The Court Case: Disheartening, Frightening and Exhilarating
I learned about Contempt of Court in Elementary School. The teacher spoke about automobile drivers obeying stop signs. Why should they? “Why should we obey any signs?” she asked. Our young minds grappled with the question but couldn’t come up with an answer that our teacher could not refute. “So what if you got caught,” she argued, “could we really go to jail for not obeying a sign – how silly!”
Then she explained Contempt of Court. Signs that are posted; are posted according to the law. And laws are backed by the court system. So if someone does not obey a sign, they are in effect not obeying the court. Not obeying the court puts a person in Contempt of Court – willful disregard for law and order. And Contempt of Court is punishable with jail or other measures.
By now, my readers are probably thinking I should have titled this essay: Compliance With the Law 101. Or better yet: First Grader’s Guide to Court Proceedings. Or maybe I should have called it, Wake Up Yidden and Understand Your Host Country. G-d Bless America! Seriously. The Rebbe praised the goodness, the plenty, the generosity and the freedom we enjoy. Much of what we enjoy is due to the system that is based on Contempt of Court.
Long after I left Elementary School, I happened to meet up with one of my former High School classmates. He told me a horrifying story of how he had been falsely accused of a crime, held in a lock up where he suffered physical abuse and then had to spend an amount of money, well beyond his budget, in order to confirm his innocence. That was the first time I learned first-hand about major malfunctions in the legal system. Recently, I read John Grisham’s book ‘The Innocent Man.’ It is an account of a very serious legal disaster that was eventually discovered and overturned by lawyers who specialize in finding innocent people who have been sentenced as guilty.
As much as I wish our legal system was flawless, I know it is far from perfect. Not perfect; but still it is excellent. Excellent to the point of activists constantly making improvements. Excellent in that it allows us to live with ease knowing that we have a system in place to guard our safety, our prosperity and our freedoms.
For the last two days I interrupted my work for Shlaimos HaAretz, and have made myself unavailable to my grandchildren, because I was sitting in court with my husband, who is Chairman of the Board of the Maple Street Shul, and has held that position since the Rebbe called out, more than thirty years ago, to rescue Shuls on the outskirts of Crown Heights.
The purpose of this article is not to explain the court case so I will just give a brief sketch and then go on with my writing. A group of men summoned the President of the Maple Street Shul to a Beis Din, challenging his authority and asking for change. The Psak came out in favor of the President. The men who commenced the proceeding, thought they had won, but lost, then immediately disobeyed the Psak. In order to enforce that Psak, Maple Street Shul has sought assistance from the courts, with the approval of the Beis Din. Hence my husband’s interruption from his work to attend the lengthy procedures in court, and my attendance to sit by him and give him support.
I have found this court experience to be disheartening, frightening and exhilarating.
It has been disheartening to see the lack of respect shown to our court system by the Respondents, and their taking advantage of the goodwill of the court, and the options available to protect the rights of all. By playing procedural games, the Respondents have managed to delay the hearings from February all the way until June.
There are key issues in the case that have to be dealt with. But instead of solving the issues, the Respondents have chosen to deflect the attention of the court by bringing up side issues. In doing so they are making the case take much longer than necessary. They are using up the time of the judge and the court, and are causing financial losses to the parties in attendance who are having major upheavals in their work schedules. In addition to bringing up side issues, when the Respondents are asked questions, they give vague answers about not remembering, even when asked about things that happened during the lunch break thirty minutes before. This is also a way of delaying the proceedings. One Respondent said under oath that he was having trouble seeing because he had ‘pink eye’, so he could not identify himself in a picture shown on a screen. He also claimed to be affected by the medication for the ‘pink eye’. Then soon after, when his own lawyer asked him to examine a lengthy document, his ‘pink eye’, and the imbalance caused by his medication, seemed to disappear. To me this is an indication that the individuals involved think they can misuse the system and they have no problems offering nebulous answers, even under oath!
What I found frightening, is that one of the Respondents, who was particularly belligerent in his disregard for court procedures, by responding to questions with questions, or with speeches of his own; this particular Respondent is said to be a Mashpia in 770. The best way to express my reaction is what I said above: I find this frightening.
What I found exhilarating, was watching the Law Offices of Mitchell C. Shapiro work as a team to reveal the truth and seek justice.
I admit that when Mr. Shapiro kept using the term ‘red herring’, I was not familiar with the expression. I now know it is in the dictionary, and defined as something intended to divert attention from the real matter at hand. And I know that ‘red herrings’ are what we spent two days in court discussing.
The first ‘red herring’ was the 11th hour application by Respondents to disqualify Mr. Shapiro from representing the Shul and to delay the case for an additional three to seven weeks. In response, Mr. Shapiro gave a documented presentation to the court defending his right to be on the case and detailing why it was that the Respondents who violated the Court’s rules by appearing to the Judge ex parte the afternoon before the June 1st hearing. It was clear that Mr. Shapiro’s team had done their research well. I learned later that due to the shenanigans of the Respondent’s lawyer – who didn’t file any papers in the case (which started on February 16th) until May 31st and didn’t serve Mr. Shapiro until we were back in Court on June 6th – the Shapiro team had such short notice they were obliged to work through the night and into the next morning. The results were that they provided Mr. Shapiro with the necessary specific legal rulings to illustrate his points, and then he applied the points to the particulars of the case, demonstrating that Respondents’ procedural arguments were all frivolous. That was the first ‘red herring,’ which took the entire afternoon Court session yesterday. (Wednesday, 16 Sivan)
Today the ‘red herring’ involved the claim that the Respondents were not “served” properly with the Petition seeking to confirm the Psak legally and the restraining order stopping them from their attempts to steal the Shul and its property for themselves and their cohorts. [‘Served’ referring to the official delivery of legal documents such as a summons, subpoena, complaint, order to show cause.] This ‘red herring’ required the Respondents, who had sworn in Court papers that they had never been served, to give live testimony. Again Mr. Shapiro and his team worked hard to reveal the truth, despite the fact that the witnesses were obviously coached not to answer direct questions. Mr. Shapiro’s team set up a movie screen and showed the court the footage of the ‘service’ of the papers on the Respondents that was in question… but not until after the witnesses themselves gave their versions of the service that allegedly did not happen. After the video, the Respondents tried to deny what the videos showed. Two Respondents outrageously claimed that they could not be sure that the person on the video footage was them, or another of their friends, who was in the courtroom, and who admitted that it was him on the video and that he threw out the papers, saying to the community member serving him: “This is garbage, like you and your father”, and that he threw out yet another envelope without opening it that had been sent to his house by Mr. Shapiro, containing legal papers.
Did I say that seeing and hearing these men, who identify themselves as part of the Chabad community, acting in such a way, was disheartening? Let me add, it was also embarrassing to have them acting thus in front of the court.
I understood that the admissions by the witnesses themselves, even without the video, proved they were actually served according to the law, and that their peripheral argument to the contrary was another way to delay the case.
In contrast to the above, it was exhilarating to observe Mr. Shapiro’s style of legal practice. Of his many praiseworthy traits, what has impressed me the most over the past months, is that he always tries to be fair. He insists that the opponents be warned in advance before they do something incriminating and puts the other side on notice. He insists that everything be open and fair, despite the long hours and painstaking work that the Respondents are putting him and his team through in their attempts to hide the truth and delay the case. Mr. Shapiro openly revealed in Court that his firm had put in more than $100,000 worth of legal time on the case ‘pro bono’, not charging the Shul for most of the time that they had put in before the hearings, making sure that their papers were thorough and complete. Mr. Shapiro’s passion for law and dedication to justice are evident in the way he presents his case. His calm, moderate way of addressing the court brings dignity to his surroundings, and pride to his people.
Since the beginning of this distasteful and intrusive episode with the Maple Street Shul, I have been disheartened by the fact that Jews who eat Kosher, keep Shabbos and presumably learn Chassidus, would act in such a way. But today I saw it first-hand: arrogance, deception and the blatant disrespect for: a Psak Din that they requested; a court of law; and the oath to tell the truth. It is disheartening. And when it involves a Mashpia in 770 who will not admit that the video showed him holding the Petition after being served, I find it frightening.
During a break in the proceedings I turned to the back of my Chayenu and read a message from the Rebbe. It begins with a quote from Chumash and then from Rashi: We remember the fish which we ate in Egypt for free (11:5). And Rashi says: ’For free’ free of Mitzvos (Sifri). Further along, the text from the Rebbe continues: “Hashem chose to imbue our acts with significance, for our sake. Life as a free lunch is appealing at first, but soon turns tedious and threadbare… If life were not a struggle between right and wrong, if we did not have to sacrifice, toil and accomplish in order to earn sustenance and happiness, it would be a joyless and meaningless exercise.”
Building the Maple Street Shul into what it is today has been a struggle. The President, Eli Blachman, and the Chairman of the Board, Yisroel Karp, have never lost sight of the Rebbe’s vision. I pray the current struggle between right and wrong be resolved in a way that will bring all parties to Tshuva, on their own level, and that this trial will be the last ‘red herring’ – the last distraction – before we welcome Moshiach Now!
Chaim Yankel
No mention of Yanky Nemon Esq? Hu Som Yomim K’lailos for the success of the case.
The Whole Kehilo Can-t Be Wrong
Everybody in that shul even his best friends of years are on one side and he and his family on the other. So it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that something’s wrong here.
C.H.- Shomrim Six
“I have found this court experience to be disheartening, frightening and exhilarating.”
Until one EXPERIENCES going to court One has no idea what it is and could even make light of it.
But thank G-d your not facing 15+ years in jail, like I and 5 others from our community were just two years ago.
Welcome to my world! Welcome to world of court, lawsuits and Mesira! welcome to the world were nobody give a darn! Welcome to the world where a community sits in silence while you suffer!
Welcome welcome!!!
When the Shomrim Six case was in trial, we warned the community that everyone will be effected by the results.
The community stood silence when Dovid Fischer was prosecuted.
The community stood silence when the board of directors of Machane Menachem (Hershkop, Heber, Goldman, Hartman) were prosecuted.
The community stood silence when the Shomrim Six was prosecuted.
The community stood silence when Dovid Fischer was prosecuted.
The community stood silence when our Gamachyim and Mosdos were being prosecuted.
So whats another prosecution?
zalman meir
This is what is going to happen to CAY in 20 years, and that is why i did not give them any money for their building
a crown heights story
Are Respondents attorneys by any chance Paul Levi Huebner and Elei Poltorak, the way you describe their actions it sure seems that way.
The way the Respondents are behaving in general leads me to believe that besides possibly having the above “attorneys”, they may be getting advice from the g-d father of court/Mesira, known other then Yaakov Spritzer.
Anyways, as a person who lived in Crown Heights all my life, your story is unfortunately not a new one. What you describe above is a re-run of whats been going on in the community for over 30 years.
Advice:
Have no mercy! Do what needs to be done! There are no rules!
Bad Example
Violating a street sign is not contempt of court. Contempt of court is violating a clear order of a court. The courts don’t put up the street signs in this country.
Watching this case closely
I’ve been following this case closely because I know many of the parties involved. I honestly don’t know what this group’s motivation was for trying to get control of the Maple Street Shul. But the bare facts show that the Shul is a free and clear valuable piece of property, it has other assets such as many beautiful Sifrei Torah, and most importantly, a long-standing tax I.D. number. A public forum is not the place to go into it, but we all know that certain Chosheve Lubavitchers have used Organizations and tax I.D. numbers to personally enrich themselves and make a massive Chillul Hashem when the government caught them. I sure hope that this wasn’t the goal of those trying to wrestle control of the Maple Street Shul. Maybe this case is only about “Democracy” as the group likes to say. Maybe this matter (that has now cost over $100,000 in legal time) is just about the group getting to go down and eat cholent after Kriah, and not wait until after Davening, like the Shul President Eli Blachman insists. But I worry that the motivations were financial and not about the Democratic right to eat cholent early, because of the names of some of the people working with this group. I find it impossible to believe that at least one of the Rabbonim who worked in close cooperation with this group got so involved because he supports “Democratic cholent eating.” I find it impossible to believe that people would be so threatened and frightened off from standing up for whom they support in this matter if it was only about the democratically desired time to eat Cholent.
It’s happened several times over the past few years, such as with a former President who did something he wasn’t supposed to, and with Athletes who took steroids, that what they did was bad enough, but they got themselves into real trouble by lying under oath, or perjuring themselves. Testifying under oath is not like hocking a chynik on a website or talking around the Shabbos table. Perjury is a very serious crime, many times way more serious than the original wrongdoing. This group tried to seize control of the Shul, but it looks like they failed. They are probably going to have to pay for the damage they caused. The old expression goes, when you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is to stop digging. As far as I can tell this group has already dug themselves a very deep hole. It’s baffling to see them keep digging.
just saying
the whole kehilsh CAN be wrong. especially if kehlah is from crown heights.
\
look how wrong they were for kicking out fisher and puting in spilman and sperlin, who both have gained 10ns of millions in propertys
look how wrong they were for electing a Badatz.
need i say more?
Eliyahu
This article does not at all address the problem in the Shul and its Presidents refusal to change with the growing demands of the new members of the east flatbush community. Every Shabbos I sigh sadly that I no longer daven there, and that so many of my friends and other local residents came and went through that Shul. It could be so beautiful. It could be the most amazing Shul. It’s a beaitiful rich building with passionate members (mostly now former members)
It’s time for change. Please.
Red Herrings
Here’s how the whole affair started:
The entire machlokes started with herring: when some members (or ex/former-members) wanted a piece of kichel and herring during davening. They were starving and the chazzon was taking too long! When they asked nicely, “management” refused to allow them to sate their hunger pangs and forced to wait till after davening for the kiddush and the piece of herring.
The next shabbos, these members did what any sane hungry person would do – they forced their way into the food storage and kidnapped a piece of mezonos and herring without authority. The kiddush food was attacked and devoured.
In retaliation by “management”, the next shabbos a “decoy” mezonos was set up next shabbos – it was a dietetic fat-free cake made with splenda and whole wheat spelt (I know: disgusting!), together with pickled herring dressed to look like schmaltz herring by letting it sit in a puddle of oil.
When the renegade members indulged unsuspectingly into this decoy food, several became sick and one even vomited. Things went downhill from there…so it is all about herring, red or otherwise.
The point is – since it all started because of herring, it makes sense that the court case will be full of red herrings.
If we want this case settled, all we need is an industrial size barrel of herring and sholom al yisroel.
Respect for the psak
Aliza
I envy your courage to stand by your husband very much
I have two issues of which I am concerned.
First I was disheartened when Mr Scahpiro threatened Rabbi Osdoba with contempt of court. Which in some ways tells me that he chooses which rabbinic to respect.
Secondly, in Yiddish there is a saying of dem ganef Brent dem hitel. If your side is so right, why do you feel the need to explain so much. No one in the community is interested.
Also there are rumors that the shul was used as extra collateral for a personal loan (which naturally does not get a lien and has no listing. Is there any truth to that?
I deeply respect you, and ask these questions sincerely.
Thanks
Josh
Fresser Rebbe
BH
I think the BESHT center should just move in and take over the Maple Street Shul
Chaim Tovim
To the dear Blachman family: Justice will prevail and the shul will remain in your hands, please G-d
is it respect to Halacha to go Court?
is it respect to Halacha to go Court?
sick of complainers
dearest dave, first allow me to begin by saying that you are throwing sand in the eyes of innocent people who are readying your comment, allowing them to think that there is some other issue at play – which there is not.
to all those of you who are crying that it was blachman who took the others to court, OF COURSE HE DID! after he won in the din torah, the losers choose to ignore the psak so the very same beis din GAVE BLACHMAN PERMISSION TO GO TO COURT TO ENFORCE THE PSAK.
the lies you spin about collateral and loans are just that. LIES. before you go and spin such serious allegations bring PROOF and not some rumors that you yourself admitted are simply that.
and these stupid calls for change are rather silly, the shul is a private entity that has its own rules governing it. IT IS NOT A DEMOCRACY. if you dont like it there are 49 other shuls to choose from bh in crown heights.
To #12
Excellent idea about the Besht Center. I agree! It’s a fabulous Shul, but is outgrowing its former restaurant location. Maple Street is a large shul, and needs a younger crowd. Merge the Shuls!
The Way I see it
Rabbi Osdoba was given the heads up that getting involved in the matter after another beis din heard, and issued a binding arbitration on the matter, WOULD put him in contempt of court. This is not a “threat of contempt.” Would you rather no one told him? If no one told him, how would he know? Would you rather that Rabbi Osdoba finds himself in trouble with the court? This says nothing about which Rov Mr. Shapiro respects. And anyway, for months the Shul tried very hard to get this matter in front of Rabbi Osdoba or any of the Crown Heights Rabbonim. It was the other people (this “Cabal”) who insisted on going to the Givas Hamorah beis din and then Givas Hamorah ruled against them. Completely. You can read the psak for yourself. Al Pi Halakhah Blachman has full right to run the Shul. This is not at all an instance of oyf den ganif brent de hitl … just the opposite. Who has been doing mailings and hanging up posters and in general going around and running their mouths? Not Blachman. This is the second thing the Shul has put out in all these months and you think this is too much? Gimme a break. As for the Shul being used as collateral … this is a lie. It has no basis. It’s pure falsehood spread because this Cabal has no basis for trying to take the Shul, not according to Halachah, and not according to the law, as will eventually come out in court. And the “Cabal” are the ones trying to challenge the Psak Din … The “Cabal” are the ones seemingly violating the court order to obey the Psak until the court rules on the “legality” of the Psak. The people who care about this are ones that are horrified that “Frume” Yidden, alleged Chassidim, can behave with no mentchlichkeit, no respect for the law or respect for the Torah. (I’m not the one who wrote this article.)
Bias, Bias, and yet more Bias
Mrs. Karp is using her considerable skills as a writer (not least her passionate & emotive language) to present one side of the coin. I’d like the “other side” to find an articulate & gifted writer to present their case.
All in the interests of fair, balanced journalism, of course. Since Mrs. Karp purports to be an independent-thinking journalist in other areas, she should have backed off on this one.
FRIGHTENED AND DISHEARTENED
FRIGHTENED AND DISHEARTENED
What Aliza failed to disclose is that Mr. Eli Blachman and Mr. Yisroel Karp filed Contempt of Court charges against the Rav of our community and many other prominent innocent members of our community who had to spend money on their defense because as she writes “Contempt of Court is punishable with jail or other measures.” This is truly Frightening and Disheartening.
Full Disclosure
No, once she disclosed her relationship to one of the parties, Aliza has every right to write on this subject. And aderabe, find someone who can write the other side’s position without lies and distortions. I’d love to read it. I have many questions, but to start please tell me,
Why the Cabal ignored the psak din of a beis din they chose?
How much money the heads of this group have individually donated to this Shul over the years that they should even have an opinion of what goes on there?
Why did they testify in open court that no one served them, when they were on video showing that they were served? (Please explain how the non-Jewish judge was very impressed with this behavior.)
How much more Chillul Hashem/Chillul Lubavitch will this Cabal make before they go away?
stc
can’t men learn to be *normal* and try to act as the Rebbe’s chasidus teaches?
Uncle Mendel
All I can say is I shall wait until they condense this article into a tolerable length, like less than 100,000 words. I was getting an eye cramp, and unable to read thru it, although I tried three times.
Dale Carnegie would have kanipshins.
Frightening and Disheartening
Members of our community who have to raise and spend money to defend the contempt of court charges as Mrs. Karp writes “Contempt of court is punishable with jail or other measures”, THIS IS TRULY FRIGHTENING AND DISHEARTENING
A regular
instead of uninformed people commenting, why not take a stroll down this coming shabboss to Maple street Shul, and go from table to table and ask the people who daven in the shul what this court case is all about. why not ask them if they are backing Eli Blachman in his court proceeding.Then on your way back home why not reflect on, why Eli Blachman can not garner the support of the people who come week in and week out to daven at Maple Street Shul.
To Josh - Respect for the Psak
To Josh – Respect for the Psak
Thank you for your kind words. The courage is really my husband’s. Between you and me – when I heard Rabbi Osdoba was involved, I begged, begged, begged my husband to resign. But he told me he could not abandon the integrity of the Shul. His obligations as Chairman of the Board were based in morality, law and spirituality – from the Rebbe.
Your first issue about Mr. Shapiro and Rabbi Osdoba… please go to maplestreetshul(dot)com. The document I recommend for you is entitled STATEMENT BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF CONGREGATION AHAVAS MOISCHE, INC. Then if you scroll down to the bottom of the page, and click on Older Posts, you will see, somewhere on the next page, a letter sent from Mr. Shapiro to Rabbi Osdoba. I think that will clarify your concerns.
The second question asks why we need to explain ourselves if we know we are right. The Respondents have spent a lot of time speaking to people and spreading rumors, as you yourself mention. They have posted many derogatory notices. They have distorted the truth to suit their needs. In Perkei Avos it speaks about the value of a good name. It is not a Mitzvah to let your reputation be soiled by devious talk, letters and posters. That is my answer to your question. But my personal reason for writing the article was to bring to the attention of community members the need to upgrade respect for law and order. I wish I could say that I think the Maple Street Shul story is an isolated incident. But I regret to say that I think there is a widespread lack of respect for law and order in our community, especially because this case does involve the Rav.
You mention a rumor about collateral for a personal loan. This is a false, malicious rumor. But… have you ever heard that when you think you see a fault in someone else, it is really a fault in yourself? This rumor makes me think that the Recipients may want to take over the Shul so they can do financial shenanigans such as what you mentioned.
Thank you for reading my article and for wanting to know the truth,
Kol Tuv, Aliza
cncrnd
I think that Torah “might” be what ails us.
some of these men just have yetzer haras and are trying to make something big of themselfs. Torah teaches that even in life crisis, one must conduct themselves k’halacha. This is terrible for the moral for the community as well. really
To Bad Example #6
if a street sign says NO PARKING. and you park there. what happens?
if you are lucky, nothing happens.
if you are not so lucky… you get a ticket.
if you throw it away, what happens?
but you are not going to ignore it. because if you do, you will get a notice to appear in court. and if you still ignore it. you will be in contempt of court.
i think that’s how it works.
and it is not just with signs.
it is with many facets of life that we take for granted.
it is one of the Sheva Mitzvos.
we need courts in order to have a civilized existence.
civilized people respect courts.
Bias, Bais U Got It Wrong
Mr. Bias,
I consider it a Mitzvah to use my G-d given talents to be supportive of my husband. If someone does not want to come up against an article written by me… they should not mess with my husband.
And sorry, but I do not consider myself a independent-thinking journalist. I wrote a novel about the Disengagement from Gush Katif entitled BANISHED. I have been widely criticized for writing from a Chabad point of view.
Notwithstanding the above… THANK YOU for your kind words about my writing.
Mrs. Karp
Contempt of Court
The author did not say that ignoring a street sign was considered contempt of court. She said that disobeying an order of the court was contempt, which is legally accurate. Please #6, read that part again!
haha!!!!!!!!!!!
hahahahahahahahah boring!!!!
Frum Attorney-s Advice - One Word
SETTLE!
While your waching thousands of dollars of of yideshe gelt go down the drain for attorey’s fees… please think of ways to settle and sugest an offer and counter-offer to the attorney’s or any other way.
Just want to daven, but....
As someone from a family trying to attend the Maple Street Shul and at the same time trying to stay out of the machloikes, let me tell you that it is, unfortunately, impossible to stay out of the machloikes. So, rather than get in the machloikes, we will now (reluctantly) attend other shuls, at least for now.
We tried to stay out of it, since our family is not looking to take on this kind of stress (most people have enough without volunteering for more!), and we were barraged with attempts to get us to sign statements for use in court, and join committees, etc., etc. Our phone machine was filled with guilt-trip messages about our decision to stay out of the machloikes. We were even asked to sign some legal papers saying that a rumor is untrue (since when are rumors and gossip anything that would stand up in court anyway!), and we’re neither the plaintiff nor the defendant, nor any kind of shul official!
We are just a family wanting to daven at the shul, happy to send the usual membership contributions any attender of a shul should donate. But we certainly weren’t looking for more involvement than this!
At one point, I phoned the attorney whose name was on one of the many pieces of paper we got in the mail, and was told by the attorney that whoever sent that mail had not been authorized by same attorney to send out such a mailing.
The last straw came when our doorbell rang at nearly midnight, and someone who wasn’t even an official process server tried to give us papers, supposedly ordering us to testify in court the very next day, and we’re not even involved in the case! It took a savvy friend to hear the details of this incident, and to look at the paperwork and see that it didn’t constitute proper service nor did the papers constitute a complete and true subpoena.
Well, like I said, that was the last straw. We really liked the shul and did not want to take sides. But people pushed way too hard to try to force us to take sides. So, rather than take sides, we’ve just stopped going to the shul for now.
What a pity.
But, like an earlier poster said, there are 49 other shuls in Crown Heights, B”H.
Maybe some people’s mezuzahs need to be checked….?
Tzvi Bogomilsky
To the writer of the article. Just search for faivish dalfin and “injunction stands against rabbi trying to steal synagogue”. You will find a very similar case. Sadly it cost close to 300k to defend. Yes a frum ….shliach played all types of dirty games……and yes a frum person…..schlepped us into court…..and yes his lawyer wasted our money since he was pro bono and ours wasn’t…..and yes he tried every sham move you describe, to delay, disqualify etc….all in the name of frumkeit and the rebbe…. I know it’s hard but always remmember, a beard, a kapoteh and a smicha paper does not make one frum or a chosid. Do not judge a book by its cover. You case is sadly textbook to what other….so called frum people and might I add lubavitchers have done. You are lucky that you have a free lawyer. These cases are designed to drag you out as long as possible and make you give up.
I went thru this as well. It’s not fun seeing people you have once respected act in a disgusting manner.
All I can say is I feel not just your pain but the pain that is being felt by this case by many people. It’s time we as frum people rise up and defend within our midst certain actions which are disgusting and should not be in the public eye. Anyone with half a brain watching these hostile takeover stories knows that in the long run when people see so called rabbi”s behaving such behavior it turns people off from yiddishkeit and from ever trusting rabonim.
If you have any questions and your lawyer wants to know the next moves that they will play. Feel free to call Mr. Jeffrey Swartz at Rosenthal, Rosenthal , Rasco Kaplan in Miami. He fought our case and won.
to # 15
if that is the case then do not take public funds, not from the government by saving taxes and not from the members of the shul. if you will take funds then you become a public entity and the shul belongs to everyone.
The Saddest Part
The saddest part of this whole affair, is that Eli Blachman and the people trying to bring him down were life-long friends. When they were kids in elementary school together at “Bedford and Dean,” one of the Respondents always wanted an extra container of milk, but the lunchroom teacher would never give him one. It was Eli-Blachman, who day-after-day gave away HIS container of milk, because his friend Yossi wanted it. And that was the beginning of a life-time friendship and innumerable good deeds, that are now being paid-back with false accusations and attacks on bis integrity. affair, is that prior to this unfortunate affair, Eli Blachman and the people trying to bring him down were life-long friends. When they were kids in elementary school together at “Bedford and Dean,” one of the Respondents always wanted another container of milk, but the lunchroom teacher would never give him one. It was Eli-Blachman, who day-after-day gave away HIS container of milk, because his friend Yossi wanted it. And that was the beginning of life-time of friendship and good deeds on the part of Eli-Moishe Blachman towards the respondents… that are now being paid-back with false accusations and attacks on Blachman’s integrity.
Fed Up
Bias Bias Bias writes that Mrs. Karp uses her writing skills to present “one side” of the case. Bias then expresses the wish that the “other side” should find an articulate writer to present their side. The last time I checked, the term “the other side,” referred to the “sitra achra,” which in fact is masmosh what they are.
By the way, Mr or Ms Bias, have you ever considered that Mrs. Karp’s presentation of the issues is the actual truth, and not a function of her writing skills?
24 A Regular
your idea to have people come to Maple Street Shul to take a survey has its merits, but you left out some things.
how about having them look around and see how the Shul is kept up. is there indication that the electric bill has been paid? is the building free of any major repairs that have been neglected. check if the building is clean. are the Sifrei Torah are Kosher? is there someone capable to read the Torah on hand at the right time?
let them absorb the dedication to continually oversee the maintenance that Eli Blachman has shown for many decades. let them hear how he tried to delegate so that younger people would take over, and how time and again the younger set were not responsible.
and then let the observer ask the people sitting in the air conditioned Shul why they do not show support to the man who provides them with so much.
chaim y
some ahavas yisrael stop bashing people whats the point of this article let justice do its job who are we to get involved in a personal matter (about shomrim six has nothing to do with this case its sad that they where taken to court that was mesira)
Nobody
#34, being tax exempt is not “taking public funds.”
to #11
Not only Rabbi OSDOBA but also Rabbi BRAUN and Rabbi SCHWEI have all shown disrespect to Eli Blachman, its very sad that ALL the Rabbonim are on the wrong side. B”H there is an American court system where hopefully we will get Justice
The truth of the matter
tO # 34. Yes the bills have been paid there is a baal Korah wonderful Thats supposed to be that way. Its like the guy tells the judge “Itake care of my kids” Well hellow youre supposed to take care of them.
Paying the bills is not the issue here. The issue is much greater. Why is Eli Blachman afraid to hold open and free elctions? Why is he afraid to show the books? Why dis he put his son in the management of the shule?
I was in Empire Shtibel. The books are open there are meetings and the shule is buzzing all week with shiurim and minyonim. In Maple street people are turned off by the Blachmans lack of respect to others. No one has any idea what takes place. To Impress people he put down a beautiful floor in the kitchen when the bathrooms havent changed in 60 years. They smell and infact many times there is no Asher Yotzar Paper. These things are just as important as making sure the electric bill is paid.
All people want is openness and civility.Mr. Blachman himself has said he is burned out from running the shule. BH there are people who are willing to give of them selves to help but he even this he does not allow. His son Yanky is not someone who can ever demand any respect or is cabale of running the shule.
Hopefully this will all be resolved that many of the people who left the shule will finally return to enjoy a pleasant shabbos. There are over 200 families who live in the area of maple Street shule. Why do they feel they have to daven in another place?
4 The Truth of The Matter
To the Truth of the Matter
Let me begin with a look at today’s Chumash. Today is Wednesday Parshas Shlach. There are ten complainers and two loyal representatives. The ten hold a clear majority. Hashem goes with the two.
The Recipients are not members of the Maple Street Shul. I happen to know that most Shuls do not open the books for anyone who comes and asks. You might want to double check with Empire Shtieble, asking them, if trouble makers came and demanded to open the books, if the Shtieble would in fact honor those demands.
It happened in the last few years that Eli Blachman was trying to delegate responsibility to others in preparation for his stepping down. He delegated the responsibility to put up a Sukka. When it became clear the Sukka was not being taken care of, Blachman decided that for this once he was not going to jump in and save them. They had to learn to operate more independently. The Recipients came to Shul on Shmenini Atzeres. They wanted to eat. No Sukka. They got up in Shul and announced that the reason there was no Sukka was because Blachman was stealing the money from the Shul. Using Shul money for himself instead of for a Sukka. I am not knowledgeable with the details of the Ata HaRaisa procedures, but my husband told me that with each Ata HaRaisa, one of the Recipients announced something derogatory about Mr. Blachman. Instead of causing a fight. Mr. Blachman left the Shul. I believe this is when they started the campaign to demand to see the books.
There have been many attempts the last few years to open up the management of the Shul. I know there were meetings in spring of 2004. In your comment you say you know people who are willing to help out but they are not allowed. I think there must be a missing piece here that you don’t know about, because it does not make sense. Especially because in the last few months, the Shul has been reaching out for sincere, capable, responsible people to participate.
At one of many conferences with Rabbi Schwei in the past years, the Shul was advised to put Mr. Blachman’s son on the Board. I do not remember if the source for this was in Halacha or if the source is in Jewish tradition and common sense.
I am sorry you came to Shul on a day when the bathrooms did not have paper. My husband tells me that it is usually taken care of. And it is been my experience that it is taken care of. At least on my side of the wall. Maybe the kids were playing with it. It is not the usual.
You mention that Blachman has a lack of respect for others. I would call it a lack of diplomacy. Most of the time, Blachman is pleasant, but when he feels threatened, he can briefly lose his diplomacy. We all have traits we have to work on.
Blachman has built Maple Street Shul. He took it when no one else wanted it. Now it is a no-brainer to come run the Shul, it is like picking the fruit after someone worked the soil, planted the seeds, fought the insects, watered the plants, etc., etc. Maple Street Shul has gained popularity as a target for takeover because of Blachman’s dedication and hard work.
If you want to read about the different meetings that have taken place recently in an attempt to peacefully bring others into the management of the Shul in a peaceful, orderly, lawful fashion; you will find the information on the Shul’s website maplestreetshul(dot)com.
Your last sentence implies that the families living near Maple Street Shul are entitled to Daven there. And if Eli Blachman is getting in the way of their entitlement, he should not be there. You are wrong. Eli Blachman built that Shul. He has a right to be there. The families living nearby can come to Daven if they are ready to be respectful, even if it means accepting Blachman for who he is. The Shul is a very nice place to Daven. If your reason for going to Shul is to Daven, then Maple Street Shul is for you.
Aliza
Scotts Double Quilted
Are you serious? Blachman pays the bills, puts in a brand new kitchen floor, but that’s NOTHING to you because the bathrooms once ran out of toilet paper? If you were serious, you would stop at the dollar store on Friday and take it upon yourself to make sure there was “Asher Yotzar” paper. And after doing that for a year (at a total cost of $104) maybe people would say, you know this guy has been taking an interest in the wellbeing of the Shul, let’s try and give him more responsibility.