104 Comments

• potential voter

  Moshe,

  Can we have some information regarding each candidate: ie. schooling, background, accomplishments, etc., current residence

  Just as voting for any other elected position, we should have a bit more information than just a name. A great majority of the community does not know who these rabbomin, (or any other that may come up) are.

  Thanks

• gruntig

  how does it work with the voters, do they like have to be registered or something? could bochurem vote?

• potential voter #2

  I agree with "potential voter". We should be informed as in any election. I honestly dont know who they are.

• Shmerl

  Can we perhaps havea also Rabbi Shwei’s name on the ballot to reconfirm that he is indeed elected as our Rav?

• Toshav Hashchunah

  Potential Voter,

  What’s the difference?? CH is not part of USA where information is disseminated. Obviously, we are still in "Communist Russia" where you get to vote yes or yes. Can’t you people "SEE" what our "so called Chairman" is trying to accomplish?

  Our community has been Hijacked. We should boycott the election until the proper procedures are followed.

• calification

  There is no need for much information. Rabbi Segal was appointed to work in the beis Din by rabbi Osdoba and with the haskama of rabbi Schwei, Rabbi Raitport is a known talmid chochom and Posek very respected not only in lubavitch but in Boro park and beyond.

  Rabbi Yitzchok Zirkind is a very brilliant talmid chochom very sharp. he is compasionate and very understanding. He knows the job of a Rov. His whole life he has dealt in halacha. He is the son in law of Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner Shlita of melbourne. If all three are voted in it will be to the benifit of Crown heights. If less it will still be to the communities advantage.

  Let us hope the Monday when we wake up we will be able to go forward and finally out of the terrible situation we are in now.

  Moishe thank You!!!

• thinking about voting

  If we want a true SHALOM in the neighboorhood, I think that ALL present Rabbonim be on the list as well.

  Then they will have to be all equal and there can be no more fighting and perhaps peace will prevail in our Shechunah and perhaps the young generation will have something to look foward to.

  I also suggest that there be a letter from Rabbi Osdoba and Rabbi Schwei (one letter together and not 2 individual letters) urging people to vote.

  By having the election Without putting all Rabbonim on the list and letter from the TWO present Chavrei HaBes Din, only additional machlokes will continue and the present circus in Crown Heights will be more interesting and amusing.

  So, Moshe put everytrhing aside , erase all personal differeces and lets unite this community for the sake of your children, grandchildren and all all of Klal Yisroel.

  Moshe you could do it and Hashem will reward you.

  P.S. You did not mention where the elections will be held?

• Meir

  why was rabbi osdobo the ONLY one that was able to authorize rabbi shway’s candidacy in the last elections?

  also, why was it that in the last elections it was stated EXPLICITLY that only if the candidate Will garner more then 50% of ELIGIBLE voters (not "actual" voters) will he win? why isn’t the same applicable now? (it was at the direct order of rabbi osdobo).

  are you trying to tell me that it is MOSHE RUBASHKIN that is the one that is going to select ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES??? are you making a laughing stock of our shchuna? shouldn’t there be a rabbinical board or broad based (b-partisan) lay leadership board to make this VERY IMPORTANT selection?

  just wondering when we will get some normalcy and clear thinking back in this holy shchuna of the Rebbe…

• The Reluctant One

  Why are incumbents not up for re-election? i.e. Why aren’t Rabbi’s Osdoba,Schwei & Heller on the ballot?

• raitport? - boro park

  how can raitport be a rov, if he doesn’t live in the community?

• FRAUD

  CAN WE SEE THE REBBES ANSWER?

  WHO APPROVED THIS RABBONIM MOSHE RUBASHKIN?

  HERE IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE REBBES SICHE:

  From Sicho Shabbos Parsha Matos Mase 5746 (Tzadik Lamelech)

  2. There are some individuals that decided, for some reason, that they are the owners of this schunoh and they are the ones that need to govern and control the entire community.

  For example: When there is a need to elect a Rov to the schunoh – he, together with his friends are the ones that will establish and decide who is suitable to serve as Rov, and they will appoint him as Rov.

  It is unheard of such thing in Israel [Jewish Nation] – that an “askon” (activist) or few “askonim” (activists) will decide on their own on electing a Rov.

  When they elected a Rov in Jewish Kehilos – Rabbonim, Torah Gedolim etc., decided who are the suitable candidates to serve as Rov, and not “askonim”, even “askonim” that have smichoh (Rabbinical ordination) to be a Rov, because it is known what the ñî"ò writes that the opinion of áòä"á (laymen) is the contrary of the opinion of Torah, and like it was mentioned many times, that this, refers toáòä"á (laymen) that have smichoh to be a Rov because if it refers to people that do not have smichoh it will not be necessary to mention it, it will be self understood.

  Even more so, when this “askon” announces openly – (after trying to speak quietly behind the scenes, and did not help) – that if his candidate for Rov will be elected, then he will give money etc., and if not he will not give … and through this he wants to force on the entire community his opinions – there is no bigger shochad (bribe) then this!

  Such monies, given for the so called benefit of the community, with the condition that they should do as per the will of the one that gives the money – are not even from “klipas nogah” … (and definitely, they are not from Kedushoh), therefore, it is forbidden to use this monies for Kedusha matters!

  No one will force his opinion on the community for a monetary bribe! You don’t want to give money (only if they will accept your authority) – do not do any favors, your money is not needed, because, “By Me is the silver and by Me is the gold says Hashem” …

  The wonder is – how he is not ashamed to say openly that if they will elect his Rov, then he will support the Rabbinical establishment, when everyone sees that this is a matter of “shochad” (bribe) in the most severe way!

• Eli

  sounds pretty democratic, either vote for them, or don’t, in any case they win…
  how many are we electing? all 3? are we having 5 Rabonim? wow…

• Crown Heights Resident

  Dear Rabonim, CHK, Vaad, Netzigim, Counsel Members, Shomerim, and everyone else,

  Let us all think too ourselves for a few min.

  look at all the time, talent, connections, abilities, and potential that every one of you have individually, (with your EGO) now look at the time, talent, connections, abilities, and potential of the other members that you should, could, do & don’t work with, (with out your EGO)
  Now look at all of you as a group a big group a better group (with out your EGO)
  Do you see how much more you can all do, do you see how that there is so much more to be done in this community that is being neglected because of your EGO, things that are from simple and small too huge and complex,

  do you realize that because of all the politics, that we are now behind in all that we are supposed to be doing, and how we never even started doing the things that you said you would be doing, and what about us ANASH do you realize how much respect for every single one of you is lost, gone, not there anymore. Do you realize that it came to the situation where you will help some one not because they need it, but because you need it (to say “look what we do” or “now they must respect me”)

  Because of you every single one of your programs and ideas are not at all to there fullest, and how sad that it is in all of your hands to take care of it, and all you do about it is blame, blame and blame. have you lost yourselves completely.

  Where is your opening for more time, talent, and ideas from others in the community, from the way it looks all you offer is our votes at the time where it suits you best.

  How come people feel like opening new organizations to compete the programs that you already provide?

  This is why

  Because when the people on top, compete, fight, hate, don’t get along, automatically all those under then tend to do the same.

  All of you have Huge Shoulders, Use them, Help us.

  Thank you!

• gerymanded?

  There is a letter from Rabbi Osdoba from the 29 of Chesvon 5766 where he clearly writtes:

  … you should know that the elections for the new Rov had to have my approval …

  Also he writtes there:

  … like in the first elections that each candidate needed approval from other Rabbonim that he is appropiate for it ….

  1. ARE THIS ELECTIONS APPROVED BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE BADATZ?
  2. WHICH RABBONIM APPROVED THESE CANDIDATES?
  3. IS RABBI REITPORT MOVING INTO CH?
  4. CAN WE SEE A WRITTEN CONSENT FROM ALL THE CANDIDATES THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY RUNNING

• Curruption at all the way at the TOP

  Last time, when we had elections, to Elect Rabbi Schwei, then, Rabbi Osdoba was not only "Invloved" but was Invloved in all Deatils and he then claimed you need 80% of ELLIGBLE VOTERS (not 80% of actual votes) to vote for Rabbi Schwei, for him to win.

  In the end, to Rabbi Osdoba’s surprise, Rabbi Schwei got more than 90% !

  Now Rabbi Osdoba is claiming that if we will have an extremely poor turnout….

  (Because of a Psak Din by Countless Rabbonim, that this Election is not Forbidden and simply not fair and not Kosher) – that if only 50 individual voters actually vote and 26 of these 50 Votes, are for Segal, he will proclaim him official "Rabbi", based on 26 votes!

  This is what Rubashkin calls "Fair" and "Impartial Elections"?

  No Rabbonim were consulted first and formost, "IF" there should be an Election, "where" or "when" or "who" etc!

  For that Matter, every Tom Dick and Harry can make "New Elections for Rav", every week!

  Me and You and all other residents of CH were NOT consulted either –

  So, Who was it exactly, who decided, "for us" (of course it must have been "impartially decided") WHO the candidates are?

  At least with Rabbi Schwei’s, election it had Rabbi Osdoba’s, 100%, full approval, BEFORE the Election, for him to even be considered to be eligible to be a Candidate – Now, it has absolutely "NO ONES" Approval!

  At least with Rabbi Schwei’s election, we had a REAL CHOICE, if we didn’t like him, we could have voted "NO" – the Choice "NO" was an actual choice on the Ballot!.

  Now, Rubashkin wants to absolutely "FORCE" us to accept this, Segal Candidate, so voting "NO" (that we do "NOT" want Segal or any of these other 2) will definitely "NOT" BE AN OPTION, on Rubashkin’s Corrupt Ballot!

  Outrageous!

  What a Chutzpah!, to step all over all 3 Elected Rabbonim of the Badatz – ignoring them and forcing an election against the will of Rabbi Heller and against the will of Rabbi Schwei and against the will of Rabbi Osdoba!

• bill

  I like the way he quotes the Rebbe, but he fails to mention that the Rebbe said that the RUV needs to live in Crown Heights, I guess the Rebbe “meant” you can rent an apt. here and show up for shabbos every once in a while.

• chaim

  why dont you write some info as to who can vote and how

• curious

  What’s wrong with the Rabonim we have now?

• Anonymous

  Well, a quick perusal of the internet shows that Rav Yitzchok Raitport, shlita rules that it is OK to drink water in Brooklyn without worrying about bugs, That women can wear Indian Shaitels without worrying about avodah zarah problems, and that he supports Bais Rivkah and education for girls.

  http://www1.cs.columbia.edu…

  As reported in L’Chaim this is what the Rebbe said about him: "You are a Rav [one who decides Jewish law] who can pasken dinim [rule in matters of Jewish law]!"

  http://www.lchaimweekly.org…

• 5 way fight

  no way!!!
  robo go home!!!
  now we will have a 5 way fight

• % of community?

  is R’ ozdoba making the same rule as he did by R’ shvei that at least half the community have to come out and vote?

• annun

  Bite your tounge moshe

  If anyone can be elected by just getting 50% of the vote

  THEN WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE OLD ELECTION

• One sided election!!!

  Why are there only candidates from one side?
  this is a One sided election!!!

• crown heights resident

  The people in crown heights must protest to demand the same ‘rule’ apply to this election : winning candidates must receive 50% of eligible votes…. if not we are allowing 2 men [R. Osdoba & Moshe Rubashkin] to make a mockery of the Rebbe’s Shchuna.

• Double Standard

  crown heights resident,

  Your 100% right, but this is a dictatorship with only one person involved that doesn’t care to be "fair", he just wants his choice of candidate to win at all costs.

  Besides you can never get "50% of the Eligble Voters" to turn out to vote. This will be the Lowest Turn Out Election we ever had because most people feel this is not a fair election at all.
  crown heights resident wrote:
  The people in crown heights must protest to demand the same ‘rule’ apply to this election : winning candidates must receive 50% of eligible votes…. if not we are allowing 2 men [R. Osdoba & Moshe Rubashkin] to make a mockery of the Rebbe’s Shchuna

• Lubavitcher

  For all those asking why the present Rabonim are not up for "Reelection" well the REBBES opnion always was that Rabonim are elected for life in fact the Rebbe complained about this that in Israel the Cheif Rabbis are for a limeted term and not a life term !

  But of course as always people Know better than the Rebbe! ….might this have something to do with politics?

• Maladetz

  Can we put Rudy Guliani on the ballet?

• Anash Member. Beis Shmuel

  I don’t understand… Rav Yitzchok Raitport lives in Bor Park?! How can he be elected Rav of Crown Heights?

• Moshe Cohen

  Why cant there be at least seven rabbonim running on the ballot, and then we choose three from the seven. Just voting for three rabonim getting 50% of the vote reminds me of lhavdal Sadam husien’s Iraq where he always won by 100% all the time.

  Why isnt Rabbi Bogomilsky on the ballet, half the yungerleit in Ch go to him for shalios/Maros anyways.

  Perhaps the election should be also for the incumbant rabbonim.
  In any event Rabboinim are sacred, they repersent torah. The new Rabonim should be emeseh yirei shamaim and Balei midos tovos and apolitical and follow only true torah. Then perhaps they will be respected as a fitting rav.

• miki

  i think you have to be either 30 years old or married to vote.
  p.s. im not 100% sure but thats what i heard.

• dovid

  why dosnt R’ Y Zirkind publicize the kisvei yad how a REAL election is meant to take place.(his father was one of the original netzigim in 5746 and has the answers from the original elections.
  2:Five days before the elections, and he’s still looking for candidates??????!!!!!!
  The only way to real sholom is to mediate HONESTLY AND FAIRLY between R.O. and R.S.

• Naive Questions...

  % of community? Wrote:
  Is R’ Ozdoba making the same rule as he did by R’ sheik that at least half the community has to come out and vote?

  Are you THAT Naive, to think, that "Rules", are made up "Honestly", rather than a means to an end, to try to achieve the wanted (Rigged) results?

  Common’ Wake Up and Smell the Coffee!

• fellow Lubovitcher

  Why is the letter that Rav Schwei wrote about these elections not mentioned? Why is the fact that there are certain criterea for being a member of the Bais Din? Besides having the crucial documents- yodin, yodin etc. and the crucial yirea shamayim- shouldn’t getting along with BOTH Rav Osdoba and Rav Schwei be important. One of the people running does NOT get along with Rav Schwei and has been brought to a din torah (and refused to show up!) Certain members of the election committee have also done that. Both Rav Osdoba and Rav Schwei have done alot for our community and neither should be slapped in the face by these elections.

• Desperation

  In an act of desperation one the Rabbonim called Rabbi Heller to put pressure on him to approve the elections. Rabbi Heller told him very clearly "For 15 years I’m out of politics I will not get involved"

• Benny Raskin

  To Gruntig: All married (or previously married) men or bochrim aged 30 or over and are residents of Crown Heights are eligible to vote.

• Fair and Balanced

  The bottom line is everyone should Stay Home!! (Not Vote). The only solution is to start from scratch.
  First begin with the representatives of the shuls(they need to be elected by the people who actually daven in the various shuls ) and then move up from there. Until we clean house and get all of the garbage out!(personal agendas.hatred envy etc.)
  Only then will the yungerleit and other age groups have Respect and Ttrust of the vad,kashrus and the Rabbonim.
  we need to think about the future and the present.
  We will not have an election rammed down are throats!

  P.S. How about some younger Rabbonim

• Benny Raskin

  To Toshav Hashchunah:
  The Vaad Hakohol sent out a booklet over a month ago announcing this election. They asked everyone to nominate candidates to run in the election. So far only the 3 candidates above agreed to appear on the ballot. The Vaad Hakohol spent countless hours trying to convince R’ Levi Garelik to run but he steadfastly refused. They tried to convince R’ Berel Bell (of Montreal) but he too refused. They also sent to R’ Mangel inviting him to run but he too refused.

  The 3 candidates listed have all served as Dayanim in Dinei Torah on the BaDaTz together with one or more of the previously elected Rabbonim and have therefore been implicitly accepted as competent Rabbonim.

  The Vaad Hakohol and N’tzigim would love to have more candidates on the ballot but unfortunately these are the only ones who consented.

  We are still open to add additional candidates should they become available.

• Bshem moshe rubashkin

  To all the negtive people that have a problam with the upcoming election: 1) if the rebbe told r. Chanzin to stay in israel when he was elected so whatr the problem with r. Raitport? 2) evreyone knows that there is a fight in ch, and peace needs to be achived, so voting must be done, the fight in ch is so big that even elections rabbi osdoba supports election, r. Against, r. Heller not involved, whitch leads us that we must vote, and if there is a problem with the voting system, so dont vote, and to all the netzigim what are you going mad for there is no election for you, you where elected thrugh your self!

• Benny Raskin

  To gerymanded:
  First, let’s get the spelling correct, it’s “Gerrymandered”.

  Secondly, to quote Wikipedia: “Gerrymandering is a controversial form of redistricting in which an electoral district or constituency boundaries are manipulated for an electoral advantage. The word "gerrymander" is used to describe the appearance of a tortuous electoral district created in order to disadvantage his electoral opponents.” The word “Gerrymander” in no way means conducting a fraudulent or fixing an election.

• Vote and tell your freinds to

  to desperation:
  Rabbi Heller also said that he is not a rov in the badatz for 15 years & is willing to give that in writng. so don’t quote out of context.

  I don’t remember anybody publicizing anything on the candidates in the previous elections. Hamifursomim aynom tzrichim Rayah.

  Rabbi Schwei’s election only brought machloikes and public mudslinging tothe community unparallelled in any other Bais Din in the world. ( maybe R. Osdoba had the foresight to this tragedy that the rest of us did not). By the way how can he consul couples on Shalom bayis if he washes all the community laundry in public?At least after this election the majority will rule and if the dissenting opinion chooses not to abide let him fight with the guy he sees in the mirror.

  Lastly, The Rebbe gave tremendous support and reverence to the election of the Rabbonim. Let not one of us shirk the responsibility that the Rebbe said we have. We must vote if we are to call ourselves Chassidim. May Hashem bless all those that participate in the election with GEFEN Gezundt, Parnosoh Nachas CHASSIDISHE NACHAS!! MOSHIACH NOW!!

• Long Live Crown Heights.

  Why do we need 50% of actual votes perhaps Rabbi Shvai would like less then that. do to the fact that Moshe Rubashkin himself said that all we have to do is make I to the ballet box and vote. We all most vote and know that it should be a fair vote. However the eligible votes should be counted surreptitiously.

  Do you agree?
  On this we should all agree!

• Rubashkins Misuse of Gerrymandered

  To Benny Raskin,

  Your Official Deffinition "Gerrymandered" makes a Fool out of Moshe Rubashkin’s use of the word,…

  (when Moshe Tries to pretend that there was something Kaviyochol wrong with our Elections for Rabbi Schwei), when Ruabshkin refers to those Elections as "Gerrymandered"….

  since there were no "redistricting", invloved with Rabbi Schwei’s Election, by anyones wildest imagination.

• Gery

  Benny Raskin

  No matter what both are applicable in this case!!!

• out of context?

  So tell me way did he go to him if he’s not a Rov in the badatz? to fool the people and use him out?

  Lets see his written resignation is willing to give. lets see him stop seating every day in the morning in Rabbi Marllows obm office answering shaylos and lets see stop taking the salary he gets from the Kehile.

  By the way let me tell you Rabbi Heller is more active then other rabbonim here. First he answers shaylos he does a lot in shalom bais, he helps younglait with gmachim hes accesible and a nice eideler person

• bored on empire

  I have had personal expeiriene both with r raitport and with r segal.

  They have my vote. R. RAitport is poshut a gaon olam, who is kol kulo torah & avodah.

  Rabbi Segal has the paitence and the understadning of people to make a real difference in the community

  Will he stay on in Oholei Torah if he is elected?

• Shmuel

  Everybody should listen to Benny Raskin. He is stepping forward in his new role as Vice Chair of the Netzigim and is getting something done. He has no axe to grind here and is a totally straight player.

  All this griping is coming from the old Netzigim gang that held the executive committee until 770’s netzig was asked not participate and their junta fell apart.

• Be fare

  Webby

  People want to know about the candidates. Why you dont post true fact even if they not in favour of the candidates.

• mendy

  i heard that moshe rubashkin is closing the yam center. does anyone know anything about this? i know its not about the electinos but its about the vaad hakahal.

• Clarification

  Truly we need to have R Schwei back on the ballot. he ran on a Saadam Hussein style election 3 years ago. His people didnt have any committe. Herzog and Sperlin together with their chevra pushed this through because they couldnt control rabbi Osdoba. They were looking for a Rov they could manipulate. Everyone knows that you can push R Schwei you like. he is a very weak person and hsi weakness has caused all this machlokos in the community.

  With added rabbonim things will work their way out. Of course herzog and gang will do everything to destroy things.

  For the person who asked why rabbi Osdoba is not on the ballot. He and Rabbis heller and Marlow were elected for life..
  rabbi Schwei was never elected he just got a rubber stamp.

  Everyone go out and vote so the communuity and the Beis Din can continue its work

• Ex-mechanech

  Rabbi Zirkind.

  Worked for years in chanoch l’nar, the family is very involved with chesed in a quiet way, his rebetzen has put shiduchim together and put marriges BACK together. he knows first hand MOST of the bal t’shuvah familys in the shchuna.
  His father built the CHCC and the Rabonim, so he is well aware of what is involved.
  He is klor in all 5 (yes i said 5-the fifth,how to deal with PPL) books of shulchon oruch. (and the 6th-how to deal with nisht menchen)
  I personly think he is off him mind to put his reputation thru the meat grinder that is CH politic’s.
  but if your looking to have a rov that can deal with the 90 present of the shchunah that do not set foot in 770, I think Rabbi Z. is your man.
  the problem in CH is not AGUCH/MERKOS/770, it is the young PPL that are looking for a rov that they can go to that speaks english and is awere of the problems facing MODERN ULTRA ORTHADOX PPl.
  rabbi raitport does not wish to become rov so that he can deal with kids on drugs etc. he want’s kovod melochim.(not that that’s bad….)BUT he will be another lump of wood in the self distructing fire of CH.

• Israel

  I have a sheiloh. Are shluchim from out of town who happen to be in CH eligible to vote?

• sholom

  it is reaaly a open robbery . to choose all three rabbonim who are oepenly against Rabbi Shwei,

• M. Silver

  How about Pinchas Riber for Rov? Rabbi Segal is the person I am going to vote. He is a honest man, just a bit late on returning phone calls. R Osdoba- You can never get in touch with him. We need some down to earth Rabonim who we can ask questions to them, w/o being looked upon as a non "Gezshe".

• Menachem Blau

  A KLOTZ KASHA:

  How can ANYONE, even THINK, of having elections, when Rabbi Schwei is ABSOLUTELY AGAINST the elections?!

  Are we PUBLICLY, going to make a MOCKERY of Rabbi Schwei?!

  A CHUZPAH and HAOZOH, that’s UNPRECENDENTED!!!

  I strongly suggest, that NOBODY VOTE, until BOTH RABBONIM AGREE to the elections.

  I believe in respecting BOTH Rabbonim.

• Reysh Lukish

  The day after, when we have our NEW Ra bunim, is it still going to be only rabbi Osdobe his sons and Yossi Brook that are going to have the right to check out Rubashkins kashruss level?
  or are we going to finnaly get the real secret behind this scandle.

• Achad Me-Anash

  I think Rabbi Yisroel Labkowski should be nominated and put on the ballot. He is a tremendous lamdan, G-d fearing and honest person.

• srfsb

  to benny raskin if u are married but not 30 are you eligable to vote

• to mendy

  "Mendy"

  "i heard that moshe rubashkin is closing the yam center. does anyone know anything about this? i know its not about the electinos but its about the vaad hakahal."
  all the money that YAM gets is deposeted into the comunity counsels account, then as needed for salries and program costs they get checks sighned by the vaad

  ever since moshe came back into town and got voted in he makes all checks go through him and has stoped alot of there checks for programs and salaries, the money that should be sitting there fore them is being refused, therefore putting YAM into a position were there programs are all at risk of being shut down.

  please understand the money comes from the goverment for and only for what YAM does, not for any others IE moshes personal intrests.

  kinda sick no…

• Benny Raskin

  To srfsb:
  Yes. There is no minimum age for married men.

• No choice

  Please consider that you cannot even register a NO vote to the election!!!

  From Vaad HaKohol letter "Voters have the option of voting for one, two or three candidates". I.e. if you do not vote for at least one of the above, your vote is not counted. In the case of elections for Rabbi Schwei there was an option to vote against him.

  Menachem Blau – you have no choice. If you do not vote (or vote for nobody) you are not counted at all.

• Chaim

  Elections can ONLY be made AFTER there is consensus on suitable candidates and the number to be elected.

  If this is not done – then what is the purpose of making the elections? MANY MANY people in Crown Heights believe that the current process is VERY bias and unfair and will DEFIANTLY NOT except the results of the elections – something that will ONLY EXAGGERATE (r"l) the current HUGE problems.

  The purpose of an elections is that the COMMUNITY ACCEPT the results – so if a LARGE part of the community is questioning the process/method the elections is being run, how in the world do expect them to accept the so-called results?

  Anyone ever heard of FAIR- – HONEST – OPEN – TRANSPARENT process – run by people that the majority of the public accept and are ready to rely on?

• one of anash

  Rabbi Schwei does not have his own opinion. His opinion is that of Shmuel Krauss and Herzog.

  They are not interested in helping the community but continue the machlokos.
  ENOUGH let the elections go forward

• Benny

  achad me-anash

  he was one of the proposed candidates to run together with rabbi schwei and was not approved by rabbi osdoba

• Eliezer

  to srfsb:

  Yes

• Reb Itche

  Kol Hakavod to Rabbi Menachem Blau, for having the Guts to say it openly & clearly, and for having the Guts to sign his Real Name to what he said!….

  Rabbi Blau, you’re absolutely right!

  What an Outrageous big Chilul Hashem this is to publicly go to War, Against Rabbi Schwei’s, absolute and clear orders which strictly Forbids and Outlaws these Elections, in no uncertain terms, at this time, until such time when BOTH Rabbonim will agree TOGETHER, in unison, on the Candidates, which they both feel comfortable with (just as it was done in last Election for Rav).

  Everyone remembers how the Rebbe was SCREAMING at those who insulted the Rav Publicly by not giving him an Aliya for Aseres Hadibros – Now this Public Mockery Elections, which laterally SPITS IN THE FACE of Rabbi Schwei, this is 100 Million times worse than not giving an Aliya to the Rav!

  Anyone who DARES to Insult Rabbi Schwei by participating in this Mockery Election, will certainly have the same "Ending" as the person who insulted the Rav by not giving him his deserved Aliyah!

  Chevre, this is no Joke!

  Men Shpilt Zach Mit Fier!

• srfsb

  to benny raskin if i am not registerd to vote can i just show and vote as long as i register ther

• No Vote-Is a vote against

  I don’t get what is so hard for you people to understand: If someone needs 50% of the eligible vote to win, and you don;t vote, that doesnt mean that your vote doesnt count, but that counts as a no for all 3, because automatically they won’t have your vote for them, and will have 1 more person of the eligible votes counting against them!

• A resident of CH

  Reb Benny

  I thank you for taking time and answering peoples questions

  Bu the way This will only bring peace into our neighborhood.

  Rabbi Zirkind is an amzing person who is a Real Talmid Chocum and Sonai Butza. Rabbi Raitport I dont know much but he does not need our money. And rabbi Segal is a Tremendous Talmid Chochum and a treal Chosid and Rov.

  By the Way I am no way a fan of Rabbio Osdava especially his hatrid to Rabbi Kribnsky which I hope will be reversed.

  But for the sake of the neighborhood I do think the elections will be good.

  Moshy Rubashkin deserves alot of Credit and Supoort for the time and tireless effort in doing this. It is not easy.

  I also was a student of Rabbi Scwei for 2 years in OP and think he is a great man and Mashliah but not fit for Rabbonis. He does not have the experi…. .

  That is not a fault since he never sat at a din torah for 70 years and never answered shaalos for 70 years. He is great for a Mashpiah and Shoel etc. for Misivta boys. That is his Malah.

  He was elected by Herzog the criminal who was arrerested and procecuted for bribery etc. and Chanina who is on Prozac or sniffing lead paint.

  Rabbi Schwei is a real good fellow just he was taken and sucked into a broader fight and used out by the russians against Rabbi O.

  Believe me this election will help bring peace to all.

  And the question as to why Rabbi Scwei does not have anyone running he simply has no candidates who have smicha and dayonis and shimush who can run and are Michichistim and beleive the rebbe is alive in a guf Gashmi and who say Shlita.

  Its sad but it will get better

  Benny good luck and thanks for the time you also deserve alot of credit.

• Reb Dovid Fisher Shelita - For Rav

  I would like to have Harav Hagoen, Reb Dovid Fisher Shelita as a Candidate for Rav. After all the difficulties, we put him through, we really ow it to him to have him Honorably Elected as Rav, now that he has been officially Cleared of any wrong-doing, Chas Vsholom.

  Reb Dovid Fisher Shelita, is one of the worlds greatest Lubavitcher Rabbonim and Talmidey Chachomim of our time and he gives much more Tzedaka than any other Gvir (He is a Multi Millionaire – Torah Ugdulah Bemokom Echad).
  After All, one of Rubashkins first and foremost accomplishments was to make Peace with Harav Hangaid Reb Dovid Fisher Shelita.

  Rubashkin agreed that we no longer have any hard feelings at each other and Celebrated this as a major "Heseg Dati" and said "Mazal Tov" and L’Chaim and they Shook Hands and Kissed each other etc.

• Fisher For Rabbi

  I agree! Rabbi Dovid Fisher Shlit’a should become the head Rov of Crown Heights. For several reasons;
  A: we hurt him enough, and this would be a small apology.
  B: he know how corrupt Crown Heights is and how we can’t get organized and do anything etc.
  C: He knows ho to learn.

  I hope he accepts this humble offer from all of us in the community.

  I hopes he excepts this humble offer from all of us in the community.

• rovs

  Lest we forget that Rovs are only people.

• Shmuel Krauss

  Shmuel Krauss for Rabbi now!

  Why play games? lets elect the real power brokers?

  And also Serebranski, Shagalov, Vilshnski, Dubravski. Let the real people who run this puppet show run.

  Benny,

  Are write-in candidates allowed?

• to one of anash

  one of anash:
  Can you back up that flase statment or your just looking to slander on people, and therefore right an outright lie with no facts, just to try to convince the naive people.
  shame on people like you that are trying to deceive and corrupt the shchuna
  (b/c of ppl like u, the mtazav with the youth is….)
  i sure hope you come to true realization and become an honest g-d fearing jew

• crown heights resident

  Reading all this comments really saddens me. To sum up: M. Rubashkin & R. Osdoba are pupetteering [sp?] a so called ‘election’ of rabonim, Manipulating and orchestrating power and control in their hands and the people of the Rebbe’s Schunah [majority] may differ in opinion but all agree THAT this is not in accordance to the way the Rebbe would want it to be.
  Also, in reference to the point of M. Rubashkin & YAM. If he is withholding govt. money alloted to them [and do a great job!!!] and ‘allotting’ it elsewhere- this is quite shady and perhaps if I’m not saying too strongly quite ILLEGAL.
  Why I think this above point is quite vital:
  It would seem to be that just like [lhavdil] supreme court justices are appointed for life- this eliminates the need to campaign for next term which may cause judges to lean in favor of issues they normally wouldn’t bec. they want to be re-elected.
  However, this is really scary. It seems R. Osdoba is in ‘cohoots’ with M. Rubashkin. Now That M. Rubashkin has exerted his power to promote and give more power to R. Osdoba [Rov whose opinon counts vs. Schwei], M. Rubashkin is free to do as he pleases……….
  Honestly, I don’t care too much who is elected Rov. Unfortunately, they have little impact on my life. When I have or had a question myself and family have never consulted with them rather chose other lubavitch rabonim to turn to. What I do care about [like anyone cares about what I care about] and I think this is the collective thought- is the corruption and manipulation of power leaders in this community have stooped to.
  To end, we as a community [remember one lone snowflake is powerless but united can stop a huge city] must demand accountability [Vaad Hakshrus, YAM etc….] THAT we are surely entitled to.
  Shalom

• ysgfan

  Someone should ask R’ Goldberg – Rosh HaYeshiva Hadar Hatorah to be on the Bais Din.

• to ysgfan

  yeah but R’ Wircberg mashpia has shimush by Rav Dworkin A"H…

• KRAUSE is a BIG problem!!!

  Everone knows Krause is a BAAL Machlokes!!

• Please Help Me Understand

  please help me to understand:

  if a majority of eligible voters in Crown Heights do not want ANY of these 3 candidates – and therefore don’t vote, will the candidate that gets the majority of ACTUAL votes (albeit a low percentage) become Rov – contrary to the wishes of the MAJORITY?

  wasn’t rule #1 by the elections for Rabbi Shwei that he must get the VAST MAJORITY OF ‘ELIGIBLE’ voters in order to become rov – which he DID? (if I’m not mistaken – it was Rabbi Osdobo that wrote this condition (- and by the way – he (R’ Osdobo) made ALL the rules and conditions for that election (including who was an eligible candidate)) WHAT CHANGED NEW?! ("ma nishtana halayla haze…?)

  Just wondering…..

• vaad hakashrus

  why not yossi brook and zalman ozdoba and yossel katzman for rabonim.

• Only Rabbi Fisher a Real Soney Botza

  Rabbi Osdoba, never protested against Rubashkins "Peace" with Harav Hagoen Harav Reb Fisher Shelita, so we all have to assume that Rabbi Osdoba Loves Rabbi Fisher just as much as Rubashkin loves him and they will both get along very well.

  Rabbi Osdoba fights with Rabbi Schwei but with Rabbi Fisher he gets along very well.

  It’s a Great Idea, Let’s go for it.

  Rabbi Schwei is Too Aidel to be a Rav, We need to Kick Out Rabbi Schwei because he is "To Much of "a Real Mentch" – No Good for Rav.

  A Real Rav can’t be so Aidel, (Like Rabbi Schwei) rather, he has to be a Little Bit of a, "Nokem Venoter Kenachas", He has to Know how to Take Money, and FIGHT for it, as Katzman and Brook can Teach them, (Kind of like what we call …A Little Bit of a "Chazer" B’Laaz)
  Like ………….we all know who….

  We need Real Rabbonim who are NOT "Aidel" and have Real Chutzpah and are Azus Penimer like Harav Bruk Shelita (Why should he run Kashrus from the "Closet", Under Cover? Let’s Make it Official that he is "The Real Rov and Real Boss")

  And Harav Hagoen Katzman Shelite, Elected as Chief Machlokes Strategists for the Rabbonim, who presses Rabbi Osdoba’s Buttons and make sure to bribe him by doubling his salary for working 3 hours a day and for hiring Rabbi Osdoba’s entire Family to work in the Corruption Office together – this is what I call Real Achdus_Neputism in Full Swing, with flying Colors – The way to go!

  But since we also need a Real Lamdan who doesn’t need anyone’s money (so Katzman Can’t bribe him with Money because he has more money than anyone can give him and that would be a REAL RAV (Soeny Botza) like Harav Hagoen Reb Dovid Fisher Shelita to complete the Circle and bring true Honesty Back to the Government of CH and the Governing of the Rabbonus.

  Rabbi Fisher doesn’t need anyone’s Money, so there will be no more Fights about who gets the "Kashrus Money".

  Only with Rabbi Fisher and Rabbi Osdoba working TOGETHER will we get CH Back on Track with true honesty and integrity.

  Only a Rav who is Rich, Like Rabbi Fisher Shelita can be truly honest and will not need his children to work in the Beis Din, and could care less about the few dollars from Kashrus – Rabbi Fisher is a Real Soney Botza (One Who Hates Money and Financial Bribery)!

• menachem

  benny raskin hats off to you – :)

  r. Schwei no comment – a total lemela with no back bone -should be dumped at once.

  r. Zirkind … OMG – what a mentsch – this guy I can’t believe wants to do this – listen guys he’s your man period!

• things need to be done

  the one thing bes din should have set up in ther office is some one who takes care of marrige liscnce and thing like that in any case ther should be some ther at all times during the day to answer any qustions and sign papers

• Benny Raskin

  To srfsb:
  You don’t have to be a registered voter.

  I you are listed in the Tzach directory you just have to show up and vote. If not, bring a utility bill with your name and address as prof of residency.

• Benny Raskin

  To "Shmuel Krauss":
  No. Write-in candidates are not allowed.

• Benny

  ysfg

  rabbi goldberg and rabbi labkowsky were on the list of last elections and rabbi osdoba blocked them.

• Mendy Levy

  I dont know what your problem is, I like Moshe Rubashken, he DOES! and he is good.

  Keep it up Moshe!

• Renegade

  i cant believe we’re going to allow rubashkin & co. get away with this! judging by what i see so far it seems the vast majority of CH is against this "election" taking place, yet nobodt seems willing / able to do anything about it.

  personally i find it hard to believe that there are actualy people out there who think this "election" will help bring about shalom / achdus. how stupid can you actualy get?! (granted, it might reduce the fighting (when there’s one man, a dictator, in complete control, who destroys any opposition to him, i guess there wont be much actual fighting) but for some strange reason it doesnt feel quite right, something tells me it’s not the right way to go about it, it’s not what G-d wants, not what the Rebbe wants and not conduct befitting a chassid)

  besides the fact that IMHO just the fact that somebody is willing to be placed on this ballot is enough to discredit him for me. why would anybody want to get involved in such a mess?!?! (other than having a personal agenda / vendetta)

  does anybody actualy know the rules of this "election"? the only thing that seems to be definite is that we cannot vote "none of the above"
  does anybody know definitively what the threshold to pass is? is it 50% of eligible voters? (as it was by R’ Schwei) or is it 50% of actual voters (change the rules as seen fit?)
  the letter seems to say 50% of actual votes.
  i think (assuming it’s 50% of actual voters) that everybody who is opposed to this election should vote a protest vote of a blank ballot, dont choose anybody (or write none of the above)
  i think this way (if enough people do this), at the very least, these "rabonim" will never be able to claim to have been fairly elected BY THE COMMUNITY -as R’ Schwei was. (the incubent rabonim agreed (or at least didn’t protest) his placement on the ballot, and also important: there was a "no" option on his ballot, if you didnt like his being elected YOU HAD THE CHOICE OF SAYING SO IN THE BALLOT BOX!)
  if we can pull this off, if enough people are willing to do this than at the very least when they (or others) come claiming they were fairly / justly elected we could say "hold on a second, you only got x amount of votes, but there were x amount of votes against you. i understand the election was rigged in a way that prevented the votes against you from being counted, but you cant honestly claim to have been elected by a majority of the community"

  why bother to vote blank? why not just boycott the election?
  2 reasons:
  1. i think a protest vote is more powerful than a no show.
  2. with these election services people monitoring this thing we should get an exact number of "disqualified" ballots, i think that’s alot stronger than arguing how many people could’ve should’ve voted…
  enough of me wasting my time…

  GET OUT AND VOTE…

  …NONE OF THE ABOVE

• Tony

  David Fisher?; yes

  Yankel Goldberg?! – Maybe

  Oy (Sch)vay?!! No way.

  I am told that he is in the business of putting out Eekuls against Shluchim!

• yes

  Does Dovid Fisher have Dayunis?

• yes

  And the question as to why Rabbi Osdobo does not have anyone running he simply has no candidates who have smicha and dayonis and shimush who can run and are Michichistim and beleive the rebbe is alive in a guf Gashmi and who say Shlita.

• CH JEW

  Does Rabbi Schwei have Dayonis. Shimush he for sure never had.

  I think the best from all the candidtaes are Rabbi Zirkind SHlita.

  I give him alot of credit. He is a true Rov and has backbone. I hope he will continue to run and win.

  I just wonder why Rabbi O does not let Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky run.

  Rabbi O should not be a Don Yechidi on who can run and not. If a person has Shimush and Dayonis he should be able to run.

• heber

  Rabbi Scwei claims he has the community in mind. If he does he should resign or at the least put his name on the ballot to legitimise his claim that he was elected.

  he was never elected democratically. he was rubber stamped just to try to bring down rabbi Osdoba. That he did not succeed but machklokos he has made that his priority.
  Anyone that knows him and there are plenty in the community know him to be an egotistical person who thinks but of himself at the expense of others.

  Rabbi Schwei do us all a favor step down from your undemcratic position of Rov and leave us alone.

• reyshlukish@yahoo.com

  It was interesting, I was walking down Kingston Av. this morning and I saw Menachem Shagalov running so I say to him I see you are running, are you running FOR the rabonim, he says no I am running FROM the rabonim.

• RebbesChossid

  I never believed there would come a day when I would have to take pen to paper and share my thoughts about the matzev in Crown Heights. But as a simple chossid of the Rebbe I have an achrayus to now speak up and say what has to be said, and put into words what thousands of Anash know in their hearts and are thinking to themselves.

  It is sad that I cannot use my real name. But there is terror in our kehillah, and gangsters are attempting to hijack our Beis Din and destroy the Rebbe’s community. I live in fear for my mishpoche, and must protect my identity.

  Several years ago a sham election took place that was rigged by these gangsters. Like, lehavdil, in Stalin’s Russia or Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, only one candidate was listed because the other, more worthy Rabbonim, were terrorized into remaining off the ballot.

  Worse yet, the sole candidate we were offered, Rav Schwei, had for two years been on the private payroll of a local Gvir, which by definition rendered him unfit to serve as Kehilla Dayan as he was already in at least one man’s pocket.

  Rav Osdobo was terrorized into allowing this transparent corruption to go forward. However, he was able to set one condition – that two choshuve and experienced Rabbonim – Rav Raitport and Rav Segal – would serve as Dayanim alongside himself and Rav Schwei.

  Rav Schwei accepted these terms at the time and then reneged on them once he was on the Beis Din. This alone should invalidate him as a Dayan lemafreia and force him, at the very least, to run once again, this time in a legitimate, non-Stalinist election.

  Of course, the likelihood is that he would lose just as he would have lost the last time had he been running against Rav Raitport and/or Rav Segal.

  Ever since he became a Dayan, Rav Schwei has been engaged in the relentless pursuit of power for himself and his backers. He has thwarted every majority psak, paskened against the Beis Din, gone public with every machloikes.

  But the zenith of the chutzpah and azus metzach of this rogue dayan was his attempt to call his senior Moro D’Asro Rav Osdobo – a man with two decades of “shimush”, a Dayan who received the Rebbe’s brocho – to a Din Torah zablo with the signatures of one disgruntled Rov and one outright oisvorf from New Jersey. This is a chutzpah that has no precedent.

  The truth is Rav Schwei does not belong on this or any Beis Din. He has disqualified himself by taking payment from private individuals and by working for a gang of criminals who have their own agenda.

  During his three years on the Beis Din, Rav Schwei, under the directions from his handlers, has been engaged in a scorched earth policy to destroy every single vestige of credibility and functionality of the Beis Din.

  He has generated non-stop machloikes and is directly responsible for the terrible state of our young people and the rampant lack of sholom bayis among many families in our schunah.

  One need only compare the writings of Rav Osdoba and, Rav Schwei. Rav Osdoba backs every sentence, every statement with precise mar’eh mkoimos. Rav Schwei’s letters, his issurim, his denying us the right to vote have no sources, no precedent, and show no evidence of having any basis other than his personal opinion and personal agenda.

  It is time to pull the camouflage off this situation and call it as it is.

  The only solution is to vote for new Dayonim who can help Rav Osdobo restore honor and integrity to the Beis Din he helped create and run with such a sterling reputation for so long.

  And we as a Kehilla must beg mechilleh from Rav Osdobo for standing silently while his shem tov was dragged in the mud, and for standing by while he and Rav Segal and Rav Raitport were subjected to such relentless and disgusting behavior.

  Bivrocho,

  A Chossid of the Rebbe

• chbperson

  To: RebbesChossid@aol.com

  you wrote: Worse yet, the sole candidate we were offered, Rav Schwei, had for two years been on the private payroll of a local Gvir, which by definition rendered him unfit to serve as Kehilla Dayan as he was already in at least one man’s pocket.

  WHO IS THIS LOCAL GVIR? HAVE SOME BACKBONE AND TELL EVRYONE, THIS WAY WE WILL BELIEVE YOU.

  THANKS

• a chossid too

  Dear Chossid of the Rebbe;
  Thank you for your very clear and pricise account of what has transpired in Crown Heights since rabbi Schwei was "elected" in that sham of an election.
  We owe rabbi Osdoba our apoligies and our deepest gratitute for his never ending work ltovas hashchuna.

  IYH we hope Monday morning will bring a fresh start to the beis Din that the dayanim can do their work.

  Maybe Rabbi Schwei will see the light that he has been the cause of the machlokos the past 3 years.

• chbperson

  to chossid of the rebbe:

  who is the gvir??

• itzik_s

  He has generated non-stop machloikes and is directly responsible for the terrible state of our young people and the rampant lack of sholom bayis among many families in our schunah.
  _________________________________________
  I do not hold by the rav in question and neither do most of my friends, but the above is way out of line. The terrible state of our young people has nothing whatsoever to do with this rav or that rav. It may have to do with the quality of instruction in our moisdois, or with parents losing faith because of the machloikes and crummy surroundings in CH, but that is not this rav’s fault. It is OUR fault (well, not mine because I haven’t lived in CH long enough, nor do I spend enough time there, to contribute to the balagan!)

• yes

  I believe That Rabbi Dovid Fisher Has dayonis.

• chosid of the Rebbe

  In response to those who asked for the name of the Gvir who paid Rav Schwei directly from his own pocket, the answer is Sholom Ber Drizin — despite fact that the Rebbe in a public sicha stated emphatically that Rabbonim may not be paid by private individuals, only by the Kehilla, not that such a sicha should even be necessary. Iti s somple comong sense that a Dayan who has accepted money from a member of community no longer has objectivity.

• chperson

  i remamber abbout 1 & 1/2 years ago r. schwei sued lefferts shul bec. he fell on the sidewalk infront of the shul. some rov hay!

• chperson

  i think BOTH so called raaaabnim should leave together with brook and all of those guys holding ch hostege for the past 15 + yrs.

  we need to fire them all tgether with the vad, gaboim and start over. you guys can fight with one side but once you are done you fight with each other, go ahead and kill each other I LOVE IT.
  next time do not startup with the rebbe, you say the rebbe lives, he lives in that he does not let you with the long white beards and calling your selfs rabonim fight the rebbe mystos.

• Peter Piker

  Dear Mr’ chperson, Rabbi Schwei rescinded his decision to sue the shul, so keep your dirty mouth shut before you accuse a rov/yirei shomayim.
  thank you,
  Yours truly,
  Yainkel fefer-a chosheve toishev hashchuna,
  Chairman of the vaad l’maan kovod v’morah shomayim aleichem v’al bnei b’neichem v’al horabonim hayirei shomayim shel habadatz d’ka"k v’chulu shel kron heights kan tziva hashem es habrocho v’hacapital shel rachmana l’tzlan politics v’kol minei loshon horoh v’shchunas moshiach v’shuchunas habeis hamikdash sheb’bavel shebikehila k’dosha Kron heights Inc. TM

  The above name is Copyright 5766 in the U.S. copyright office: all rights reserved, may not be reproduced in any form whatsoever including elctronicaly and not for personal use either just for comedy alone!

• chbperson

  Peter Piker wrote:

  Dear Mr’ chperson, Rabbi Schwei rescinded his decision to sue the shul, so keep your dirty mouth shut before you accuse a rov/yirei shomayim.

  i do not understand, why do you say that i "accused" the so-called rov who was ellected saddam style when you edmit that he sued the shul but"RECINDED HIS DECISION" you are some farud, you lie in the same breth. do you think "r" schwei would have the chutzpa to sue a shul when the rebbe was a ive?

  i am NOT a r. Ozdobo backer, infact i think he is a fraud to, but 2 wrongs do not make a right.

  by the way is it true that shalom drizin gives miney to "R" schwei.