Whether we are able to put into practice the lofty things we learn and talk about or we simply know how to “talk the talk” but not very good at “walking the walk”
A prestigious Jewish family, known throughout the world for tremendous acts of kindness, care, and love for fellow Jews, in ways that are unparalleled, has fallen on hard times and now faces the loss of their entire company and enterprise to the banks that are foreclosing on them.
Op-Ed: The Rubashkins and you
A moment of truth has descended on the Jewish community in which we stand to define to the world, to our children, and to our selves whether we are a people of real action or just empty words.
Whether we are able to put into practice the lofty things we learn and talk about or we simply know how to “talk the talk” but not very good at “walking the walk”
A prestigious Jewish family, known throughout the world for tremendous acts of kindness, care, and love for fellow Jews, in ways that are unparalleled, has fallen on hard times and now faces the loss of their entire company and enterprise to the banks that are foreclosing on them.
Will we – as a community – stand by idly and watch the destruction or will we stand up and do something about it.
As a relative of the Rubashkin family I have come to see first-hand their ways of Tzedakah and it is extraordinary and mind-boggling.
A Rubashkin home is one where giving up your bed to a stranger and underprivileged person is a way of life and almost a daily occurrence, not just an occasional act for a friend who visits for Shabbos.
The Rubashkin restaurant in Brooklyn is a place where more meals are given free to poor people than to paying customers. The family actually refers to the restaurant as “Mom’s Tzedakah Box”
The Rubashkin way of spending a financial windfall is by helping a complete stranger that is about to loose their home to foreclosure, by paying off the bank so the family can keep their home.
The Rubashkin idea of a care package for a struggling family that has just given birth includes not just food but clothing, strollers, cribs, and more.
A Rubashkin Yom Tov Chesed package includes food, and new outfits and shoes for the entire family.
And the Rubashkin idea of a summer vacation at the family property in the Catskills includes rounding up families of orphans and widows and inviting them to live with them in their homes for free for an entire summer including full room and board.
And all this is done discreetly and without PR, dinners, and Chinese auctions, and funded out of their own pocket.
An entire bookcase would be filled If all the stories of people that were helped by the Rubashkins were complied into books.
The Jewish community is blessed with many very charitable people but few are willing to commit not just money but everything they have including their time, home, vacation, and more to help another.
And now this great family is about to loose it all unless some very good people are able to come forward and save their company so that the Rubashkins can continue saving other Jews.
To be sure this is not an easy task as millions of dollars are needed and time is very short. But the way the Jewish world responds to this moment of truth will help identify who we really are.
Sadly there are many in the frum world that have used this story to show the dark side of our community. There are frum people that run websites (some sadly even run by fellow Chasidim) that spew hatred and Loshon Hora about the Rubashkins, and there are Kosher and frum run companies dancing at the Rubashkin sorrows and praying for their demise. There are even some frum vultures lining up and egging on the banks to foreclose on the Rubashkins so they can steal the company from them.
The world is watching us now and we have an opportunity to make a unique and tremendous Kiddush Hashem.
If ever there was a need for true leadership in the frum community this is the time.
Will the true askanim and leaders rise to the occasion?
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Boruch ben Tzvi(A H)HaKohaine Hoffinger
B”H
Hirshy Minkowicz: Beautifully written. I would like to pledge some money even though my income is low now.
Want to help
Even if you don’t have any money or gashmiyudike way of helping, you can say tehillim. Can someone pleae post the full names of all those whom our tfilos can help? Thank you. Besuros Tovos!
Just do it!
If you want to help the Rubashkins, think like a Rubashkin!
That means give up something you want for their need. Planning a vacation this winter? Relax at home instead and send the vacation money to the Rubashkin family. Going to buy another new shaitel? Have the old one re-done and send Rubashkins the amount of the new one. Because that is what they would do for you without hesitating for a second.
Plonis
So what can we do?
Us simple lil people?
thank you agriprocessors
from ireport.com
Click to view moshiach770’s profile Posted by: moshiach770 // 13 hours ago // viewed 102 times
Postville, Iowa // embed media
Agriprocessors has clearly been excessively prosecuted. Why? Because this is really a war on Kosher.
This all began with PETA whose clear agenda was to end Kosher meat. That led to the Forward Newspaper spreading lies so that the Conservative movement could get their foot into the Kosher industry. Then the Union got onto the bandwagon and finally the government. But it all started with PETA and has escalated to the current situation – from the beginning it’s been a war on Kosher.
There have been very bizarre actions by ICE – unseen in any other case. In May, and again with Sholom Rubashkin’s arrest, they released affidavits detailing their stories. This is very strange behavior. Since the Agri raid there have been other big raids, one much bigger than Agri’s. Never have they put out an affidavit for a company they raided. Three examples:
A. Swift & Co – a multi-site raid that netted 1200.
B. Howard Industries – a single-site raid that netted 595.
C. On October 7th ICE raided a Greenville, S.C., poultry plant, arresting more than 300 workers.
In none of these cases were affidavits released.
Also, it is highly unusual for ICE to make press conferences about their raids. This has caused a disproportionate media response, a hundred times more than Howard Industries’ raid, the current largest raid and one that netted 50% more arrests.
From the beginning they have been out-right lying. The first affidavit included a meth lab allegation. No HazMat team or equipment was even brought – proving they themselves didn’t believe it, but yet they didn’t hesitate to publicize it. They even claimed Agri was producing pipe bombs!
The affidavit said that Agri was abusing workers based on a report from the Forward Newspaper. Since when does an official government document make allegations based on a newspaper article?
Sholom’s million dollar bail is crazy.
Agri has suffered abnormal fines never put on other companies, fines with none or very little basis (such as $10,000 fines for an extension cord, 10 million dollar fine…).
Most importantly, there has been NO CONSIDERATION for the fact that the entire US relies on Agri for Kosher meat. There is presently a shortage in Kosher meat and prices have sky-rocketed, and will continue to do so if this doesn’t end soon.
We, the consumers of Kosher, need to scream out “bloody murder”! The government has joined gangs with the Union and PETA to bring an end to the Kosher meat industry.
We protest and call for an end to the excessive prosecution taking place against Agriprocessors, the Rubashkin family and all Kosher consumers!
a caring fellow Jew
tachlis, please. what would you like us to do? donate money? there was no mailing address included, – a paypal address would help, too and would also allow for instant donations.
what else can we do??? please let us know.
please list more contact and help info
Please, list some specific action that people can do…
Some contact info…
Chillul Hashem
I think you are so right, all those people who scream “chilul hashem” etc.
Let me tell you the biggest chilul hashem is that the world sees that they can attack a upstanding jewish family and institution with propped up lies and allegations and the jewish world does nothing.(unfortunately there are those are more then willing to help.
Imagine if all this happened to company own by African Americans? how fast can you say outrage, marches, demonstrations etc etc.
The only way to stop becoming a scapegoat is if we stop allowing our sleeves to become one.
But I do agree someone (or everyone) should post practical things that could be done by all.
Petition
Would it help to have thousands of people signing a petition “we’re behind the Rubashkins”?
Enough droshos and more action!
Hershy is eloquent but not practical. Instad of waiting for “askanim” create a fund that will have zero percent spent on administrative costs to be used at the discretion of Sholom Mordechai or anyone whom he appoints. Let it be a Legal Defense Fund. I would do it myself if I had a way to reach any member of the family. Hershy, be the Askan!
Daniel
I live in Postville.
The concerted efforts of the United Commercial Food Workers union; the leftist social-action industries including PETA and the Catholic-funded charities; the anti-Halacha, Reform and Conservative movements; the maintstream media; and local, state, and federal officeholders are, without question, an attack on Torah observance, kashrus, and Jewish life in the United States.
Don’t try to push them aside, Yidden. We have been deeply involved in analyzing these developments as they have played out, and nothing about them are random. You would be foolish to believe that they are superficially nothing more than legal matters.
THEY ARE NOT!
Yehuda le
What can be done? there are so many friends to the Rubashkin family, (In Eretz Yisroel adn Europe) We just need to call to attention..
TELL US!
You write that we should help,
But you don’t tell us how!
Be specific!
Roses
Hirshy, you write straight from the heart to the heart. Another commenter is right, though. No address was given to send donations. I fear, though, chas v’shalom, that money is not the total solution. “They” seem deadset on the continous witch hunt. I have been thinking for the last few months if there is not some action to take through a sympathetic politician, lawyer, etc. to get the root of the redifos. I,too, am personally familiar with the uniqueness of Rubashkin compassion and help. I hope they are repayed midah k’neged midah from HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
felow chosid
if thers a way to help with money write it i would be glad to help
sad
tragic!!!
let me say that we are a commuity of many gverem. could they not have helped in a financial ‘bailout?’ I shudder at the thought that some are waiting for a bank tankover. We need our leaders?
with Achdus we will win!
as a friend of the Rubashkins I witnessed more then all Hirshy has said in his gr8 letter – one story that has never left me – when I visited Hershy’s brother & sis-in-law (Sholom & CZ Minkowicz) in the terrible heat…. their kids were sleeping in their bedroom. Why? they had 1 ac in their room & until that day had another in the kids room but when CZ heard about a family who had no ac she called them & said there was 1 on the way. She took the ac out of her kids bedroom window & delivered it to the family! I wish I could give back as much as they have given me & a lot more & I hope that “with Achdus – we the chassidim of the Rebbe will win over this TERRIBLE anti-semitism – this is an attack on kashrus & yidden – let’s unite now in EVERY WAY POSSIBLE!
sc
Have the Rubaskins email attorney Steve Bartelstone at Rogin Nassau. sbartelstone@roginlaw.com He is one of the best bankruptcy and reorganization
attorneys. I know he can help them.
Shmuli
Maybe what we should do is something that we haven’t yet done. Something that the government can’t stand – a demonstration. In order to work it would need the support and commitment of not only Chabad, but of other communities as well. It would need to be many thousands strong. Although there are people in other communities that may have negative things to say about the Rubashkins, if the Rubashkins go down, their food prices will go up.
Although it is already in court, the government may be wary to prosecute. Even if they do prosecute, they will feel an obligation to help out the struggling company and in extension the Jewish market.
to you!
Yes You can help!
Every individual has so much power,any money any action any kind word and of course your tehillim
these all make such a difference and are appreciated!
Yankel
One of the reasons why the gov came down so absurdly hard on Agri is because they got tremendous pressure from the Union who clearly put pressure on (Democratic) politicians who get lots of money from them and votes. Do you recall that there was a letter by a list of Democratic Jewish Congressman to the AG of Iowa demanding that they throw the book at Agri? Now, a VERY STRONG contributing factor was that all these forces realized that the Jewish community is against Agri. They knew there would not be a “cry out”.
We have to prove them wrong. We have to change the tide. Government officials need to realize that many Jews see this as an affront against Kashrus, and a wicked Union-driven and hateful Jews facilitated vendetta against Agri/Rubashkin. There is no logical explanation for the level of hate, and determined fanatic drive against Agri. There are forces behind this, and they are first and foremost the Union. They are followed by dozen or so others who you know from having seen their comments and articles in the press.
Tachlis: we need to impress on politicians that there is a large community of Jews who sees this as a biased vendetta, and they (the policians) most ask questions and investigate!
Lubavitcher chassid
I’m trying to think of different ways to get the world updated on whats going on here. Has anyone thought of an article about this in the NY Times? “The War On Kosher”- let the world know the injustice going on, and show the government how jewish people all over America depend on them for meat. Would anyone agree to give money for that?
sickened
There should be a revolution against the terrible Daas Hakohel website. No good can come to a community that ferquents a website whose specific purpose is to defame another jew. The lashan hara,rechilus and motzi shem rah spewed on this hidious site is appalling!! Where is the public outcry?
Rivkah
Someone mentioned a demontration, this can work.. everyone who is willing to be active can participate.