Op-Ed: Congratulations Crown Heights!
First of all congratulations and a hearty Mazal Tov to the newly elected Vaad of Crown Heights, you were voted in by an election that was held with the participation of an overwhelming majority of the residents of the Rebbe’s Shchuna, and we all pray for you and for your success on behalf of the residents of Crown Heights.
Secondly, kudos to the entire Crown Heights community for coming out in such huge numbers to vote in these elections, having well over 2000 strong come to the original voting and close to 1800 come to vote in a runoff election, on a scorching hot day in middle of the summer, against all statistical predictions and against many odds, speaks volumes of the beauty of our community, it shows that you seriously care and that you are ready to step up to the plate when called upon.
Thirdly, my hat’s off to the young generation, some 1000 strong who heeded the call and participated fully and strongly in this process by voting in the election and by declaring yourselves as candidates for a seemingly not very popular job, and thanks to you, the majority of our new Vaad is new, young, and vibrant, which will bring new life and tremendous energy to a new Crown Heights.
After the psak, I opined about a vision of a new beginning for Crown Heights by getting the entire community involved. I appealed to the young to take the lead by jumping into the fray. I am proud to have been part of this vision and I’m glad that the community agreed.
And to those of you who feel that youth is some kind of deficiency, I must remind you that the Rebbe conquered the world with 25 year old Kolel graduates. They tried and failed, then got up again, learned from their mistakes and tried again, look at all the 5, 7, 12, million dollar Chabad Houses that Yungelait in their early 30’s have built around the world. Today the Rebbe rules the world with these young leaders who turned Lubavitch unto the mainstream and the center of Yidishkeit worldwide. Now we gave ourselves the opportunity to apply this same energy and young spirit to help create a beautiful new Crown Heights, with great quality of life for all the residents and by extension for all of Lubavitch.
I foresee a Vaad that will work for the betterment of Crown Heights with renewed energy, led by young blood and guided by the advice of experienced elders, the fact that this Vaad was elected with such a majority participation in the election, gives them a mandate and the power to work on behalf of all of us, while it also puts a huge burden on their shoulders knowing that the community really cares and that they expect to see a lot of action with successful results. We all join in prayers, and shower them with blessings, for tremendous success.
Finally, on a personal note; over the last ten months I have personally taken a very high profile position in this Shchuna, from working on behalf of getting the Din Torah on track, to representing one side at the Din Torah culminating with a Psak that gave us this opportunity of electing a Vaad with such a strong mandate, to coordinating the election and running a campaign, being in this position I have been accused – rightly and wrongly – with all kinds of accusation and innuendo.
There is no question that in the process I have slighted some, angered others and berated certain individuals. It is the American way that after an election (even if I personally was not a candidate in any way, shape or form for any office) the parties involved, who in the heat of a campaign, attack each other sometimes viciously, reach out to their former opponents, make up and forgive and forget. This is also consistent of course with Torah and Halacha, as hinted to in the last Mishna in Shas where it is mentioned about the ways of Talmidei Chachomim who even though they get into very heated discussions, still they end by bringing more peace into the world by going in the ways of Torah.
I feel that it is important that I publicly ask Mechila from all those who feel that they were hurt by me or by my comments, the campaign is over and you won’t hear from me again. I ask for your forgiveness for my actions of the past, and I hope that you won’t be afraid to say hello to me when we cross paths, and that we should be able to enjoy each other at Simchas for many years to come.
May the Zchus of peace between us bring much blessings to Crown Heights and its elected leaders, and this will serve as the springboard to the real blessings of real peace which will be brought upon us by Moshiach Tzidkeinu, NOW, Mamo”sh.
Yosef Katzman
Appreciative
Thank you Moshe.
Just one questioin........
I see here an apology for mistakes that may have happened and inadvertant “slips of the tongue” that may have taken place. If this was all that had occurred, I would have no problem forgiving and forgetting. However, blatant attacks and conscious acts of hurting and insulting innocent people are not so easily forgotten.
Btw, what “higher goal” do these acts of intimidation achieve?
R. Berl Haskelevich
“I publicly ask Mechila from all those who feel that they were hurt by me or by my comments, the campaign is over and you won’t hear from me again”
Yosef Katzman, remember your promise!
You falsely take credit for the Din Torah and for the elections. The credit is due to a young and promising member of our community Eli Poltoraq Seyihiye. If not for his efforts there would be no Din Torah, no elections, and the Community would still be held at gunpoint by Rubish’kin and Co.
I hope all those who were against any election, supported the old Regime, will follow suit, and we will not hear from them anymore.
discusted
go destroy peoples reputation,go and kill somebody and than apologize for it, that is what you r doing by sending out this letter…. you could take this letter and you know where you could put it…
BH thank you Crownheights!
VERY VERY Well done!
The Rebbes Shliach
Thank you BUT i must say that your comment that “young leaders who turned Lubavitch unto the mainstream” is the Problem in Lubavitch today! It is the Rebbe who “turned Lubavitch into main stream” NOT a 30, 40 or 70 year old. But I guess it’s expected from someone who tried to “tumel” before, during and after the elections and then gives out an apology
Well said
What a magnanimous gesture.
Halevai that others will follow his example.
And that people will have the good sense to refrain from commenting on their individual gripes with Rabbi Katzman or anyone else in these comments. If you have a bone to pick go straight to the person it is with. Please spare us all by not airing your dirty laundry on this site.
WoW!
Sisu bnei mei’ay. (yesh ma lesame’ach b”h).
Leader
Yosef,
A select few know of your efforts – but the entire community will benefit.
Thank you for your leadership, and as the previous commenter noted, your magnanimity.
excuse me?
Excuse me?, held at gunpoint? Rubashkin and Co. as you call them were the ONLY people who fundraised for the poor in this community, who gave clothes in Top Fashion Erev Pesach AND Erev Tishrei to the really downtrodden and ignored members of our community, who made sure we have a beatifull pool with a dignified dressing room in Oholei Torah to send our kids three times a week, who raised SIGNIFICANT money towards Camp Scholarships, who sent widows to Israel, who organized Chanukah trips including gelt for everyone, so poor kids could also get gelt on Chanuka!! I could go on and on, show me ONE elected member who has done anything NEAR this? I want them back!!
#10
Thank you for setting the record straight.
Its a used tactic for them to repeat lies enough times and change history.
When no-one stands up to them it just seeps into the communal imagination as fact.
The problem is that people in the know don’t want to go into the dirt and dignify the propaganda with a response.
Anyway, thanks
Avi
I am not overly involved in the going ons in crown heights, however, i found the apology more self promotion then an actual apology.
Just my opinion (take it or leave it, most people leave it :-) )
R. Berl Haskelevich
10 “Excuse me?”,
Well, maybe it’s true, that he gave out money.
Of course, the money was taken from our pockets, from the poor, as the unaffordable prices for kosher meat have made it impossible for the poor to enjoy a Shabbos meal.
There is Zedaqa that is distributed according to Halacha. If Zedaqa is NOT distributed in a just way, it may become bribery. It’s true that Rub’askin got elected because he didtributed food to on Simchas Torah and other occasions, but it became an asset for hom to run for Vaad Haqohol. That could possibly mean that his former charities were outright bribes.
Ruba’skin with his money divided the Rabbonim (and one Rov called him openly “corrupt”!). He divided the community. It was a return of Fisherism. However, I remember the Rebbe saying, that:
This Schuno will be built NOT ON MONEY, BUT ON ACHDUS (UNITY)!
To Rubshkin when one Rov disagreed with him he publicly declared in a signed letter, that we need new Rabbonim and with our money organized elections!
I personally said Mazaltov when he was elected, and reminded him that he was elected to make peace! When he intensified the Machlokes to his advantage, I personally warned him that he will have a deep downfall. He did tshuvo since, but a little bit too late.
The Rebbe said in a sicho that he speaks only as a resident of this schuno. The Rebbe is with us, still a resident, and the King makes decisions. It is our duty to follow the Rebbe’s Sichois, of course in a democratic way: Umalchusoi BROTZON qiblu aleihem.
We voluntarily VOTE for the King! For the Rebbe!
Good Shabbos, “Excuse me?”
J.S.
Berl,
Either your smoking your cholent or your cholent is smoking.
But I am beginning to think that you’re not only crazy, but also dangerous.
Just saying.
bribes?
Bribes? to the poor? and after he was elected? you make absolutely no sense.
back to the future
let’s see this new Vaad match or be superior to Moshe Rubashkins vaad and let’s see this community flourish and be well taken care of, specially at this critical time of recession. Go New Vaad!