By COLlive reporter
A day before the Democratic Primary in New York, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement is being drawn in to the mix – against its will.
The campaign of Rubain Dorancy, running to be the Democratic nominee for New York State Senate’s 20th district, distributed a promotional flyer titled “Crown Heights Jewish Community United for Rubain Dorancy.”
The image that appears with it is the annual group photo of the Kinus Hashluchim, the international convention of Chabad Rabbis, taken on the backdrop of Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn.
“Proud to have the support of so many in the #CrownHeights @Chabad community. All our communities matter,” @Dorancy4Senate wrote on Twitter on Sunday night.
The tweet didn’t get much attention, but the flyer with the same photo was said to be distributed to many Jewish homes in the neighborhood.
On Monday, Lubavitch World Headquarters sent the following statement to COLlive.com:
“It is a long standing policy that Lubavitch World Headquarters does not endorse political candidates for any political office.
“It has come to our attention that political campaign literature has been circulated using a photo of Chabad Lubavitch emissaries against the backdrop of Lubavitch World Headquarters.
This was done without our knowledge and authorization.”
Dorancy, 43, a former a public school administrator, has the backing of Mayor Bill de Blasio, U.S. Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and her mother Una Clarke, former City Council member, who are both locally influential.
His opponent is Jesse Hamilton, 51, an attorney and former city tax assessor, is endorsed by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams who held the seat for 7 years.
The Democratic Primary is Tuesday, September 9.
The 20th District which covers Crown Heights, parts of Brownsville, Prospect Heights, Gownaus, Boro Park and Flatbush’s Prospect Lefferts Gardens. Running for the Republican ticket is Mendy Raitport, a Jewish meat store owner.
UPDATE (2:54 PM Eastern Time):
COLlive.com was told that Rubain Dorancy had a phone conversation with Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch and administrator of Lubavitch World Headquarters.
“Rubain just called Rabbi Krinsky to personally apologize for the misuse of the kinus hashluchim picture,” said a person involved in the matter.
99% of the people in the picture are not eligible to vote in the election. Therefore they don’t stand with the candidate and the candidate doesn’t stand with them. It has nothing to do with mesiras nefesh, or their efforts to bring Moshiach. They simply are not crown heights residents and that’s all that matters in an election.
Chas vshalom! They are moser nefesh in the rebbe’s shlichus to bring moshiach- how can you even say that they are not part of us???
It would be much easier for them to sit back comfortably in our Jewish community, with kosher food nearby, family and friends, chabad mosdos, 770, and instead they go to all corners of the world to do what the rebbe wants.
THEY ARE OUR FAMILY!!!
Yishar Koach shluchim! Go on with your amazing work bringing moshaich!!!
As of 3:19 am on 09/09/2014, the Chabad-Lubavitch photo still exists. Where ? In 770.
From Kingston, go up the steps, look in the window and there it is. Now that’s chutzpah.
Not only do you falsely misrepresent an endorsement, but you put it up in their house!
I will my ask neighbor who prays there and this will be gone soon……And yes, I have proof.
Thank you Crown Heights Political Club for finally uniting the Jews of Crown Heights against Rubain Dorancy’s last day misrepresentations meant to trick voters who, if not for online newspapers, might have been fooled. I also must point out that Crown Heights Jewish Community United has the appearance of meaning to confuse voters with the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council. And lastly, the fact that Avi Lesches was also the moderator of the Hamilton-Dorancy debate last August 28 at United Lubavitch Yeshiva, and now is seen handing out flyers in front of 770 speaks volumes of the appearance of supposedly… Read more »
Just shows how disconnected they are from our community.
In his tweets dorancy was very explicit about the connection between a united Jewish community supporting him and the background picture.
Yaakov Behrman is spot on about the need to support our long time friends.
Anyone who actually attended the debate would realize who kind of uber leftist Mr Dorancy is. His statements on crime and economics should worry us all.
the ad simply used a photo as an illustration and has not said anywhere that chabad as an entity is supporting anyone so why all the noise?
perhaps the ad is very effective
show some support for a fellow brother
All you people above dont know what adams did in removing yakov goldstein to put one of his own in.
If we all vote for who the Vaad Hakahal endorses, Instead of putting up flyers in the community, which will be useless, politicians will know there’s no getting around answering to our few selected and democratically elected leaders of the Vaad Hakahal. Then we can hold our Vaad accountable instead of some distant politician.
I envision a day when the Vaad hakahal endorses a candidate and every single community member automatically votes for that candidate. Now that’s Power.
look him up
he is the most radical politician
he is aligned with occupy wall street, anti Israel and the ultra ultra radical left wing crown heights tenant association
Everyone should vote for Jesse Hamilton. The guy is a tax lawyer not a school administrator. For those who know the political jargon, that means Hamilton is the conservative and durancy the liberal progressive. Hamilton is our man. Despite seeming like a pushover, that may very well be to our abvantage. The best we can hope to get now is someone who at least listens to polls instead of coming in with a political agenda and extreme ideology. We should all vote for Hamilton.
no matter who we vote for, the act of voting itself adds tremendous poloitical leverage to our community and make politicians listen. We can’t complain that our leaders don’t achieve any real results other then photo ops if they don’t have any power because we don’t vote. JUST VOTE.
Almost no one in that photo lives in crown heights! If de blasio is supporting this guy that itself should clue us in as to who we should vote for.
Who the heck are these people and why should I vote for one over the other. It’s a serious question — they both are in it for themselves and their core constituencies, neither of which is, um, us, so what in the world is the difference. ‘understands our community’ , ‘kakorus hatoiv’ LOL!
Can anyone answer the question?
If Eric Adams endorsed Jesse Hamilton, then he’s our guy.
Eric has been good to the Jewish Community on Crown Height s for 7 years. We must give. him hakoras hatoiv
The campaign using such pictures just shows how little about our community he understands. Between these two candidates Jesse Hamilton is hands down the correct choice. Maybe in a few years when he actually spends the time to get to know us Mr Dorancy will deserve our vote.
for leting them have the meeting in crown streeet
That move is lowly. It just shows what type of person that Rubain Dorancy is, a lying politician.
We must clean ourselves from this foul political figure.
So as a citizen who also happens to be a Lubavitcher, vote for Jesse Hamilton.
It is completely wrong what Dorancy just did. Mr hamilton is definitely the better choice for CH and our community. Go out and vote and show you care!
More proof that we should vote for Jesse hamilton. The candidate who actually knows our community and wouldn’t make this kind of error.
Publishing a statement as fact with cover picture of people who were not consulted and without having received any kind of confirmation is disturbing because it shows a distinct lack of integrity.
is good publicity! this guy is killing hamilton in the visibility game. i see his campaign literature and posters everywhere, including this website. this stunt just makes him that much more familiar to voters.
Vote for Jesse Hamilton
Really strange that a seemingly smart politician would do something so elementary.