Crown Heights Elections Has Everything But Character

By a Crown Heights resident

As some of us Crown Heights residents may be aware, elections for the Jewish Community Council (CHJCC) and Vaad Hakohol are underway. Elections aren’t unique to our community, so we can compare and contrast to other public elections we might be familiar with.

By and large, we are a beacon of light, an אור לגויים, in terms of how a respectful and civilized process could and should take place.

There is, however, one matter in which we can learn from the secular elections, not from how they are held, but from how the Rebbe addressed them.

At the farbrengen of כ’ מר חשון תשל”ה, which was on the day of the United States midterm elections, the Rebbe said:

“Regarding the elections, when there are candidates which we have to vote for, the point (and litmus test) is “אנא נסיב מלכא,” one chooses hashem. Therefore, one has to inspect and consider what is better for shulchan aruch, what is better for Yiddishkeit, what is better for Torah and mitzvos”.

Similarly, when asked who the chassidim in Eretz Yisroel should vote for in the Israeli national elections, the Rebbe replied, “הרשימה החרדית ביותר,” the most frum party.

In this light, I feel the need to share a painful observation.

I read the manifests, watched the open house meeting, and even spoke in person with a number of the candidates for Vaad Hakohol. Yet, not a word has been said about the matter most important; the ruchnius character of our community.

It is no secret that there is a “broad spectrum of standards” in crown heights, yet I fervently hope that as Lubavitcher chassidim, we would be voting for those committing to uphold the highest of standards.

There will be others that will feel (and vote) differently, legitimately so, as this is a democratic system, after all.

But one thing is utterly inexcusable: silence. The fact that these matters have not even been raised, discussed and addressed on the various platforms.

Everyone agrees that snap benefits are essential, community grants are important, housing is a crisis, parking is a disaster, and garbage collection should be handled better.

But what about substance, identity and character?

In the said farbrengen, the Rebbe continued:

“It is irrelevant whether there have been promises about a bigger and more prestigious job, more or less money, much or little glory, for it’s about “אנא נסיב מלכא.” Therefore, if for Hashem’s purposes, one candidate is preferable, even if on a personal level a different candidate is better, one knows for whom to cast a vote, being that he is a פיקח, belonging to the עם חכם ונבון, who declares אנא נסיב מלכא”.

Candidates should say their stance on these matters, because they matter. They should communicate how they will operate in regards to maintaining, strengthening and indeed uplifting the standards of the Rebbe’s shchuna. We should be given the opportunity to be able to assess “what is better for shulchan aruch, what is better for Yiddishkeit, what is better for Torah and mitzvos.”

Perhaps politically, they prefer to avoid these conversations, as these are not topics of consensus, and by stating a position, they might be shrinking their voter base. But that’s what leadership is about: being honest, upfront, and transparent.

The incoming Vaad Hakohol will be making decisions that will affect the ruchniyus character and standards of our community, and we deserve to know their positions on these matters.

It is concerning that they don’t feel compelled to address these issues, but this is really a reflection of ourselves, the voting body of the Crown Heights community.

Do we care?

Does our ruchniyus matter?

Are our community standards relevant?

Some might argue that the Vaad Hakohol are only in charge of gashmius, bringing in and spending community money. But we all know that this is incorrect. There is a Yiddish expression דער בעל המאה איז דער בעל הדעה, the ones with the funds always get to push certain agendas.

They will obviously have to prioritize; what will their priorities be?

Furthermore:

At the meeting, several candidates mentioned that they want to encourage higher secular education to enhance the parnosa of members in our community.

The obvious question is, will this be interfering in any way with the ideals of חינוך על טהרת הקודש?

Will they be encouraging our ישיבות and schools to allot (more) hours for לימודי חול at the expense of לימודי קודש?

Many more specific examples can be brought to illustrate this point, but I will suffice with one more:

In all of their activities, will they seek the guidance of rabbonim and Mashpiim?

Are they committed to following their every directive?

What are the names of their rabbonim and mashpiim?

Most importantly, the Vaad Hakohol (unlike the CHJCC) is not just about financial and social services but rather a committee overseeing the needs of our community as a whole. Our needs as a community are ruchnius by nature.

What are their plans on that front?

A number of ideas:

Working with the בית דין to further develop a network of accessible מורי הוראה for all matters pertaining to men and women in our community

Support for the local shuls and caring for those who don’t have a shul to which they belong

Organizing seminars on matters pertinent to our community, e.g., chinuch, shalom bayis, etc.

Arranging farbrengens for all denominations of our community

Facilitating and encouraging local shiurim

Paying local mashpiim and mashpios to provide help and guidance to all

Finally, I conclude with a question:

How should I, a Lubavitcher Chassid, vote in these elections when there have been zero position statements (never mind commitments) made on the one thing that the rebbe says actually matters?

Hoping to hear back from our candidates, and wishing our entire community and their elected officials much hatzlocha.