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Op-Ed: The Key to Peace in the Crown Heights

by Mottel

A week has gone by since an “Installation Ceremony” crowned Rabbi Yosef Braun as the third member of the Crown Height’s Beis Din. The event, the culmination of months of backroom deals, private negotiations and heated public debate, should have brought an end to the discord and fighting that has plagued our community. Yet all was not as it seemed. Rabbi Osdoba, the senior member of the Beis Din, made a simple request – that Rabbi Braun show the two smichas mentioned in the psak. His request unfulfilled, Rabbi Osdoba was absent from the installation.

What happened, and what does all of this mean to us?

At the time I watched the proceedings, as they were streamed live over the Internet, from my home. I debated the proceedings online with my friends. Over a week has gone by since the installation, and my feelings and ill-ease with the situation have not subsided. If anything, the issues that trouble me have grown. Upon seeing the latest revelation, the misinformation fed to Rabbi Amram Klein – as revealed in a recent letter revealed to the public – I feel that we can remain silent no longer.

Before continuing, by means of full disclosure, I’ll be upfront and say that I did not vote for Rabbi Braun. I was bothered by his lack of experience, unimpressed by his campaign that focused more on his prowess as a mashpia, as a youthful figure with the ability to reconnect with the estranged younger generations, than on his knowledge of psak. What is more, I found the campaign around him to be dirty and dishonest. I was bothered that he was being propelled forward by mudslinging, yet when asked about his campaign, he pleaded ignorance of any organized effort on his behalf. Kolel Yungeleit were tricked into signing what was supposed to be a private letter to the two existing rabbonim, that was then falsely circulated as an endorsement for Rabbi Braun. I was not impressed.

That all being said, I’m a firm believer in the democratic process.The transition of power to the winning party, even if not of one’s chosen candidate, is one of the most powerful aspects of the democracy. As such, as we entered the new year, I was ready to accept Rabbi Braun as the third Rov.

Unfortunately, the lack of transparency – if not the utter turbidity – that plagued Rabbi Braun’s campaign came rearing to an ugly front. Rabbi Braun’s very qualifications as a rov were called into question. All that was needed was for Rabbi Braun to furnish the necessary documents, show the world that he did indeed posses the necessary smicha, and it would have ended there. Instead the issue lingered. When a psak was finally issued by the Zablo Beis Din, it did not posses the signatures of the five rabbis involved. Documents – including the very smicha that was claimed to be universally legitimate and acceptable to all – were not made public. Rabbi Yoel Kahn, the Rebbe’s chozer, and Reb Pinye Korf signed with others on an open letter to Rabbi Rosenberg asking that he provide the transparency that we, the residents of Crown Heights, deserve.

As such, though the possibility to nominally install Rabbi Braun as rov in Crown Heights existed, clearly something was rotten in the state of Kan Tziva.

Here is where everything breaks down for me:

Watching the ceremony that Sunday night, I was shocked by the cognitive dissonance of the events organizers. The speeches focused again and again on achdus, on the unity that was so long needed in Crown Heights finally coming. Yet looking at those seated at the head table and speaking from the dais, all I saw were the same tired faces that took part in the machlokes that initially tore our community apart. Were it not for the yeshivah bochurim schlepped in to inflate the crowd’s size and the Hungarian Rabbonim brought in as friends of the Braun family (some victims of the fore mentioned subterfuge), those gathered would have been incredibly monolithic. I mean no respect to those who gathered, but their cries of unity were cynical and hollow.

If the night of 12 Shevat were truly one of unity, then where were so many of the rabbonim of our community? Where was Rabbi Heller? What about Rabbi Garelik? Where were Rabbis Yisroel Friedman or Gerlitzky? What about the mashpiim? Where was Reb Yoel Kahn? Reb Sholom Charitonow or Pinye Korf? Was Rabbi Yossi Jacobson there? Where were Rabbis Gronner or Simpson? What about Rabbi Shmuel Butman and other members of Tzach?

Unity would be when two opposing forces are brought together, by a third higher power, negatinf the source, or at least the expression, of the conflict. What we witnessed that Sunday night was not unity, but rather a self-congratulatory and strictly partisan affair. It’s insulting to the intelligence of the inquisitive observer when the self-adulation and empty speeches that were preached to the choir were passed off as unity.

Again and again friends have told me that it’s time to give Rabbi Braun a chance. That this was our last great chance at peace, and that my questions were only serving to continue the fight.

Truth be told, this has nothing to do with Rabbi Braun the man – at least not to me. I’m sure he is a well-meaning and learned individual. My issue is with the lack of transparency and deceit that makes the very legitimacy and possibility of giving Rabbi Braun the chance he deserves! The simple act of full disclosure and honest conversation will bring an end to this debacle. Until that time, however, we remain hostage to the machinations of the rabble-rousers that wish to break the very foundations of the community they claim to aid.

Ponder this: although Zaki showed a spirit of compromise – agreeing to continue with the installation, while delaying the actual signing of Rabbi Braun’s contract leaving time for the smichas to be produced. The other members of the Va’ad, however, went behind the collective backs of Rabbi Osdoba, Zaki and the entire community, signing the contract with Rabbi Braun. Why Rabbi Braun was unable to wait a few weeks, so that the signing of his contract be accepted by all parties involved, is beyond me.

Information wants to be free. It is the basis of the modern era of free exchange and thoughts in which we live. It is the foundation of democracy and the bane of communism and fascism. What is more yemos hamoshiach are the very epitome of transparency and honesty – a time when knowledge will fill the entire world.

Therefore we must ask Rabbi Braun:

Please end partisan fighting and politics once and for all. Rabbi Braun – to help bring the peace and unity that I’m sure you also want – as a first step, please release the documents in connection with this case.

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75 Comments

  • well said

    well said. in other words nothing changed and its worse then when the din torah started

  • Eh

    So what I’m getting from this article is that the key to peace in CH is Rabbi Braun’s smicha. What is it, the Holy Grail?! CH’s problems go far beyond Rabbi Braun’s smicha, or even the Rabbi himself.

    Mottel, I think this is the 2nd or 3rd op-ed you’ve written about controversial CH issues. While I admire your desire to make sure no issue gets swept under the proverbial rug, there is a saying you should keep in mind before writing again: “Those who know don’t speak, and those who speak don’t know.” There are at least 2 sides to every story, and in CH there are usually 5 or 6.

  • cele

    very well written, respectful, intelligent, and we needed to hear this. Thanks for letting us know that theres someone out there with a head on his shoulders

  • josh

    Excellent! Could have not said it better. And like the Rebbe told the Hey Teves lawyers (tochen, not words): “from the way that B. took the books, i.e. clandestinely, you can see what his ”motive“ was…” VEDA”L….

  • Shana

    I am not sure if he has Simcha or not, but he is a Boki. Half of the people who are weighing in on this probably don’t remember half of what they learned when they were studying Smicha. Braun either can give you an answer straight away to any question or will know precisely where to look it up. Don’t you want a Rov who is knowledgeable to be taking over the reigns in your community?

  • BigBen

    Mottel nice article, but don’t be naive Brown is a puppet of Hendil and the Gang.
    Just like you I did not vote for him and just like you I did not attend the (shamfull) “Installation”. I saw some clip on line and you can see how uncomfortable Rabbi Schwei and the others were on that stage.
    The whole ceremony was a farce and Browns speech was full of gaiveh and “in your face” style. Why would any normal person leave a beautifull city in Australia to settle in the CH ghetto? (Specially when most residents do not welcome you.) Things must be pretty bad in his town for him to make this move.
    Don’t hold your breath waiting to see his smichah, he will not show it because he ain’t got it.

    We shoiuld demand our money back from R. Rosenburg he made matters worse not better.

  • open your eyes

    Open youe eyes. It seems that osdaba can’t work with anyone. He wants complete contol of all funds from Kashrus etc, and wants his sons to keep the jobs that he put them in. Ask Rabbi Heller if osdaba got him to leave- Of course he blamed it on his wife’s illness – but that was only a face saving excuse. Osdaba can’t work with Rabbi Schwei, Now is is still fighting Rabbi Braun. When Osdabama resigns there will be peace.

  • Dovid

    This whole debate is completed flawed in that the question is on whether Rabbi Braun has Yoreh Yoreh. Even if you would count those letters of recommendation as Yoreh Yoreh he does not have Yadin Yadin! The main point of a bais din is on issues on monetary and property. Or if you will to be an arbitrator. I am sure Braun if he took an official smicha test for Yoreh Yoreh would have no issue passing. A Rov of a shul or a melamid in yeshiva or a mashpia is one thing. However we are talking about a Rov of a community and the issues that a Rov of a bais din is confronted with are very serious. He has no qualifications to make a psak din on monetary issues. Would it make sense for someone to teach a shiur in Samech Vov if that person barely understands Tanya? No rational person could support Braun under these circumstances.

  • Milhouse

    There is nothing democratic about a 10-day campaign for a lifetime appointment. Even had he won with no shenanigans, the result would have been tainted. But with the way he has treated the community for the past four months he has become completely unacceptable.

    What’s more, even if R Osdoba were to announce tomorrow that he’d finally been shown the documents and examined them and they appear to be genuine smichos from before the elections, it will not change a thing. First of all, he must show them to the whole community, not just to one person. I no more trust R Osdoba than I do the rest of these people; I shouldn’t HAVE to trust anyone. When someone asks me to trust him, instead of showing me what I need to see in order to make an informed decision, he’s playing me for an idiot. And I don’t take kindly to that. I WILL NOT TAKE ANYBODY’S WORD for the existence and validity of these so-called smichos. As far as I’m concerned it’s obvious that there is something fishy about them, if they exist at all.

    Second, even if he were now to publish the smichos on the web, with the originals to be examined by a neutral document expert, it would no longer make a difference. He must also explain why he has jerked us around for so long. Otherwise, regardless of how many smichos he may have, and how learned he may be, he is unfit to be a rov in a community for which he has shown such contempt.

  • LOL!

    In Judaism we have this thing called Hallacha, are you (the author) familiar with it?

    Hallacha says that when Torah obervant Jews have a dispute, they solve their dispute in a duly assembled beis din.

    In the present case, both sides, prior to the psak and on their own free will, agreed to abide the psak, whatever it may turn out to be. Further, both sides agreed to designation of Rabbi Rosenberg as the neutral party. Accordingly, the zabla was duly assembled.

    The beis din paskened that R’Broin was Kosher. Rabbi Osdoba, the author of this paper and anyone who refuses to abide the psak are subject to a siruv.

    Choshen Mishpat section 11 and 26 clearly dictate the pusnishment… excommunication!

    Yoreh Deah 334 futher explains that the kehilla is not allowed to have any dealings with those who are in contempt of a psak, they are not be even be counted in a minyan.

    I strongly suggest to the author of this paper, who coveniently hides in the anonimity of a first name, to study hallacha and to be careful in making such baseless demands.

    Torah says the issue is over because a duly constituted beis din has paskened the issue resolved, who are YOU to demand the that proceedings continue?

  • Danny

    Regrettably, Mottel, you got it right. We are dealing with a most inept group of self-serving “leaders” from both camps. But, it would not have been any different had the other side “won.” Let’s go out an smoke some weed,and chug a power drink laced with Stoli with our kids. They seem to have the future of CH right, too! Power to the Porsche drivers!

  • What?

    “The other members of the Va’ad, however, went behind the collective backs of Rabbi Osdoba, Zaki and the entire community, signing the contract with Rabbi Braun.”

    This is the first we are hearing about this. Can anyone clarify this? If it is true, it seems to me that such a piece of paper could be used in the Bais Hakisa, and I don’t mean as reading material.

  • IN THE KNOW

    This is a joke. Zaki actually conned the other members into signing contract. He also conned Rabbi osdaba, by telling him, he wouldnt sign a contract, making him assume the contract wouldnt get signed at all, and then issued a meeting with the other vaad members and had them sign. Only later did they find out that zaki didnt join them in the signing of the contract. He did this so he would look good in the eyes of every one else, whilst in fact he was the one who pushed for it to be signed.

    The situation is crwon heights is so backward and so many twisted stories, i actually have given up hope. Rabbi Braun did not push for the contract to be signed. Zaki did.

    So whilst you wrote an nice article, you didnt actually have all your facts straight.

  • Rabbi Mattis Kantor, Eastern Parkway, NY

    Excellent and well written article, covering most of the essential points.

    However, the most vital issue for this shchunah was not only not addressed, but in fact circumvented.

    The Rebbe said (in the only unanimously accepted “Tzavaa”) that chassidim should take their “issues” and “questions” to a Chassidishe Rov and/or Beis Din.

    The Rebbe also made it patently clear that he wanted every chosid to have smicha before he was married.

    For 10+ years, Braun ignored this request. No one contests that fact. (That he ignored the overwhelming evidence that the Rebbe was extremely negative to relocations, when the person wasn’t even tending a flock – that we overlooked at the time of the election, because there is no clear evidence of an outright Horaa Klallis. But after the election we find out that he ignored the smicha Horaa. That is misrepresenttion of the highest order. A Vizhnitzer Chosid cannot grasp the significance, at the least.)

    So the Rosenberg “psak” claims that in every election there is misrepresentation and cannot be cause for a re-election process.

    This claim is so amazing that it makes the elephant in the room look like a midget mouse under the table. In an election for a Chassidishe Rov, who for all intents and purposes will be empowered by the Rebbe to “represent his answers”, a position for life, he compares to a secular election on TV? He actuially compares it to the short-term election of the Vaad HaKohol, which shares nothing in common with this – except the locale and the electors.

    Shoymu Shomayim. There is no need to be concerned about ad hominem in dicussing this fraud perpetrated by Braun himself. He is the fraud. He was the fraud. And now he will be the Rebbe’s “representative” and the “peacemaker” of Crown Heights? (Are we to rejoice that no-one take the Horaa of going to Rabbonim seriously? Is that not a teen-turnoff hypocrisy?)

    Reb Anonymous-OpEd, why do you avoid the obvious. No one says he had smicha before Rabbi Tziner came to Sydney a few years ago. He was giving smicha without having smichs himself – by his own admission that Tzinner signed his ta the time he signed his Talmidim.

    Unfortunately the fault also lies with those who knew him as a bocher and were silen. Rabbi Gerlitzky would have done justice to the Koved HaAdnmur, the Rebbe, had he considered the eyss laasois LaHashem, Heyfeyru Torasecha. He and others performed the Litvishe style Loshon Hora mitzva. Great. Do that do that in the hours of schmoozing before davennen also. Ot doh chapt on der Yetzer Tov? Hmmm.

    Furthermore, a persion, a “gaon” a Boki bekol“ couldn’t spend the few hours to do it? And why did he do it now? For the paper. So why did he not request a follow up of the ”real“ thing on stationery with a date etc.? More amazing: He didn’t inform anyone in Sydney that he had just received smicha. They were under the impression he didn’t have until after the election etc.

    Yes, the Hungarian saying is ”Bemokoym she’eyn ish, is herring oych a fish“. This is not herring, it is the real thing. Unrefrigerated fish.

    Roseberg actually invalidates the election in one simple concept he has introdueced: A vote for Braun was a vote that Rabbi Tzinner was a liar. How many would have voted for that? About as many Baleh Batim who came to the ”mock-Hachtarah”. (Didn’t Oholei Torah have a mock-Seder last year? For chassidisheh kids. So here we are… Waiting shtumerheyd for the Moshiach to come bail us out.

    P.S. What is this about a signed contract? Without Zaki? Who? Brownstein and Hackner. Shver tzu gloiben.

  • oiss vorff

    big deal let Re, sheviay and REb krouse give him smecah now ? wat the heck enough,,, and we will have another party 4 the boys in 770

  • naft

    why cant we do things right once and for its looks terible esis shon genugchevre bang you heds to gether and do things right not children what s going on

  • CONTRACT WAS SIGNED

    Contract was signed as braun did not agree to hachtara without a signed contract. Of course they kept this very q

  • Maybe learn instead...

    Echh. More fluff and nonsense.

    BTW – The contract story is B*******. More heresay and rumors.

  • Double Helix

    Very few posters are without preconceived prejudices’.
    The Smicha issue is a valid concern, to be adjudicated on by the Din Torah. If R Braun has proved his bona fides satisfactorily to the DT, that is sufficient. Was every document or oral evidence that was submitted to the DT put to such scrutiny? Unlikely. But this has become a convenient pressure point to discredit the process. Going down swinging.

    The constant references to Sydney and it’s bitter machloikes are only distortions of the truth and the ramblings of baalei machloikes who will utilize any opportunity to continue the machloikes to enhance their egos and inflate their own relevance in the community. R Braun filled a breach, he was young but stood up and helped build a new community from the depressed and abused anash. R Braun built, did not destroy. He didn’t involve himself with or continue machloikes, he re-established anash. He did over time, with much effort, bridge the gap between the two factions and establish a calmer more rational relationship. He was not afraid to disagree with his own baali battim when it involved the chinuch of his children, at possible severe detriment to himself. He has brought stability to a fractured, factional dysfunctional city.

    As a Rov of a growing community he displayed empathy, sensitivity, respect and approachability. He paskens shailos with Yiras Shomayim and bittul, while displaying gaonis in halacha etc.

    If R Braun didn’t have smicha or shimush why would he have accepted this position 10 years ago? Would he ignore halacha and it’s protocols to such a level for some ulterior motive? Would R Braun pasken on shailos of kashrus if he was not entitled to? Would R Braun pasken and take the responsibility on shailos of Taharas Hamishpocho, knowing full well the ramifications of any psak?

  • Obama 1 lesson

    Rabbi Braun ran a smicha program in Sydney.
    Why do you think he doesn’t have smicha?

    President Barak Obama (Who i believe is a horrible President) was challenged by the republicans, that he wasn’t born in the USA (which would disqualify him as president)
    Did the president show his birth certificate? No. Why not if he has one just show it. The reason he didn’t show it because he didn’t want to even recognize there stupidity, he realized it was just 1 stupid thing that would lead to the next.

  • who cares about what lets have agoodtime

    the lack of professionalism the crown heights commmuity has displayed in the past is a chilull hashem, yet rabbi braun will not be able to remedy the past situations if he is as much a victim of “the new york state of mind” as everyone else, yes new york is a great place yet it is also a place that needs to be less stubborn, it isn’t a matter of being right, it is a matter of “is it going to work out alright for all of us” the big boat wants to participate for the shabbos gedolah and there must be seder and shalom, shalom and seder, at ben gurion airport a woman with children asked by the airlines for address information calmly wrote 770 Eastern Parkway. is that vahavta lrayacha kamocha

  • to # 10

    The agreement that was signed at the Din Torah was for a psak according to Halacha and specifically NOT a Pshara. The Psak was a conglomerate of Boich Svaros so it is not binding. Furthermore even in areas where possible they din’t give sources of Heichan Dantuni!

    Rosenberg is a money hungry Shagetz if he didn’t recluse himself from a case that he was a Nogeah Bedavar after he messed up first by violating the Psak (age & time) & then by not checking his credentials.

    There’s a major point being overlooked. If Braun was elected on false pretenses then it is a Mekach Taus. Everything after that is irrelevant.

    This Kehilla needs to get an Ikul on any imposition of Rosenberg’s sole decision (no other Rav signed it & he is not trustworthy to convey their opinion). Without that we are doomed to more & possibly greater Machloikes Leolam Voed.

  • Direct from Sydney

    The intellectual level of Braun defenders defies description.

    Over and over. Nocha amol un vidder amol the same distortions.

    Rabbi Kantor present the most important issue: He cannot be the Chassidisher Rov who we go to. Sydney knew he didn’t have smicha (to double Helix) and he was only hired to lead a breakaway from the local shliach after the fact (when they needed cover.) That congregation (under his leadership) has dwindled from som 50+ families to scraping for a minyan on Shabbos morning.

  • lloyd a cohen

    All this reminds me of the old adage: “The More Things Change–The More they Remain The Same!!!!!!!”

  • Rabbi Rosenbergs Original Psak Din

    I agree with #7, #10 and #21, you couldn’t have said it better.

    I would just like to ad 1 point that was not mentioned here yet, in regard to what was touched on by comment #7 as to why Rabbi Heller quit and I know that what he said is 100% true.

    Osdoba is by nature not a Team Player and he doesn’t get along with anyone unless he has unilateral control and everyone else is subservient to him.

    Rabbi Marlow was not afraid of Osdoba and stood his ground against him and Osdoba didn’t “go along”, instead, he refused to work together with him and just “walked away” and let Rabbi Marlow be in charge of Kashrus “all alone” because Osdoba just doesn’t know how to work together with people as a Team Player.

    During the Din Torah of the Zabla, Rabbi Rosenberg asked everyone to leave the room and he negotiated with Rabbi Schwei and Osdoba directly asking them if there is any way to reconcile as follows:

    Rabbi Rosenberg asked Rabbi Schwei if he can agree to work together with Osdoba. Rabbi Schwei answered that to begin with he never had any problem working together with him only that Osdoba stubbornly refuses.

    Next Rabbi Rosenberg turns to Osdoba and asks him if there is any way to reconcile where Osdoba would agree to work with Rabbi Schwei. Osdoba flatly refused and said that there is no chance and Osdoba refuses to work together no matter what and no matter which conditions and no matter what concessions may me made.

    Osdobas MO is “It’s either my way or the high way”

    Rabbi Rosenberg’s Original Psak din stipulated that after the Elections of the 3d Rav, then all 3 Rabbonim will have to work together and if anyone of them says he can’t (mmm guess who that might be???) than that Rav will be ousted.

    So far there is no indication yet of Osdoba conceding defeat and so far Osdoba is factualy (by his actions) in SIRUV (in defiance) of the Psak Din.

    Although an Official Siruv has yet to be issued against Osdoba in this Psak Din, but so far his behavior is practically “asking for it”.

  • To # 15

    “He and others performed the Litvishe style Loshon Hora mitzva.”

    Why are you saying Loson Horah on a group of Yidden, just becuse they are not like U, where did that come in. PLease moderate this sentence, totally out of place

  • Dayonus

    To #5, Shana:

    Rabbi Braun may well indeed be a boki in shas, but that doesn’t mean he’s boki or even semi-proficient in halocho.
    When he anonymously wrote a psak in reply to a certain Beis Din, the general consensus about the author (from Dayonim and Poskim) was: “He knows how to learn, but halocho he doesn’t know!”
    So yes, regardless of his smicha (because anybody in Lubavitch can have smicha) he doesn’t have shimush or any experience in halachic matters.
    Yodin Yodin isn’t a pr-requisite to be appointed as a Rov in Crown Heights, and he can learn that later, but shimush is!

  • sam

    my humble opinion,
    I think the writer makes a good point. The faces up there were the same machloikes ridden people crying for unity (yawn!!) Those same people there have been the masterminds of the split in Lubavitch to create a segment of lubavitch (mostly Crown Heights) where they could be “head table sitters”. the only end to this machloikes will be undoing the crazy shameful machloikesin these people started all the in the name of the Rebbe and later in the name of “Kovod harabonim” (interestingly these people are throwing one of the rabonim to the curb when he doesnt fit their agenda). Undo all their machloikes, Starting with taking off the Cheirim from Fischer, the Siruv on Rabbi’s Shemtov and Krinsky, stop their second Kinus hasluchim and we will have one Lubavitch. the Rabbonim of CH were manipulated into making all these machloikisin and the minute they dont continue to further the agenda they are dumped. End the Agenda.

  • Hendel

    i dont think the problem is Rabbi bruan the problem is mendy hendel and cronies. they are the real rubbish….

  • respect

    I am shocked to see Talmidei Chachomim being named by last names only, so disrespectfully. It leaves me wondering if Halacha and Torah is at all important to the writers, or they are just enjoying to make more machloikes. Wonder how their kids will turn out if they speak with such contempt about those who know much more than they do. Hellooooooo? Wake up and get your priorities straight. You may have a different opinion, money may be really important to you, but to throw away your yidishkeit and respect for Torah?! And you claim to actually care about doing things right?

  • Triple Helix

    I agree with my friend and learned colleague Double Helix.

    The bottom line is this – Rabbi Braun is a great guy, a “cool dude” in street lexicon, and will only be a benefit to the Crown Heights community. Crown Heights just has to WAKE UP and perceive this true reality.

    I recommend that those who don’t like it head inland – I hear Missouri is nice this time of year. And of course I mean that in the nicest possible way.

  • ATT: Rabbi Kantor

    Im going to be short and to the point!

    Your comment on an internet website is not going to change the current situation and can only worsen it!
    How can I say this? Based on your questions “Are we to rejoice that no-one take the Horaa of going to Rabbonim seriously? Is that not a teen-turnoff hypocrisy?)”

    Do you truthfully believe that what you have written in your comment will help teens (or anyone in the community) take the Rabbonim more seriously?

    I would think that if it bothered you so much that people should take Rabbonim seriously, challenging them would most definitely not be the way to do it!

    I know that my comment is not helping the situation, but since I’m not involved much with politics (which this has become) or a regular on Lubavitch websites I thought I should point that out.

    My wishes for only good!

    J

  • i watched on line did not vote for him

    to #21 first of all check with Rabbi Feldman in Sydney if he cried when he heard that braun was thinking of moving to CH. He even gave a glowing report and told others to keep quiet as this is a chance to get rid of him.
    1) the paper smicha is not so important. All my sons and my friends sons and nephews have that piece of paper but can not be a rav of any place. However, a rav needs it as it is required by the din. (almost as you need a license for certain positions even though you don;t really need it to do a great job. The problem is how he and his henchmen tried to fool us and to get him in as their inside man. These are the baal machlokes and those that unfortunately run lubavitch today. Can they not see what churbon they have caused? If braun had the least self respect he would pull out right now. How can we start a new rav that is the laughing stock of the frum world not only lubavitch?
    BTW an aside: why did his father blatently sit while the Rebbe’s kippital was said and eveyone was standing? To show what he thinks of us

  • So Many Questions

    How can someone who didn’t have Smicha give Smicha to other people?

    How can the women who brought shaalohs to someone without the QUALIFICATIONS to pasken sleep easy now?

    How can we trust someone who made outrageous financial demands for a job he’s not qualified to hold?

    How can we trust someone who has been bought & paid for to judge fairly?

  • fightin- for nufin-

    Please stop fighting.
    So there’s another Rov in town.
    Don’t like it?
    Then don’t go to him for questions.
    Big deal.
    No one died from another Rov.
    Many have died from your fighting.
    Please stop fighting so hard for nothing.
    You’re killing us all.

  • TO #15 - Rabbi M. Kantor

    TO: Rabbi Kantor shlita
    I see that you are a person who is very concerned for Lubavitch and you are bothered by what is going on. I also see that you clearly have Rabbi Rosenberg’s number. I am sure, as a smart man, you realize that with words alone nothing ca be accomplished. Isn’t there something “l’maaseh” – action that you can take while there is still time to get Rabbi Rosenberg to call for new elections?

  • Shlucha99

    To #21
    You said “He has brought stability to a fractured, factional dysfunctional city.”

    There’s no stability here, just a few people creating the illusion of it.

    In Sydney, if you have a shailah, you ask it on the internet.

  • No Bais din Muvock

    He dosen’t want to show us or Usdiba his smecha because we will look at the date which showes after election – thus calling for new elections.

    Bottom line is we have a rov and bais din which are questionable ie If I get a hazmona you can say “don’t have to go.” as per your senor rov himself!

  • Hwye Knott

    Rabbi Braun need not show his Smicha to anyone other than to the Zabla Beis Din, and then only if requested. The Beis Din accepted by all (before seeing the Psac Din!) stated Rabbi Braun’s Smicha is in order. While Rabbi Osdoba is free to question this decision, he is not free to reject it. He needs to get with the Halacha and accept the Psac, or ship out. Maybe far out.

    Far out.

  • What happens in Kaan Tztiva

    I think Rabbi Braun wiill present his smicha on the day President Obama releases his birth certificate!!!!!!

  • Silly children

    smicha or no smicha – that’s not the problem. The REAL problem is all the lashon hara on this issue. Did any of YOU get a psak to write the trash above? nebach. We had elections. You don’t like the results? too bad. Obama is still our president, whether you voted for him or not. We have a 3rd Rav. Baruch Hashem. Get used to it. Oh, and try to grow up a bit.

  • hmmm...

    notice how whenever rabbis shvei & braun are mentioned, even by their opposition, they are called “rabbi”. However it seems that their party’s how absolutely no respect, for every time Rabbi Osdeba is mentioned, they leave out “Rabbi”.

    just pondering…

  • Dear Rabbi

    Rabbi Kantor ir hot farshpetikt dem tzuk. Blame your kids for not letting you run un yitzter est ir uf dos hartz.

    Nothing will help, the people spoke the Bais Din paskened it’s a done deal.

    It’s only causing machloikes and teaching our kids not to listen to a psak.

    We already saw the biggest chilul Hashem done when certain people went to erkoos after they wern’t sitisfyed with a psak and they were put in niduy.

    Enough is enough!

  • Halacha says: No Respect if in SIRUV

    To comment #37 who wonders why someone may be called only by his last name and why the entire community had lost all respect for him:

    According to Shulchan Aruch and Halacha someone who is a Talmid Chacham deserves our respect BUT provided that he follows the Psak Din of a Din Torah which binding upon him.

    Shulchan Aruch says that someone who refuses to Listen to a Psak Din, effectively in Siruv or if he is plsaced in to Cherem for not listening to the Psak Din, then this prior tamid chochom no longer should be getting any respect at all whatsoever from anyone.

  • CR

    In watching the back-and-forth on this issue I am starting to see the two “sides” as engaging in an elaborate Kecak dance; a Balinese trance performance in which dancers re-enact a war between their A“Z figures with monkey-like chants and waving of the hands.

    VD”L

  • GERLITSKY/KORF

    THIRS A GOOD RESIN WHY R GERLITSKY AND R KORF SIGND.
    BROIN WAS IN O.T AND THEY KNOW HIM TO WELL. anough said

  • attendance

    Rabbi Heller does not attend any event (even Rabbi marlows shloshim).
    Rabbi Groner was out of town.

  • Please !!!

    I think it’s about time Rabbi Osdoba and his Dayonim come out with an halachik rulling why he is not accepting the Zablo decision or get a rulling from a respected Beis Din to this regard. There is no point continuing this way keeping the machloikes going. Using the Vaad Hakohol and respected chasidim, mashpim and ramim like Reb Yoel and Reb A. Gerlitzky is not the way to show example to the bochrim. We all saw all the letters written by Rabbi Osdoba and others. I think there is strong basis in the taynos so why not do it the right way and cause less machloikes, losho horah and gossip?!!!

  • Our Smicha

    I am really sick an tired of everyone bashing our Smicha

    Please note that this was and is, the smicha program set up by the Rebbe. In 770, the Rebbe’s yeshiva.

    Anyone who trashes it, is trashing Lubavitch and should be removed from any position of authority.

    This includes R’ Rosenburg who crossed the line when demeaned the learning in Lubavitch (like all the other Sonei Chabad)

    And anyone who disregards getting Smicha, who is in a position to achieve it – is simply disregrding our Rebbe’s wishes.

    All I know is that I received smicha and I exhorted my sons to get it as per the Rebbe’s Horaah.

    Am I now a naive idiot? I mean, my kids could have cut out of yeshiva etc etc. instead of learning.

    And they still could have become the Rov of the main community of Chabad!

    What kind of signal has this sent to our our sons? To our community? to the world?

    Have we become so debased that we sell the Kehuna Gedola to the highest bidder? Oy meh haya lanu!

  • Derech Eretz Kadma L-Torah

    All these comments about a beis din poskuning and the necessity to accept it belies the fact that this din Torah DEFIES common sense.
    While it may be true that those who signed on the din Torah may be bound by it, at least to the extent that they themselves can’t protest, it’s time for those who have voiced legitimate questions as to the conditions violated by Rosenberg to institute a din Torah with regard to his conduct in this matter. All the talk in the world about what was promised and what was not delivered by Rosenberg and his beis din means nothing without action. All those who voiced dissatisfaction with this psak din, it’s time to put up. .

    Step up and call Rosenberg to a din Torah and end this madness.

  • YWN

    Please, once and for all – Will Barack Hussein Obama please show us his birth Certificate?!

    :)

  • this community

    these comments are an indication that Rabbi Braun has his work cut out for him.
    this is the first time i really understand how sad the level of mentchlechkeit is in this community.
    i think it is time to leave,
    i really thought now that Rabbi Braun has been voted in,
    A mentsch First Class!
    that things may improve.
    i dont think we deserve him
    hate to say it.
    chaval mamash
    may Hashem protect you all – esp all the Loshon Horoniks

  • to #28 January 27 2011 - 00:45 -

    #28 January 27 2011 – 00:45 –

    You are a flat out liar! No other way to describe you.

    1)What you write about Rav Heller is just an outright lie.

    When Rav Heller’s wife was sick the big-kovod-horabonim-vaad-hakohol under the leadership of Paltiel/Shpielman were nowhere to be found, and Rav Heller got all his support from the so called Fisheristen, that’s when he realized that there is no kehila, and that he only serves as Paltiel/Shpielman’s stick with which to hurt others, otherwise they have no use for him, that’s why he quit. Period.

    2)What you write about Rav Marlow is plain crap.

    Rav Marlow never discussed his differences with any of his colleagues to anyone, and yblcht“a Rav Osdoba had no interest in getting involved as a part time Rav in any of the ongoing issues, so it’s easy for you to slander Rav Marlow when he can’t defend himself.

    And just for the record, Rav Marlow passed away with back pay owed to him for 3 full years, that’s 150k, plus a 150k medical bill that was supposedly to be paid by the vaad hakohol of Paltiel-Shpielman-Nash-Chazan & co.

    This just illustrates what the Rabbonim had to endure under the tyrany of the vaad hakohol of Paltiel-Shpielman-Nash-Chazan & co.

    3)Finally here you go with the best lie, ala Goebbels:

    ”Next Rabbi Rosenberg turns to Osdoba and asks him if there is any way to reconcile where Osdoba would agree to work with Rabbi Schwei. Osdoba flatly refused and said that there is no chance and Osdoba refuses to work together no matter what and no matter which conditions and no matter what concessions may me made.”

    Anybody who read the Psak will see that Rosenberg writes the exact opposite, Rosenberg claims that both Rabbonim, Schwei & Osdoba both said that they can work together (which worked against Rav Osdoba, but that’s another issue).

    So you and your ilk, who claim kovod horabonim, and know how to lecture Rav Osdoba, and who shamelessly know to accuse Rabbi Bogomilsky of R’ Marlow’s murder, I would venture to say that you are the ones who are guilty of all of the above.

    You are guilty of forcing Rav Heller out of the Badatz, and I will have the gall to accuse you of what you accuse Rabbi Bogomilsky. You guys definitely contributed to rav Marlow’s unhealthy condition and possibly worse.

    Proof? When Rav Marlow was sick and dying, he asked you to work things out with Fisher, because he didn’t want to be connected to a Nidui in the other world (as it says in Seforim that its terrible for the Neshama), you guys tried to enlist Rav Osdoba against him to defy his dying request from you. I say you, because I know that the writer of #28 is one of them, no one else is so low and has such chutzpah.

    Shame on you!

    And we will enjoy box seats when the wars between you-Schwei-Braun-Hendel-Herzog-Sperlin-Sandhaus-Kraus-Poltorac-Schapiro & company will unfold speedily.

    Yechi Hamachlokes!

  • shliachxi

    As a close family friend of both horav heller andhorav marlow, i am aware that some ppl used mrs heller’s ilness as a way of playing n pressuring horav heler re fisher.
    R marlow who knew what tbe rebbeanswered by dollars to fjshers brither against fisher ensured they woukd nopulll same cruel gamto remlve the siruviw

  • TO: Y.B. SPIELMAN

    You got Rabbi Bogomilsky defeated because of kavod rabbonim. You got Shea Hecht defeated because of kavod rabbonim. You know very well tht the letter from Rav Yoel Kahn and the two other rabbonim is completely true. NO ONE has even attempted to refute it. Why are you not speaking up and invalidating the election of Rabbi Braun, which is completely against the words written in the sicha,as proven clearly in the letter from Rav Yoel Kahn, which therefore shows that the election is a complete Chilul Hashem.

    Please take care of the matter immediately, as you are very capable of doing, as proven in the past.

  • To #61

    Sorry, but to be quite honest

    “A mentsch First Class”:

    1) Would have been forthcoming and honest about his credentials
    2) Would have had more consideration of our community, knowing
    that the truth would eventually come out,
    and that we would be embroiled in yet another machlokes
    3) Would not have resorted to subterfuge for personal gain

    All sterling qualities for a Rov

    I could go on, but I think you get my point.

  • The Final Word

    If you look at the above photo carefully, you’ll notice that Rabbi Braun is wearing a rubber mask. In fact, it’s not Braun at all but the red head guy from Kol Tov!

    Be afraid. Be very afraid!

    And in other news, its snowing for a change in Crown Heights, solidified tears from our heavenly hosts as they struggle to comprehend the galactic meshugass that is Crown Heights politics.

    Let us lead by example. And the fools will wither away and move to Park Slope.

  • Judge Reade’s Charade & R Osdoba

    By now nearly everyone is convinced that Judge Reade was a corrupt Judge. But there is still one person left who doesn’t think that Judge Read is corrupt and that one and only person is Judge Read herself who sees nothing wrong with here Charade.

    Anyone who reads the recent ACLU and other criticism of the Judge Reade’s Charade in the Rubashkin case, can’t help but smile when they see how striking similar it is that we in CH also have such a Rabbinical Judge, who sees nothing wrong with his behavior of not attending the Hachtora while everyone else says that he ended looking like a real J.A. for not attending.

  • to #64

    i hear you,
    but there is a bigger picture
    which most fail to see
    he is obviously qualified – DAH!
    let’s get back to life and carry on!
    and forget all this garbage.
    YOU GUYS ARE SO ENGROSSED IN YOUR MIND,
    THAT YOU FORGET THAT YOU HAVE A HEART AND A NESHOMO.

  • Shame shame shame,

    Here is the reality!
    There are the thousands of shluchim and their families around the world who are fulfilling the Rebbe’s kavonois b’mesinoh and mesiras nefesh, therebye bringing the g’uloh closer, and there are those who are embroiled in machloikes and disssention, destroying the shechunoh of the Rebbe and causing the delay of the g’uloh.
    Which one are you? All the pompous individuals from shnei hatzdodim insulting, accusing and spewing sinah will have a lot to answer for, ultimaltey. Time for alter letshuvoh alter leg’uloh!!! Each one of us should be making this cheshbon hanefesh.

  • TO #68

    STOP SPEAKING NONSENSE! YOU SHOULD RE-THINK WHAT YOU WROTE, AND APOLOGIZE TO RABBI OSDOBA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

  • Still waiting

    I’m still waiting for clarification: Was a contract signed with Braun? If so, who signed it? When? Is a copy available for posting?

    Still waiting: For the other four ‘Rabbonim’ of the Zabla to explain, in writing, their side of the story, and if they agree or disagree with R’ Rosenberg.

    Still waiting: For R’ Rosenberg and the other four, and for the Vaad Hakohol, to answer R’ Osdoba, and to answer Rabbis Yoel Kahan, Berel Levin, and Avrohom Gerlitzky, and to answer all the concerned people of the community.

    Still waiting: For some explaination for the lying to R’ Amrom Klein to trick him into attending the ‘hachtara.’

    Still waiting: For Braun to produce his ‘smicha.’

    Still waiting: For those in power in Lubavitch to clean out the mess that 770 has become since the petirah of the Rebbe tz”l.

    How about some answers: NOW!

  • TOO VELTLICH!

    Everyone has gotten far too veltlich about all of this! How many other Rovs’ smicha has the general populace of CH demanded to see for themselves?

    If we asked for a ruling from a Beis Din about electing a third Rov, we are obliged to follow the ruling of that Beis Din!

    If there are those who refuse to honor that ruling, then nothing will ever satisfy them anyway. For example, if another Beis Din were to be called as an “appeals” process [l’havdil!] to the rulings of this Beis Din, then if someone disagrees with the “appeals” ruling (‘don’t know if this is how Jewish law is supposed to go anyway!), they’ll just find something to pick on about THAT “appeals” process, and so on!

    As respectable and worthy as the other candidates were, one had to be chosen to be the third Rov. If one of the others were elected instead, surely there would be malcontents who would (R”L) find something to pick on about THAT!

    We cannot allow ourselves to be dragged down to the low madrega of the secular system! We have to figure that we have who we have, and make the best of this. (No wonder there’s so much divorce these days!)

    Anyone who violently disagrees with the results of the election (or of any prior election of any other Rov) can take their shaalohs to another Rov out of town (or in town!), if they insist on doing that.

  • Double Helix

    I have held off from replying to the comments that were in direct response to my post. Predictably the Sydney putsch came out, with unsubstantiated and malicious comments. This is not the forum to debate the situation in Sydney, but suffice to say that R Braun was a calming influence and never inflamed the situation nor was he deliberately provocative.

    Try and see the bigger picture. CH will be a better place (eventually) because of this election.

  • Shmuel

    Rabbi Braun’s CHUTZPAH persists!!

    As days, weeks, months pass, we continue to have an UNCONSCIONABLE Rabbi as a member of the Beis Din of Crown heights.

    Simply stated, rabbi Braun is an OPPORTUNIST who literally ‘penetrated’ our community to exploit an opening on the court. Neither Rabbi Schwwi, nor rabbi Osboda could stand up to the Braun brand of chutzpah. Braun simply employs gangster-like tactics, with word twisting, and conniving.
    Such a shame to have that kind of character in our midst.

    However, life is not a vacuum, so the eventual expelling is likely. Too bad that some victims will be hurt in the process.

    Sadly stated.

    Shmuel Bergman esq

    . and for over a