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WATERLOO [WHOTV] — A jury is seated in the trial of former Agriprocessors executive Shalom Rubashkin, but his trip to and from the courthouse will be a long one.

KICKED OUT: Rubashkin Not Welcome in Black Hawk County Jail

WATERLOO [WHOTV] — A jury is seated in the trial of former Agriprocessors executive Shalom Rubashkin, but his trip to and from the courthouse will be a long one.

Rubashkin, who was convicted of federal fraud charges and now faces misdemeanor child labor charges, was originally going to stay at the Black Hawk County Jail because it was so close to the courthouse, but his demands proved to be too excessive, so he will instead stay at the Linn County facility in Cedar Rapids.

Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson says he spent weeks preparing for Rubashkin’s stay. Rubashkin, who is a Hasidic Jew, has certain religious dietary requirements which Thompson says he met. “We certainly did our homework and asked our food vendor to do their homework,” Sheriff Thompson says, “They’re headquartered in Minneapolis, so they got in touch with a synagogue out there and discussed specifically about Hasidic Judaism and what their needs and requirements would be.”

But Thompson says that wasn’t good enough for Rubashkin. “And he looked very blandly at us and said ‘I’ll not eat what you prepared. I will tell you what I am going to eat.’ So right off the bat we knew we had a bit of an issue with him,” the sheriff says.

The demands didn’t stop there, the sheriff says. Rubashkin had to be carried everywhere he went because he refused to walk without his sacred undergarments. Thompson eventually let him have those, but refused to allow a chest full of robes and leather straps that were potentially dangerous.

“For me to kowtow to one inmate’s, uh, I hate to call them needs. I think I’m gonna call them wants. For me to kowtow to an inmates wants when that inmates needs were planned for; they were prepared for, they certainly could have been met, we just weren’t willing or ready to travel down that road.”

Rubashkin is expected to face 25 years to life when he’s sentenced on the federal charges on May 28th.

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25 Comments

  • Mrs D Unsdorfer

    In England he would be entitled to religious requirements, particularly since he hasn’t been convicted, TG and he has rights like anyone else. What is this??

  • Milhouse

    “Yossi”, you clearly have no idea what “chilul hashem” and “kiddush hashem” mean. On the contrary, this is the very definition of kiddush hashem: not compromising on shmiras hamitzvos, no matter how great the obstacles. Umordechai lo yichra velo yishtachaveh. When a Jew decides that he is not walking four amos without tzitzis, and tells the guards “you can do whatever you like but I am not walking”, that is by definition a kiddush hashem. And it makes not the slightest difference whether the goy is impressed by his commitment, or annoyed and angry at his defiance.

    The cringing mah yofis yid who defines his own worth by what the goyim think of him, is not a pretty picture and certainly not an attitude to perpetuate. CHILUL AND KIDDUSH HASHEM HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH MAKING GOYIM (OR JEWISH SHKOTZIM) HAPPY.

  • Milhouse

    If after “weeks of preparation” this sheriff still thinks tefillin are a “want” and not a need, that is the biggest proof that he doesn’t get it, and that the food he offered is unacceptable.

  • Charlie

    “America iz not different” in every aspect, antisemetism is one of those aspects.

  • CHT

    Who are you, mister officer, to tell what the religion demands? Also, yossi, never let anti-semites make you feel you are doing hillul hashem, I’ve been there.

  • Religious Oppression

    Where is Lipsker and Aleh Foundation with all these problems regarding Religious rights in prison????

  • Shluchim??

    I can’t for the life of me figure out why we don’t unite all Shluchim to speak up for this Bailis blood libel with their senators congress men etc. What are connections worth if not to help a fellow Yid Bais Tzarasa..

    We should also publisice this blatant un- justice in all the secular papers and make a big shturem about it. How can such antisemitism take place in the US of A in the year 2010????

    Shame on America!!!

  • aleaf

    I think they get it very well. By not giving in to his religious demands the prosecution created a wonder PR opportunity to again lynch Rubashkin through the media. The news video said it all…from the exploited underage workers forced to handle dangerous chemicals to the poor jailer who turned over heaven and earth to please an ungrateful Jewish criminal demanding better food, sacred undergarments and his leather straps. Can you imagine how this story will play with the Black Hawk County Jury members? Whoever is behind this tragic stage show is truly evil.

  • Ayesher Koach

    He is fighting the battel of any yid who may be simularly situated. Hashem should continue to give him strength.

  • Wanda Ring

    Get with it guys. There is a big difference between ignorance and anti-semetism. This yocal sheriff from the mid-West is poshet ignorant. Give him credit at least for being stupid. At least he tried to learn something about Yidishkeit, but appearently it was beyond him. Cut him a break. A lot of yidden don’t know about tefillin either. Besides, they CAN be used C”V to fashion a crude weapon. It is difficult to balance a frum yid’s needs in jail with safety. So, he failed. It’s a tough job.

  • Batya Sarah Zinderman

    This is clearly a civil liberties case now as the media is making Shalom Rubashkin look bad to the secular and non Jewish world because he is an Hasidic Jew. Their reporting is biased and doesn’t explain what his needs are or why. They make it look like he is spoiled and deserves to be harshly imprisoned. Are there any non Jews there who can speak up for Chasidus and educate the locals there about Jewish law? They have to at least try to understand in order to preserve his rights to observe.

  • To Milhouse from Lucky Charms

    Those anti-semites won’t let him even keep a pushka in his cell!!!

  • a sincere question

    Kiddush hashem not to walk daled amos without tzitzis, ok. But is it a kiddush hashem that landed him in jail in the first place? I’m just asking?

  • vv

    Moshiach now. Pretty much anti semetic. Let them try saying that about some Muslims’ Shmata on their head. They would never.

  • Rebbe, oy Rebbe, we need You!

    Rubashkin stated his simple Kosher requirements from the start. What could possibly take “weeks” to prepare? This is undeniably antisemitic propaganda! So ‘Yossi’ you might want to read up a little on this case to understand what is REALLY going on.

    To Milhouse: I greatly appreciate your comment, in particular the comparison to Mordechai Hatzaddik! May the Ahavas Yisrael of millions of Yidden all over the globe stand Rubashkin in good stead, for total release, and may we all greet Moshiach Tzidkainu NOW!!!

  • anti semites!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    anti semites! ymach shimom vezichrom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • elki

    I saw the video and felt sick — this cannot be happening in the U.S. Then I went on the original website and read comments — straight out of Germany, 1933-38 – leading up the slaughterhouses. My heart breaks for Sholom Mordechai being degraded in this way – that, too, sounds like Europe of old – humiliating rabbi’s first.
    I daven that the Ribbono Shel Olam is showing us so clearly that SMR can’t get a fair trial in Iowa and its environs so that we will see his yeshuah clearly as Yad Hashem.

  • Hashem Yeracheim!

    Sholom Mordechai’s son said they beat him black and blue!…That they conveniently dont mention!

  • CR

    Someone needs to talk some sense into SMR. He is in jail. You are not going to get CHK kashrus. Not. Gonna. Happen. Period! This is a case of bedi’eivad and certain leniencies will have to be taken. SMR may have to relent and accept O-U kosher (I know, Chas ve Cholent…). He may have to accept being allowed Tallis and Tefillin at a specified time in a specified area (to say nothing of davenen beArichus). All of this, however, would be far better than the Chillul HaShem spectacle he is now making of himself. Any good will on the part of the justice system has long since been exhausted on account of his overwhelming demands. I shudder to think what awaits the next Chassidishe Yungerman who gets incarcerated for a speeding violation or the like in the wake of SMR’s melodrama.

  • religious rights are defended by ?

    to be fooled by the notion that the “we are all in this together” concern doesn’t exist in more places than a religous community like crown heights is living in denial
    the separations and differences of clothing,language,and beliefs are of one’s choice
    so my nusach is my business and so is my acceptance of laws and customs
    when in your house I wouldn’t refuse to say a prayer