By COLlive reporter
The country is having elections, and so should Crown Heights.
Zaki Tamir, who headed the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council and Vaad Hakohol for the last 6 years, is calling for elections for the neighborhood’s governing board.
Tamir, an attorney, was elected to the volunteer position in 2010 alongside fellow members Fishel Brownstein and Yossi Hackner. Their term was extended in 2013 to an additional 3 year term.
In a public letter to the community, Tamir is calling for locals to step up and volunteer their time to organize the communal elections, “In the spirit of democracy and the Rebbe’s vision for a unified community.”
“It’s time for me to turn it over to new and optimistic board members, who will create their own revolution in the community,” Tamir told COLlive.com on Friday.
Previous attempts to revive the netzigim delegate group from the local Shuls have fallen short, with only a very small percentage of eligible Shuls participating, Tamir says.
The community’s bylaws say the netzigim should form an election committee.
He hopes to have a group of volunteers work to galvanize locals to run for office, and persuade the local Shuls to appoint netzigim delegates, who will vote on various issues and organize the actual elections.
Tamir hopes to have the volunteers set up by mid-July so that elections could possibly be held in September, he said.
Tamir calls on all interested members of the community, including Netzigim, who would like to assist in organizing the elections to respond and volunteer their services.
To join the effort, email [email protected].
If there is another election, I kindly request that you run again! You have helped so many people including myself in ways that you may not even be aware of. Thank you so much for all that you do for the shchuneh! You are osek btzorchei tzibbur bEmunah!
Your a real mensch. I hope you run again! You have helped so many of us in ways that you may never know! You came to leadership at a time when a true void existed! When you came in you immediately fought for peace between the Rabbonim! For the 1st time we see the Rabbonim United regarding the Eruv! You are a mentsch, and you are humble enough to say “hey… Doesn’t anyone else want a chance at bat?” You don’t want to be a hogger if that is not what the people want! Keep up the great work! As… Read more »
Selfish? You want to step to me about being selfish? 1. You do see a distinction between self-funding your religious ideals and expecting others who may not feel the same way to do so, right? 2. While it would be beautiful if everyone could spend their entire adult lives in a happy, mutually supportive marriage, this isn’t always reality, and I haven’t heard you consider families where everything didn’t go according to plan. 3. We’re going to end this is a standstill where your status quo (continuity and evolution aren’t mutually exclusive) is more important to you than empathy and… Read more »
Yashar Koach it is much appreciated by the families in Crown Heights
But on a more serious note: You seem highly intelligent and willing to engage differing views, so I can’t help but throw this out there. Can you stop seeing everything in the most selfish possible terms. The Jewish community, as a structure, endures now for 1000s of years, we are to this vibrant to this, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually, despite all possible odds (looking at things from a worldly perspective…). At the same time all other nations that we read about are long gone and current non-Jewish civilization is crumbling before our very eyes — people can’t get married, and… Read more »
Someone read my megilla!!! 🙂
My grasp of the English language is such that I could write on your level, but, honestly, it’s exhausting to read and you’ve probably lost your less literate portion of the audience. So let me put this in black and white- this isn’t about a “love boat.” You want me to be marginalized unless I’m fulfilling your interpretation of my divine place? Cool. THEN DON’T TAKE MY MONEY.
From Not an American
How can it be in USA in a local election woman are disenfranchised? It isn’t a religious election or issue the community council it is among other things a recipiant of federal or state funds. My flaber is totally gasted reading this. Is this American democracy in action ???
To #18: A polite and reasoned response deserves the same. Here is your argument: “An organization that was set up to represent the community, has a responsibility to represent all in the community equally (regardless of gender). That includes the right for the people being represented to have equal say in who represents them.” Fair enough, but “There’s no two ways about it” is false and speaks to an important misunderstanding not only as to how halacha works but even as to how reasoning, itself, even human reasoning, works. What you have there is a hypothesis and a conclusion, the… Read more »
Don’t sabotage the possible election with “red herrings.” The election is long overdue and it’s clear that it is needed! The call for netzigim should be heeded and an election under existing CHJCC bylaws should be held. THEN the netzigim should remain in business and take their time to amend — thoughtfully — the bylaws. Changes could include staggered terms to insure continuity and voter eligibility among other things. As noted the community and its problems have grown so the needed tools must be sharpened
To #18: A polite and reasoned response deserves the same. Here is your argument: “An organization that was set up to represent the community, has a responsibility to represent all in the community equally (regardless of gender). That includes the right for the people being represented to have equal say in who represents them.” Fair enough, but “There’s no two ways about it” is false and speaks to an important misunderstanding not only as to how halacha works but even as to how reasoning, itself, even human reasoning, works. What you have there is a hypothesis and a conclusion, the… Read more »
In the Frum Jewish world the husband and wife are one, with the same values and Hashkofo, there simply is no need for 2 votes that are the same, if you and your husband can’t agree on the same values etc. then go to a rov, start following Torah and get on the same page.
Change, rachmana litzlan.
We are merely saying that if the CHJCC views itself as important enough to hold elections, then everyone with a stake should have a say in who holds public office.
There’s no two ways about it.
An organization that was set up to represent the community, has a responsibility to represent all in the community equally (regardless of gender). That includes the right for the people being represented to have equal say in who represents them.
Change is not a bad word in of itself, especially if precedent is the only reason for it.
I simply can’t understand why we can’t. how can we encourage our husband to take time out of their busy lives to help a counsel that doesn’t let women vote!!
I’m sure they could, if they stopped looking for photo ops and actually worked on bettering this place.
The chjcc does something very important they except millions in funding from the tax payers and its being spent wisely.
Can the vaa’d help young ppl find affordable housing? Can the Vaa’d stop allowing residents sell to גוים ? Can the Vaa’d stop residence to build for non chasidim? If not what do we need a vaa’d ? Why did the Rebbe establish one?
6 or so years ago, there was an election. We were very happy cause who doesn’t like elections. Especially when elections bring change!! At the time of elections, there was a lot of talk about what people might to do and at some time after the elections, don’t remember if it was 4 months or 5 or 6 things got really quite and then the council kinda, um, disappeared for like 5 years and nobody knows what they did or what they do or what sort of things they might do in the future. Already in the comments we see… Read more »
Zaki – Thanks for your years of community service. To make the Council/Vaad position meaningful, perhaps change the way it gets created. Using shuls and their gaboim as representatives, is weak and non-representational. 1. Establish what is meant by Crown Heights. What are its borders for this purpose (City map designation if there is one. If not who decides?) 2. Establish what is meant by a Crown Heights resident (Every adult citizen. Yes, males and females, yes, each adult child of same household. Proven by rent, utility bills or whatever our country uses as proof of residency. Use same voting… Read more »
Legal or not, there’s not reason women shouldn’t be allowed to vote in elections that affect them just as much as their husbands.
I’m not sure why it was ever set up this way, but now that a sizable number of women are demanding it we should change the rules to be more inclusive.
I’m a women, and not married. I live in this community, and the councils decisions affect me too.
Give me the ballot.
A quick Google search will assure you that this has already been in court and the chjcc has been allowed to have male only elections. Anyhow why don’t you ask who elects the leaders of all the secular Jewish organizations? and how many women are in power in their offices? in Crown Heights it happens to be that several women hold senior positions at the CHJCC…
Zalman Lazaroff
you got my vote
Get Zalman Lazaroff
And Israel Clapman to run.
At least he is saying it’s time for change. BUT:
-I can’t even vote because I am a woman
-How can that even be legal considering the chjcc handles MY tax money for various programs
-What programs are being funded and where is the money going?
Zaki,
I very much appreciate your effort in arranging new elections.
I believe the Crown Heights community would like to know what the CHJCC does on their behalf.
Can you write an article for the community, elaborating on this?
Thank you.
its about time!!
any one who cares will stop this yuppie invasion. MOSDOS IS ON FIRE!! OUR KIDS CHINUICH IS ON FIRE. and no ONE stands up to these yoelis who are demolishing mosdos to make condos for yuppies. WHO WILL STAND UP TO THIS MADNESS!!! THIS SHOULD BE OUR PRIORITY!!! THE NEIGHBERHOOD IS ON FIRE
truthfully went we needed help no one is there, it didn’ t matter who was in the office, this is the state of affairs no one cares, bitterness abound
What are they doing in CH. look at the horror and travesties have accrued in CH. we’ve heard absolutely nothing from these guys. Please “do not” vote. Thier a waste of time money and energy.