EXCLUSIVE: Unauthorized and Misleading Letter Released In The Name of The Vaad Hakohol

by CrownHeights.info

Just minutes before Shabbos this past week, a letter was released on the Vaad Hakohol letterhead and published on a website catering to a segment of the Chabad world. The letter shared hopeful news in the name of the Vaad Hakohol, providing an update on progress towards the election of a third Rov. Problem was that the letter was never sent by the Vaad Hakohol, and the contents of the letter are misleading.

After the release of the letter, two glaring issues with its contents made the CrownHeights.info team take notice. Something was not right.

The first issue surrounded the sole signature on the letter, the Executive Director of the Vaad Hakohol Meir Bukchin. While Meir is the Executive Director of the Vaad Hakohol, all past letters from the Vaad Hakohol to the community have been signed by the members of the Vaad Hakohol themselves. This letter had no signatories on it, other than from Bukchin himself.

The second glaring issue was the content of the letter itself, in which it portrayed the Vaad Hakohol as spearheading the effort to elect a third Rov for the Crown Heights community. This is a major issue, as according to the bylaws, elections for Rabbonim are the sole jurisdiction of the Nitzigim, the oversight body of the Vaad Hakohol. A letter released by the Vaad Hakohol “updating” the Netzigim regarding this matter, is just bizarre.

An email sent by CrownHeights.info to the Vaad Hakohol asking for clarification was not returned, and the CrownHeights.info team began digging into the story.

Ultimately, the truth came out.

CrownHeights.info has discovered that the letter was, unsurprisingly, an unauthorized release, with the members of the Vaad Hakohol allegedly being unaware of it until after publication.

A possible reason for the silence on behalf of the Vaad Hakohol and Netzigim regarding this letter was also discovered after CrownHeights.info became aware that even in this “fake” letter, there is a grain of truth.

Methodical and meticulous preparations are allegedly in the works by the Netzigim to set the stage for further elections for Vaad Hakohol and Rabbonim. These preparations, being done quietly, point towards strong hope for future elections in Crown Heights. So, despite the unauthorized and misleading letter, its underlying premise is true. Work is being done towards the election of a third Rov, and Crown Heights has what to look forward to.

Read the Content of The Letter Below

Shalom u’vracha,

With Hashem’s help, we would like to update the נציגים and the broader Crown Heights community regarding our plan for the coming year to strengthen the Beis Din, expand halachic support for the public, and build a stable foundation that will allow the Beis Din to operate in a more organized, dignified, and accessible way for the entire community.

Our plan focuses on three core goals.

– First, to begin an organized and gradual opening of Beis Din activity in the near term, strengthening the day-to-day capacity to respond to community needs under the leadership of the Rabbanim shlita.

– Second, to integrate Morai Tzedek within the Beis Din framework, in a structured way and under the guidance of the Rabbanim, so they can provide halachic guidance to the public within an accountable and consistent system. Our goal is to begin a “soft opening of this initiative, with Hashem’s help, and make practical progress within the next ninety (90) days.

– Third, alongside strengthening ongoing activity, we intend—together with the נציגים—to advance an organized process to prepare for elections for an additional Rav for the Beis Din, and, as feasible and with the bracha of the Rabbanim, to further strengthen rabbinic leadership. Every step, timeline, and implementation will be only with the guidance and bracha of the Rabbanim shlita and with full responsibility and transparency to the community.

We also want to emphasize that we seek to work in partnership throughout this process with the Rabbanim of the neighborhood’s shuls and with the We want to hear their input, coordinate responsibly, and help ensure that the direction and guidance of the Rabbanim shlita are communicated clearly and faithfully to the community.

For this plan to succeed, it requires a responsible financial foundation. In recent weeks, we have already begun fundraising efforts for the Vaad Hakohol and have reached out to many community residents. We plan to continue and expand these efforts to raise funds for the salaries of the Rabbanim and the Morai Tzedek—both veteran and new—as well as for the institutional and operational needs required for the Beis Din to serve the public properly.

We ask the נציגים and the entire community to be partners in this important effort—through support, unity around these goals, practical assistance, and participation as we move forward.

With Hashem’s help, together we can build a strong and dignified Beis Din that will truly serve the needs of the community and strengthen Torah and halacha in our neighborhood.

Respectfully.

Meir Bukchin, Executive Director

Vaad Hakohol – Crown Heights