Our holy community of Crown Heights amongst the entire Lubavitch community the world over is reeling from the violence that has crept into our Holy of Holies, Beis Chayeinu – 770. The Sitra Achara couldn’t beat us using his traditional weaponry of plain jealousy and hatred so he turned to righteous indignation. Imagine Jews, Chassidic Jews, Chassidim of our Rebbe, lifting their hands on one another and considering themselves to be righteous by doing so!
How many times did we hear the Rebbe instruct us not to fight, even when attacked?! The hands of Eisav have infiltrated Yaakov!! Indeed, the policy of our Rebbes and their Chassidim going back to the times of the Alter Rebbe has been not to fight back violently. Teach, inspire, lead! But to hit!! Gevald Gevald!! If we do not stop the craziness now, what will come next? The Aitra Achara is succeeding!!
Yet Another Open Letter – The 770 Incident
Sholom Aleichem is the way we greet each other because within that greeting is found the one thing human beings need most, peace. And when peace is not found in any relationship, one shudders to think of what takes its place.
Our holy community of Crown Heights amongst the entire Lubavitch community the world over is reeling from the violence that has crept into our Holy of Holies, Beis Chayeinu – 770. The Sitra Achara couldn’t beat us using his traditional weaponry of plain jealousy and hatred so he turned to righteous indignation. Imagine Jews, Chassidic Jews, Chassidim of our Rebbe, lifting their hands on one another and considering themselves to be righteous by doing so!
How many times did we hear the Rebbe instruct us not to fight, even when attacked?! The hands of Eisav have infiltrated Yaakov!! Indeed, the policy of our Rebbes and their Chassidim going back to the times of the Alter Rebbe has been not to fight back violently. Teach, inspire, lead! But to hit!! Gevald Gevald!! If we do not stop the craziness now, what will come next? The Aitra Achara is succeeding!!
I dare anyone to say that the fighting is for the sake of Heaven. How can personal attacks, personal physical attacks be a part of anything that is for the sake of Heaven?
But what about the guilty? Shouldn’t they be punished? Shouldn’t righteousness reign? Remember the Rebbe’s instructions to be silent and let G-d do our fighting. The first person to lift a finger takes himself off the Rebbe’s proverbial wagon. The one who fights back needs to get off the wagon too in order to wage the battle against his adversary who got off before him.
We have endured so much pain. Young people have died painful deaths. The wailing of orphans is fresh in our ears. Poverty is rampant. The schools are struggling to stay open and to function properly. What else needs to happen before we realize that it is dependent on each and every individual, as an individual, to change, to stop listening to the slander and to stop hating?
Hatred is very powerful. When one hates, one hates sincerely. It is far easier to hate than to love. But are we suddenly weak? We cannot find a way through the mire of hatred?
“But the guilty,” you clamor. “They must be punished.” Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we truly had faith in our Rebbe to manage his affairs and bring the guilty to heel? But the sad truth is that we are being tested. We are being tested to see how we react. Indeed, action must be taken. Do we clamor for revenge? Or do we clamor for reform?
The hierarchy of our community must indeed reject the violence. The administration of the schools where the guilty hide need to take action. The community members who lifted a hand against a fellow Jew need to be reprimanded by their mentors and colleagues. But reform, and not revenge must be the goal.
The test is great. Perhaps what I am suggesting seems nearly impossible. Remember that the ease in which hatred comes coupled with righteous indignation are formidable foes indeed. But we are up to the task. Speak to your mentor. Speak to your friend. Speak to your family. Our Rebbe is counting on us. Let’s not let him down.
P.S. Recently, charges and counter-charges were filed with the NYPD after the violence in 770. Sadly, the only ones who will win from criminal charges are the lawyers.
The original charges were came from what police had witnessed when 770 was shut down that night. Yesterday, malicious and retaliatory charges were filed by 3 Israeli Bochurim Schenur Kupchik, Schneur Malka (who has been pictured throwing Seforim and has since left the country) and Aaron Pugatch (who witnesses to the carnage in 770 said that he wasn’t there) on 5 innocent Bochurim, Yungerlite, Local Businessmen Baali Tzedaka and children of Merkos board members.
When we contacted these individuals regarding these new charges they said “If Yudel Krinsky drops the charges on Thaler we will drop our charges”.
Moshe Rubashkin was called in order to try and help the situation, his response was “Please give me advice on what to do, I have no idea if this situation will ever go away”. Chanina Sperlin was contacted and his response was “I have not been in the Vaad HaKahal office in 6 months, what can I do?” Menachem Shagalow, who is in charge of Hachnosas Orchim for the Israeli Bochurim, when asked to get involved and try and help the situation his response was simply “Why were Yungerlite in 770 at 2am?”
Do we not have any community leaders? Is the Hanholo of the yeshiva simply ignoring what has been going on? Where are we headed?
aaron
Do we not have any community leaders?
no, the only leader was and is the rebbe and …
we wait
trouble
Why was chanina contacted at all ?
Acording to most people he is the one behind the arrest if two inocent yungerliet on wensday (in regards to the incedent in 770) buchrim who were called in (as part of the neighborhood patrol) to break up the fight.
As for moshe rubashkin, you want advice ? Get rid of the problem. The people (if we can call them that) that are causing all of the trouble dont belong in this community, GET RID OF THEM !!! They are living here as guest of our community (on our dollar). You and menachem shagalow have an obligation to the community to THROW THEM OUT.
It appears that most of the problems in our neighborhood are being caused by outsiders “visiting here”. We as a community have to come together and fix this problem.
I also think that this community owes a thank you (if not more) to the people who despite being put in jail will continue to prtect our community…THANK YOU SHOMRIM !!!
ISchier
Those who filed the malicious charges must be removed, not only from CH but from Lubavitch. And the question is – what were these psychos doing in 770 at 2am – 770 is not an insane asylum much as certain parties have made it look like one.
Those involved in the fighting are violent lunatics, and no amount of touchy feely ahavas yisroel is going to help them. They need to be excised from our midst once and for all, and a warning needs to go out to their supporters that there will be no tolerance for violence and nonsense (the shvil, dollars etc) in 770.
And it’s time for new vaad hakohol elections – no one on the vaad is able to act in any way regarding anything.
Anonymous
All these Chesbonush (calculations) are for every individual to make.
But what happeneds when you see another Jew in danger do you just say “let g-d fight the good fight”?
When it comes to yourselves you can do what ever you want, put when it comes to helping someone else whose in trouble, you must go help with out any Chesbonush (calculations). Don’t be a Chassid So’ta.
P.S. what you wrote is truly the way it must be, But we must deal with here and now!.
Hyacinth Bucket
This community is run by tossers – what do you expect?
Concerned resident
You express very lofty ideals, to leave this up to God to sort out etc.. But this was the approach we took for the past 12 years and that has not worked , in fact Jewish history has shown us that it has never worked. Perhaps God wants us to get of our behinds and do something ourselves ( hishtatlus)?
Sometimes unpleasant things need to be done to sort out the problem.
Zero Tollerance
No revenge, just Zero Tollerance.
The Rebbe said in a letter printed in the Igrois, I take not responsibility for bochurim involved in politics, they should be sent home immediatly.
In the old days when someone started up in 770 the vaad hamisader would be seen comming over the benches from all sides, The person would simply be pick him up and deposit outside.
Only through zero tolerance will people get the message and 770 will return to being what it was and what it is meant to be!
interested
Go, Hyacinth…do they still say tossers back home?? You’re right, though!
ISchier…you talk a lot of sense. Sadly, you are in the minority.
This “author”…identify yourself like Rabbi Eliezrie did. He has guts. Maybe you can’t/won’t b/c what you wrote is confusing.
David
“Do we not have any community leaders?”
What community??
Isaac
Sperlin may not have been in the Vaad office for six months,but you dont have to be in an office to call politicions to encourage an arrest,you dont have to be an office to call the police commisioner etc..Sperlin has a long history of Misirah and encouraging the arrest of Yidden.
Shmuli
who is the author of this article?
webby, show your face
YL
a beautiful letter, really hit everything on the head, well said and inspirational… until the Loshon Harah beginning with the “P.S.”
It is unfortunate that a beautiful letter must be tarnished by the last few lines.
Either way we can all learn something from the Ershteh Chailek (the first part)
Defending oneself
…”Right and wrong are unfortunately of little significance when dealing with the savage pirates who wish to claim ownership of heaven and earth and everything in between….
…Klipah will not give up anything it has stolen, unless it is outwitted and out maneuvered….
…Yaakov, the choicest of the ancestors, teaches us that the way to succeed in our mission as a Jew in this world, especially in the dark moments of exile, is not by being timid and passive. Quite the contrary, it requires that we put on the clothes of Esau and beat him at his own game – that we fight cunning with cunning and chutzpah with chutzpah”.
The 770 Incident
The title should not be “The 770 Incident” But rather “The community tragedy” or “Chabad Tragedy”. What happened that night in 770 reflects on the whole community.
We as a community must do all we can (together) to get ride of this problem.
Isaac
Who is this Menachem Shagalov ? He doesnt know what a yungerman is doing in 770 at 2am.? Did he ever hear of something called Farbrengen ? It is better to in be 770 at 2am then to be where he is.
Anti Hypocricy
Very Simple. One side is considered righteous for locking up another Jew, a chasid (albeit he committed a horrible crime against your deities). Then vicious photos are posted on the web defaming him and his family, slandering the fellow without feelings. When the other side reacts, then they are condemned. You can’t have it both ways. Drop your malicious charges, stop your horrible accusations – then it will gladly be reciprocated.
Don’t preach to others against going to goyshe courts and then not follow through yourself. Peoples egos have put Lubavitch, the Rebbe and everything he ever stood for, down the drain. What’s taken the Rebbe years to build is now being destroyed instantly by thugs on BOTH sides. Don’t try denying the fact that their are individual on BOTH extremes are causing the trouble. If a holy head eltere Shliach can masser on a bachur, regardless of his crime, then unfortunately, it’s not to be expected the retribution won’t be exacted his way.
YSDBG
Webby I have been saying this forever those that cause the “machloikes” have an immunitty pass from g-d against grief befalling them. It is only the innocent as we saw today that are meant to cry rivers of tears over the fights that these animals cause. When you say Poverty in the communitty how can you expect Sperlin or Rubashkin to understand what it means to have to choose between diapers or food for Shabbos? get me the hell away from these people. Good Shabbos.
D Katz
Until we get a young community leader…under 30…with someone who can relate to the community and not just to the +50 year olds, nothing will change.
Get rid of all the old folks…let them go home and eat cholent…lets get some young blood in here…clean up house…take off the color war signs in 770….
Cannot Believe it!
The guy asked for the people who can to do whatever they can. “The hierarchy of our community must indeed reject the violence. The administration of the schools where the guilty hide need to take action. The community members who lifted a hand against a fellow Jew need to be reprimanded by their mentors and colleagues. But reform, and not revenge must be the goal.”
Do what you got to do, jut like Yaakov did when he faced Eisav. No one denies the need to fight fire with fire. But the hatred is meshuga!
I have a good idea. Let’s start a new everything here. Let’s start new couincil and new rabbis and let the old guard fight it out on their own.
PROUD SHLIACH
there is a 19 page article, that has tried to twist this story- they lies and pure filth that was written in that article!- ad mosai, these guys are NOT chabad, it breaks my heart! it took them 2 weeks to prepare this collection of photos and writings- ample time to twist it in any way possible. im shocked, concerned and strongly believe that a statement must be released to the press stating the true facts! the chilul lubavitch is in progress- we need to amend the situation.as i conclude i feel myself being overcome with emotions. rebbe as a ben shliach i promise to do all i can to keep intact all that my father and so many other shluchim have accomplished under your guidance SHLIACH SHEL ODOM KEMOSOI. its takes so much quicker to destruct than to build. shame on you all those mashpiim, roshei yeshiva etc who started this cult. beg mechila, beg! Kuti Rapp YY Wilschanski S hloma Majeski Dovid Nachshon (who by the way has a clear directive not to be involved in pirsum klal uklal. to which he gives the answer “if the rebbe had told me that he is no loger my rebbe, do you think i would have listened? of course not! so too here im not listening ” is this normal? ) to mention a few, there are unfortunately more. even those who allow these individuals to operate and turn a blind eye- you are equally in the wrong, harboring terrorists is as bad a practicing terrorist behavior.let us unite and continue to do all which the rebbe zyo stood for! let us feel comfortable to enter into the rebbes holy shul, minus the banners and slogans! now is the time- not in a violent manner, but if civil law enforcement is needed then so be it! we are talking about the kovod of the rebbe, nothing stands in the way of that, may those “bochrim” who used and continue to use their hands throw holy seforim and have no feeling for human life (as well as carry on shabbos- ie pins that are unnecessary for the completion of a garment-) be brought to book, be it by beis din or chas vshalom by secular court, or banished from america, that doesnt mean that they have the right to continue their practices in eretz hakodesh- that is as bad, the real answer is MOSHIACH, let us continue our shluchis in spirit of that, lchayim brider lchayim.
ger
i think its time to go to the leaders, supporters and tell them to come out and say something. where does mendy hendel stand? where does chazan stand? and all the rest of them.
Yanky N. {the Blogger}
Webby, with all do respect, this article is shocking. Overlooking the circumstances, it is highly unacceptable to publish an article such as this.
The Rebbe spoke adamantly against people who would pass around diatribes such as these without the author so much as putting his name. Such propaganda {even if it is right and just} is called Pashkvillin and its a very severe form of Loshon Harah. There must be some sort of accountability for these positions and not just a besmirching rant.
Incidentally, this is a general problem with allowing comments on news sites such as this, but the problem is worsened when the site owner publishes a Pashkvil at his own discretion.
yitzchok
Webby, perhaps if you try to be more fair and open minded, you would be able to make sholom.
OPEN LETTER vs. PASHKVIL
An open letter is when it is signed. If the author has no beitzim to sign it, we’re better off without it. Webby, this kind of behavior is mor fit for Tzfatim or bnei brak. Not for thoes who want to promote truth/peace such as yourself.
I agree with everything you posted so far. Not this. Take it off
Who Said?
Who said Webby himself didnt write it?
A Bachur From Iowa
So Lets all take Hachlatos to increase our AHAVAS YISYAEL and there wont be time to Chas V’Shalom Have one of these again becuase we will be in yerushalayim with MOSHIACH NOW!!!!
A Gut Yom Tov!!
Anonymous
“Chanina Sperlin was contacted and his response was “I have not been in the Vaad HaKahal office in 6 months, what can I do?”
That must be true, while people from our Community (our Fathers, mothers brothers and sister) were being mugged and having there head bashed in, Chanina was no were to be found.
But in this case he found time to go all the way up to Kelly.
He put presser for a whole two weeks to get these innocent people who are Misher Nefesh Every day for use (they put there lives on the line) locked up.
Shame on you Chanina, Shame on you Y.S,
And shame on the new clown (cancer) from out of town (lives in Sydney, au) Konserpolsky (who came to N.Y. just to make trouble). Go back home.
This is just a blood liable.
Milhouse
Turning the other cheek is another religion.
And some of you people need to crack a shulchan aruch once in a while. It’s a befeireshe din that if someone beats you, you are allowed to masser them. When Pinchas Korf was beaten, he went to the police and had the guy arrested, and nobody called him a mosser; and when the thug was tried in a goyishe court, the Rebbe insisted that the witnesses were not just allowed but had an <i>obligation</i> to testify truthfully, <i>ve’im lo yagid venoso avono</i>.
The same applies to Thaler and the other thugs; it is a mitzvah and a chiyuv to testify against them, and that is certainly what the Rebbe would want.
To retaliate with “counter-mesira”, and to openly say that “if you cancel your charges we’ll cancel ours”, just proves the corruption of this festering wound in Lubavitch, this pestilence of doctrinaire Messianism, which is just as bad as the doctrinaire anti-Messianism of the misnagdim, if not worse.
BOTH SIDES have to drop there charges
hello?! you call for peace, but only cry that one side has to drop charges!
i hate when anyone calls the police BUT BE REALISTIC, IF ONE SIDE CHARGES, THEN SO WILL THE OTHER, the only way out of the charges is IF BOTH SIDES DROP THEM!!!
as for the tzfatim they have to be throne out of 770 TOGETHER WITH WHOEVER HIT THEM!!!
hands work both ways, and WHOEVER hits tzfati or anti has to be throne out of 770
Borough Park Blogger
Chanina Sperling does not have to do to a Vaad office to make phone calls to the NYPD. He has all their phone numbers on his cell phone and that’s his last link to being invited to parties and photo ops.
He tells everybody he is a Vaad member and head of the PAC–a conflict of interest worthy of his mentor Clarence Norman.