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New Documents Expose Attempt to Extort R. Osdoba

In recent months the drama over the election of Rabbi Yosef Braun along with the deceptions therein has been little discussed in the public. Despite the silence, however, the matter is far from resolved. In a collection of fiery letters obtained by CrownHeights.info between the parties involved, serious disrespect and contention highlight a division more serious then ever before.

While it may be convenient to remain complacent – letting the status quo run itself out – recent events have made it necessary to once more bring the matter to the attention of the public.

These events, as will be discussed below, are nothing short of an attempt by “special interests” to remove Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba from the Beis Din, and take away his salary. What is more, these parties seek to give control of the Badatz and Vaad Hakashrus to someone from outside our community.

Many have contended that this unelected individual, Sam Chanin, who has been working on behalf of said special interest groups, has little qualification to run the spiritual or financial mechanism of our community.

The Vaad Hakohol signed a contract with Mr. Chanin, giving him final say in all matters related to the Badatz, and Vaad Hakashrus. Although they have created a puppet board to approve Mr. Chanin’s decisions, no checks can be released without his signature and all decisions related to the Badatz – including the public release of information – must be approved by him.

In effect, this unelected individual has the power to hold Rabbi Osdoba hostage, depriving him of his salary, and creating a total media blackout to conceal any actions that the public would not approve of.

Mr. Chanin made it clear to Rabbi Osdoba in a recent letter that he recognizes R’ Braun as a member of the Beis Din, and demands (!) that Rabbi Osdoba do so as well. In a case of role reversal, he lectures Rabbi Osdoba on how the Psak should be understood – and the role that Rabbi Osdoba is to henceforth take.

A careful reading of the contract (below) and Mr. Chanin’s letter reveals that this is just another attempt to force Rabbi Osdoba to either abide by the whims of these special interest groups or lose his salary. In effect Rabbi Osdoba has not been getting a salary from the Vaad Hakohol for a number of months.

In a recent letter, Rabbi Yaakov Schwei and Rabbi Braun, demand that Rabbi Osdoba “immediately appear before them – in person – and give them “a full and direct accounting related to all his spiritual decisions regarding kashrus.”

In a letter addressing this matter (below), Rabbi Osdoba reiterated to the Vaad Hakohol that Rabbi Moshe Havlin and Rabbi Binyomin Kuperman, two of the four remaining members of the Zabla, clearly instructed him that he is not required to sit with Rabbi Braun until the matter of suspected forgeries and the ripping of the Smicha is resolved. The Rabbis further said that Rabbi Braun cannot act as a deciding opinion on a Beis Din between someone who supports him and someone who does not. As such until these issues can be resolved, there is no Beis Din of three.

The letter from Rabbis Havlin and Kuperman was written in response to a letter from Rabbi Yurkowitz to the Kraus Beis Din. In his letter, Rabbi Yurkowitz alleges that the issues of forgeries in Rabbi Braun’s Smicha was discussed by the Zabla Beis Din and included in their original Psak.

In their fiery response, Rabbis Havlin and Kuperman, completely refute this claim. They delineate a clear timeline of all discussions between the members of the Zabla and show how the matter of forgeries only came up after the initial psak, and remains unresolved to this day.

They make note of a previous dishonesty on the part of Rabbi Yurkowitz. According to the Rabbis, Rabbi Yurkowitz agreed, both by phone and by email that Rabbi Osdoba’s claims to Rabbi Braun’s validity could be brought before an outside Beis Din. As such a Psak was sent to all parties, in the name of three members of the Zabla, approving this decision.

Over a day after the Psak was issued, Rabbi Yurkowitz released a letter denying he agreed to the Psak. The Rabbis point out that the Psak of three was issued and emailed to the parties on Motzei Shabbas in Eretz Yisroel, when it was still Shabbas in America. If Rabbi Yurkowitz was indeed telling the truth, he would have emailed the parties immediately and by the time they opened their emails on Motzei Shabbas they would have seen the Psak and Yurkowitz’s disclaimer at the same time.

One must wonder then, why Rabbi Yurkowitz did not issue a disclaimer until after the Psak could be seen on Motzei Shabbos in New York. Why did it take him 24 hours to inform the parties? The above facts point to pressure and extortion on Rabbi Yurkowitz, by certain parties based out of America.

Sam Chanin Contract:

Rabbi Osdoba’s Letter to the Vaad Hakohol:

Letter from Rabbis Havlin and Kuperman saying that issues with Rabbi Brauns election have yet to be disscussed and are valid concerns:

Letter from Rabbis Schwei and Braun demanded that Rabbi Osdoba appear for a meeting and give account to them:

Letter from Sam Chanin demanding that Rabbi Osdoba meet with him and Rabbi Braun:

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95 Comments

  • chjcc a bunch of ganavim

    All these letters are a bunch of bs….
    Bottom line, how much money is there to be made (stolen)??

  • funny have not seen...

    Funny thing, I haven’t seen a letter of them consulting with each other on…for instance….how they can better the community? How can we put food on the tables of those that don’t have? We got 10 million dollars from government grants, how can we better distributed it. 4 million to help people weatherize their homes, how can we give it out so everyone can enjoy. We have a food pantry, let’s advertise it. NOPE, haven’t seen such a letter.

    The community has many unemployed residents. Many hungry families, and this is what the same old machlokes makers care about?
    Help the residents with FOOD. Help the residents with jobs so they can get food.
    NOPE!!
    They tell you we can’t help you with that…until…we get the hachsher and bais din in order. Of course they don’t give a …. for the community residents. As long as we are busy over here, looking and reading these paper they can line their pockets.
    Zaki why don’t you come out publicly and tell the community whats going on with all the grants.

    People your being lied to and misled. They don’t care for no hechsher -it doesn’t matter. The money that exist, the money that can change the lifes of so many teens, the money that can help families from freezing at night, the money that exist to help so many crime victims and the money that exist to distribute food is all being STOLEN, yes being STOLEN.

    Isn’t it funny, I’m waiting for that letter.

    (ow, I can’t wait for this to boil over. Then what are they going to say……)

  • moishe

    eachy side has its special intersts there are no tzadikim in sdom, so the less wriiten the better nothing written will change anybodys mind

  • No fan of R. Osdoba, but this is wrong

    Sam Chanin, who isn’t frum, has the chutzpah to address Rabbi osdoba in such a manner? Sam Chanin, whose “religious” life is something none of us want to see OUR children live, is the one Shwei & Braun allow to run the show???

    This is disgusting. To think that someone like Sam Chanin who is a disgrace to his grandparents is allowed to tell a Rav what to do? And this Kangaroo Court (no pun for Braun intended) called the Vaad is just as disgusting isn’t any surprise either. If i were Chanin’s family I’d be so embarrassed that my son/brother is such an oisvarf.

  • Moishe

    I can’t read so much Hebrew. Anybody have a little time to translate the Hebrew material? Thanks.

  • y y

    you should be ashamed with all this garbage
    you should even be more ashamed to post it
    chilul hashem & lubavitch

  • wow

    this place is crazy, its about time we know whats going on, how did CH.INFO get this stuff who knows? but we just finished tisha bav and already the machlokos is as bad as it gets

  • otzar sifrei lubavitch

    amazing, i know over 20 people who lost thousands at the hand of sam chanin. and now he wants to run CH, hey who cares as long as he wears a yechi yarmulka

  • coincidence????

    One day after Tisha B’av HUMMMMM . We really need this grief in our community!!!! Hashem Yerachem bring Moshiach Now!!!!!!!

  • larry

    sick sick sick sick……………community. its all about the man with the money. may the best man win.PS thank you for waiting till after tisha b”av to post

  • CHLEAKS.COM

    Where are the millions of dollars the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council Inc., receives from Government grants/tax payers dollars to help the needy of the community?

    How much money does the Kashrut make?

    I hear they have to beg people to have this Hechshur, so not much money there!

    This is a distraction!!!

    Since 2009 and current the CHJCC raked in over 10 million from grants to help the needy of our community, where has that money been spent?

    Definitely not on the needy of our community!!!

    Find out more:
    http://whoisshmira.wordpres…

  • Distractions Distractions

    What’s the Kashrus going to do for the community?

    You see the Kashrus does not even account for one quarter of the the funds that pass the CHJCC. In-fact how many products currently have a CHK? Three, Four?

    They tell us “we need the Kashrus” its how we can pay the Rabbonim, Is that truly so?

    There are only two individuals who make their salary from the Kashrus, and no it’s not Rabbi Osdobo or Schwei. Osdobo and Schwei make their salaries as…

    People get you heads out of the sand, there are individuals who have been manipulating the community for years and they are at it again.

    There is a massive leak of millions of dollars and it ain’t from the Kashrus.

    “PLUG THE DAMN HOLE”

    Stop the Corruption Stop the Fraud at the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council Inc.,

  • C.J.

    sam chanin stole over $125,000 from me. I want my money back.

    I refuse to shop or spend any money in crown heights until chanin is removed from his position

  • mom in a weird community!!

    Iam really starting to feel the israel is a much easyer place to be so sick !!! Thanks for the post !!

  • THINKING OUT OF THE BOX

    I think that one solution may be to just make 2 Beis Dins for Crown Heights. One with Rabbis Ozdoba, Bogomilsky and Segal, (or Chirik or Zirkind). and the other with Rabbis Schwei, Brown and they can find a third Rav to join them. or one of the 3 mentioned above if they want to join. In the long run this may simply solve many issues.

  • ????????????????//

    We are living in mad times, the world is crumbling b4 our eyes, if we could only get on with one another it will surely hasten the geulah. History has a tendancy to repeat itself, when will we learn! How sad, and sick!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Sam Chuy - nin

    the Chazar face (sam chanin)
    looks like a chazer but with Yechi on the yarmulkeh ha puts on his chazer head

  • Who Cares

    Nobody cares anymore, let them fight why are you trying to get more people involved?

  • chaim yankel

    Sam the Man Chanin the guy cant write a letter in hebrew if he wanted and certainly cant even read it so who wrote it for him

  • A Crown Heights Story

    To # 20

    I care, because of what they are doing (stealing the communities money), they have destroyed good innocent lives (with propaganda, Intimidation and Mesira), in-order to distract the community.

    They ruined peoples lives just so we not focus on them and instead focus on the “enemy” they created.

    Read This:
    http://acrownheightsstory.w…

  • Any Other Hashgacha Is Better

    For many years I have refused to buy anything marked “Crown Heights Kosher.” Until the insanity and corruption are removed my dollars will continue going elsewhere. It is the community’s responsibility to straighten itself out. Meanwhile all we see is one complete failure and disgrace after another. Enough craziness already.

  • Yoisef

    I don’t understand: The Rebbe called the original Rabbonim (Rabbis Marlow, Osdoba, Heller) of the Beis Din “Abir Shebabirim.” This was never before said about modern Rabbonim. We knew that the Rebbe was giving them special koiches.

    However, the new Rabbonim (Rabbi Schwei and Rabbi Braun), although elected by the community (even if all agree that it was fair elections), don not have this haskama and “semicha” from the Rebbe that Rabbi Osdoba has!

    Who should be the Av Beis din? Not Rabbi OSdoba? Come on guys! When did the rules change??

  • DeClasse Intellectual

    this whole affair would make a great soap opera for television==except is not so tragdic? Have we not learnt anything from these last three weeks???????????????????????

  • Bully+Ganav=Corruption

    Mulleh Chanin is and always was a bully and a ganav, really classy to put him in charge of money where he can bully people and steal again.

  • sam Chanin

    Is this the same sam chanin who – as a kid – was caught stealing from many stores on Kingston ave? How can he be trusted with money? I’m not even asking how religious he is?

  • Angry at Dasan and Aviram

    C.J.: You must be a real coward to make such an open accusation about an explicit individual yet not leave your own name.

    What credibility can you now consider yourself containing?

    CHinfo: You are even worse for posting it.

  • All the facts?

    I find it interesting that in the “private” letter written by Rabbi Rosenberg to Rabbi Osdobo (publisized exclusively on this blog) he clearly articulated that the issue of 2 different pens came up BEFORE the psak – by Rabbi Havlin – and was rejected by the other 4 Rabbonim.

    This was prior to seeing the original semicha. The 2 different pens was already evident on the photocopy.

    Rabbi Rosenberg testified that the reason this second semicha was written only in a footnote of the psak and didn’t identify who it was from was to placate RABBI HAVLIN, since there was already another semicha to rely on. But he clearly states that 4 out of the 5 Rabbonim clearly were of the opinion that, not withstanding the 2 different pens, this semicha was 100% acceptable.

    Seems like they had a change of heart after all this time…

  • Thank you CHinfo

    thank you for showing everyone the truth. The very painful and horrific truth but yet the truth.

    PEOPLE! wake up! we have terrorists and blackmailers in our community!!

    to #2 – this is no Machlokes. This is a Redifah to take the kashrus away from Rabbi Osdoba. If Rabbi Osdoba is so busy dealing with the 2 blackmailers, how can he solve this communitys problems?????? They are all busy with acts of terror while rabbi Osdoba is trying to just fend for himself! Now you see why braun was being pushed upon this community without a fair ikul regarding his smichah. The terrorist all put the right pressure in the right places so that they can attain a majority of “Rabbonim” against Rabbi Osdoba.
    Unfortunately, sam chanin is only a puppet of Mendy Hendel who keeps his hands clean.

    It seems so stupid to be involved in all this Machlokes but then again – dont we owe some loyalty to our true Rav, rabbi osdoba who was our rov for more than 20 years??????????

    what can we do? say tehillim or get the more powerful people to act. maybe some other millionaire can pay rabbi Osdobas sallary till these terrorists leave him alone?

  • Shut It All Down

    To #26:

    With all do respect, Rabbi Osdoba was corrupt with these people all these years, it’s only because they are against him now (maybe he did Teshuva thats why they are fighting him, just maybe, because he does not do what they want.

    This whole Beth Din has to Shut down, we don’t need it.

    The Beth Din was created by the people who run the CHJCC. This CHJCC beth din is corrupt.

  • Who is telling the truth?

    I see this letter (above) from Rabbi’s Havlin and Kuperman stating that the discussion of the 2 different pens in Rabbi Braun’s fathers semicha began only AFTER the psak.

    On the other hand there was this privte letter of Rabbi Rosenberg that was leaked via the same blog here http://www.crownheights.inf… the letter is dated 21 shvat 5771. In this letter, footnote 15? He writes that they clearly discussed it prior to the psak…

    Interesting….

  • osdoba is not the tzaddick you think!

    Part of the original p’sak was that osdoba should relinquish control of all the kashrus money machines that he’s holding onto “in the name of the badatz” and a REAL badatz should handle ALL kashrus issues. This didn’t happen! They also said that his kids can’t be involved in hashgocho, regulation etc. They still are! Plain and simple – he does NOT want to let go of this self-coronated, self-appointed king-of-kashrus that he usurped from under the noses of the vaad hakohol & Rav Shvei. Now, they are seeking to end his monopoly on the hechsher of the CHK – and he doesn’t like it one bit!
    WHY SHOULDN’T THE KASHRUS OF CHK BE HANDLED BY A BAIS DIN – AND NOT A “BAIS DIN” CONSISTING OF ONE ROV?!

  • Ch resident

    I’m embarrassed to live in ch and more embarrassed to call myself a Lubavitcher! As a community we have nothing. We get nothing. Other then this garbage!!! Sickening!

  • Show some respect

    TO # 32:

    With all due respect, you #32 have immense CHUTZPAH– calling a disgusting name to the Rov that the Rebbe praised together with Rav Marlow & Rav Heller. Besides being a “pipsqueak” who doesn’t know the first thing about speaking about a Morah D’Asra, you don’t seem to respect the Rebbe either. In addition, the election of a Beis Din was not a concept “created by the people who run the CHJCC– as you ignorantly state. It was created and approved of by our dear Rebbe.

    Please do not post on this blog w/o respect, and at least the minimial amount of knowlege regarding what you say.

  • These posts .are no credit to Lubavitch

    Perfect example of airing our dirty laundry in public! Come on,already!

  • to 32

    How dare you?!
    Rabbi Osdoba was elected back in 5748 by the majority of crown heights. Daas Torah is that a rav is ellected by a full community, not by some peopple in high positions. by his election, remember, there was no fraud – there were more than three candidates running and crown heights elected rabbi Osdoba, Marlow and Heller.
    “Rabbi Osdoba was corrupt with these people all these years, it’s only because they are against him now (maybe he did Teshuva thats why they are fighting him, just maybe, because he does not do what they want.”
    How was Rabbi osdoba currupt with them and why does it make their horrific blackmailing okay??

    When people were telling a rov to do teshuvah before gimmel tamuz, the Rebbe screamed about it!(I cant quote the exact place but if you care – try to find out exactly where it is) watch your mouth!
    A rov isnt there to do what people want.

    I wont judge you, because you might just be a child but yes tattaleh – we need a beis din in a Frum community. Just like you have a teacher to guide you to do the right things – the community needs guidance too so please watch your comments – your attitude spreads.

  • tell us the full story

    R U afraid to publish the real facts?

    doesn’t it seem like the allegations by Rabbi’s Hablin and Kupferman are contradicted by your previous “scoop” a while back when you again published private correspondences of Rabbi Rosenberg – where he clearly states that this very issue was discussed prior to the Psak?

  • Coned CHER

    I never voted for the CHJCC because I always felt that this was a corrupt entity with corrupt individuals -always the same- operating it.

    The only time I voted was the elections held last year.

    I was told…“this time it will be different”….“we have to clean house”…“We will vote the Mossrim out and end the Machlokes once and for all”. etc…

    I’m sure the people telling me these things really believed what they were saying, perhaps they were coned as-well.

    So here we are a little over a year and what do we have.

    We have the same people running the CHJCC. The same Mossrim and ganovim (thieves).

    We voted Chanina Sperlin out and yet Zaki Tamir kept him in.

    We expected a Zaki Tamir to come in there and clean house, from top to bottom. He did not do that, instead he kept all the old dogs in, including Eli Cohen.

    Even the President of the USA gets rid of everybody and starts over.

    We were coned by a false Zablo Din Torah, which was followed by a false elections for CHJCC which was then followed by a false election for a new Rov.

    The only hope is to burn it all down.

  • the full picture

    I think that the Rabbi Rosenberg and Rabbi Yurkowitz (maybe even Rabbi Hecht) clearly dispute the claims made in the letter by Rabbi’s Havlin and Kuperman.

    When you have a Beis Din, the majority rules. If these 2 Rabbonim don’t agree, it’s their privlage, but you must report the accurate facts. The majority of the Beis Din (zabla) heard the arguments about “2 different pens”, and dismissed it out of hand. Read Rabbi Rosenberg’s letter to Rabbi Osdobo where he lays this out quite clearly…

  • Mendel H.

    I have been terrorized by Sam “mulleh” Chanin since I was a child. Putting Sam Chanin in a powerful position in the Crown Heights community council is an insult to every law abiding hard working member of the community.

    I refuse to put my tefillin on , nor will I allow my 2 sons to put their tefillin on as a protest until Sam Chanin is ousted from this community~

  • Corruption and Fraud

    This Beth Din has been corrupt from its conception.

    The Beth Din, including Marlow, has always been getting paid by the CHJCC.

    Yet they held Din Torahs, although the CHJCC was a party.

    If the CHJCC wanted to take someone out, all they had to do was summon their Rabbis and Boom!!!

    If you refused to go to a Din Torah by their Rabbis, well because the Beth Din is “THEIR” Rabbis and instead asked for a Zablo, these thugs at the CHJCC would then start a propaganda campaign against you. Like they did to Fischer, Merkoz (Kirinsky), Hershkop and many others.

    All and any “Psak Din” that has ever come out of this so called “Beth Din”, is null and void.

    The Rabbis of this “beth din” have never been in control, it has always been the cabal who controls everything.

    As you see, anybody who turns on them and refuses to do their wish, will be terminated, this includes the Rabbis themselves, as evident to what they are doing to Rabbi Osdoba.

    Had Marlow been alive today and decided to turn away from his evil ways by abandoning the cabal, he to would be thrown under the bus.

    Bottom line: There has never been a proper Beth Din in Crown Heights. This whole discussion in essence is irrelevant, all smoke and mirrors. We discuss this while the thieves (who caused all this Machlokes) cash their checks.

  • Shut It All Down

    To 39L

    Why don’t you educate us?

    By all means, please go ahead.

    Also, while your at it, please give one example of one good thing that came out of this Beth Din or CHJCC?

    I can unfortunately give you list of people who suppered from Intimidation, Harassment, propaganda and Mesira.

  • TRUTH

    Like I told my wife before Rabbi Schwei was elected and again before Rabbi Braun was elected…Rabbi Schwei (who I sat with a whole year when he was part of the corrupt staff of Chovevi Torah) has no back bone to be a rav and Rabbi Braun who I had spent time with on countless occasions when I was in Sydney, has too big of a litvisheh ego to be a rav/rabbi anywhere. He loved the power he had over the mesivta boys in Sydney, because they were all ears when he spoke..he loved listening to his own voice.

    I don’t care that he’s “in touch” with today’s times, and has a blackberry phone, uses e-mail and captures the audience with his great charismatic speeches.

    A rav needs to have a back bone and I can care less if he’s charismatic or not. A rav needs to be able to stand up for what’s right even if he stand alone.

    The problems with the yeshiva systems and the community youth is not his fault. He cannot and does not control what does on in the yeshiva’s as well as what goes on in the homes of these children.

    His job is to be a Rav. Someone who walks the streets with integrity and confidence and is not persuaded by power hungry, jealous, and out of work individuals who are just trying to push their own agenda.

    Since Rabbi Braun has come into this neighborhood, all that has come from it is controversy. Since when do we have to pay for him and his family moving here, or help him buy a house, or pay for his children to go to school. He left Sydney to find a J-O-B. If the salary is not good enough for him, or he needs more kavid, let him go find another job elsewhere where they’ll give in to his demands.

    I am also ashamed to say that I voted for Tamir thinking he would be a good change. What we got instead was someone who does not listen to what his office mates have to say and does what the hell he wants.

    If you don’t like Rabbi Osdoba, then your options are to leave the community or conduct yourself in an honest manner and hope that no one takes you to bais din.

    Good luck.

  • The Rebbe was deceived

    The Rebbe had such great things to say about this Beth Din? Really?

    Show me one case/example where the Rebbe himself asked them a question (in any matter)?

    All those nice things the Rebbe said after the elections….open a Shuchan Aruch and read what you suppose to do when appointing a Rov. The Rebbe did just that.

    Just because the Rebbe was around does not mean that there wasn’t corruption and fraud going on. Why would anybody think that all was nice and dandy?

    It’s like saying: When the Rebbe was around I stole millions of dollars but when I passed for dollars on Sunday or Kosh Shel Brocha, the Rebbe didn’t say anything about the stealing, in fact he said “Brocha V’Hatzlocha” (blessing ans success), which means I had the approval of the Rebbe (G-d Forbid).

    To 39: I hate to burst your bobble but you got to know your history. I know many of you out there created your own image of the Rebbe and the past in general, but sorry, it ain’t so.

    Yes, even the Rebbe was able to be deceived and guess what, hes not any less of a Tazdik because of that. If you think he is, then it’s you with the problem.

  • Logic Returns

    “Rabbi Osdoba, who is signed on the letter with with Rabbi Kalman Marlow OBM, goes on to clarify that “for obvious reasons the Badat”z much, according to Din, pull its hands from dealing with this matter,” the letter goes on to say that with the din torah [currently] going on in the matter of the Vaad Hakohol and Beis Din, that it became clear that a large number of the plaintiffs are plaintiffs in this case as well, or are open supporters of those who are against [me], among those are Rabbi Yaakov Aharon Schwei who himself is a part of the Beis Din.

    The letter concludes saying that based on all this the “refusal to adhere to din” letter is hereby nullified and completely canceled, “especially after the defendants expressed many times that they are willing to appear before Vaad Rabonei Lubavitch.”

    Read More: http://www.crownheights.inf…

  • To # 44

    “I refuse to put my tefillin on , nor will I allow my 2 sons to put their tefillin on as a protest until Sam Chanin is ousted from this community~”

    Why don’t you go on a hunger strike instead. That would be more effective.

  • NO POLITIC!!

    wait you all want to say CHANIN = PAUL HUBENER = GANAVIM = AND ALL THE OTHERS, RABBI OSDOBA DON’T YOU DEAR TALK ABOUT THE REBBE’S RAV FROM OUR KEHILA, HAVE FUN

  • corrupt cabal

    The corrupt community leaders of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council Inc., along with their Rabbonim and allies, dragged the entire community into their communal wars over three decades ago. Since that time, the in-fighting, hatred, and internecine battles, have grown unceasingly. While Dovid Fischer is no longer at the epicenter, the communal wars still rage on. There are new names and faces, and still some of the old ones too but, the same methods of operation have always been used. This includes a corrupt cabal that has maintained control over the mechanisms of local political power and influence. This cabal has been using fear, intimidation, bullying, deceit, bribery, and a myriad of the same underhanded dirty tricks used by tyrants throughout history. These methods have been tested and proven to work over time, as there is nothing new under the sun.
    Read the rest: http://acrownheightsstory.w…

  • To #44 - Mendel H.

    Congratulations! I just finished reading 43 sad comments about a pointless situation concerning helpless people. I thought I had read it all. And then your bombshell came along. You win stupid comment of the night award. Hands Down. Congrats! Your prize is the knowledge that blaming your neglect of Tefillin on account of some guy you have an issue with is right about as ridiculous as your comment. I think you should add the following in protest until Sam is removed:
    1) Don’t stop at Tefillin. You should not either eat. Hunger Strike – YEAH!
    2) No more clothes in public – go streaking.
    3) Do not send your kids to school.
    4) Don’t talk to anyone! That’ll show em!
    5) Get er done! Start wearing a NASCAR flag pin wherever you go in CH (might be a challenge without clothes).
    6) Grow up.

    Happy Moitzai Tisha B’av

  • To # 36

    “I’m embarrassed to live in ch and more embarrassed to call myself a Lubavitcher! As a community we have nothing. We get nothing. Other then this garbage!!! Sickening!”

    You should be aware that in Crown Heights there are many quiet achievers. Just to name a few that I am aware of (and I am sure that you probably would know of some more). Each one doing what they can, to help out people in need.

    Yad V’ezer, bikur cholim, ahavas chesed, Yagdil Torah, Aliya, Yam, Beis Levi Yitzchak, Ma’yonot Shul, Besht, Ten Yad, chevra simchas choson vkala – Mrs Benjamin, gmach Aryeh Leib, gmach by Rabbi Groner, gmach by Rabbi Yisroel Shemtov etc. etc. etc.

  • to 35

    You may be right that, the kashrus belongs to the community and the decision-making is indeed the job of three Rabbonim but…

    Rabbi Braun cannot be recognized as a Rov until he answers the Hazmanah and goes to the Din Torah which he was summoned to.

    Rabbis Havlin, Kuperman, Rosenberg and in the beginning, even – Yurkowitz – (before he changed his mind) clearly stated that Rabbi Braun is supposed to go to the Din Torah (Re: the validity of his Smichah etc..) and before that is done – Rabbi Osdoba is within his rights in not recognizing Rabbi Braun as a Rov.

    Why? since realistically the (majority of the) Zabla Beis Din themselves dont recognize Braun as a Rav (proof – they said he has to go to the Din Torah!).

    Then again, even Rabbi Braun who surely recognizes himself as a Rov should show a good example of respecting a Hazmanah L’din.

    How would Rabbi Braun feel if he summoned someone to a din torah and the party would ignore it?

  • Passing the Buck

    I don’t understand, If the Vaad Hakol feels that they have to pass the responsibilities of managing the kahsrus and paying/fund raising for the rabonim on to someone else (more qualified etc) then why did they run for the position in the first place? Let someone qualified who wants to do the job run….. can someone please answer this?

  • I love Crown Heights.

    to 43:
    You maybe didn’t notice that Rabbi Hecht wasn’t mentioned. It seems that he has made a wise decision not to voice his opinion since “there is something rotten going on in Crown Heights”

    The idea mentione about two Botei Din may have some merit. But the CHJCC first needs to be purged of all its crooks and ganovim.

  • Sad

    Rabbi Ozdabo may have been elected way back by the whole community, and the rebbe did say wonderful things about the bais din. However there is a posuk in torah “ki hashochad Yaver einei PIKCHIM visaleif divrei TZADIKIM” even people that the TORAH calls Tzadikim and Pikchim, the minute they collect (or run a kashrus org…) the Torah guarantees they will be distorted. (And that’s why the vaad Hakohol was set up to run the money hasgacha….. on a side note people trusted Rabbi marlow ob“m nowadays CHK is a disaster many other hasghachois do not recognizes it, and many lubavitchers (b’davka not the ”meshichistim”) would not touch it. Just ask anyone in Postville if anyone has any respect for the hasgocho….

  • Is Lubavitch Going Treiff Too...

    When is the 6 months up and how do we keep from getting this debakul renewed and get Rabbi Osdoba paid.

    Rabbi Osdoba is the only one who has been entrusted by the Rebbe to do his job and has been sticking with it no matter what we throw at him. It’s about time we started supporting him!

    Also Rabbi Osdoba has over 40 years of Kasharus experience, the rest of these people don’t have even 40 days. If they take over thekasharus for money reasons the heksher won’t be worth the ink used to print the logo!

    For those who remember the scandal that happened many years ago when the whole country was eating treif because a kasharus company took a kasharus account (which they had no clue how to manage) from another kasharus company for money reasons.

    It’s bad enough that CH has a Rav with questionable smicha and no shimush, now we’re going to be the cause of all of Lubavitch eating treif, R”L!

  • mind reader

    I could have written #42. I agree 1000% Time to get rid of everyone, the whole corrupt bunch. ELECT WOMEN!!!

  • OSDABA GP HOME

    MAKE A REFERONDUM FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS IF THEY EVEN WANT RABBI OSDABA IN OFFICE.

    IT LOOKS LIKE ALL MACHLOKES IN CH COMES FROM RABBI OSDABA.

    PEOPLE IN CH ARE SICK OF OUR RABBIS FIGHTING.

    LOTS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY DONT RESPECT THE RABBIS.

    HOW CAN YOU RESPECT THEM, THEY ARE CONSTINTLY FIGHTING.

    RABBI OSDABA IF YOU CANT GET ALONG WITH OTHER RABBIS GET OUT, GO RETIRE.

  • Elections Now

    i am sure by a pattitions of a mojority of Crown heights Members we can call for Elections NOW and get rid of this Evil Goylom Zaki a/k/a Zakaki a/k/a KAKI
    and the rest of his Hoodlooms.

    ELECTIONS NOW

  • to 48

    you are clearly not a lubavitcher. The Rebbe screamed many times about things going on “behind the scenes”. The rebbe was never g-d forbid decieved.

  • to 64

    Ha Ha! I love the way you turn the tables.
    Actually, the machlokes before shwei came in was people in CH against the BD. But the B”D themselves got along just fine. when shwei entered the BD – thats when the inside problems started!

    So my big question to you is, Who is responsible for the Machlokes?

    Att CH: The Chutzpahdike comments you read is just a reflection of the plot of some sly reshaim thats been going on since 2003 when shwei was elected – the plot to deface rabbi osdobas reputation and oust him from the BD.

  • Izzy

    in light of whats been revealed here everyone should ask himself the question. How can anyone depend on the CH hechsher?

  • p shara

    In order to satisfy all: Rabbi Schwei can be declared Av-Bais Din, and osdabama can be a appointed as the “Avi-Avos” B”D.

  • dovid

    i don’t understand , – why all the noise about the rabbonim and vaad ???
    if you look at EVERY school, yeshiva , moysad , beys chabad , gmah ,shooll , organization –
    they are all corrupt .

    1.-nobody knows , how mach money is in , and how mach is out ,
    and for what ?.
    no transparency , -period .
    private business .

    2.-instead of getting good workers , the family and mehootonim get the job .

    look at a school , -tuition price , quality of education ,salaries – who set`s the standard ?
    look at 770 – i am sure you have a few words to say …….
    look at a shooll – do you know how mach is the electric bill , and how mach is in the balance ?
    look at mesira , court cases , hate , gneyva ,machloykes , cheating , not paying back loans …………

    this low life’s have no shame and no honor ………
    a plain hijacking of a kehila by a bunch of hazeyrim ………
    corrupt and rotten to the core …….
    they cover themselves in “we do work for G-d“ and “ Moshiach “ and “ Chsidess and “ Lubavitch “………

    i feel very sorry for the yung generation . and i ask and bag , forgiveness from them ,- that they
    have to live in a atmosphere like this ……..

  • so sad

    this is such a chillul lubavitch, how many shluchims baalei baatim go on this website?
    why does crown heights need to air their dirty laundry to the public

  • End Corruption Now!

    to 72:

    The reason why this MUST be aired is so that we the people can make informed decisions and know what is really going on!

    Is it better that we just hide it all and let a gang of corrupt and self serving individuals run around unchallenged due to our ignorance?

    What will happen is C“V there is a government investigation or worse… what then? Will shluchims baalei batim not hear about it in the NY Times? I can see the title ”Crown Heights Community Officials Charged in Massive Fraud Scheme”.

    It is our job to put a stop to all this before it becomes a REAL problem!

  • Avi Avos bais din

    Let osdababa show his books to all. For years he was trying to get Reb David Fisher to show him his books. He put him into a siroiv because he refused. Now that the shoe is on other foot osdabama refuses to show his books to any rav, or bais din. Osdabama really believes that because he is abir -shebeabbrim, he is above shulchan aruch and does not have to listen to any rav or bais din. It’s amazing that his initials AA also refer to his new title the “Avi- Avos”

  • To 71:

    You’re such a frumy! a school is a privite institution. It’s unheard of to demand for a privite school to show their bills.

  • Please explain.

    This article is not very clear.

    1) There was a Zabla of 5 Rabbanim. All parties signed that all the issues will be heard ONLY by this Zabla, and no other Beis Din in the world can intervene in any of these issues or interpretation of the psak after the psak. Also all further issues arising from this must be decided ONLY by this very zabla.

    2) The Din Torah was held. The Psak – actually 2 Psakim were issued.

    3) Rabbi’s Havlin and Kuperman signed a letter that they certify that these 2 Piskey Dinim were in the name of the entire Beis Din.

    4) In the Psak Din they clearly accepted the Semicha of Rabbi Tziner as 100% valid.

    5) In the psak – in a footnote, they write about the 2dn semicha – from his fater and state that there is very good reason to state that It is 100% valid as well, but they will not get into it, because the Tziner semicha is sufficient.

    6) In a letter from Rabbi Rosenberg to Rabbi Osdobo, dated 25 Shvat of this year, he answers to complaints that Rabbi Osdobo had. In that letter, specifically footnote 16, he articulates that the PRIOR to the Psak Din, the Beis Din discussed also the semicha from Rabbi Braun senior, and although they had not yet seen the original (at the time) they saw that 2 different pens were used, yet 4 out of 5 of the Rabbonim were of the opinion that it was 100% kosher and there was no reason to doubt it.

    Now Rabbi’s Havlin and Kuperman are saying that since they got the oritinal AFGER the Psak was issues, therefore the “2 pens” complaint is still valid? Didn’t Rabbi Rosenberg write, and quote from an email from Rabbi Havlin? That they knew about this “2 pens” issue and had already decided that there was no problem….

    Question: in a Zabla of 5 Rabbonim, what weigh does the opinion of 2 Rabbonim hold – when it is diametrically opposed to the opinion of 3 Rabbonim???

  • CHERS STOP BEING A DOGS!

    What a joke!

    Mossrim and Ganovim Ask: “Whats Going To Be With The Kashrut?

    “And these are the laws that you must set before them.” (21:1)

    QUESTION: Rashi states: “Like a set table which is ready for the person to partake of the feast.” In what sense is the halachah governing monetary matters like a set table?

    ANSWER: Many people are very particular about the kashrut of the food they eat. When they are invited to a party, before partaking of the foods laid out on the table, they inquire about the shechitah of the meat and the bakery that produced the baked goods, etc. Only if the food on the table meets their kashrut standards will they eat of it. Unfortunately, in monetary matters they are often not so stringent and they may even engage in questionable business practices.

    Rashi is suggesting that in money matters, one should be as strict as with the food on one’s table.

    The Code of Jewish Law is known as the Shulchan Aruch, which literally means “a set table.” This, too, emphasizes that in all issues of halachah one must act with total integrity, just as one demands the highest standards of kashrut.

    (Vedibarta Bam: Volume II – Shemot – Mishpatim)

    Don’t get me wrong, I don’t give a damn about the CHK Kashrut, it makes absolutely no difference in my life who runs that small operation.

    Any funny business taking place with the Kashrut pales in comparison to the corruption, fraud and theft thats taking place in the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council Inc.

    How hypercritical that the same Mossrim and Ganovim who have been stealing our tax money that comes to our community by way of Government Grants (meant to help people in need) are all of a sudden worried about “whats going on with the Kashrut?”, These very same Ganovim and Mossrim are worried about “Acdush” in the community, “Achdush” in the Beth Din?

    The answer is, they (Mossrim and Ganovim) are not worried, they couldn’t give a darn either whats happening with the Kashrut. What they are attempting to do, as they have done many times before (as WIS has already pointed out) is to distract the people away from the real issues, the real problem.

    The real problem, is the millions that has been stolen from the CHJCC.

    STOP BEING A DOG! STOP CHASING AFTER BONES [USELESS, MEANINGLESS PROPAGANDA]. START ASKING REAL QUESTIONS! START DEMANDING REAL ANSWERS! YOUR A PERSON, NOT A DOG!

  • peace

    why are you posting these letters for everyone to see and discuss??????? 1. its lashon hara. 2.its cousing more machlokes than there is already, with everyone getting involved!!

  • geuladik, no?

    koach nissan the Rebbe said:
    “now i leave it up to you….”
    the Rebbe also said:
    “moshiach can come ‘just like that’!”
    The Rebbe has more power to be more present for us now, than before 3T.
    i think there will be some who will be ashamed when that time comes.
    prepare yourselves – the geula is around the corner literally.
    shape up – get with the program – live the light of moshiach! :)
    nu, your choice

  • 79

    I think we should hear when theres some serious Shefichas Damim going on over here, dont you?

    Dont get involved but at least dont call it a fight. There are perpetrators and there is a victim.

  • Kinderlach please...

    Stop with the name- calling.
    #75 did your morah or mommy ever teach you not to call people names?

  • I agree with mendel h

    I agree with mendel h. What a great idea. I think we should all protest sam chanin being a part of this community by refusing to wear our tefillin. We should also eat treif and disobey shabbos (just as sam chanin openly does)

    We need to send a message to hashem. No more mitzvos from us until sam chanin is ousted from the community

  • Inda Know

    The CHK was CREATED by the community (through the Vaad HaKohol), for the community, and owned by the community. This was openly stated at the time and accepted by the original 3 members of the Crown Heights BD“Z. The BD”Z was entrusted to decide all Halachic issues regarding the Kashrus, but NOT to “own the business.” The CHK was STOLEN from the community by its former head and R. Osdoba and his family. This is what the Psac Din said (or at least implied when it said that the CHK rightfully belongs to the community and must be returned.). Mesechas Peshachim says to use clean language, when possible without losing meaning. However, here a THIEF is a THIEF, no bones about it. Until Osdoba returns to his position of one of three rabonim of the BD”Z, who supervise, but do not own, the CHK, we must call him by the proper name, Avrohom “the Usurper” Osdoba.

    Avrohom Osdoba, give US back OUR property, or forever lose you good name (if you ever had one!).

  • Leave the ONLY Rav alone!

    Hashem bless HaRav Osdoba for his untiring efforts on behalf of all Lubavitch. This Rav has the Rebbe at his right and halacha at his left. A TRUE Rav and Chossid.

  • Yosef Moshe Avrohom

    Some people seem to feel that Mr. Chanin is not fit to serve in his position. There appear to be two reasons. One he is not religious. The second his alleged not so honest dealings.

    Let us examine the history of the previous people involved on the “other side”.

    One has a long beard. He allegedly bankrupted many people with his famous dairy. He has a letter from the Rebbe Ob“m calling him a liar. The Rebbe OB’M states that he will not write him any more because this will only cause this person to lie again.

    He was well known for his ruthlessness and terrible letters or pashkevilin that he put out.

    Is honesty a mitzva? Why should someone be considered religious if he chooses not to observe various mitzvas.

    The next public servant served two jail sentences. One for ”kiting checks” which is totally dishonest. The other for endangering the public. Is this called frum?

    Another person involved has an excellent track record when it comes to Dinei Torah. By his son’s Din Torah his own Zabla wrote a siruv against him for going to court.

    By the last Din Torah he again did not listen. Yes one can be approved by the Rebbe. That does not take away your becihra chofshis. Witness Yochanan Cohen Gadol who had the Almighty’s haskomo for 80 years then……

  • LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD

    Not that #85 deserves an answer. It does not. The writer of
    #85 is not “Inda Know”…..he maybe “inda politics”, but certainly not knowledgeable.

    FYI, Kashrus at the time was in the hands of Nash & Chazzan who let it deteriorate to the point of despair. Shoichtim were not paid, and Kashrus in Crown Heights was on the brink of total collapse. Rav Osdoba rescued Kashrus and revived it. I do know, b/c I was there. We should show him our great gratitude for that. Instead we listen to chants of resentment and ego– started by the two Vaad members from whom Kashrus control was rescued.

    Thank you Rabbi Osdoba. From one who remembers.

  • to 88

    In the hands of YB. It was always in his hands the only dif was that before was by 3 yungelait that had their hands tied up, they resigned and the Vaad took over when they started to get some control YB black mailed RO and that was the end of it.

  • Inda Know

    To # 88 you ignorant so and so. You speak of events happening a DECADE after the CHK was originated. CHK was formed by the first Vaad Hakhol (Rosh was Aba Paltiel) which remained in power for eight to nine years on two and three year elected terms!! Head of the Kashrus Commitee was Yossi Bruk (NOT Y. B. Spielman) who saw to it that his Pizza parlor received the first hashgocha (and ONLY for several months) from the CHK. It should be noted that under his dutiful care as a public servant for many years, CHK refused to give a hashgocha to any other pizza establishment, even blocks away. Several applied.

    Also, all elected members of the Vaad were prohibited from taking paying positions in the functions under the Vaad’s supervision. When it was “discovered” that Bruk was in fact paying himself as the head of Kashrus, he insisted that he had resigned from the Vaad Hakohol years before. When no record of his “resignation” could be found, he then resigned immediately from the Vaad Hakohol, but kept his paying position as Head of the Vaad Hakashrus, which he and Rabbi Osdoba then claimed had been “hefkered” by the community and “taken private” by them … to save it!? Indeed, this was Rabbi Osdoba and Yossi Bruk’s public position until Mr. Bruk allegedly suffered an injury and “retired” with a negotiated golden parachute (currently being paid for by who?).

    Rabbi Osdoba was left to fend for himself but quickly found other supporters to forward his positions, which has changed several times over the past few years: that he alone is in charge of kashrus, that he alone knows kashrus, that the Rebbe appointed him, that he and Bruk “saved” the CHK, that the CHK is now private, and the spins go on.

    Rabbi Osdoba lost his authority when Rabbi Marlow O“H left this world, as with Rabbi Marlow’s consent, he could at least claim a majority position of the Bais Din. Not now.

    The latest Psac cleared up all these questions. The CHK is, as it was originally formed, owned by the community, run by the Vaad Hakhol, with the Bias Din of Crown Heights entrusted to supervise all halachic questions relating to the assurance of the highest of kashrus standards, but no more (i.e. NOT the business aspects of kashrus administration.

    I am reminded of a sicha of the Rebbe given on 20 of Menacham AV (I am not sure which year) in which the Rebbe spoke of his father who was the Rov of his district in the ”wheat belt“ in Russia after the communist revolution. The local communist commisar came to the Rebbe’s father and told him that the communists now owned the wheat production and stood to make a lot of money off of the production of ”shmura“ wheat for Passover. Since the Rebbe’s father gave the hasgocha, the commisar told Reb Levik that ”he had better not find anything wrong with the wheat, if he knew what was good for him.“ The Rebbe’s father went to Moscow to the secretary of agriculture and told him, ”The communists are in charge now and stand to make a great profit from the shmura wheat. The business end of it is none of my concern. But regarding the kashrus aspects, everything must be done correctly according to the Shulcan Orech. If everything is done correctly, I will certify the production and your government will turn a nice profit.” The secretary sent the commisar instructions to cooperate fully to Rabbi Schneerson’s procedures for the harvest. The Rebbe then said that for decades after, yidden were using shmura wheat from that years harvest. Rabbi Levi Y. Schneerson insisted that the kashrus standards be without question. He did not try to interfere in the ownership, marketing, or financial aspects of the operations.

  • yoshor

    the fact is, a frumer community cannot have an OPENLY “fryer’ person in charge of a case against a rov.the rov is co-called corrupt,maybe,..we must figure out a way.BUT not by making a major fry-out boss…
    this is where we simply lost the plot….
    it makes no sense…..the shame is on the rabbonim/chassidishe yidden from his camp that can allow such a charade to continue.this is THE worst possible message we can give our kids.
    thank you crownheights.info for making this public,as long as others want to sweep things under the rug,we’ll never get anywhere.

  • question

    a.i just wonder which one of the other rabonim has ant aknowledge in kashrus.
    b.according to the new guidelines-trying to be intsituted would having a yellow flag be the criteria for a hechsher?
    c.who besides a few people in crown height would accept such a vaad hamachshir?