need somebody with a honest certificate of smicha . But in our true neighborhood of CHelm Heights he fits in perfect. Even smicha from Ringling Bros and barnum Bailey will suffice. So what are we waiting for . Bring in the clowns, and maybe they can cheer up our depressed Vaad, or local precint. Come on the are more important issues destroying our neighborhood like union street not plowed. Get with it people .

  • ruvi

    Funny That Yanki Herzog the person always involved in machlokes… who also does not have semicha from anyone is the maven on Braun and his antics…

    Yanki Go home and take care of your family

  • @ 15. Joke

    You make be correct that it is weird, but you can be a professor of law, but if you don’t take the Bar, you may not practice law in court, though you may give people legal advice. Similarly you can have immense amounts of medical knowledge, but if you didn’t pass the test, you can’t call yourself a Dr.! And if you didn’t do the CPA test, you can’t call yourself a CPA!
    It doesn’t matter how much Y. Braun knows, if he dint take the Smeicha test he is not qualified!
    On the issue of Y. Braun’s vast amounts of knowledge, had it been known to the public that the conditions for candidacy could be bent/broken at R’ Rosenbegrs whim (apparently the other 4 Rabbonim aren’t allowed to break the rules, just R’ Rosenberg), there are 10s of other qualified (or sort of qualified like Braun) yungerman who could have run who also have vast amounts of Torah knowledge, and who have Smicah, Dayonus, Shimush etc..i will name a few off the top of my head: Blumming, any Marosov, any Shochat, any Schapiro, Levi or Shnuer Zalman Kahan, a Heller or two…

  • -Rabbi Braun?

    Why are you calling him “Rabbi”, haven’t you read your own article? surely we should be calling him by his proper title “Mr.” or “Reb”?

  • Money hungry HUNKEY

    I personally had to use Rosenberg for a Bais din for a get and let me tell you he loves nothing more then money he starts the clock from when he leaves his home in Munsey and he has to get paid till he gets back home most people don’t get paid for their commute to work this guy demands that he get paid for his drive time as well.
    He would love to have a due over so he can bill the community for many more hours.
    didn’t anyone notice he sat by the elections for hours don’t think he sat and watch because he was a good guy he did it because he wanted to get as much money as he could out of this community so he sat around for day and night billing for every second.
    Hes just a money hungry hunky

  • eli

    Immediately if not sooner this Din Torah is to be shut down.

    How is it that Yourkibitch can speak on Rabbi Bogomliski like that?

    Even though he was chosen by Svei, he has to be completely impartial, if he can voice such an opinion about a party to this din torah, then he is Posul as a rov regarding this din torah.

    Being one of the Zablah does not make you a Toian.

  • chaim tashkenter

    Sanhouse ( Jobless ) Herzog ( Pennyless fellon ) and Rabbi Schwei ( Brainless ) have the nerve to continue pushing a lost cause go home and support your familys….

  • Zalman Zezmer

    Great reading and we appreciate the time put into this article I beg you to keep it pinned on the top of you page for a week!!!

    If you need money please post a link and maybe we can all chip in to keep it up!!!

    I would be happy to chip in!!!!

  • Foreign observer

    After all this fighting no normal rav is going to want to become rov in ch beis din needs to appoint a shliach that has all his papers in order to come one a month to tale care of shailos because as soon as one person will move to crown heights to be rov they community will kill him and then hang him from the ezras noshim in 770 it is the sad truth

  • The Plot Gets Sicker

    Thank you for putting the facts on the table and laying out the situation in clear, comprehensible terms.

    Maybe now people will finally understand that Schwei was elected to further the agenda of a particular group of people and not to strengthen the beis din, If Braun is bright but unqualified, Schwei is qualified but does only what he is told. That is why he never vetted Braun properly. He also has to go.

  • CH has potential

    I think we should let Rosenberg establish if Braun has semicha.
    Hendel is a crook and should not be allowed to have any hand in this. He continues to destroy CH, more than the unplowed snow.
    It seemed clear from the elections that the community voted against Bogimilsky, because of who he really is as a person, and his personal history and track record within the community and politics behind the rabbonim, although he is a lamdan, and has semicha, and is knowledgable in halacha.
    Despite what Hendel thinks, it was not a vote for Braun, people didnt and still dont know him.
    None of these two candidates were independent (despite what Braun would like us to think), and would encounter difficulty from the get-go in gaining independence from politics.
    Why would any decent potential candidate want to run in such an election?

  • A CH Resident

    Dear Rabbi Braun,

    I believe that you are the only person who can resolve the confusion surrounding your election as Rov of Crown Heights and bring peaceful resolution to the ceaseless fighting which is consuming the time, attention and resources of so many people and has left the Kehilla in limbo.

    Although I speak for myself – I’m sure many here in silent majority would agree with these thoughts.

    I don’t know the truth nor do I know what goes on behind the scenes at the Din Torahs. I’m sure that I’ll never know the whole truth. I’m smart enough not to believe everything that is written in the blogs or what is being relayed word of mouth from the people who “know”. But I also know that where there is smoke there is usually fire.

    Your candidacy is under a cloud of doubt and suspicion. The longer time goes on without resolution to the issues, unfortunately, your reputation and credibility will suffer along with the reputation of Crown Heights and Lubavitch.

    The sad truth is that even if you win the battle and do make it through all of the hurdles and obstacles to claim the position as Rov, you will not have an easy time here. Your credibility will always be an issue (rightly or wrongly) which will result in more — not less — fighting and separation amongst the community.

    You can spare yourself the aggravation, endless fighting, lack of respect and help bring peace to the community by simply withdrawing your candidacy. No one will hold you in less regard – in fact I believe that you will be respected even more by showing that you respect the community and do not wish to prolong the fighting.

    Meanwhile you can continue to live peacefully in Sydney doing Avodas Hakodesh with your Kehilla.

    Even though this may be an unpleasant action for you, I hope you consider the greater good and graciously step aside so the Crown Heights community can begin the healing and recovery process which is so badly needed.

    Wishing you success,

    A Crown Heights Resident

  • Chassidus

    we are teaching our kids that chassidus is only in the seforim and in our holy Rebbeim
    We do not have emes chassiddishe ppl in our VAads, the fight for kavod, thet receive money and nobody knows wher it goes,
    we have Rabbonim like R Rozenberg that says what is the reflection of our community“CH does not need a real Rabbi”
    If this is the way ppl are trying to bring Moshiach, OY VEI

  • INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE

    Just Vote for Rav Chaviv non political learned yid with an untainted reputation

  • MMB

    I voted for Braun, yet had I known that his smicha is questionable to the extent it is I certainly wouldn’t have voted for him, period. It’s a sad commentary on CH that the best we can achieve for a person as a Rov are the 3 candidates we put forth.

  • R- Rosenberg must resign from Din Torah

    Is there a way to get the money back from Rabbi Rosenberg he single handidly ran the election of the new rov which was at best based on erors an misinformation

    Why should the comunity need to pay him for the mistakes he made.

    He must resign at once. Now he is the biggest nogeha to admit to such a fulish mistake in public bring him much disrespect and loss of future money making dini torahs.

  • boruch

    How about Rabbi Zinner as the 3rd Rav. Also, get rid of this Rosenberg dude he screwed up big time and cost the community tons of money, show him the door, fast.

  • TO #7

    THE SOLUTION IS TO MAKE A VOTE ON 3 PART TIME RABONIM. THEN ALL THE MACHLOKES CAN BE ALIMNATED. WE CAN HAVE GOOD RABONIM WILLING TO RUN. AND THE OLD RABONIM WILL BE OUT NUMBERED PLUS NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT A SALARY

  • Thank you CH info

    Thank you for keeping us posted on this, I don’t know why the CHJCC and the Beis Din did not come out with anything official regarding the Din Torah all this time, I think that that itself is a great disrespect to the community that for all these months we are kept in the dark regarding this issue.
    Thank you again, and please keep the updates coming.

  • antimesira

    I find it weired that the people backing Bruan are ready to bash Rabbi Tzinner the only one they claim to have given Smicha to Braun.

    If Rabbi Tzinner is trustworthy then hes trustworthy now as well.

    If hes not trustworthy then what good it is claiming Braun has Smicha from an untrustworthy person?

    The Braun supporters got to make up their minds. What are they going to say, “our Rov got a Smicha from a lair”.?

    Bottom line, all this is a waste of time, this is just another distraction. We are being distracted by stupidity while we are being robbed blind by the people orchestrating this Machlokes (the very same people who brought us Braun in the first place).

    The web sites should focus on the MONEY. Where are the millions this community (The Crown Heights Jewish Community Council Inc.) has been getting from government grants/Tax payers money?

    Vendor Name: CROWN HEIGHTS JEWISH COMMUNITY COUNCIL INC.
    NYS Agency: Division of Housing & Community Renewal
    Agency Code: 01080
    Contract Number: C092208
    Current Contract Amount: $4,968,935.00
    Stimulus Money Set Aside: $2,949,250.00
    Stimulus Spending to Date: $2,019,685.00
    Total Spending to Date: $2,019,685.00
    Contract Start Date: 07/01/2009
    Contract End Date: 09/30/2011
    Contract Description: WEATHERIZATION FOR LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS 01080GB009
    Contract Type: Grant
    Original Contract Approval Date: 09/16/2009

    $106,643 Worth Of Conferences? How Come We Haven’t Heard Of Them?

    $601,121: How Much Office Supplies and Office Material Does CHJCC Need?

    And much much more (Millions more).

    I hope this will be CH.INFO next article.
    Follow the money. Cut the cash flow and there will be peace in crown Heights.

  • Smicha and Shimush

    I want to make it clear that Yosef Yeshaya Braun’s smicha is worthy of being hung in his beit shimush.

    Therefore I certify that he has both smicha and shimush.

    Rabbi Osher Yatzari
    Yeshiva veKoilel “Nesivois Tzoiah”
    Author of the Darchei Sheten
    Son of the Pischer Dayan
    Grandson of the Dreckisher Rebbe

  • Rabbi braun

    To all those that would like to me pull back and not come to CH

    i just want to say that its not for me i am doing this but for rabbi hendel. as long as he tells me to keep on fighting i will have no choice but to do so!

    rabbi hendel is the one in charge of chabad and of CH and it is time that the rest of lubavitch sees it this way!

    this is why he was ment to be alive after sukkos in 770, just so i can be rov and that we can have all this machlokos in CH!

    if you keep telling me to resign i will call cohen from chjcc and they will shut down CH.Info!

  • Really?

    Did he really write that?

    “From the range of Smicha certificates I posses which is nobody’s business, just like the amount of my salary is nobody’s business”.

  • shakran

    Forget qualifications. Braun is a liar!!!!! He lied about “having many smichas”. Even if he’s a talmid chacham which he is (I know him personally) he is a liar. (Not to mention – a major mecharcher riv.) Nevertheless I was sort of hoping that he would come to CH because the first ones he would screw would be the very meshichistim that elected him. He’d quickly show that he’s in charge….. He happens to be a good guy… just a liar….

  • Ask Rabbi Heller

    Did anyone ask R. Heller if he would be rov if he got 150k a year plus free tuition for 11 grandchildren and a free house? Or what could his conditions be? Ever since the elections he seems to be more calmer and politicle. If he takes back the job – NO elections needed!

    If there is a new vote the salery of each canadate demands should be fully disclosed. Or there should be a stated salery.

    Personaly, if we don’t have a bais din cavua, I can’t be told what to do. Be carefull what you wish for – you may get it!

  • Anonymous

    This is such an eye opener:

    Turns out that Rabbi Tzinner never endorsed Rabbi Braun for the crown heights election at all. It was a paper signed for a long time ago for a different purpose. Surprised why no one even focuses on this issue.

    Would be interesting to see the stories behind the other recommendations given.

  • Anti

    I find it weired that the people backing Bruan are ready to bash Rabbi Tzinner the only one they claim to have given Smicha to Braun.

    If Rabbi Tzinner is trustworthy then hes trustworthy now as well.

    If hes not trustworthy then what good it is claiming Braun has Smicha from an un-trustworthy person?

    The Braun supporters got to make up there mind. What are they going to say, “our Rov got a Smicha from a lair”.?

    Bottom line, all this is a waste of time, this is just another distraction. We are being distracted by stupidity while we are being robbed blind.

    The web sites should focus on the MONEY. Where are the millions this community has been getting from grant/Tax payers money?

    Follow the money. Cut the cash flow and there will be peace in crown Heights.

  • red flags

    Every Yeshiva has an outside person who co-signs on the Semichas because he rely’s on the Rosh Mochon to have himself Semicha and therefore tested and reviewed properly. Like MOntreal had Hirschprung and Morristown had Modechei Eliyahu and each yeshiva etc… Everyone knows that the outsider rely’s on the hanhalah as asar to do whats right. In this case zinner tricked. Also I would like to write to everyone can anyone explain why a lubavitcher Bocher !!! did not do semicha in lubavitch?? doesnt that raise red flags…??? and after serving as a ROV for 10 years tricks zinner into giving him a letter telling him he has a stack of semchas?? please both sides read this and explain???

  • this is confusing

    if you cancel the psak then then you cancel the bes din and then you cancel all the election and start again

    think about it ?

  • lie

    39. antimesira wrote: The Braun supporters got to make up their minds. What are they going to say, “our Rov got a Smicha from a lair”.?

    You not a liar until you actually lie.

  • WAKE UP YIDDEN

    To all the “reasonable” people who would appeal to ppl’s sense of fair play (like # 31), you are being hopelessly naive. There has been a war going on in this neighborhood now for almost 10 years. It involves a group of “zikney Anash” who have been ignored for 60 years – first by the Rebbe, and following that, by the elected rabbonim of 5746. Allied with them are their next generation enablers, Herzog, Sperlin, Holtzman, Hendel (i’m sorry Mendy that i didn’t mention u first, pleez forgive me) Sandhaus, Mendel Schneerson,representing his shver, S.B. Drizin.

    This group wants total control of this neighborhood, and they are not above destroying all the Rebbe’s institutions to accomplish their selfish grab for power.When they successfully engineered Schwei’s election they thought they were home free. Don’t let it happen. Get your heads out of the sand and find out what’s been going on.

  • RUNNER UP IN PLACE

    Disqualify Braun and have a new election, or put runner up in the position. Kinda sounds like the conundrum surrounding the controversy of O B A M A!

  • TO #24

    ITS A KNOWN FACT THAT JURKOWITCZ IS NOT THE MOST CLEVER PERSON AROND TO SAY IT NICELY. TO THOS WHO KNOW HIM SAY HE IS LACKING SAYCHEL

  • Rabbi Mattis Kantor, Eastern Parkway, NY

    Excellent presentation of quality research. &#1497;&#1497;&#1513;&#1512; &#1499;&#1495;&#1498;.

    A mayseh, especially tonight, is always enlightening. This mayseh may never have happened, but it is very illustrative of an inyan in Rabbonus.

    Two chaverim became Rabbonim in different towns. After many years, one of them was traveling and passed through the town of his chaver, and planned to stay a few days.
    While walking in the street on Friday morning, a child came running up with a chicken “My mother asked to please check this for the shayla she has.” The local Rov took it, looked all over, and found no shayla. As a courtesy he gave it to his guest to check. He also found nothing.

    The local Rov gave it back to the boy, when his guest stopped the boy from leaving. “How many chickens did your mother buy today?” “I think two.” “Go bring the other chicken.”

    There is a difference if a Rov focuses on the item at hand, or whether he also cares for his people and what enters (or exits) their mouth, or their brain. There is also a difference between a Rov who is smart and learned, and a rov who is super-learned but not…

  • Chaim Tovim

    The CH community and its rabbonim are an embarrassment!! Thank G-d I move out and on.

    It’s time for 3 normal forward thinking rabbonim who will lead this community with strength and conviction and open-mindedness.

    W/o that we’re doomed to continuing to be a bunch of losers

  • kvod lubavitch

    please punlish a cear translation of Rabbi Zinners letter. It is important to note that he states that hisword were falsified…that he respects Chabad Senicha…and that he is writing for the honor of Lubavitch

  • Yankle

    Below are comments from an intellectual, motivated (and modest) Oholi Torah graduate, who has over the years developed chutzpa, survival and social skills; than upon smicha completion proceeded to university, from there, honed skills to form the honest, objective, critically-thinking opinion he has today.

    Obviously this is not a pleasant issue, and secrets should not be kept from those who need to be informed, but the embarrassment that such actively is brining to Rabbi Braun is inappropriate for any decent person, but especially for people who claim (and naturally don’t always act) to be religious.

    I am most certainly not going with the false assumption (calling it false kind of gives it away) that being frum means one’s perfect, but this kind of publicity in against everything our holy Torah stands for.

    I know Lashan Harah, for ridiculous reasons, is considered a “snag fixation,” but the reality remains that it’s a lav d’orysa.

    Think of Rabbi Braun’s family, and the family’s of the other people made mention.

    I naturally don’t have the answers, but some things just stink. With our level of education (I am assuming most readers have gone through what’s known as the “system”) we are empowered to be aware of the truth. As a child who covers their eyes, assuming others can’t see them, we should not do the same by claiming such violations are for the betterment of the community.

    Granted, it is frustration, but nonetheless inappropriate, and most importantly—wrong by ALL measures.

    The story about the Rebbe Rashab (I think) in regards to giving his haskama on a Lashon Hara sefer. He denied the offer, for he explained that even the twitch of the nose is considered lashan hara (there are more details, but I’m sure you get the point).

    If we don’t believe these precepts to be true, than ultimately, what follow them? What the heck are we doing here?

    Granted there are convinces to continue in the ways of our parents, and to that which we’ve observed our entire lives. But one hopes that we have developed an appreciation and truth to our teachings. There is great incentive to stay in the community (including the community at large), but I sure pray that is not what is happening here (yes, ruach shtus, but we’ll get there).

    The bottom line……….Im l’baal–l’baal. Eem L’shem—L’shem.

    Again, we are not perfect, but l’chatchila is very different from bidieved.

    I am no longer a resident of Crown Heights, but if I was, I would have voted for someone other than Rabbi Braun. This is not an emotional appeal in order make my comment appealing. For reasons which don’t matter, I would not have voted for Rabbi Braun, and Boruch HaShem we have the freedom to make such decisions (this isn’t Iran or Iraq).

    So while I do have reason to be upset at the situation, that does not justify behavior as such presented here, and on many other websites.

    Remember the story about the Chosid and Litvack discussing lashan harah and beard shaving (again, the very short version)? The chosid responded of course lashon hara is wrong, but shaving is harder to rationalize for it [the lav of shaving one’s beard] is done l’chatchila.

    We do not expect perfection, but discussions as such should be dealt with appropriately.

    Thank you for reading.

  • #47 gave the best solution

    #47 gave a solution to this mess that is clean, workable, and not $$$$$. IMHO, a delegation of CH respected elders should approach Rabbi Heller and ask him that poshut l’toivas hashchuna and to stop this chillul Hashem and destruction of the Rebbe’s kehilla, he should go back into the beis din. If he says I’m too old, leave me alone, etc. they should ask him to do it for 3-4 yrs. During that period, hopefully the air will settle, and they’ll search for a new rov who can fill the position with dignity.

    The biggest advantage to Rabbi Heller is that no one can argue against him, since he was from the original BD of 5746.

  • Shiksa

    #31 has the right attitude.

    No-one in their right mind, smicha or no smicha, would voluntarily move to C.H.

  • rabbi

    To late rabbi heller is no longer part of the CH BD Braun is taking his place he may be able to run again soon when RO resignes

  • Shliach in California

    Bizui Bizyonos!

    This is the reason why no one, absolutely no one, has any respect for CH rabbonim. Tell me, which one has any shimush?? Rabbi Schvei was (my) mesivta Rebbe for all his formative years, when di he get shimush? Segal? even the great Osoba, who was “kavayochol” a Rov in enmark 50 years ago.
    your entire Beis Din is a joke. The fact that you took a wierdo like Rosenberg is pathetic.