Reizes on Elections and Voting

To Crown Heights Residents, Toshvei HaShechuna Sheyich’ :

We are holding community elections to choose candidates for Vaad Hakahol / CHJCC and for Gabboim, to run the crown jewel of crown heights, 770 Eastern Parkway – the Rebbe’s shul.

I will ask of you to please read the following with the attention that it deserves, and don’t judge the ideas by the writer but by the content.

The Rebbe once said that everything which happens in Crown Heights has an effect on the entire world. In a footnote, the Rebbe adds that (being that this generation is the last generation of golus, and the first generation of geulah, hence the culmination and climax of all generations therefore, the Rebbe emphasizes that) everything that happens in Crown Heights has an effect (not only on this generation but also) on all the previous generations.

Let’s point out that both the above mentioned sicha and its footnote- also mentioned previously – were edited by the Rebbe himself [mugah, in (Likutei Sichos Vol. 28, pg 258)]

Now, regarding elections for Vaad Hakahal/ CHJCC, the Rebbe expressed himself that he withdrew himself from all of his activities to see to it that the elections are conducted properly according to the Halocha. (matos-masseei 5746)

It is needless to underscore how such expressions by the Rebbe ought to impress upon us, Chassidim, and imbue us with the (achrayus and at the same time the zechus) of taking part in any important event and especially an election in Crown Heights.

All of the above applies to any elections. However, it’s already been emphasized numerous times that the current upcoming elections this year, aren’t ordinary elections, rather, they are especially important and crucial ones.

It’s been five years since we had regular elections. (Regarding last year’s elections, even if one should argue that they had any legitimacy (and how could one argue that they were kosher when they were passeled by Rabbi Osdoba then and afterwards disqualified – retroactively – by the Badatz of Rabbi Rosenberg, otherwise why would we be holding elections now only one year later?) they cannot be considered a valid election due to the fact that the issur of Rav Osdoba held back many people from running and voting , (who otherwise would have run or voted); hence did not reflect the daas hakahal. )

(To claim (and let alone, to brag) that one was elected or even just a candidate one year ago is not only disrespectful to Rav Osdoba, but also to the five member Beis Din of Rav Rosenberg, making it a total of six (!) Rabbonim.)

It is therefore very important that we should give the current authentic elections the very serious thought that they deserve. The following is an attempt to help you in doing so with some pointers.

The definition of an election,

What exactly is an election? Perhaps we can illustrate it this way:

There’s something that belongs to you; something expensive, dear, precious to you; it needs to be taken care of, guarded, worked on and in some cases, repaired, improved, for your benefit, use and pleasure. But for many reasons you cannot do the job yourself so you seek people to hire to do it for you.

(More often than not, due to your busy schedule, you don’t have the time, and ability to even supervise them on a more or less consistent basis. You therefore, have someone representing you who keeps in-touch with those workers. That representative serves as a link between you and the above mentioned workers.)

There are a number of fellows interested in doing it, even begging you to let them do it, with each one trying to convince you that he’s best for the job, and giving many reasons why you should choose him/them and entrust davka him/them with it. Then it’s your turn to decide.

The above analogy, simple as it sounds and is, still helps break down and clarify in our minds the procedure termed ‘elections’. And of course it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what and who the details of the analogy stand for. Yet, for the sake of clarity and to dissipate any myths, we will spell it out:

The ‘Precious Items’ are: the Shechunah of Crown Heights, the Rebbes shechunah and it’s management, and – 770 – the Rebbes shul and its management. The ‘Owner’ is each and every one of you, the honorable Toshvei HaShechunah. The ‘Representative’ is the “Netzig” of your shul together with his colleagues, the “Netzigim” of all other shuls in Crown Heights. Finally, the above mentioned ‘fellows interested in doing the job for you’ are of course the candidates for Vaad Hakohol/CHJCC and 770 gabboim.

* To whom could you entrust the job? Some suggestions to have in mind as we cast our vote: Qualifications – Is the candidate capable of the handling the responsibilities required of this position?
* Honesty – Is he trustworthy and honest, to G-d and Man?
* Good Relations – Is he someone who can get along with and work with other people.
* Respect for the Rabbonim, and us Toishvei HaShechunah, his employers ( who voted for him ).

Respect to the boss’s representative

Ask the candidates : (or at least, scrutinize the candidate with your mind’s eye.) After he gets elected will he respect the Netzigim by attending their meetings, by providing fund for the Netzigim’s expenses and by providing a place for the meetings?

I would like to take the opportunity to dispel a certain myth or misconception.

Myth: The Vaad hakahal and the community council has to do with the kehilla, with the people living in Crown Heights. The Bylaws apply to them. But when it comes to 770, it is a different story; the Gabboyim aren’t under the jurisdiction of the bylaws. The elections for Gabboyim are conducted by the Netzigim only as a matter of convenience and courtesy. Hence, the Gabboyim of 770 are not answerable to the Netzigim.

There is nothing further from the truth.

To claim that the election of the gabboyim is not part of the bylaws, in other words: to attempt to separate between the Yidden of Crown heights and “770” chas v’shalom, is not only a blatant distortion of the truth, but it flies in the face of common logic.

The Fact is: The Gabboyim are elected by the entire Crown Heights. ‘Why?’ Some may ask. But the truth is, although some might not like it, the Rebbe’s shul belongs to you even if you happen to daven in a “tiny shul at the edge of the Shchuna with barely a minyan” and “never come to 770”.

Your browser may not support display of this image. The Netzigim organization came about as a result of an answer from the Rebbe that the decision of who should be the Rabbonim of Crown Heights, is up to all the Yidden in Crown Heights. It came about this way: after HaRav Zalman Shimon Dworkin passed away, Askanim asked the Rebbe how to go about the setting up of a new Rov/Rabbonim. Here’s a copy of the answer:

As a result of this answer a call went out to the community that each shul and institution should send delegates. The delegates decided – again based on this answer – to organize a Shchuna-wide election for Rabbonim. At these elections of the Rabbonim (Rabbis Marlow, Osdoba and Heller in 5746 (1986) All toshvei hashechuna were asked to come and vote which most did (to the Rebbe’s deepest satisfaction). Finally we elected a Bais Din for crown heights.

Supposedly, (according to the above-mentioned myth) these Rabbonim were not elected for 770 and so should have no authority in 770. But what does the Rebbe do? He publicly proclaims them as the Rabbonim of the shul 770 (mishpotim 5747). And how does he do that? By declaring that if a Shaila arises in the shul of 770, pertaining to shul matters, it is under the jurisdiction of the Rabbonim! Which Rabbonim? Those who were elected by the Toshvei Hashchuna. Even those from the… “Tiny shul at the edge of the shchuna with barely a minyan” and “never come to 770”! In fact, the elections of the Gabboyim which took place some months later resulted from that Sichoh and that authorization of the Rebbe.

In light of this, I would place those same questions (what kind of relationship they plan to have with the netzigim), to the Gabboyim candidates as well as to the chjcc candidates and perhaps to the gaboyim candidates even more than to the chjcc – to bring the message home to them, that I don’t buy into the above myth and that I take the ownership of 770 bestowed upon me by the Rebbe, seriously.

I would like to make the following suggestions:

1. A Netziggim meeting calendar

The Netzigim hold their regular meetings at intervals of approximately every second month. For that purpose – as prescribed in the bylaws, – a letter is sent to the Netzigim notifying them of the time, place and agenda of the given meeting. I suggest that instead of the letters (or perhaps in addition to them) a yearly calendar should be publicized with the exact date, time and place (and when appropriate) agenda of the meetings throughout the year. This will help promote transparency and prevent mess-ups as the one that caused the current deadlock of the Netzigim.

2. Netzigim meetings online live

To conduct the meetings with an online-live broadcast. Again this will definitely promote transparency.

A good Chodesh and a healthy summer

Respectfully
Yosef Reizes