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Maple St. Shul Board Releases Statement on Litigation

The board members of congregation Ahavas Moische (AKA Maple Street Shul), led by the shul’s caretaker of 36 years Rabbi Eli Blachman, have released the following statement to the Crown Heights Jewish community and the general public regarding litigation being sought against them by a few disgruntled congregants in a Boro Park Beis Din.

Statement by the Board of Trustees of Congregation Ahavas Moische, Inc.
Regardingthe litigation in Congregation Ahavas Moische, Inc. et al. v. Katzoff et al.
(Kings Co., Index No. 3895/12)

With sincere regret, the Board of Trustees of Congregation Ahavas Moische, Inc. a/k/a The Maple Street Synagogue announces that it is compelled to file a motion for contempt of court seeking fines and sanctions against five of the Respondents in the ongoing litigation to confirm the Psak Din (arbitration award) of the Givas Hamorah Bes Din. These men – JOSEPH KATZOFF, SHIMON HERZ, MEIR SHLOMO JUNIK, DOVID LEIB GROSSBAUM, and MICHOEL SLATER – have repeatedly violated the terms of the Psak Din and the Temporary Restraining Order that was issued against them by the Supreme Court, ordering them not to interfere with Synagogue President Eli Blachman’s management and decision-making in all matters regarding the Synagogue.

Over the past few weeks, as the Synagogue has begun the process of reorganizing its management to comply with the New York Religious Corporations Law, these men have intensified their interference to include gangsterism and criminality. Synagogue Board Members have been accosted and harassed by these men, with extortionate threats and threats of physical assault against them and their families if they did not resign as Trustees. One of the men brazenly screamed at a newly-appointed Trustee at a l’chiam engagement party last Sunday evening, ordering him to resign or risk that he will “get hurt.” Another of these men apparently committed burglary, trespass and vandalism last Friday afternoon by entering the Synagogue without permission and breaking into the Synagogue’s announcement cabinet removing a sign announcing an upcoming meeting of the Members of the Synagogue.

It has always been the Board’s desire to resolve this dispute civilly and without fanfare, but these men have shown their devious colors by constantly trying to undermine the Halachic and legal processes, slander the Trustees and now, engage in criminal acts. This is not the way of the Torah and not the way that adults resolve their disputes. The Board can no longer tolerate these callous attacks and it must exercise its rights under the law, as affirmed in the Psak Din, to protect the Synagogue and its Trustees and to punish the past violations so that they will not be repeated. The Synagogue has referred to this group of men in Court papers as “the Cabal.” According to Wikipedia, a “cabal” is “a group of people united in some close design together, usually to promote their private views and/or interests in a church, state, or other community, often by intrigue. . . . The use of this term usually carries strong connotations of shadowy corners, back rooms and insidious influence; a cabal is more evil and selective than, say, a faction, which is simply selfish.” It is the opinion of the Synagogue’s leadership that this term accurately describes this group of dissidents, men who have shown that their true desire is to attack and undermine Mr. Blachman, hijack control of the Synagogue that Mr. Blachman and Mr. Yisroel (Bruce) Karp have dutifully and painstakingly served for more than 30 years, and seize control of the Synagogue’s property, a mortgage-free building worth in excess of $2 million with a beautiful sanctuary.

The Cabal has now, on two consecutive Fridays, delivered misleading letters to the members of the Community in unsuccessful attempt to misrepresent what has been happening and to derail the Synagogue’s orderly ratification of proper bylaws at legally convened, public membership meetings. Three of the Cabal leaders, Katzoff, Junik and Herz, signed the April 26th letter, in which they try to once again attack Mr. Blachman and Mr. Karp. In fact it was the Cabal who lost at the Beth Din that they convened, it was the Cabal that forced the Synagogue to spend legal fees to file the Court action to protect the Synagogue and its building from the Cabal’s illegal attempts to hijack the Synagogue and its building in violation of the Psak Din, it is the Cabal who asked that the hearing scheduled for February be postponed, and it is the Cabal – NOT THE LEGITIMATE BOARD of the Synagogue – that is prohibited by Psak Din and Court Order from interfering in the operation of the Synagogue. The letter written by the Synagogue’s attorney on April 20, should have debunked the foolish thought that Mr. Blachman and the Synagogue are in any way restrained from continuing to manage and operate the Synagogue. The bylaws prepared by the Synagogue’s attorneys and posted on the Synagogue’s website are in compliance with applicable law. In the face of this relentless, contemptible attack, the Synagogue’s Board has no choice but to publish this announcement, correcting the record, and to seek the assistance of the secular Court to protect the Synagogue and its devoted Board members.

In order to explain the Board’s actions to the Synagogue Members and to the Community, some background information is in order.

A dispute erupted a few years ago between a number of individuals who attended the Synagogue back then and the President and Chairman of the Synagogue regarding the management and operation of the Synagogue. In particular, these dissidents were unhappy with the leaders’ desire for better decorum during services, a quieter davening (prayer service), and the new rule that the room with the food for the Kiddush (the collation following services) would remain locked until after the services had ended, after a few individuals had decided to eat the food during services instead of waiting for the congregation. The dissidents’ stated objection was that the Synagogue Board lacked democracy and transparency. As the dispute continued to simmer, Messrs. Katzoff, Herz and Junik on their own accord stopped coming to the Synagogue on a regular basis or contributing financially to the Synagogue. They barely entered the Synagogue, if they entered it at all, for over three years, except occasionally when refreshments were being served. In addition, at one Shalosh Seudos (Sabbath afternoon meal), one of the Cabal stood up and loudly announced that “no one should donate any money to the Shul, unless Eli Blachman opens up the books.” These men have only returned to the Synagogue for Sabbath services after the Board decided to pursue legal action, pointed out that they had lost their status as members, and were presumably advised by their own lawyer that they lacked standing to take over the Synagogue – and its mortgage free building (worth in excess of $2 million).

In the summer of 2010, these men decided to rehash the dispute by acting in concert as a Cabal and engaging the Crown Heights Beth Din. Eventually, Rabbi Schwei and Rabbi Braun advised the Cabal that they had permission to bring a Din Torah (religious arbitration) in a Beth Din outside of CrownHeights. In the summer of 2011, these men summoned the President of the Synagogue, Mr. Eli Blachman, to a Din Torah at the Givas Hamorah Beth Din in Bensonhurst. Mr. Blachman was initially hesitant to go to a Beth Din outside of CrownHeights because of his believe that a dispute regarding a Synagogue in CrownHeights ought to be handled by the Crown Heights Beth Din. Mr. Blachman sought the counsel of Rabbi Osdoba and his Secretary, Rabbi Segal, of the Crown Heights Beth Din. They instructed him that he should respond to the outside Beth Din by letter, affirming his right under Halachah (Jewish law) to have the matter heard by a panel of rabbis from Crown Heights. The Givas Hamorah Beth Din responded by issuing a series of two siruvim (contempt) letters followed by a cherem (excommunication) letter. These documents were sent by the members of the Cabal to the entire Crown Heights Community on at least three occasions, defaming Eli Blachman and causing extreme embarrassment to members of his family. Rabbi Osdoba subsequently told the gabbais (sextons or deacons) of Congregation Lubavitch, the central Crown Heights Synagogue, at a daily prayer session that they should enforce the cherem and not give Mr. Blachman an aliyah (allow him to be called to the Torah) on his birthday, as is customary. In order to have himself removed from cherem, Mr. Blachman agreed to answer the summons to the Givas Hamorah Beth Din, who ultimately, and to the chagrin of the Cabal, ruled that their claims were without merit and that Mr. Blachman should continue to run the Synagogue, as he has done for more than 30 years.

Four of the five members of the Cabal who are now being brought up on contempt were all present at the hearing of the Givas Hamorah Beth Din on January 15, 2012. Mr. Katzoff, a member of the Cabal and the first-named Respondentin the Supreme Court proceeding, signed an arbitration agreement allowing the Beth Din to decide all claims between the parties. He was then given the full opportunity to present a case before the Beth Din. Ultimately, the Beth Din delivered a Psak Din on January 19, 2012, awarding Mr. Blachman with “the right to direct and make decisions on all matters concerned with the Ahavas Moische Synagogue of 612 Maple Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. whether spiritual or mundane for the next three years, that is until RC Shevat 5775 {calendar date: January 21, 2015}.”

Clearly unsatisfied that the Beth Din had ruled in favor of Mr. Blachman, the Cabal returned to Rabbi Osdoba with the goal of circumventing the Psak Din (arbitration ruling). The Synagogue has never signed any arbitration agreement to refer any claims to Rabbi Osdoba, and Rabbi Osdoba has never been either a Trustee or an Officer or even a Member of the Synagogue. Nonetheless, the Board understands that Rabbi Osdoba ordered the individual who was named as Secretary of the Synagogue in the 1970’s, but who has since forfeited his position by operation of the New York Religious Corporation Law, to call a meeting of the Board of Trustees to take place at the office of the Crown Heights Beth Din on February 16, 2012. The Board understands that Rabbis Osdoba wrote a letter to three other individuals who had forfeited their positions as Trustees instructing them to appoint proxies to vote at the meeting. Members of the Cabal showed this letter to the former Trustees but never showed it to Mr. Blachman and Mr. Karp, who have been active as Trustees of the Synagogue for more than three decades.

Three days before the unauthorized meeting was scheduled to take place, which would have thrown the entire process into hefker (utter confusion) the Synagogue Board of Trustees made the decision that it must protect the Synagogue and the rights awarded to its Trustee under the Psak Din, since it was clear that the Cabal was not going to respect the award of the Beth Din that they had themselves convened. Mr. Blachman informed the Givas Hamorah Beth Din of his intention to have the secular court confirm the Psak Din, and received the certified copies of the arbitration agreement and the Psak Din (written arbitration award) necessary to go to Court. The Board retained The Law Offices of Mitchell C. Shapiro to petition the Supreme Court to confirm the Psak Din of the Givas Hamorah Beth Din and to obtain a Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”) to stop the Cabal or anyone else from holding the unauthorized Board meeting, summoning Mr. Blachman to another Beth Din while the lawsuit is pending, and interfering with the rights awarded to Mr. Blachman by the Givas Hamorah Beth Din, namely management and decision making in all matters regarding the Maple Street Synagogue. On the eve of the meeting on February 16, 2012, the Court issued the TRO until after the hearing on the matter of confirming the Psak Din (currently scheduled for June 8, 2012).

The Cabal members named in the lawsuit have repeatedly violated the TRO from the moment they were put on notice of its existence and its substance. Mr. Blachman and Mr. Karp went to the unauthorized meeting in the office of the Crown Heights Beth Din for the sole purpose of announcing prior to the start of the meeting to those in attendance that the Supreme Court had issued a TRO prohibiting such meeting, but the attendees proceeded with convening the meeting, where Mr. Grossbaum rapidly read off a list of “resolutions” purporting to change the entire structure of the management of the Synagogue, which were just as quickly “passed” without thought or deliberation by the meeting attendees. (Showing their true intention, one of the changes proposed by the Cabal was to appoint as chairman of the Synagogue an individual who serves as the Rabbi of a different prayer service located in a place under the control of one of the dissidents, who does not even pray at or belong to our Synagogue.) The one-minute illegal meeting was quickly interrupted when the Synagogue’s attorney hurriedly arrived from obtaining and making copies of the TRO papers and served them upon everyone attending the meeting. The Synagogue’s attorney sent a letter the next morning to remind those who took part in the meeting that it was a violation of the TRO and any resolutions purportedly made at the meeting were null and void.

On notice of their weak legal claims – and lack of standing – to seize control of the Synagogue and its building, Messrs. Katzoff, Herz and Junik suddenly started arriving to the Synagogue for Sabbath services for the first time in over three years. Mr. Grossbaum, who had just moved back to Crown Heights from Iowa, thrusted himself into the center of a dispute over a Synagogue that he had not entered in more than four years.Since then, theCabal has come from time to time with their full group of four to sit in the Synagogue, but without participating in prayer services. They utilize their time in the Synagogue to engage others in conversation, to interfere with the decorum of the davening (services), to outwardly show disrespect to Mr. Blachman, to undermine his authority to run the Synagogue, and to slander the Board of Trustees. On at least two occasions, they threatened members of Mr. Blachman’s family inside of the Synagogue and defamed them. They have also arrived to the Synagogue on multiple occasions with groups of young men from a local security group, including relatives of one of the Cabal leaders, in a transparent effort to intimidate the Trustees of the Synagogue. They have now threatened three of the members of the Synagogue Board of Trustees to resign in order to avoid getting “hurt,” and previously menaced and informed Yanky Blachman, Mr. Eli Blachman’s son and the gabbai of the Synagogue, that he was going to “get hurt.”

On February 19, 2012, only three days after being served with notice of the TRO that prohibited them from trying to get any Beth Din, including Givas Hamorah, involved in the Synagogue matters until the Court had ruled on the Petition to confirm the original Psak Din, one of the Cabal leaders – Mr. Grossbaum– brought Mr. Blachman to yet another Din Torah at the Givas Hamorah Beth Din. Mr. Blachman came to the Din Torah fully willing to participate to the extent that the Din Torah would not have violated the TRO, although Mr. Blachman has had no dealings with this man other than those concerning the Synagogue, and such topics were prohibited by the TRO. Mr. Grossbaumrefused to allow Mr. Blachman to proceed with his attorney present, despite the fact that the Beth Din’s website clearly permits a participant to appear with an attorney. As a result, the Din Torah was abruptly ended and Mr. Blachman was once again improperly placed in siruv (contempt). Mr. Grossbaum also raised the issue of the TRO in front of the Beth Din, confirming that he was engaged in a violation of the TRO. The Synagogue’s attorney delivered a letter to Mr. Grossbaum, putting him on notice of his violation of the express orders in the TRO and that violations of the TRO may be punished by sanctions for contempt of court.

In the days leading up to the Synagogue’s annual Melave Malka fundraiser banquet, the Cabal went to Rabbis Schwei and Braun and showed them a copy of the new siruv letter that they had gotten issued as a result of Mr. Blachman’s refusal to proceed with a Beth Din that would violate the TRO. The Cabal insisted that the Crown Heights Rabbis must distance themselves from the Synagogue and not attend the Melave Malka. (Of course, this did not stop the Cabal from attending the Melave Malka themselves, after making a “donation” to the Synagogue of $5.40, a mockery of the requested minimum donation of $54.) The Board believes that this is the first time in 30 years that the Crown Heights Rabbis have not attended the Synagogue’s Melave Malkah annual dinner meeting. A letter was sent by the Synagogue’s attorney to an attorney who had appeared in Court on behalf of all of the Cabal requesting him to restrain his clients from such blatant violations of the TRO which clearly were injurious to the Synagogue.

The attorney representing the Cabal confirmed that one of his clients had spoken to Rabbis Schwei and Braun regarding the siruv, which was issued as a result of the prohibited actions of another one of his clients, both members of the Cabal. The lawyer did not even attempt to refute the fact that Mr. Grossbaum had violated the TROby convening the illegal meeting of the old Board of Trustees and attempting to bring Mr. Blachman back to the Din Torah. Ironically, the attorney also suggested that “Shalom” (peace) can be brought to the situation.

Can “Shalom” be brought to the situation?

The events of the past two weeks confirm that the Cabal has no intention of making peace and will stop at nothing to destroy the Synagogue’s Trustees and to seize control of the Synagogue and its building. On Friday morning, April 20, 2012, the Synagogue’s attorney received a faxed letter allegedly written two days earlier by an attorney who has never appeared in the case before, misguidedly threatening that any attempt by Mr. Blachman and the legitimate Board of Trustees to convene a special meeting of the Members of the Synagogue would violate the TRO and those who attend would be sanctioned. In violation of the TRO, this letter was mailed to the Crown Heights Community on April 19, 2012, in a transparent effort to intimidate Synagogue members from coming to the meeting. The Cabal then repeated this threat to a number of members of the Synagogue in person, admonishing that they will subpoenaed to testify in Court against the Synagogue Board.

Apparently inspired by this legally incorrect advice, the Respondents have engaged for the past two weeks in an increasingly contemptible campaign of interference and criminality against the Synagogue and Mr. Blachman. On Friday Afternoon, April 20, 2012, Mr. Grossbaum again violated the TRO by trespassing on Synagogue property. During the time that security cameras reveal only Mr. Grossbaum was present in the Synagogue building, the Synagogue’s announcement cabinet was vandalized and damaged, and a letter announcing a meeting of the Members of the Synagogue was removed. This was an obvious attempt by the Cabal to derail the Synagogue’s meeting, which requires advanced notice. Soon thereafter, the other Cabal leaders arrived at the Synagogue and attempted to interfere with a police investigation into the vandalism.

Further emboldened, all four of the Cabal leaders increased their campaign of threats and intimidation. On that Friday afternoon (before the new Board was ever announced to the public), a Trustee of the Synagogue who had been appointed earlier in the week was approached by Mr. Grossbaum and was told that bad things would happen to him if he did not resign immediately. This Trustee later wrote to the Board that he had been unable to sleep at night and had to step down out of fear of these men attacking his reputation.

On Sunday evening, April 22, 2012, the Synagogue held a special meeting of its Members, had the membership ratify the appointment of the four new board members (appointing only four to comply with the NY Religious Corporation Law which mandates the number of Trustees), and distributed the new bylaws of the Synagogue, all done in accordance with the NY Religious Corporation Law and in the interests of bringing broader participation, democracy and transparency to the shul. That meeting was open to the entire community and attended by Mr. Grossbaum, who sat in the middle of the room, taking pictures of all persons in attendance and continuously pushing the buttons on his phone keypad to make the phone beep loudly while Mr. Karp was speaking. Later that evening, one Trustee and his wife were contacted no less than eight times by all four of the Cabal leaders, instructing him to resign immediately or else they would make sure that he was hurt financially. Mr. Herz actually accosted this Trustee at an engagement party and screamed at him in front of dozens of witnesses threatening to “hurt” him if he did not immediately resign. The following Tuesday, Mr. Junik came to this Trustee at his place of business demanding to know whether he had made the decision to step down yet. When this Trustee answered that he had resigned, the individual responded “yeah, very smart, very smart.” Out of five new Trustees – all active members of the Synagogue for years who were appointed in accordance with the procedures of the NY Religious Corporation Law for the purpose of bringing greater democracy to the Synagogue – four have tendered resignations in the course of five days, all apparently due to the Cabal leaders’ campaign of intimidation and harassment and their fear of retribution.
Mr. Slater, who participated in the illegal meeting on February 16, has refused to return the key to the Synagogue that he was given years ago when he volunteered to help in the Synagogue. To protect itself from additional acts of mischief, the Board has no choice but to seek a contempt order against him as well.

Are extortion, intimidation, harassment, threats of assault, burglary, trespass, criminal mischief, and slander the way of people who want peace? Is their idea of democracy and transparency to attack anyone willing to help the Synagogue move through this period of transition and well into its next 100 years? Are people who resort to these tactics the type of people who should be permitted to attend, much less control, a Synagogue? By their actions each, of these men has placed himself in the category of RODEF (assailant) and MOSER (informant/betrayer), who it is obligatory to stop, even by referring the case to the secular authorities.

At the present time, the Board must leave to the individual victims the sensitive, personal decision of whether to file criminal charges of assault and extortion against the four men who committed these crimes. However, the Board and the remaining Trustees cannot and will not stand by as the Synagogue comes under ruthless attacks by uncivil men. The Board will not hesitate to contact the authorities if any of these men or their collaborators within the Cabal commits further criminal acts against the Synagogue. The Board shall also be taking appropriate steps to bar these men from the Synagogue and moving for contempt of court against the leaders of the Cabal for their ongoing illegal campaign against the Synagogue and its Board (in clear violation of the TRO), the punishment for which may be a fine or imprisonment.

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139 Comments

  • Hetz?

    Since when does he have anything to do with mole shul doesn’t he davenport in 770??

  • Mapl Street Shul Member

    As a Mispalel at this Shul I can testify to what the “Cabal” has been up to and I am disgusted by the way they conduct themselves. They should be ashamed of themselves.

  • Unbelievable

    It’s crazy how they got away with those disgusting acts for so long they go around spreading absolute lies against Blachman These people are so bored

  • Resident of CH

    Eli Blachman and Mr. Karp are very devoted to the Shul. I am very upset to hear that there are people trying to discredit their hard work and devotion that they gave to the Shul for nearly 40 years.

    I witnessed their hard work on many occasions and I do not understand why these people are acting with such hatred toward such nice people. It sickens me.

  • Maple Street Davener

    Why didn’t anyone sign the letter? who is writing this Paskvil?

  • not in C.H. anymore

    WOW some article very confusing cant figure out what agenda this so called “cabal” has.. but one thing i know there would not be a Maple Street Shul still around if not for Eli Blachman.

  • outraged resident

    why is this website getting involved in an internal dispute. Even using this website to choose who is the correct party, when there is a court hearing in a month, in which a judge will determine the merit of all sides, and rule according to the law of the state.

  • confused

    Can you explain in under 100 words what exactly is going on. I lost you on the third page. Thank you.

  • There are 2 sides to this story

    We are waiting for the court hearing, all these allegaations are just that allegations why spread all this unproven one sided remarks , why not wait till the June 8th hearing when the court will decide the merits of the case.

  • horrified!

    This would never have happened before Gimmel Tammuz. Are they aware of the agmus nefesh they are giving the Rebbe? This is just another chillul Lubavitch.

  • Maple Street resident

    The group of 5 mentioned in the unsigned letter are all respectable members of the community and are very close with all members of the Badatz of Crown Heights and follow their directives.

    June 8th the date of the hearing initiated by Blachman and Karp will vindicate and prove that the 5 are correct and all the allegations mentioned in the letter are false.

  • Oregano Wilkenson Taylor

    Dear #6 Confused:

    I can explain the whole thing in 4 sentences:

    1) Blachman did everything for 36 years.
    2) The Cabal did nothing except talk during davening,eat at the kiddushim and shalosh seudos, and complain about Blachman.They never gave a penny to the shul and never help- ed with its care and upkeep.
    3) Somebody wants to get their hands on the shul, its building and Sifrei Torahs and especially its Tax ID Number.
    4) The Cabal are their “front-men;” their methods are sinas chinam, motsi shem ra, loshon hora and gangsterism.

  • Mendy

    Why are they allowed to come to Shul If they cause such a mess? They should be banned.

    This is not the way of Religious Jews to conduct themselves. It pains me to read this story.

    Yashir Koach to Blachman & Karp for all your hard work and dedication to the Shul for so many years.

  • Sruli N.

    Wow! Amazing! The Truth is finally out. I hope this stops them from continuing to disturb and destroy The Maple Street Shul.

  • Can-t B

    Is that Shimon Hertz from “Shalom” Center. Doesn’t sound like Shalom to me.

  • open the books

    i dont care who is right and who is wrong, bottom line
    OPEN THE BOOKS! every member who pays fees to a shul should have the right to see where the money is going

    Dont buy yourself a building based on the fees of the kehilah

  • There is another side to this story.

    It is unfair to write a story serving only one side of the dispute. I would like to hear from the opposing side what their opinion is in this matter.

  • Who wrote this letter?

    its not Rabbi Blachman but Mr Blachman, you put on the story banner: “Maple street Shul board releases statement on ligation”, can some one please comment who is this board who is responsible for this letter why are ashamed to sign their name to the letter

  • Give them kugel and have peace

    Seems this entire fight is over a piece of kugel. Some people want to start eating the Kiddush food before davening ends. Can’t they be accommodated with a spare piece of kugel?

  • Realty Check

    To #9 who wrote: “This would never have happened before Gimmel Tammuz”

    And what would you say about the Fischer witch hunt that took place under the Rebbe’s zt“l nose?

    Anybody who thinks ”these things“ didn’t happen under the Rebbes zt”l watch is a fool whose not living in realty.

    “These things” happened when the Rebbe was around and there was nothing he could do about it to stop it. Don’t think for one minute that the trouble makers would not turn on the Rebbe if they had to.

  • disheartened

    what this statement does not include is the pain this scenario has caused the Blachman family.

    thirty something years is a long time to be dedicated to the same Mivtza. the Rebbe asked that this Shul be saved. the Rebbe paid membership! the Rebbe insisted there be an annual Melave Malka. Eli Blachman answered the Rebbe’s call. and it wasn’t easy.

    at the beginning no one wanted Blachman’s ‘job.’ for years it was a struggle to get a Minyan on Maple Street. but now there is an easy Minyan. Maple Street Shul is a comfortable place to Daven. so now, the vultures are circling.

    last Friday night Blachman led the Davening with some Carleback tunes. (i hope no one condemns him for it.) the Davening was lively and happy with proper decorum and sanctity. yet the Blachman family has suffered from all the attacks. but they know the Rebbe is with them. and so are the Maple Street congregants who come to Daven… not to make trouble.

    the entire story is disheartening. we would hope that men who eat Kosher, keep Shabbos and supposedly learn Chassidus would know how to act with dignity. it appears that the arrogance of the Cabal has restricted their ability to reason. they have been warned time and again and they continue to break the law. i feel sorry for their families. if they do not like Eli Blachman they could Daven elsewhere. Maple Street is not the only Shul around.

    we have so much to do to fulfill what the Rebbe demands of us. and yet this Cabal has time to drag a busy person like Blachman to a Beis Din. and then the Cabal doesn’t abide by the Beis Din. it is confusing and disheartening.

  • to number 16

    try going to other Shuls in the neighborhood and see if they ‘open their books’ to just anyone.
    and let me know which ones will ‘open their books.’

    to my knowledge it is not done ‘off the cuff.’

    Shul are allowed to give money away at their discretion. opening the books may embarrass people who have needed to reach out the the Shul in time of need.

    but please. do it today. give us a report of which Shuls will agree to ‘open their books.’

    thanks

  • shomerim six

    These are the same type of individuals who were againgst the “shomerim six”

  • Member...

    To # 16: You bring up a valid point. I would like to bring to your attention that the Shul now has bylaws and a board. Being that the byllaws state that the board be voted in by the members in the future, they will obviously vote in people that they will trust. There is not a Shul in america that shares the books with every member.

    To #17: a judge ordered a restraining order on the cabal. a restraining order isn’t for nothing. These people are in the wrong and need to be stopped once and for all.

  • guys

    Its a no brainer. Eliminating blachman put his hard n soul into the shul. Now after its all nice n fixed up. (Am surehe had help) but his the main man. Guys if u have personal problems plz don’t let it out on Mr blachman. Normally this is a result of self frustration or being bored. Thats human nature

  • To #13 - Oregano Wilkenson Taylor

    You state in your explanation: “The Cabal did nothing….They never gave a penny to the shul and never helped with its care and upkeep”

    I beg to differ. Isn’t the hall downstairs dedicated by one of the members of your so-called ‘Cabal’? And didn’t this person who you say ‘never gave a penny’, donate thousands of dollars towards the renovation of your Simcha Hall, and to this day it is named after his father?!?

  • Dovid

    Eliyahu Blachman is a good yid. When I came to the kiddush with my baby kinderlach, he helped me like man to man. He is pushet ah chassidisher yid that knows not himself from another persons needs. In contrast with the construct of today’s narcissistic society Eli stands out as a beacon of hope and shining light. Eli vert nisht ispuel!

  • Thank you

    Thank you Eli Blachman for all your hard work in the shul it’s a putty how these people can do such things

  • Throwing in my 2 cents

    At the risk of abuse I’ll be anonymous.

    Eli Blachman is a very nice man. He is absolutely devoted to the Shul, I agree.

    He is also a petty dictator when it comes to Maple Street.

    It’s his way or the high way. A number of enthusiastic Yungerleit had exciting new ideas to improve membership, offer Shiurim & different activities, expand Minyanim to draw in more people especially as so many new Shuls have opened up in the last few years that provide all sorts of activities to involve their members more than just a Shabbos minyan and a yearly Melave Malka.

    Eli Blachman is stuck in the 1970s. He refused to consider any changes because if there are changes, his little kingdom would collapse.

    As a result a number of young families (& older folk) have left. What you have left are people too lazy to move or make any waves, except for the 5 guys who care enough to do something about it. Michoel Slater & Yossi Katzoff have been davenning there for ever. Shimon Herz is a very respected man who does a lot of good things in the community. Do you honestly think they would risk their good names just to be argumentative? They really care about THE SHUL, not their egos or kovod. Calling them a “cabal” is just as low as the things these 5 men are supposed to have done. Does Eli Blachman think this makes him look good?

    I don’t know if there’s any fraud or financial shady dealings, but when a President of a Shul won’t show the books, people will think bad of him. My guess is there has been mistakes but nothing criminal. I don’t think Eli Blachman is a ganif, just a simple guy who has a chance to be “somebody” & won’t give it up.

    I’m an old timer from Maple Street & I left years ago because it was impossible to deal with him. My sympathies are with these 5 men who care enough to get their names trashed for no good reason. Remember there are 3 sides to every story. Yours, mine & THE TRUTH. My guess is Eli Blachman is also wrong and he is not an innocent person like he thinks he is.

    Quite honestly, it pains me to see this lovely Shul dragged through the mud. I think they should meet in the middle but I’m just an old optimist.

  • money maker

    I guess i will open a shul in my house. it seems it makes a lot of money, Aliyahs, kol nidrei, maftir yonah, atoh horeisoh’s, mi shebeirachs etc, etc. Like all things in the Jewish religion it’s all about money. Matzoh’s, Esrogig, Hadassim, hoshanoes,tu bishavt fruit, chanukah oil, purim nash, blintzes, gefilte fish, dreidels, honey cakes, challahs, and the list goes on and on. Thank you G-D for giving the Jewish people advantages on how to make money from your religion. Than when we don’t have enough money to buy all these expensive Holiday items, so we have something called Tzedokah. Even the people collecting Tzedokah get their fair share.(Most of the time).. It takes a Jewish brain to figure out all of these money making monoplies. G-D you are the best. I could go on and on, but i am working on my tax exempt status for now.

  • Cute!

    It’s somehow cute to see a quite little Shul at the edge of Crown Heights has their own squabble.

  • Michoel Slater

    I don’t care what anyone says but I can tell you that Michoel Slater did more for the Maple St Shul then everyone else put together.

  • The other side of the story

    The other side of this story is that we are left hungry till after davening to get some kugel. Why can’t we get kugel before mussaf?? And then we are silenced so we can’t complain during davening! This is Communism! This is Dictatorship! Just give us a piece of kugel and we will all be happy. But no, we are forced to starve. The only reason we come to the shul is the kugel and we can’t wait that long for it!! We begged to have rachmonus on us! Now we aren’t going to take it anymore!

  • Shul Business

    If you were a CEO of a company, or the treasurer of any Temple, would you open your books to anyone? If someone came up to you on the street and asked you,“how much are you worth” in cash? would you tell him?

    Some issues need trust. It seems like the Shul was and is running just fine. People should take care of their own lives, kids, business…before they stick their nose in others business.

  • ch resident

    #12, you are right. they are respected members of crown heights, who by the way are crooked, power hungry low lives who will do anything for money. the only reason you call them respected member is because they are always in the news( in a bad way) and people are scared to stand up for them selfs out of fear for there familys, parnasa and slander. the real respected members of crown heights are the one you dont here about becouse they are doing acts of goodness and kindness and not trying to cheat the community and the gov of there money.
    open your eyes and see whats really going on in crown heights.
    the maple street shul wouldnt be around without R’ Blachman.

  • from Maple Street

    I’m new to south Crown Heights. I will be at Maple Street Shul this Shabbos to lend my support. I ask the people of Crown Heights…all over CH…to join me!

  • Cma

    “cabal”?

    All of you guys (both sides) are immature and an embarrassment to your children who probably know better…

  • to #9

    sort of right – there are always 3 sides to every stroy, his hers and the truth

  • A Pusheter Yid

    I have been to the Maple Street Shul many times. For Simchas (our own L’Chaim 25 plus yrs ago), Bar Mitzvas,Brissin,etc. Mr. Eli Blachman was always there taking full responsibility for ALL expenses V’Chulu. As a Bochur growing up we always went for Simchas Torah there, & I remember Mr. Blachman running the Show & Shul. He was a Bochur himself then, the Rov was Rabbi Levitin A”H. May all the Rebbe’s Brochas keep the Shul going with Emeser Ahavas Yisroel.

  • Dissappointed with Crown heights Info.

    crown heights info how dare you publish such an article you just want to cause more trouble. The two sides have to work things out. Publishing this article or any subsequent articles on this will only make matters worse. Shame Shame on you!!!!!!

  • to -open the books-

    You missed the point number 16. The guys who were demanding to see the books did not pay fees and did were not members!

  • Shmuly G

    Thank you Yisroel Karp and Eli Blachman for standing up to the Cabal. Katzoff and co have always come for the Free Kiddush and never gave a penny to the Shul. He has started this fight because he has nothing else in his life to do.

    Shut down Flash and boycott the store. he is a very sneaky guy and always went through our personal photos when we used him to develop our film, he blackmailed us for info.

  • more to -open the books-

    If they wanted to see where the money was going they did not need to open the books. All they had to do was open their eyes. The Shul is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It is light inside, even after dark. The Shul is clean and always in repair. When it snows, the front walk is shoveled. The Torah is read on Shabbos and Yom Tov. A special Chazan is hired for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. The Mezuzahs and Sifrei Torah are checked. The Shul is clean for Pesach and has a Sukka for Sukkos. These and much more… are clear indications of where the money is going.

  • Cabal / Shakal

    Evryone missed the important part of the story
    The cabal called a din Torah by the gangster group name gives hamoreh mafia
    On the advise of gangster broin of the b.s. group
    After Bachman was forced by ozdober to obey the
    Gangsters he did win.
    Now in The USA if the two sides signed an arbitration
    Agreement the only thing the court will do is uphold the
    Decision of the arbitrator
    Yes this is the USA rule
    Not any b.s gangsters

  • Resonse to # 24

    To # 24, why are you bashing Crown Hgts Info.They are just putting out the facts the way they are. Yasher Koach to CHI they are doing a great job & Chesed.People need to know whats going on in the Velt. If you have Taanis dont open your internet & go Learn some Chassidus, or Better yet go & learn & spend some quality with your family.Rebono Shel Olom let there be some Ahavas Yisroel here already!! Gevald. People Bash the Ahavas Yisroel Shul, now Maple street, what next?

  • Mispalel

    To number 16:

    Firstly, The letter head has the Shul Stationary and has both Mr. Blachman and Mr. Karps Names on it.

    As a mispalel of Maple street Shul I can testify to the fact that the “Cabal” come to Shul to disrupt the decorum!!!! They are in no way respectable and they are vicious monsters with an agenda not befitting of a Religious Jew.

    The June 8th hearing was only initiated by Blachman and Karp to stop the “cabal” from FURTHER harming the Shul in an irreparable way after a psak was already passed in his favor stating that he is in charge of the Shul. And as for the allegations against the “Cabal”, there is a line of witnesses eager to testify in court in order to save the Shul.

  • enough already

    how many more tradegies have to happen before people come to their senses and start behaving like human beings?? we are supposed to be chassidim the best of the best but sadly we are so far from even the very basics …there is so much machlokes in so many shuls in CH …our mumbling of words and so called tefillos are worthless when offered in these enviornements…thousands of dollars are spent on lawyers for both sides when people in CH dont have money for food, to make a simcha or to send their kids to camp but for lawyers theres plenty of money ??
    people are wondering why their kids are fed up and frying out ..this is why…!! the children see beyond all the falsehood and just wont go along with it anymore…rabbonim and mashpiam bury their heads in the sand as if all is okay but sadly we are so so far from the basic truth ..we are going to bring moshiach ?? how exactly is it going to happen ??? this neighborhood is an embarressment to lubavitch and the rebbe in so many ways …people have to come to their senses before its too late

  • Levy-s shul

    Are these the same three who were kicked out of Levy’s shul for talking?

  • Admirer of a true Chosid Michoel Slater

    To #39 (throwing in my 2 cents):

    If was so so refreshing Reading your comments, I also left Maple Street 2 years ago, sadly I”ll admit I wasn’t willing or had the courage to deal with Mr. Blachman,
    I am sure that any one who ever stepped foot in Maple Street knows that without any doubt Michoel Slater is the most devoted Member of the Shul who is there 3 times a Shabbos 52 weeks a year for over 20 years,(opening and closing the Shul, being such a wonderful Gabbai etc. etc.) You can not imagine the pain you caused me, by Slandering this wonderful and pious Yid,

  • i will be there

    Yes. I will be there this shaboss. Iv only Ben there once and was very nicly welcomed by Eliminating. Plz also join me. Show it support for a man who put his hart and soul to a shul

  • CHLEAKS.COM

    I see that I got the word ‘Cabal’ going around.

    Except, I feel its being a bit abused in above letter and made belittled.

    Save such descriptions to those who truly deserve it, like greedy mossrim from the CHJCC for years they ruled without mercy, brutally embarrassing, harassing, intimidating, terrorizing and doing acts of Mesira against good innocent people, who either simply dared to disagree, or tried to expose their corruption and fraud, or tried to actuality do some good in the community. Let’s not forget the millions (literally) millions they ripped off from the Crown Heights community. Now that a ‘cabal’.

  • Kuntress Umaayon

    go lern Umaayon Yotzo Mees Hashem
    and understend the shtus ands more shtus and more shtus.

  • ???

    Hertz?????why is he mixing in to maple st dosent he daven in 770??!since when does he daven in maple???

  • Member Of Maple Street Shul!!!

    To # 39:

    You start off your comment with saying that you will stay anonymous at risk of abuse. Well, let me start off by saying that after reading your comment I was rather confused. The only people that have been threatening any sort of abuse are the “Cabal”. So you need not worry about abuse unless you say something that isn’t to their liking. And it looks like you haven’t. (Oh, and that is why I am staying anonymous).

    You then continue by saying that Mr. Blachman is a dictator and that it is his way or the high way. You obviously haven’t been around for quite some time. For many years, Mr. Blachman has tried to get people to help with ideas and with lending a hand.

    The results: Almost nothing. (with the exception of a few people)

    Mr. Blachman is the man that does everything in the Shul from paying the bills to buying the toilet paper. In addition to helping out at home being the devoted husband and father that he is, he gives away his personal time to run around on Friday (and throughout the week) preparing for Shabbos and making sure that the Shul is well equipped for that week.

    Everyone has great ideas but when it comes to doing, no one wants to help. He is the last man i would call a dictator. He is too kind to be a dictator. He wouldn’t know how to dictate.

    If the Cabal cared at all, they would try and make peace instead of declaring war and forcing the Shul to take legal action against them to stop the criminal act and to save the Shul. They do not care. They are looking for a fight and they got what they wanted. I know this because I have witnessed them harassing people, defaming Mr. Blachman… The list goes on.

    The Shul has set bylaws in compliance with the Religious Corporation Laws Of NYS. The books are open to the board and the board is voted in by the Members. Like every Religious Institute, When you give charity, you trust the organization that they doing the right thing with your money. If you don’t trust them the bylaws are there to help you vote for someone you trust.

    Even as the board institutes bylaws to make the Shul as democratic as humanly possible, the “cabal” continues in their evil paths. Why?

    I can only think of one reason. They wan’t a fight. They don’t want piece.

    The pain you are enduring from seeing the Shul dragged to the mud is only do to the “cabal”.

  • Cmar

    I don’t know who is right. What I do know is that calling the group a ‘cabal’ with its entire Wikipedia definition is highly immature and petty.

  • Yes cabal is the word to use

    To # 68:
    So people who resort to extortion, threats, harrasmant, lies, bullying and defamation of character aren’t becoming of such a title? ..if not them than we may as well take the words out of the dictionary. Because that is the best way to describe their actions.

  • As it is.

    Who ever is true misspalel of maple knows the cabal have been given many (dozens) of chances to quit. They chose to ignore and not only violating the TRO once but after being given notice on numerous of occasion not only did they continue they started soliciting others to violate. When you ride the train there are many stations you have a chance to get off before you reach the end of the line, they made the decision not too get off the train, the only difference is on a train when u reach the end of the line it starts going the other way, here it’s only one way and they missed there exit points and this is really not the stop they planned.

  • In the Know

    Why did Blachman have to call a members meeting now? The court hearing is in 5 weeks. So why did he have to rush ahead of the court hearing and call a meeting?

    Did anyone besides his family come to the meeting? NO. Thats right just about no one of the shul came to the meeting.

    Why didn’t they come? Because, hardly anyone in the shul supports Blachman. 95% of the people who daven at Maple St Shul want just one simple thing. Run the shul democratically.

    Is there anything so wrong with asking for a democracy? Apparently some of the responders to this article think that democracy is a bad thing. What is so bad about a democracy? Board members join they stay on for a few years and then they move on, and other people become board members.

    Now lets look at the buy laws written and distributed by Blachman. Until now there were 7 members on the board. One has passed away (namely Rabbi Zalman Gurary) and six others are still alive and well. Who gave Blachman permission and legal rights to dismiss the existing board members?

    Apparently Blachman thinks that there is one law for everyone else and another law for Blachman. maybe. However come June 8th at the hearing the judge will decide whether or not Blachman can do this.

    So again, what is in the proposed by laws? That we will reduce the board from a 7 member board to a 6 member board.

    Now who did he put onto the board (without being elected)? Yanky Blachman. you read this right he put his son Yanky Blachman on the board.

    So what is the significance of this? Simple. If there is a deadlock in the board, where 3 board members say one thing and 3 board members say another thing then Blachman gets an extra vote to break the tie.

    So, guess what? Now Blachman has full control of the board. The other 3 board members (who have since resigned from the board within days of being put on the board) have zero say in any matters of the shul. Because Blachman gets 4 votes!

    Is this called a democracy?? Of course not. But who cares as long as the property stays in the Blachman family , who cares if the entire shul is up in arms and fuming mad on Blachman.

    None of what he has done is likely to stay. These are only desperate attempts by Blachman to try create facts on the ground. Baruch Hashem for the June 8th hearing when we will have a judge to decide whether or not Blachman will be allowed to hijack the normal processes of a normal running shul.

    In the mean time I would advise everyone to stay put, don’t lose your sleep over this. The amount of lies and some of the above responses are just too many enumerate so I wont ge there.

    Finally, my advice to CrownHeights.info is that when it so obvious that there is another side to the story, it would be more correct journalism if you were to get both sides of the story. By printing only one side of the story your web site is not anything as respectable as it would be if you were to get both stories down.

    As for boys and girls in Yeshiva, young ones as well as older ones, don’t waist your time on reading these things. You have other things to do so go and do them.

  • Attorney

    Fomalities need to be followed and books should be opened to any dues paying member. And no, you don’t need to show each and every transaction and who received charity. Just who is getting paid and what are most funds being used for.

  • answer to 36 about the Simcha Hall

    CORRECT: The Simcha Hall is named for Shlomo Junik’s father.
    FACT: Shlomo is NOT the one who gave the money.

  • toshav haschunah

    What a tragedy. What a terrible shame. All parties to this machlokes were once good friends. The only explanation that makes any sense; ma’aseh sotton.

  • Bank loan approved

    Is maple street shul’s equity being held as collateral for a construction loan for the building at president and Albany that was just built?
    Prob. To help better our community by bringing high rents to the heart of ch.
    Give them some time to fill the building, I hope the refi will pay up the lien….

    Let the yid make a buck.

    I think Blochman did work hard in the past, I think he did a great job. Nobody at that time was willing to do what he was doing… But, it could be he just did it because he loves and/or needs something to control.
    It’s an old school thing….

  • Preemptive Strike

    a number of months ago the Algemeiner held an event with a panel of experts speaking about Eretz Yisroel in the media. prominent lawyer BEN BRAFMAN said that before the government does something that media is going to question, they should preempt the ‘media strike’ by telling the media before hand. it takes away the surprise and lessens the who-ha that the media can create because the public is already aware of what is going to happen and why.

    i commend the Board of Directors of Maple Street Shul for giving us their side of the story. and i commend crownheights(dot)info for posting it. this is a preemptive ‘media’ strike that will lessen the speculation, side taking and Loshon Hara that could possibly erupt if and when legal action has to be taken.

    on the other hand. the action Maple Street Shul is taking, is purely defensive. but then so are the actions in Eretz Yisroel that Brafman suggests be spoken about first in the media.

  • ikes

    To Shlomo Junik, DOnt you have a business in Crown Heights? Are you not worried that you cleaners will be boycotted? Stop this nonsence for your own good and your families good. You have a good cleaners that people support. You are a good guy. Dont mess that up for sillyness and stupidity. Let the bad people fight. You stay out of it.
    Just a concerned friend

  • Mike

    I must say. It’s time we open our eyes and realize this type of garbage behavior is rampant in chabad. It was just a few weeks ago that faivish dalfin in fl lost his attempt to steal tzvi bogomilskys father in laws shul. It’s time we all start behaving honestly. If we would not have hidden agendas people would trust us. We look like wackos with one faction (meshichistim) and (non meshichistim) fighting like cats and dogs in the public arena. Mthe irony is that we then blame it on the rebbe by saying we re doing it for him. This has to stop, period. Rabbis, shluchim etc. enough is enough. If you want a building buy it. Somehow you have money for hat ever you need that’s important to you. Well it should also be important to you to not make a chill Hashem. I must say as a fl lawyer I was appalled when I read the story about what faivish dalfin did in fl. It’s just outright disgusting. Sadly it’s also rampant in our communities.

    To all those that are angry at this website for airing this story. You are wrong, in fact you are just afraid of the truth. Stop hiding from the truth and covering it up. Start behaving like try honest frum people.

  • To number 72

    Open your eyes!! It’s the cabal that aren’t compromising. Don’t comment unless you know the true facts!!

  • Shua

    To #73: If they wanted to sell the building for condos, why would they establish a board and bylaws? That would only make it harder to do something like that. Obviously, the intentions of the board are to make transparency in the Shul.

  • why more machloks

    i dont know to much. however it seems that most do suport blichman. so the cabal shall stop this terrble machlokos

  • Learn the Law

    To #71:

    You claim to be an Attorney yet you don’t seem to know the first thing about a religious corporation and its Laws. No where does it state in the RCL of NYS that the books need to be open for all Members to see. The purpose of a Board is to represent the Members. Representing the members means that the members trust them. If they don’t trust them, they can vote for a new board when the time comes.

  • # 74:

    You don’t seem to know the details of this story. Please read the Statement again. As an outsider and a person that doesn’t know people from either side, I read it and I now understand why “Cabal” is the best word to use in describing these people.

    These people were given chances to stop. THEY brought Blachman to a Din Torah and they lost. If you lose, give it up. Don’t harass people because you didn’t get what you want. They signed an arbitration award. The reason a Bes Din has people sign an Arbitration Award is for this exact scenario. Now that the “Cabal” refuse to adhere to the Psak, It looks to me like the Board has no choice but to turn to the legal system for help.

    I fully agree with this!

  • I don-t understand.

    I don’t understand why these people are still fighting. It looks like Blachman is forming democracy. What could they have against that? Wouldn’t democracy (a board and bylaws) stop any dictatorship?

    One thing I can say is that I am not shocked that this Katzoff guy is in a fight. It looks like he inserts himself into every Machlokes.

  • Outsider

    I live out of town. However as a child a was in the same class as one of the older Blachman boys. I can remember how his father Eli would give his whole heart to the Maple street shul. This at a time when most CH members were scared to walk in that part of town. We all knew he did this b/c he was instructed by the Rebbe to save the shul. I am sick to the stomach to se how people can come 30 years later and try to take away all what the Blachmans have done to keep the shul and, indirectly, help expand CH to that part of town.
    Best regards to Yanky and his family.
    A friend from Toronto Canada.

  • Stranger

    I never heard of this Shul or of Mr. Blachman but it seems like he is well liked amongst the community.

  • Member

    I am a Member of this Shul. Eli Blachman is the best. I will vote for him again.

  • non-members

    in this case the ones demanding to see the books were not members. and not donors.

  • To Preemptive Strike

    This is a preemptive and advance notice of what WILL happen.
    One thing I guarantee you, IT WILL NOT BE A DEFENSIVE “strike”
    The day is still long.
    So stay tuned

  • Books are OPEN

    FYI

    Eli Blachman made a public announcement in shul last year inviting all who have donated to the shul to see the books.
    Moreover, he offered to have anyone who was willing to be responsible for the operating budget of the shul to be a additional signature on the shul’s check book.

  • I live on crown and kingston.

    Katzoff? I always wondered what he does all day in that so called store of his. I guess he’s conspiring. What does he want with the Shul? He wants to run it? All he will do is run it to the ground like he does to his “store”.

  • In the NOT Know :

    If you would not be so full of yourself and read the press release you would know that the New York Religious Corporations Law only allows 3, 6 or 9 and so on to be on the board.

    IT IS AGAINST THE LAW to have 7 people on the board!

    I trust that you and your gang can answer why people of the shul were intimidated, harassed into not coming to the meetings.

  • The Maple Street Shul has bylaws !

    PRESS RELEASE –

    Adoption of Bylaws by the Members of Congregation Ahavas Moische, Inc.

    The Board of Trustees of Congregation Ahavas Moische, Inc. a/k/a The Maple Street Synagogue announces the adoption of Synagogue Bylaws for the first time in over 100 years of Synagogue history. On Sunday evening, April 29, 2012, the members of the Synagogue gathered for a special meeting in the Synagogue’s social hall, to vote on bylaws drafted by the Synagogue’s attorneys, The Law Offices of Mitchell C. Shapiro, and reviewed and recommended by a fully-constituted Board of Trustees.

    “We looked into the historical documents of the Synagogue back to the original Synagogue Charter in 1930, and found there had never been Bylaws to guide the Synagogue,” said Mr. Eli Blachman, the President of the Synagogue. “Would you believe that for 80 years, no one in the Synagogue even realized that we had the wrong number of Trustees? The Religious Corporations Law says you must have 3, 6, or 9, and the Synagogue had 7 for some reason.”

    Members of the Synagogue were given the opportunity to bring the draft of the Bylaws home and carefully review the new Bylaws before voting on them. The Bylaws were distributed in conjunction with the announcements for the meetings on two consecutive Sabbaths (the bylaws themselves were distributed after Sabbath to avoid desecrating the holy day) and were introduced to the Members at meeting of the Synagogue on Sunday evening, April 22, 2012.

    The Bylaws, which were adopted by a unanimous vote of the Members of the Synagogue, will change how the Synagogue is run in the future, with the goal of making the Board more democratic and transparent, in order to encourage more new members to come pray and strengthen the Synagogue.

    Under the new bylaws, Membership in the Synagogue is afforded to those who have regularly worshiped and paid their annual dues (which, in the past, has meant buying seats for the High Holidays). A membership committee will be formed that will have the right to grant membership to certain individuals who do not fit this criteria, but are committed to strengthening the Synagogue. This Committee will only consider those individuals who behave consistent with the Shulchan Aruch, in the way of the Torah, including respect for the officers and Trustees and rules of the Synagogue, including decorum during prayer sessions.

    “The purpose of the bylaws is not to maintain the existing status quo,” announced Mr. Yisroel (Bruce) Karp, the Synagogue’s Chairman for over 35 years, “but to empower the Synagogue’s members to make their own decisions in the future about who is best suited to run the Synagogue, make important decisions, and ensure that the Synagogue will always be around to serve the needs of the South Crown Heights Community – which his rapidly expanding – ad bias goel tzedek.”

    The new Bylaws have been circulated by email to families in the community and are available on the Synagogue’s website, http://www.maplestreetshul….

  • Does anyone want 1Million Dollars

    I will give you 1 Million dollars if you can prove that what you say is true.

    Its very easy, log onto http://www.nyc.gov/finance to go ACRIS and you can see all recorded deeds and mortgages.

    If you find that what you wrote is even 1/2 % accurate I will pay you 1 Million dollars

  • ch res

    blachman has a reputation and is known everyhwere as an extremely emesdike person! poor him that he has to go through this! everything will work out very soon with the help of hashem!

  • To #71

    Instead of asking why Blachman called a meeting, join in and help him create democracy. Don’t slander.
    The court hearing has only one purpose. Its purpose is to confirm the already excising Psak Din (Arbitration Award) in favor of Blachman. As far as the law goes, Blachman has full right to appoint board members in order to vote in bylaws. And the purpose of the bylaws are to create democracy. You say you want democracy? Join in and help. Don’t fight.
    Yes, several Members were at the meeting. Only a few of them were his family members. I was there and I am not a family member and so were plenty of other people who aren’t related to the Blachmans.
    The people in the Shul that want democracy showed up to vote in Bylaws.
    There is nothing wrong with asking for democracy but there is definitely something wrong with extortion and other criminal acts. And those acts were to stop the Shul from legitimizing a board which would ultimately create democracy.
    Of the existing board from 1970’s not a single one of them has stepped foot in to the Shul for a very long time and have not contributed in any way to the Shul whether it be financially or with lending a hand. According to the RCL Of NYS they forfeited their position in doing so.
    New Yourk State RCL requires the board to consist of groups of 3. Read the laws before you talk. Also, You obviously didn’t read the bylaws well because it states that when there is a deadlock, the Chairman of the board (Mr. Bruce Karp) has the deciding vote and overrules the other votes. As far as I know he is not a member if the Blachman family and has been the chairman of the board for about 40 years and is a well-respected man and a Chosid.
    You make it sound like the Blachmans made legal decisions without consulting a Lawyer. The Shul has an attorney and he is advising them of the RCL Of NYS. And like I said earlier, June 8th hearing will only do one thing. It will confirm the Psak Din (Arbitration Award) that is in favor of Blachman and the Shul.
    It’s funny how you only mention the fact that he put his son on the board (which by the way is also in compliance with RCL). What about the other 4 people put on the board who are not related? Why make it sound like a family business when it is indeed a legitimate board?
    The reason 4 of the appointed board members resigned is because they were threatened by the “Cabal”. Otherwise they would still be on the board. So yes, this is called democracy. The people that claim to want democracy are the ones stopping it from happening. Namely, the “cabal”.
    The Shul is not up in arms and fuming mad at Blachman. The “Cabal” is. Why? Because they didn’t get what they want.
    Finally, Crownheights.info obviously did research before posting such an article. By you questioning their decision to post this article you are questioning every post that goes up here. That is a very bold statement.
    My advice to you is to stay away from the cabal. They are evil.

  • Response to Bank loan

    Be advised that:
    1. Blachman does not own the property on President and Albany
    2. The property was purchased WITHOUT a loan
    3. The property was developed WITHOUT ANY loan
    4. The entity which owns the property was more liquid cash then you can ever dream of.
    5. Yes, THANKS to the developer, the property which is located in the heart of the community and has been an eye sore for over 20 years, left abandoned, dilapidated and a danger to everyone walking and living on that block is now a safe place to walk by and live in.

    THANK YOU!

    p.s. – This same developer installs CCTV cameras and lights on every property, can you say the same about any other property owner in Crown Heights??

  • a broch!

    OY!! A scandal now with a lonely shul in outskirt ch?

    You guys don’t have anything else to do?

    Can’t this have been corrected/worked out before the it hit the fam like this.

    Lordy, Lord..what there is only 2 shuls in South CH altogether right?

  • Anonymous

    It all comes down to JEALOUSY. And as is known from the mishna in Pirkei Avos – “Jealousy, Desire and Honor remove a person from this world.”

  • A friend

    I am not from Crown Heights. I am not a relative of the Blachmans but I know them very well. It makes no sense to me that anyone would have anything against such nice people. Eli Blachman is a devoted husband and father and he is not a person you would choose to be an enemy. I feel very bad for what they are putting him and his family through. It’s really not nice.

    Another person that is taking the brunt of this fight is Mr. Karp. Mr. Karp is a wise man and very kind. He is not deserving of this kind of treatment. He should be thanked for all his hard work and dedication over the past 40 years.

    I can’t stand what these people are doing.

    Enough is enough. Just stop it. Have some Ahavas Yisroel.

    Thank you Mr. Blachman and Mr. Karp for your unparallelled dedication to the Rebbe and to the community.

    I wish you a lot of Nachas from your family and we should hear good news.

  • crown heightser

    I go to Maple Street Shul every year for Talucha and Eli. Blachman greets everyone with a smile. He’s a very nice man.

    Leave him alone.

  • Empire blvd resident

    GROSSBAUM – this guy sticks his big nose in everything I know him for years. what stupid person.

    Junick – You should put urself through your Dry cleaners to try clean all ur garbage up. (maybe your cleaner can clean something)

    Katzoff – what a slander sneaky dude,always thought something was up with him.

    Hertz – You have nothing better to do with your life? don’t u daven in 770?

    ELI BLACHMAN – I would like to thank you for you have and will continue to do for the Maple street shul. “Yaher Koach ad meah viesrim””

  • huh?

    Hertz? I thought he Davens in Shalom center. Isn’t that his Shul? how did he land in Maple street shul?

  • SHOCKED!!!!

    Seriously? You guys wanted to eat earlier than the rest of the crowd to ensure that you got your piece of Kugel so you Defamed Eli Blachman? Wow, that is definitely animal behavior. Couldn’t you just go home and eat if you were hungry? Or better yet, have a breakfast before you come to Shul.

    I don’t know of any Shul that would allow it’s Members to sit down and eat before Davening is over.

    Seriously guys. Look at yourselves in the mirror. Is food THAT important to you? Important enough that it can’t wait an hour? Wow!

    You guys brought Blachman to a Din Torah over kugel? Are you crazy?

  • In shock!

    Wow! Insane! I can’t believe Junik is involved. He seems like such a nice guy. I guess you can never really know someones true colors. I don’t thin I will go to that cleaners anymore. I don’t want to support a crook.

  • Btw

    This givas hamorah b”d is corrupt they have put many people in cherem totally against Halacha

  • just a thought

    ok i read through all the comments and they all seem very similar..i have a slight feeling blachmans writing all these. just look at #105. no one does that. haha

  • haha!!!!!!!!!!!

    no one read this! its like seven pages and sooooo boring! im sorry no read this. the same people are commenting.

  • Lol

    Seriously – we r to expect that all the great comments about Blachman are not written by all his kids?!? I’ve never seen so many fake comments on one post….

  • WRONG RELIGION

    This is to 41, who wrote that the Jewish religion is all about money.

    It once happened in Georgia, that a meshulach was collecting tzedaka from a few shuls in the area. Later on, he got pulled over by a policeman. When he discovered lots of money on the meshulach, he thought this guy was a thief, and brought him into the station. The policeman called one of the shuls to verify his story. The meshulach overheard him saying this: “You mean to tell me that you give all this money to someone you don’t know?… MAN, I’m in the wrong religion!”

  • Keegel in da Shteebel

    Wow!

    I gotta taste that kugel!

    The thought of grown men fighting over it is driving me crazy.

    I’m planning a Mission Impossible break-in before Mussaf this Shabbos

    We’ll start at the Bimah and slowly crawl toward the kitchen to avoid the Keegel alarms.

    Once we’re in, we got 15 minutes of fressing till davening is over.

    It’s a tough job, with lots of danger but just think of all that Keegel, waiting to be eaten!

  • A keen observation

    To #110

    Very keen observation , I agree with you, who else would put in all these similar comments

  • Rabbi osdoba

    Why doesnt Blachman post the court TRO? You know why? because he had Rabbi Osdobas name on it and public opinion would not be in Blachman’s favor. Even those whose do not support Rabbi Osdoba find it very strange that Blachman took a Rov to court.
    Blachman is trying to steal the shule that is very obvious and he plans to build condominiums on the property.

  • Oifen Ganev Brent Di Hitel

    Look at comment 110, 111, 112, ans 114. They are definitely all written by the same person who is obviously one of the cabal trying to discredit Blachman once again.

    Oh btw, this is my first comment. Lol.

  • To 108

    What does being involved in litigation have to do with being a crook. Did you hear his side?

  • To #116

    To #116

    Stop spreading rumors No way would Mr. Blachman Take Rabbi Osdoba to Court, I am sure if you”ll ask Mr. Blachman he will show you the court order or perhaps after reading your comment he will vindicate himself by posting the court order

  • davener of maple street

    To #S 116 and #119

    For one day and one day only ( Feb. 19) the restraining court order showing Rabbi Osdoba being served was on the Maple street bulletin board

  • Keegel in the Shteebel - Part 2

    Sorry to inform you but I got nabbed

    Those rotten coppers.

    I should have known that this wasn’t a simple “cholent” job like we used to do in Yeshivah. This was KEEGEL for gosh sakes!

    Anyway my lawyer told me I should plead insanity. “Who breaks into a kitchen during davening” he told me. “You should have at least tried to pull this off before Chassidus”

    But I got a better plan. I told my lawyer to argue that the Shteeble is really MINE and I can eat Keegel whenever I want! I’m gonna make this a class-action suit. Also this is a crime of passion – everyone knows that keegel is irresitable – especially the yerushalmi one.

    I’ll let you know how it turns out but first I gotta get the word out – I’m innocent!

    Atica! Atica! Atica!

  • Beware of the decoy kugel

    I got intel that the shul has a decoy kugel for the fressers who sneak a bite before mussaf. The decoy kugel is…dietetic, made fat free with all organic ingredients. YUCK.

    Did you ever chas v’sholem taste dietetic kugel?! My mother-in-law, may she rest in peace, once had a taste, nebech, I don’t wish it on my worst enemies.

    Everyone needs to know that we are dealing with very dangerous and heartless people who have no problem entrapping us to indulge in a seemingly innocent kugel which will destroy our gastric abilities to appreciate real kugel forever.

    What next? Tofu cholent?! Oy vay, where are our Rabbonim? Where is our va’ad hakohol? Where is my dog? hey, anyone see my dog??? Oh no, what is on this week’s kiddush menu?????

  • Hey 119

    I saw the TRO and yes Rabbi Osdoba’s name is on it. Blachman and Karp did shlep rabbi Osdoba into court.
    It looks like Blachman is one desperate person to do such a thing.
    I hear he even had 3 guards infront of Maple Street shule this Sunday night for his illegal meeting.

    Something doesn’t sound right. Anybody?

  • Stop harassing the kugel

    Come on people, leave the poor kugel alone. Everyone is picking on the kugel and blaming the fight on the kugel. Well, kugels have feelings and besides, maybe it’s the shmaltz herrings fault. All the parties to this dispute seem to have plenty of shmatlz so blame it on the shmaltz herring and stop harassing the kugel.

  • Maple Street resident

    My husband tried to settle things many years ago by speaking with Rav Schwei whom the shul respected. As a ba’al teshuva he was concerned with doing the right thing and speaking with a Rov. Imagine how disenchanted he was when mr. K. chewed him out for asking da’as Torah. Unfortunately, Crown Heights residents are not as polished as the collegiate set who are more broadminded and educated (albeit in secular learning.) My husband left the shul due to the “heat” he took for asking the Rov and due to noisy Israelis (which was not mentioned in above article.)

  • Milhouse

    #116, “Why doesnt Blachman post the court TRO?”

    What are you talking about? He did post it. It’s on the shul’s web site where anyone can see it.

    And yes, Rabbi Osdoba’s name is on it. Which makes sense, if he was planning that very night to hold a meeting that would have damaged Blachman’s implementation of the psak din. In fact it sounds as if he admitted that he knew of the order’s existence, and started the meeting anyway just because he hadn’t been served with a copy yet! It’s reasonable to infer that if he hadn’t been named in the order he would have gone right ahead with the meeting despite knowing that it was illegal.

  • Keegel in da Shteebel - Part 3

    Well guys

    I don’t know where to turn.

    I went to my local Rabbis but they told me that KEEGEL is too serious and complicated a crime for them to deal with. They told me I need the big boys.

    (BTW, I’m going to sue them for mis-representation. They claimed they were qualified and even showed us all these giant semichas. But when it comes to Kugel, I gotta go to Boro Park?!)

    Anyway,they sent me to Boro Park and I found some guys who jumped
    at the chance to defend a mass-KEEGELER.

    The only hitch is they charge big dollars, but that’s OK – I’ll get some low-lifes to support me. You know – the ones who always like to get into a good dirty fight and shmear their crappy names all over.

    I’ve even set up a tax deductible organization – KEEGLERS Anonymous
    (http://www.ILUVKEEGELANDCAN…).

    For $18 you get a ticket for the Grand KEEGEL Raffle. Split the KEEGEL is $180.

    This is serious – they found some grease stains on my kapote and now I’m getting death threats.

    On top of it all, I haven’t had a bite of Keegel in days. I’m having withdrawal fits.

    Please, help me please!

    I don’t know if I can last past Kriah!

  • Keegel in da Shteebel - Part 4

    B”H
    Someone was able to slip me a piece of kugel in the klink.
    They had to hide it in a piece of marble cake, no less!

    This is getting big. There are over a hundred people who are interested in my case.

    Yeah, most are disgusted but some of these know-it-alls are really into the legalities etc.

    I think I really have a shot here.

    I heard that they wanted to make a settlement.

    I can eat kugel before Musaf but I can’t talk in Shul or the kitchen and it must be potato kugel ONLY.

    I don’t know if this is an option.

    I mean potato’s ok, but I REALLY like the lokshen.

    And what’s with this no talking in shul bit? Let’s face it, who goes to shul to daven?

    Everyone knows that Shul is all about BSing and fressing (Let’s not forget the Mashkeh (50 year old mcSomeHickTownIditch only please))

    I tell you, I really want to crack this case wide open.

    First of all, I want to change the bylaws. These are my demands:

    I want to be a board member so I can also be a big shot
    I need to co-sign all the checks to make sure that they’re not usurping my Keegel money for other things

    (like electricity, baal koreh etc – I can eat kugel in the dark and I don’t even remember the last time I actually listened to kriah)

    No davening in shul except for the 10 old guys in the front and it must start late and be super fast.
    No disruption, under any circumstance, of my BS session! (I agree to hold a siddur just for show)
    Absolutely no drasha.
    Kiddush after kriah (or before – TBD)
    More MEAT, less potatoes in the Cholent – this is non-negotiable!
    Musaf is optional

  • Setting the record straight.

    Let me set the record straight for those who do not understand what a TRO is. TRO stands for Temporary Restraining Order. One does not have to show up to court when put on a restraining order. The TRO that had Rabbi Osdoba’s name on it was for one purpose and one purpose only. To prevent him from holding an illegal meeting that would interfere with Eli Blachmans Management of the Shul. Eli Blachman was granted a PSAK (Arbitration Award) from Bes Din Givas Hamorah stating that he is in charge of the Shul (the TRO and the Psak are posted on the Shul website for all to see)for the next 3 years and Rabbi Osdoba was the one who told him to go there. RABBI OSDOBA IS NOT BEING CALLED TO COURT and he is not being sued or prosecuted. These are the facts. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise. Look for the facts.

  • jack blackizan

    how can u say a rav made an illegal meeting.he goes according to halacha,not according to blachman or any goyshe court. shame on them

  • Get your facts straight!

    To 130:

    Osdoba made a meeting that was intended to remove Blachman from his position as President. By doing so he would be violating a clear Psak (Halacha) that states that Blachman shall be in charge of the Shul for the next 3 years. So you say he goes according to Halacha? It seems he didn’t in this specific case.

    Also, His meeting was INTENDED to be a “Legal” one, as we see from his efforts to form a new “Board” (Board is a Legal term, not a Halachic one). So it is quite evident that he does go by the Law. Or at least what he THINKS is the Law! He was therefore asked by the court to mix out. And he did. He is not being charged or brought to court. And I hate to expose you to a non-ghetto mentality but, even a Ruv needs to comply with the law. Sorry Charley.

    Get your facts straight before you make such serious allegations.

  • The View from Empire BLVD

    Mr. Blachman, and Mr. Karp are good Yiden who are following the Psak Din and the law. This Cabal is violating the Psak Din and the law. No amount of lying and motze shem ra will change that.

  • jack blackizan

    to 131
    are you telling us that rabbi o has no jurisdiction in ch.who gave any body the right to overule him

  • READ THE ARTICLE B4 POSTING A COMMENT

    To 133.

    You obviously didn’t read the statement. Read it and you will understand. The Rabbanim of CH were the ones that referred Katzoff to the Givas Hamora Bes din tos resolve the matter and it was resolved. They ruled in favor of Blachman. And now the Cabal are fighting it because they lost and aren’t happy about that.

    I rest my case.

  • long time daavener long ago

    I daavened in the Maple Street Shul many years ago, for quite some time, but have not been there for a number of years. I do however remember the time there with fondness. The atmosphere was warm, homey, frum, chassidish, and non-threatening. Eli Blachman was the heart and soul of that shul, along with Harav S.A. Levitin, O”H and Reb Yisroel Karp. When nobody would dare venture into that part of Crown Heights, these three dedicated Jews made sure that the Crown Heights shul furthest from 770, had a minyan every Shabbos. If anything needed to be done for the Shul, Eli Blachman made sure it was done, usually by himself. The shul was clean, the heat was on, the lights were set, and shalosh seudos was arranged. The snow was shoveled, the leaking roof was fixed, and on and on.

    Sure, he has his faults. He can be a bit of a bully at times. But that comes with the territory. The bottom line is that it is mostly bluster. He is a kind man. He made sure everything ran correctly in the shul. He certainly does not deserve this after more than 35 years of dedicating his life to a cause most people did not care to recognize.

    Katzoff would be given an aliya, so that he would not be able to talk during Krias Hatorah for the time that he was at the Bima. Hertz would show up every so often, to talk. The only way to get him to stop talking during daavening was to send him to the Amud.

    I don’t know who is right and who is wrong, but if I were a betting man, I would put my money on Blachman.

  • Gary Braut

    I was bar mitzvah in Ahavas Moische in 1960.Rabbi Rosenberg who lived on Lefferts between Albany and Kingston and Shamos ws Mr Levy.
    Had a 23 year old Teacher lived on Montgomery St who is a Phd and known as the Carnisie Rabbi by the name of Solomon Willigur.
    Saw Italian bricklayers raise the basement crawlspace so we cud stand in the kiddush room in 1957ish!
    We would leave PS 91 and attend our talmud torah classes.
    Please let us treat the House of g-d with the dignity it deserves ?!
    Gary Braut
    Pirkei@pc.jaring.my