The Chassidic community in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights will soon be taking on another hurdle as part of a months-long process to restore peace and order to the communal leadership.
Following the unprecedented turnout in the elections for the Vaad Hakohol community council, residents are now looking forward to choosing a third rabbi, with an election to held on Sunday, September 5.
The Bais Din has been in a gridlock in recent years since it has two members – Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba and Rabbi Yaacov Schwei – and both offered opposing visions for its operations and role.
The hope of adding a third Rabbi, as called for by the special outside Bais Din headed by Rabbi Avrohom Rosenberg, will allow the Bais Din to issue rulings according to a majority.
But while the expectations are high of this third rabbi – some suggesting he’ll be yielding the most power – the role and credentials of the job is as yet very unclear.
This rabbi will be a member of a rabbinical court, but some call to separate the 3 rabbis from the Bais Din and have them as more spiritual-inspirational figures, answering halachic questions and educating.
With no election committee yet in place and no active search for candidates being conducted, COLlive.com staff was in touch with various rabbis and activists to explore possible names.
At their request (some of the rabbis themselves) we are offering Crown Heights residents to vote in a COLlive poll and add in the ‘comments’ who they would choose and why.
Note: At this point we are only naming rabbis who are residents of Crown Heights and are naming them at their request or the suggestion of people familiar with them. This does not mean they are officially considering a run.
At a later date we may offer a separate poll with out-of-town names.
POLL: Vote for just 1 candidate.
Add the in comments who you want and why.
With all the names being thrown in, why not the Golem?
It is pathetic that such an important matter is not given the serious consideration it deserves.
The Rebbe is of course right. It should be the klei kodesh and rabbonim of the shechunah who should put out names, not every Yankel,Berel and Shmerel.
The amount of nonsense that has been posted here is indicative of how serioulsy this is being taken.
rabbi bluming is a real yiray shamayim but extreamly naiv (he doznt bad mouth ne1 becouse hese to naiv to see bad
and thats very dangerus) on the other hand rabbi zirkind is a yiras shamayim who is also sharp
Bring Rabbi Heller back in and you don’t need a new one. Stop the nonsense. If it doesn’t work Rabbi Levi Garelick without a doubt
Much as I appreciate the nomination, I have no interest in being a moshiach or king of the Jews or any of the other titles put on to the rebbes of Crown Heights. I don’t fit because I know that “ve’ahavta la’ger” isn’t about converts to Judaism, because “kee geyreem hayeetem be’eretz Mitzrayeem” and we were not converts, we were the strangers, the “others,” the immigrants, the down-trodden and powerless–precisely who we should be loving and caring for. And Torah does not say “love the ger IF they behave the way you think they ought”–it is an unconditional demand, and… Read more »
Great math and everything but you should probaly check your facts
Rabbi Shmuel Heber!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ideally we need a rav that is wealthy -independantly, isn’t related in anyway to anyone in crownheights or their relatives and someone without an agenda………
Rabbi Benzoin Stock Wow that’s A grate idea
I wish he was my rabbi, he knows so mutch Torah.
u r out of your mind!!!!!!!!!!!
Rabbi Bezion Stock He can work withhh both rabunim and He Is a Rabbi
stop using misnagdishe inflated unrealistic titles like “gaon atzum and boki in shas uposkim”.
we need chsidishe Rabbonim as per the Rebbes instructions.
One of the most knowledgable Rabbis in the world.
Rabbi Binyomin Barass
RABBI MENDEL RIVKIN WAS THE FORMER ROV IN LOD ISRAEL.
rabbi bluming is a mench
love it
Unfortunately Rabbi Bluming is already associated with the extremists within Rabbi Schwei’s camp, it would be a disaster for him to be the 3rd Rov.
The issue is where is the salary coming from for this third rov? If it is from the same person who promised to pay for one of the rabbonim, obviously it will be shochad. If it is one of the people of one of the camps it is also shochad. Does the va’ad hakshrus have enough to pay a third rov?
It seems that any Rav who had problems in his town comes to Crown Heights to get a job Osdaba had problems In Denmark and was forced to leave. Heller had problems in Boston. Segal was in Isreal and could not get along with his community and came here. This is not the Ari- Miklat for rabbonim.
Bogo??? y. marlow?? gimme a break! levi garelik?? wants it too much! shmulik heber who is one of the least known here maybe the smartest pick. truth be told aint no one gonna be good for CH and anyone who makes it has gotta be an idiot to serve. unless he’s moses and g-d himself begs him. then perhaps, ulay yerachem…CH may get one.
Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Bluming would be an excellent choice. He has been answering shaalos for several years already in the BesDin. He has the support of both Rabbonim. He is admired and respected for his Yiras Shomayim and Honesty. He listens sensitively when asked a shaaloh, and is very practical in his response. Most importantly, he is a true Mentch. All these years he kept away from politics. You will never find him bad mouthing others. He has the wisdom, serenity, and goodness of heart to restore dignity and respect to the BesDin and to this community. His name is… Read more »
Bluming no. Bogomilsky no. Neubort no way.
r zirkind will be able to be between both. thats the main job a 3rd rov wil need to do 99% of the time. its a shame but thats the fact
If not, then Rabbi Gurkov is the best. He is the cutest boki in shas and poskim I’ve ever met
Harav Yosef Apfelbaum for Rov. Quiet and unassuming and learned under great rabbis in Israel
R’ YYJ told a story in a lecture about when he was 8 years old at a rally with the Rebbe in 1982. That would make him 36 years old now and ineligible to be rav of CH. He does not belong on the poll list. Please remove.
He is a big peace activist (we need peace), no one and nothing can change his mind (even Torah), he has dayanut from University of Judaism, he has shimush from the Goldstone report, he definitely isn’t vane based on his looks, he treats Hamas with respect so we know he is respectful and he is irrelevant like a lot of Crown Heights politics.
He is a Major Talmid Chochom and a way undervalued asset to CH. Legal experience is also a big plus.
he is the most honest eidel man with a great heart!! and like father like son rabbi heller was amazing he is no longer maybe his son in law would do it !!!
BS:D To those commentators poking fun,It seems to me that making fun of an endeavor wholly endorsed, wanted and spoken about at numerous frabrengins by the Rebbe is poking fun at the Rebbes words
Rabbi Garelick is the best
rabbi shmuel botach
being very close to Rabbi Bluming he is the only man fit for the job, knows and gets along with both sides, a true chossid, unpolitical, knowable, approachable.
he is just the olny one that can sit with both sides!!!!
why????
How do we know that some people are not voting 20-30 times so that their man gets in.
#7 wrote that “Rav Segal has proven his Midos through his graceful response to the psak which pretty much put him out of a job. I find him special.”
That comment was made by an ignorant person who clearly did not read the psak. Rabbi Segal was NOT put out of his job! The psak left him IN his PAID position as a Dayan, but not as one of the Chavrei Beis Din.
BLUMING, GLUCKOWSKI, AND MOrozov would be great, but if we could get Yossi Lew to come from atlanta, that would be gevaldig.
In the first election for CH Beis Din – A different rov was one for the 3 winners but the rebbe cancled him out becuase he was from out of town and had a post already and why should he leave his current post? so they voted for a new 3rd rov..
(The rebbe even canceled another prospective rov because “he should not leave his holy work in miami”)
So a CH’r it will have to be.
Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Bluming = the best devoted person!
nice, not in politics knows he stuff!
Your idea is best. I vote Sruli Shochet, a true, upstanding, uncorruptable, family man.
Rabbi Levi Gurelick
he moved back to CH, give him a job!
Zushe Winner knows Halacha and knows what’s going on in the real world. He has sat on Din Torah’s with other Rabbonim (Maybe even with Rabbi Schwei and Rabbi Osdoba). However, I don’t know if he would leave his Shlichus in Brighton.
But everyone likes R.Rosenberg
for rov!!!!!!!!!
I say Ashkenazy from Montreal, son of a rov, himself a great talmid chochom and not a politicion. He could bring back the respect to crown heights that it deservers.
I heard that Rabbi Berel levin knows halachah very well
heller!!!!!!!!!
I wouldn’t run for ANY election in Crown Heights if my life depended on it. I don’t have skin tough enough to take the digs, the bangs, the nasty remarks and the judgement. Nope. Not for me. Oh…and btw….I love Rabbi YY Jacobson. He should remain as is. The community (and the world) would be at a loss if he stopped doing what he’s currently doing. Leave him out of this. That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it.
Doesn’t speak english!
Rabbo Yaakov Goldberd
Rabbi Bogomilsky
i noticedd some say dayanus and shimush are required
according to the psak they NOT it would be good if they have it but NOT REQUIRED to run
another point
will any respected rov campaign ?
is it not degrading for a rov to have to have a public forum where he has to say vote for me ?
i wonder how they do it in israel where they have elections in big cities abd chushuva rabonim run
if anyone knows please post
Please do yourself a favor don’t say things in the name of the Rebbe if you have nothing to back it. You playing with fire!
I THINK CHAIM SHAPIRO FROM MORRISTOWN. HE IS STRIAGHT AND HONEST!!( THE ONLY THING IS, I THINK HE IS TOO NORMAL FOR THE COMMUNITY..
Let’s convince him to move in. He’s already feerin aleh gesheftn with the Vaad Hakohol and Rabbonim here. Everyone will listen to him.
Crown Heights’ secret treasure. A brilliant man, his knowledge of torah is extensive, very aidel and does not know what it means to have his own agenda. Yet simultaneously is remarkably understanding of down to earth. He has time for everybody and really cases
Why do we need a new Rov? Has anyone approached Rabbi Heller and asked (we should beg) him to resume his position as Rov on the B’D?
I agree with 60. Motchkin the Pizza Maker would be great. A pizza with every din Torah
if you convince him…he would be great
the Rebbe clearly told Rabbi Mangel not to get involved in the rabbonus of CH
said
Very experienced in building community harmony and forging successful alliances.
I think he would be a great Rov,
He is for the most part above politics and gets along with people on all sides.
He commands respect and honor.
He is a great orator that can inspire.
He is young enough to understand the younger generation.
He has experience as a Rov and poisek and is especially knowledgeable in Kashrus.
seems like a no brainer.
Rabbi Yossi Marlow but who says he will come from North Miami Beach
if a rov if your eyes is someone 70 years old and up who is not connected to the community and the people and who would rather write a public pashkville to another rov then reach out the talk to end machlokes – then we dont want or need your rov!! We dont need a rov with shimush – what is need is a rov with seichel for a din torah we can go to many rabbonim – they do it for $ and make a nice living. We need someone who can unite, and connect and inspire. Maybe Rabbi… Read more »
I wonder if he is even allowed to run. Isn’t he a relative of Rav Ozdoba? Shouldn’t that disqualify him?
These Articles about Rabbanim and voting and what not are beyond boring and just give everyone an excuse to bad mouth those they dont like.
one of the qualifications is that you have to be 40 i’m pretty sure the good Rabbi is in his 30’s
YOSSEL MUCHKIN is the right pick. He’s a MUST for our community. !!!
i wel bet on bloomibg
He is the only rov who is currently making a dif in Ch, why not let him continue?
B”H
The hands-down bes speaker at the Rubashkin Rally in Boro Park: Rabbi Shimon Zev Meisels
Sorry to see how people are blind, but we need a rov who has a back bone, does not have his own agenda and does not respond to presure.
I won’t vote Levi Garelick
Rabbi Avi Weiss
http://nymag.com/print/?/news/features/67145/
What about Duvid Mandelbaum?
He’s always available and isn’t scared of facing controversy.
he is Rabbi Marlow’s son, a successful Rabbiand would get along with both of the Rabboniym!
Rabbi Avi Weiss is training some new woman Rabbahs in his school. Maybe Crown Heights can get first picks of the new graduates. If they want someone more experianced pick his first graduate Rabbah Sarah Horowitz
I think Harav Dovid Mendelbaum needs to reconsider the position. If there are those that are close to him please convince him to do so.
sounds nice! but whoever said rabbi chaikin wants to move?
They should do it like they do it in Israel, where the Chief Rabbi’s are elected for 10 year terms.
That way it is probably easier to find candidates if they know that it is only a 10 year term, because if it is for life, looking at what the Rabonim of Crown Heights have gone through, who would want to be a Rov here?
We need a Litveshe Rav like in the old days in the Lubavitch towns. A Litvak will not be beholden to any party here. Choose someone from Lakewood. If you dont like a Litvak choose someone from Satmer. Just dont take anyone from Anash.
the way CH is right now he would be the right guy
Rabbi Olman from sydney ? why isnt he the first and only candidate??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rabbi nissen mangel will do a good job
Theoretically, if any of the current Rabonim were up for re-election, do you think that any of them would be re-elected?
we nead to bring someone from out of town. i say r’ chaikin from cleaveland!!
This is just a list of who WE would like to run, but the question is are THEY ready to run?
???
Rabbi Yossi Chazan; Rabbi Gluckpwsky; Rabbi Morozvo (from Flatbush smicha)
Right on, but R. Goldberg would never in a gazillion years leave his post at hadar hatorah.
Tzvi Lang. A mentsch and a doctor to boot.
So who is this great Rov you speak of? Enlighten us please!
Rabbi Bogomilsky is in someones dream. He has his successful (and lucrative) toyen and mediation gesheft (reportedly with some large firms.) Why would he step down so far? Which brings on another point: There appears to be a “We are the World” syndrome here on these blogs, that every Rov would theoretically want this position. In fact the opposite is true. Any Rov who wants to leave his position for this, must have something wrong in his current position. The mavinim in Crown Heights, who shape opinion) are obviously absent from this blog. (Their favorite possibility is not even on… Read more »
R. Abba Paltiel would make a great candidate!
watch your words. don’t let loshon hara be part of this, because it could bring it to a lower level and we dont want any more tzurus with “politics”. be holy
hands down. he is a real and honest yid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
rabbi yaakov goldberg is a very competent rov and many ppl ask him shaalos. i heard he was asked to run in the original elections but turned it down.
maybe they sould ask him to reconsider.
otherwise rabbi bogomilsky and segal sound great,
they should review the original list of rabonim who were considered
who is heber?
Yossi J is a great guy, but not a Rov. A Rov who paskens dinei torah must have dayonus and shimush. Yossi has neither.
He may be a great speaker and a “atzum baki” in the rebbe’s sichos but last time I checked we don’t pasken from sichos
I would think before taking a poll . All candidates should be qualified for the Job. Not just any Rabbi can fill the position and responsibility of a Rav
Can you record how many people voted in your poll.
It is a very nice thing, but you should point out that it is not scientific and does not necessarily represent what Crown Heights really wants. It is just a fun poll where people can vote as many times as they want, and it does not represent those who do not use internet etc.
I think you should put a ‘Other’ option.
I vote Jacobsen.
1. He will be 40 by the time this election has any other candidate.
2. The women respect him.
3. He truly knows how a baal teshuvah feels.
4. He has the deep respect of the elders of Lubavitch – who are the real opinion makers in Crown Heights. (They don’t blog.)
5. He is a no shtik Poysik.
The community should petition these guys to run and try to get them a decent salary, because as it is now most of these people that are on this list are not running.
unbelievable. why does this make a difference to anyone?
ok believebale. most people are sheep.
not 40 yet
A true, Rov, Chosid, Chaver, and all the other beautiful connotations, He HAS Shimush from Rabbi YK Marlow OB”M,
A Real Rov and Dayan !!!
Rabbi Jacobson is a great Rabbi, speaker and Mashpia, that doesnt make him a Rov.
The third Rov also has to give up all his other jobs and be full time on the B”D. Do you think Rav Jacobson would give up Beis Shmuel and all his speaking engagements etc…?
Rabbi Barass would make an exceotional Rov
an individual who is Roidef Shalom and OIhev Shalom and who is a gevaldike talmud chochach and poisek
he has smicha, not dayanus and shimush. he cannot serve on a beis din, he isnt a rav. he cantr pasken shaiolos. it has nothing to do with ahavas yisroel.
you can have the greatest british guy on earth, but to be president of US u have to be born here… a rav isnt just a rabbi, its someone with the credentials with YYj hasnt got
Voting for a Rav is a mistake. A Rav has to have Midos Tovos and be a Yeray Shamayim, and not some one who is corrupt or be corrupted. The men in this community do not understand this. The Meshugoyim of this community do not need a Rav
I would vote for HaRav Meyer Harlig..he made my shidduch 10 years ago and I couldn’t afford to pay him I feel forever indebted to him. Besides look at his family all on shluchos and a great example for all of us.
The third member must be one who is able to deal with the other 2 members, and to be accepted by the majority of the shchunah. To say about a pssible candidate that he is a rabbi and not a Rov and that he is an entertainer, is downright arrogant and counterproductive.
There are many quality rabbonim to choose from and there no need to be confrontational.
Who isactually standing for nomination?
apparently most people disagree with you, since he and Rabbi Bogomilsky are in the lead according to this poll. The reason he is leading is because he has shown that he cares for the community, he is not interested in politics, he is creative, non-judgmental, and an ohev yisroel, not to mention a lamdan atzum baki in the Rebbe’s sichos.
We need someone with Common Sense A Rav has to have that first and foremost. This community is Crying for Help. Yossi has the pulse of day etc..
Rav Segal has proven his Midos through his graceful response to the psak which pretty much put him out of a job. I find him special. He will hopefully be our rov
Can we find one?
are you kidding me?
Bogo! he’s on his own team!
Rabbi Zalman Deitsch- OSU
rabbi Jacobson IS NOT a Rav. he is a Rabbi and an entertainer