Dr. Meir Shlomo Spinner, a former candidate for the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council and currently the Chairman of the Interim Committee of the N’tzigim, the delegate body of the community shuls, writes to COLlive.com about the current stalemate:
It’s been more than 3 years since the last election for Vaad and Rabbonim. The turn-out last time was unprecedented, and I believe it demonstrated the shchcuna’s desire for change.
I ran for Vaad Hakohol that time, also hoping to make a positive change in our community, the Rebbe’s shchcuna. But I, and I imagine many of you as well, am very disappointed that the change that was so much desired did not happen.
To make matters worse, the current stalemate between the rabbonim, makes the possibility of change appear hopeless, at least for the foreseeable future. But this is precisely what those in control would have us believe. But I refuse to lose hope, this is the Rebbe’s schcuna; the Rebbe never lost hope in us, and as a chossid of the Rebbe, I refuse to lose hope as well.
Last January, an Interim Committee was formed with the express purpose of reforming the Netzigim, the delegate body of the Community Council. Five netzigim, including myself, volunteered to serve on the Committee, and I was elected Chairman of the Committee.
We reached out to many of the shuls, encouraging them to send delegates; but there was little response, which is understandable given the current climate in the community.
Not giving up, we drafted a letter with the Community Councils letterhead to be sent to shuls and to be posted as well on Community Council’s e-mail. But this letter was never sent or posted; Eli Cohen, Executive Director of the Council, and who was also involved in drafting the letter, initially said the delay was because the Vaad HaKahal had to meet and approve it, which took months, and then because of supposed concerns by unnamed parties that once formed, the N’tzigim would not follow halacha.
To me this is obvious chutzpah and unnecessary interference. Understand that these concerns were purely hypothetical, nothing of substance had happened. Also, neither rabbonim nor the Vaad should have any say in the formation or the running of Netzigim, unless and until there is a clear violation of halacha or the by-laws. This interference is totally uncalled for and appears to me a thinly veiled attempt to stay in power.
Let me state upfront that I don’t believe new elections alone will really change things, as we have seen time and again.
What I believe is necessary for real change in the community, is to put in place the system that functions properly, according to the bylaws of the Crown Heights Community Council, so that there is transparency and true accountability. This is the function that Netzigim should serve, but never truly and fully did.
There are now nearly 60 shuls in Crown Heights, 3 times as many compared to 20 years ago. I call on all shuls to appoint 2 delegates, a principal one and an alternative, to re-establish the Netzigim. There is hope and we can make a change in our community by uniting in this effort. If we don’t believe this, that we can change our own shchunah, then how can we hope to bring Moshiach and change the world?
I can be reached at [email protected]
* * *
Response from Eli Cohen, Executive Director of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council (CHJCC):
The members of the Vaad Hakohol wholeheartedly agree that it is well past the time that new elections should have been held. While the bylaws state that the current directors serve until the new directors are elected, there is still a sense that the mandate to govern is missing once the mandated term of office is over. Since June 2013, a common theme of the CHJCC Directors’ meetings and of the Vaad meetings with the Beis Din has been the desire to move things forward.
It was the initiative of the Vaad in a letter signed by Chairman Zaki Tamir in December of 2012 that reached out to all the shuls of Crown Heights and asked them to nominate new Netzigim. It was the initiative of the Directors of CHJCC that convened a first meeting in 935 Eastern Parkway of the 11 Netzigim that were chosen, and since that time the Directors of CHJCC have been pressing that the process should move forward. However, the CHJCC has limited responsibilities with regard to the elections, which the bylaws designate as the role of the Netzigim (shul representatives.)
The main issue that is delaying the process currently is that only 11 of 60 Crown Heights shuls have nominated Netzigim. A secondary issue is that the Psak of the “Rosenberg Beis Din” that led to the last special election under which the current directors were elected, specifically suggested that the bylaws and/or election rules of the Vaad and the CHJCC be examined carefully for future elections and some changes should be made.
The executive committee that was formed by the small group of Netzigim was charged only with reaching out to all the shuls and encouraging them to send Netzigim to join the process. So far, over the many months since the original meeting, no additional shuls have participated.
In an effort to push the process forward the committee drafted a letter, with the encouragement of the Vaad Hakohol, setting a timetable for new elections. However, a number of residents who have been involved in the election process over the past election cycles petitioned the Beis Din of Crown Heights and asked that, before we move to elections, the Beis Din should hold a hearing to determine several new issues that are not provided for in the bylaws, including but not limited to:
A. Is there a minimum number of Shuls or a minimum percentage of eligible shuls that needs to participate in order for the election to be truly a community-wide election?
B. What process should be followed to determine which shuls are eligible to submit Netzigim based on the provisions of the bylaws, and how is the validating body formed when all the Netzigim are newly elected by their shuls at the same time?
C. What Bylaws changes were contemplated by the Rosenberg Psak and at what stage in the process should they be discussed before proceeding to elections?
The Rabbonim have stated that, although they too agree that elections are overdue – and actually have called in a letter for the process to be conducted as expeditiously as possible – the individuals have the right to air these questions and others in a hearing before the Beis Din before the schedule of the elections themselves is set. The Rabbonim have asked that the parties should agree upon a time for the hearing as quickly as possible.
The members of the Vaad Hakohol are optimistic about the future of our community in the remaining minutes before the coming of Moshiach. The messy politics of the past should not discourage community members of good faith from coming forward as Netzigim to help organize the next election, or to run as candidates to serve the community.
There are many important roles that both the Vaad Hakohol and the CHJCC fill that need the caring and dedicated guidance of qualified and active lay leadership. The CHJCC brings Government and Private organizational funds to the neediest in our community to help them in an emergency and to help them access the Safety Net Programs that can keep them in their homes, keep them fed, and get them access to health care, among other things. The Council operates important programs like Low Income Housing, Substance Abuse Prevention, and Crime Victim Services. The Community Council is also our liaison to City, State and Federal Officials to keep the needs of the community on their agenda. The Vaad Hakohol is charged with maintaining our communal institutions and events, providing for those in need, and funding the Beis Din to provide religious leadership in the community.
The involvement of the community as voters, Netzigim and as elected leaders is essential for the proper functioning of our community, and the Rebbe invested tremendous efforts to strengthen them and to see that they should be run democratically.
The Vaad salutes the work of Dr. Spinner, Yisroel Duato, and the other Netzigim who have been willing to get involved so far and they call upon all people who care about the future of Crown Heights and its residents to come forward so that the process can advance.
Well, Eli Cohen chose not to respond online,
and the discussion has been relegated to the back pages for now because of lack of interest.
To be continued…
To #65, my heart cries for you and those like you. Where is the money indeed? I believe the money is there, mostly tied up in real estate, but with no real transparency or accountability to the shchuna this remains only speculation. Rabbi Cohen- I read your response and found out it inadequate. There are many unanswered questions, but I’ll start with: You state- “a number of residents who have been involved in the election process over the past election cycles petitioned the Beis Din of Crown Heights and asked that, before we move to elections, the Beis Din should… Read more »
I’m a poor family in Crown Heights and i’m sorry to say but there has been close to ZERO help for the poor here besides some potatoes and carrots distributed on Pesach. Bring Moshe Rubashkin and Dr Lang back!! they’re the only ones who did allot for the poor and downtrodden of Crown Heights, real people doing real work!. I ask, where is HOUSING for the poor and single parent families? where are CLOTHING vouchers before holidays for the poor children of poor families? where is money for CAMPS for large families? there has been nothing and if new people… Read more »
I’m glad that you enjoy this conversation, but I have news for you, even if every single one of those who took time to comment would be a representative (Netzig) of a shul in CH (which as you obviously know is not the case) you still don’t have the participation of about 20-30 additional shuls (you don’t even have the correct number of shuls that exist in CH). You get my point? The people voted with their feet, NOBODY cares, because the institutions you are trying to revive play no role in anybody’s life anymore, Crown Heights moved on while… Read more »
I’m glad so many of view took an interest.
This is precisely what is needed.
If you really wish to make a difference b’poel,
and not remain in the peanut gallery
have your shuls send n’tzigim.
So… What happened exactly?
To comment #60 this is a test from above
We can’t have elections nor netzigim until:
1. Rabbi Osdoba pulls out from court his personal complaint against Rabbi Braun
2. All parties return to the zablo table and get all their issues resolved by the only Beis Din that they themselves sign to listen to.
I see people are very ignorant or just evil. I’m not saying that the JCC/Vaad are doing a great job, far from it, they haven’t pay Rabbonim for who knows how long. I just want to say that things are not as we from the outside think. The JCC’s funds from program by state and city are very restricted and controlled with periodical audits this is beside the cut down in programs by government in the last few years. Today everything is known and linked so there is no room for play around and corruption. Just to say a general… Read more »
you should find out if your shul sent a N’tZig last January or not. If they did not, find out why and this goes for everyone else in the community.
I am speaking for myself and SO ARE YOU!!!
By reading all the comments.. there is almost universal agreement that: a) the Vaad & CHJCC are corrupt & must go… b) that R’s Schwei & Braun are unwanted by the community & should be relieved of their positions.
That’s the vote based on surveying the comments. Now we need to act.
I could be wrong, but I think we need N’tzigim to represent the feelings of the community.
Perhaps we should get our shuls to elect them
Who cares?
Some of you are making it sound like there are some huge wars going on in Crown Heights. Do you guys live here??? It seems pretty quiet and peaceful to me.
Some people have an uncanny talent to fabricate fights and strife were there aren’t any. (at least not on the surface. Yes, I’m sure there are some individuals fighting in some corner, but 99.99% of C.H. residents see none of it).
Moshiach now!
Speak for yourself.
He and Rabbi Segal work tirelessly to spread Torah. They don’t give in to political pressure against Torah on family issues and care about halacha. A Rov in Eretz Yisroel forbade Rabbi Osdoba to sit on any Bais Din with Braun and the Rosenberg b”d was not signed to the roiv and, keneged halacha, no m’heichan dantuni was given when asked, let alone a proper one. To criticize the one Rov of the three that the Rebbe praised without caring about how halacha works, and how rabbonim can only pasken al pi halacha to have validity is unfair and unjust.… Read more »
complicated issues are intentionally overlapped. rabbonim, chjcc, vaad hakohol. would be interesting if there’s agreement (between these bodies and all ch residents) as to what the boundaries of each are. then there’s how each body should be elected. but this post is about two entities vaah hakohol and rabonim – which should be separated. I agree with what some write here – a body which deals with general, social, financial, political community issues should be elected by one vote per adult, doesn’t matter gender or family position and certainly doesn’t need shul netzigim – a concept that just complicates matters… Read more »
To have leaders. Dovid Sputz. Meir Kahanov Moshe Drizen kind of people. Lets save the clowns for Lag B’omer Parade.
If CH was a public company it would be trading now at 00000000000.1 Cent on a heavy positive trading day!
What’s wrong in mentioning a persons past when it goes to show on his personality, is a man know for machlokas, thrown out of nyu, destroyed yeshiva and made machlokas, you forgot to mention he was involed in the fight in 770 for two years, now he put his sights on spreading hate and mahlokas to the entire crown heights
Agreed 100%
All this nonsense about the Smichah (nonsense because the Rabonim involved validated it) is nothing compared to a Rov going against his own Smicha and refusing to accept a Psak Din that he agreed to abide by.
איש את אחיו חיים בלעו
We are the laughing stock of the Yiddishe world.
Our Rebbe did not deserve this…..
Until all three Rabbonim are sitting together, no fundamental change for good will occur in Crown Heights.
Unfortunately, I do see this happening in the foreseeable future.
The Rebbe zy”a must be suffering from this sad situation.
May HaShem have Rachmonus on us and send Moshiach now.
Are you suggesting that there is no fraud in government?
Are you suggesting that there is no fraud in the CHJCC?
So please show use where they used money received to assist the needy?
Did you not notice the 😉 in my comment.
It was meant to be sarcastic.
These are the excuses we have heard over the years from the CHJCC as to why no progress has been made.
Chill out, relax 😉
CHJCC corruption has been going on for decades. Don’t blame this on Maple Street or any of your other “issues.” The corruption was in full swing way before any of these “issues.”
Now WHO is the idiot? Or are you just plain clueless?
# 17
CHJCC does not distribute gov’t money to the needy.
However wonderful it would be to have an agency that supplements family budgets for those who need, that is not the mission of most gov’t funds, which are closely monitored and must be used for the purpose the funds were intended for.
Oh please, i hope you are being sarcastic, if not your simply an idiot. It’s all because of Rabbi Osdobo and the Kashrut, and before that it was because of the Shomrim and their “hate” sites, and before that it was because we didn’t have a full Beth Din, and before that it was because of the Hershkops CURRENTLY 5774: It’s because of the Maple Street Shul Controversy 😉 The money is all sitting in the CHJCC waiting for all these “issues” to work out. Once these issue are dealt with, only then will the cabal use it to help… Read more »
Did you get threatening phone calls?
I would like to apologize to Rabbi Eli Cohen for mentioning
( maybe in not the nicest way ) his past employment history, there was no need to bring it up.
I’m sure he only means well, and tries his hardest to help the community, BH he raised a beautiful Mushpacha and seems like a sincere guy.
Agree re: Russian politics, but Rabbi Osdoba is not, & never was RUSSIAN.
and start a new Vaad and New Rabonim. The old Russian politics just don’t fly anymore.
New elections for rabbonim.
Any rov who gets 300 votes is a rov on a bais din.
If someone gets 600 they can appoint an additional rov to serve with them.
After the election rabbonim can pool their leftover votes.
The result will be that group of 300 members of the community will be seen as a kehila with their rov.
The rabbonim of these “kehilas” will organize a bes din.
This way, everyone will feel like they have a voice.
The CHJCC is totally corrupt & self serving. Add to that the constant fighting between Rabbi Osddoba & the others on the “Bais Din” (how can we have a Beis Din if it’s always 2 v 1 on every matter, small or large) and you have a community in turmoil. We are a breeding ground for suffering & we see it, politically and most importantly, spiritually. Dr. spinner is right. Eli Cohen- he always has excuses. as long as the CHJCC & it’s sub division of sperlin, Spielman etc continue to feather their own nests and make sure we don’t… Read more »
Well I can’t wait for the next round of Machlokis and hatred to rip through the community again. we should have elections every month.
you must be kidding!! the CHJCC has millions they dont need kashrus, and the kashrus needs to stay under rabbi osdobo for it to function properly.
and you think the rebbe didnt see the future? the rebbe said he will be the rov until moshiach comes
as for the other 2 we should have new fair elections
one never got smicha and the other its a educator does not know whats flying
AGREE with #23 %100
When the Kashrus issue is settled and in the hands of the
Vaad Hakol, then there will be funds available to pay the
Rabbonim’s salaries. Yes, the Bais din is Rabbi Schwei
and Rabbi Braun. According to the psak din Rabbi Osdoba
does not comply. It doesn’t matter if the Rebbe supported
Rabbi Osdoba then, NOW he is not listening to the psak din.
The Rabbonim (I think most people mean S&B these days) are still very realivent to many Anash who use them for shailos… the BD is not only for suing people.
As for the Vaad and netzigim, they are only irrealivent because people ignore them. Both Spinner & Cohen make the same point above… no one seems to care! If you want to see the system of netzigim change, then volunteer and take part. It is an easy way for more shuls to function together, b’achdus, and make the Rabbainim and CHJCC more accountible to anash.
should be disqualified. Obviously if they couldn’t get their act together till now – l’sheim ahavas yisrael (at the least) they don’t deserve to (attempt to) run a community.
The CC they do nothing to help people out in the community, we need affordable housing, and there are people that go to them time in and time out and get turned away
One Man, One Vote, One Time
We need young guys to step in and take over.
the problem is Rabbis Braun and Schwei and those waiting on them for change should look elsewhere. Rabbi Osdoba is of a completely different/better caliber.
Eli Cohen keeps mentioning “THE RABBONIM” have said this… “the rabbonim” want that….
WHAT RABBONIM IS HE TALKING ABOUT???
Does he include Rav Osdoba in “The Rabbonim” ???
I think not.
Eli, who do you think you are fooling. In case you forgot the Rebbe considered Rabbi Osdoba one of the three “Chassidishe Rabbonim” who are all to be highly regarded — even by you and the rest of the CHCC & Vaad HaKol.
Signed,
Time for a Change!!!!!!!!!!
Sruly Clapman is the type of young blood we need running this community, problem is he’s too honest.
good point made. but there has got to be a way around this problem or we are stuck in the mud.
One idea might work is that when and if a question arises we ask each Rav separately for a decision. If they all agree to the same position we can follow that decision. If they don’t agree then we need to work things out until we get a unanimous opinion from all three Rabbonim.
I was at the meeting to represent the community as a Nitzig, the meeting was a JOKE!!! Rabbi Broyn and Rabbi Shvay came unannounced and wanted us to sign a form stating that the new Nitzigim would be under thier authority, and any decision we would make one day that they would object would give them the authority to thrown us out. After it was clear that people were not gonna sign, a 770 Nitzig ( always has a huge cigar in hand I won’t mention his name ) started screaming that he won’t sit around with Mechutzafim that are… Read more »
The CC should close its doors. We have so many people in out community in desperate need of help and they are no where to be seen
Who needs netzigim?
Is it not true that their function (as understood from the Rebbe’s reference to them) was to organize the very FIRST election of rabbis?
If true, who gave the institution of netzigim permanence?
The CHJCC is completely corrupt. They get thousands of dollars people that can not put food on their table turn to them for help only to be turned away again and again.
When Tamir was elected everyone was so excited to have him in power. He uses the CHJCC as his own personal “baby” to advance his agenda. This was seen over the past weekend when his name was clearly missing from a letter of clarification from the CHJJC.
After doing some investigating it was found out that the person attorney involved with the shul mentioned in the letter is a partner of Tamir.
Something doesn’t add up here. Does Tami-r work for the CHJCC and have the communities interest in mind or are hir priorities with his law firm
Nobody gets anything from the vaad hakohal not a penny. Nobody needs a bais din they don’t do anytjing . if someone has a din torah they do a zablah anyway. The precious vaad handed out money to needy people this vaad gives nothing and get a nothing from drizin even to give out. Who needs netzegim That’s what got us into a problem to begin with a few yechi guys said they were nitzigim of shuls and voted unbeknownst to the shuls and the members they represent. The rabbonim know well that 80% of the people are young and… Read more »
Soooooo trueeeee!!!!!
Why not Shlomo Carlbach?
The main problem we will experiencing is that in the event of a question, dispute etc regarding the netzigim and elections process where, according to the bylaws, the beis din of CH should by deciding, we need all three Rabbonim to be able to seat and listen and decide. At this moment one of the Rabbis is not recognizing and following the psak of the Rosemberg Zablo Beis Din and does not come back to the table to clarify and end the dispute by getting a final psak and clear psak from the dayonim. If we run the elections without… Read more »
I strongly belive there is a need for change and I feel that there is no greater person to deliver that change than Rav Chezzi from CAY. His leadership abilities and utter ahavas yisroel is apparent in everything that he does. Its time that young blood got involved and returned the leadership of our community to the communtiy! So it is from this very forum of news that I implore you the young voters of crown heights to encourage and support Chezzi to run for the Vaad Hakol and may he be succesful in implenting true change to the schuna!… Read more »
Great letter form Doctor Spinner, also pleasantly surprised that Eli Cohen responded in a respectable way.
We need elections and the beis din should make sure that the process isn’t held up by wasteful litigation.
Lastly I think its time for the role of the elected vaad and the chjcc professional staff to be clearly defined.
They receive many buildings from HPD to service out community with low income housing, or for that matter any form of housing, which we are so short of in this community, what happened to that?
What about the pool, why is that never fixed as they claimed they got funding for ??
It seems like they people in the council just get richer and get more housing for their own relatives.
its time for the women the noshim tzikonious to take over
period
end of story!!
“The Rabbonim have stated that, although they too agree that elections are overdue – and actually have called in a letter for the process to be conducted as expeditiously as possible – the individuals have the right to air these questions and others in a hearing before the Beis Din before the schedule of the elections themselves is set. The Rabbonim have asked that the parties should agree upon a time for the hearing as quickly as possible.”
what does this mean? what individuals? how long does this airing of grievances go on?
election long overdue time for change
We live in a time where leaders are followers. and those that should be followers are leaders. Where people with personal agendas and personal businesses are members of the community council and use the community council resources to better themselves and their businesses. I would like everyone to ask one question. When was the last time that the CHJCC gave a full account of the amount of money which came in to the CHJCC and how much was spent on administration and how much was used for helping the community which they are meant to represent? In simple words if… Read more »
Even before elections I would like to see transparency and accountability in the CHJCC, How much government funding was received by the CHJCC? How much of the said funding was used for administrative costs? How much of said funding was distributed to the poor?
We have seen too many times that when one person remains in a position of power for too long there is corruption. We cannot leave the same board in power without elections because it will inevitably cause corruption.
why can any shuls be disqualified we only have orthodox Congregations in our community.
The CHJCC is irrelevant to most of Crown Heights. It can continue with its merry politics on its own without involving the rest of Crown Heights. Nobody really cares if they have elections or not, or who is in charge there anymore. They have become irrelevant to most people.
Go Meir!