By COLlive reporters
Orthodox Jewish boxing champion and a Chabad follower Dmitriy Salita has been chosen as one of the 5 finalists in the second Jewish Community Heroes contest of the Jewish Federations of North America.
A panel of judges chose the finalists from 20 semi-finalists who were voted in a few weeks ago by over 300,000 online voters out of more than 200 nominees, according to the contest website.
Other finalists include Jay Feinberg – finding donors for a bone marrow registry, Zvi Gluck, “dedicating his life to helping those most in need,” Stephen Kutner, sending healthcare professionals to communities in crisis, and Mordechai Tokarsky who teaches 18-30 year-olds.
The panel of 17 judges included Lubavitchers Levi Shemtov, director of the Friendship Circle, Devorah Benjamin of KSCVK of Crown Heights and Bill Rudolph, President of the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh.
While listed as a judge, the contest website states that Rudolph “abstained from casting his 2010 judge ballots due to the presence among our semifinalists of his daughter-in-law, Rivkee Rudolph.”
She was one of the 5 Lubavitchers who were voted to be in the top 20 semi-finals: Rabbi Dovid Tiechtel – Champaign, Illinois, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath – Montreal, Quebec, Rabbi Dovid Goldstein – Houston, Texas, Salita and Rudolph.
Also in the semi-finals was Pinny Lipshutz, editor of the Yated weekly, who has taken a lead role in helping Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin by raising awareness and funds.
“Our judges had a tough job,” said Andy Neusner, a coordinator of the online contest. “The 20 Heroes who made it into the semifinals are all exceptional members of the Jewish community who make Tikkun Olam a part of their daily lives.”
The 2010 Jewish Community Hero of the Year will be announced at the JFNA General Assembly in New Orleans from November 7-9.
The results were received with mixed feelings among Lubavitchers – known for being media savvy, yet remaining distinctly different among the secular-controlled Jewish establishment in the U.S. and elsewhere.
“It’s federation, so I’m not shocked,” Baruch, a young Crown Heights father whose parents are Shluchim, wrote to COLlive. “They have a discrimination and Chutzpah toward Chabad, in my humble opinion.”
But, a Shliach who participated in last year’s first Jewish Heroes contest and did not win, said understanding the dynamics of winning such a contest needed a more nuanced approach.
“Shlichus is the mission the Rebbe has entrusted us with to make the world a better place,” he tells COLlive.com, “but not everyone agrees that spiritual outreach and fighting assimilation is the highest calling for the Jewish people.
“That is why when running for such a contest – if you want to win – we need to offer Shluchim who are involved in more universal causes like Devora Benjamin’s Chosson and Kallah assistance and the Friendship Circle.
“We are never guaranteed that they will win, but they have more of a chance of finding the favor of the judges who, mostly, are not religion-focused. That’s why they voted in Salita,” he concluded.
Salita was nominated through Ezra, not through Lubavitches
At this point he represents Russian jews movement and Israel birth rights
Mordehai Tokarskiy said that Dmitriy belongs to all jewish people, not just Lubavitches. He is recognized amongst jewish communities around the world. He does a huge outreach work in the community
Dovid Tiechtel should have won!!!
how about they pick someone who needs it?
by Dmitriy Salita Countless immigrants, including my family, came to America for the ‘American dream;’ for religious freedom and the right and ability to pursue happiness, regardless of any extrinsic factors. In the past generations of Jewish people have been wronged, tortured, abused and condemned. The old country did not give us a place for public forum. We were conditioned to talk about our hardships only amongst ourselves in fear of punishment for voicing our opinion about the violation of basic human rights. As Jewish Americans, we are all under the safety net of the Constitution. It is our responsibility… Read more »
Can we please stop voting for these futile contests?
To the fellow quoted by COL as saying that the Federation “discriminated” against Chanbad.
My friend,there was discrimination it was reverse discrimination! Out of the 17 judges three were Lubavitchers(one gave up his post because his daughter was a nominee..)Do you think that Lubavitchers make up 15% of the Jewish community?
With it all, Salita, associated with Lubavitch was nominated.That is 5% of the nominees, and a much higher percentage that Lubavitch makes up of the general Jewish community
There is a difference between being a hero and being an inspiration.
#19, you are wrong, wrong, wrong! Shluchim do more than anyone can imagine. You dont know about the things that never get published. I know from expiriance, half the good things shluchim do are never known. never, never known. Yes, Pinny, we should all learn from you.
where your yarmulke in the ring!
of the fact that you don’t need to have PR or a well known name thing in order to be a hero. Neither do you have to have your name boasted all over the public’s face. In fact if you think of the real hero’s in this world they are probably the people who do the most heroic things in the quietest way, their only intention to help others, not themselves.
Observant Russian Jewish boxer Dmitriy Salita is a true role model and hero to his generation. Dmitriy Salita is the first religious boxer in the world. As an amateur, Dmitriy won USA boxing championships and forfeited to compete in the World Boxing Championship held in Budapest, Hungary because it was held on Shabbos. Over the course of his professional career, he has continued to refuse to fight on Shabbos. Dmitriy always carries an Israeli flag into the ring and proudly supports many Jewish causes. Dmitriy feels that it is an important responsibility for each Jew, especially one of worldly recognition,… Read more »
Every shliach IS a hero. As is every person whose life is devoted to helping others–especially at very minimal salary, great personal sacrifice and herculean efforts.
These contests itself are silly, but if the PR and $$ brought in will bring people closer to Hashem, it’s worth it–and THAT’S not silly.
I think Pinny is a hero. I think shluchim doing their job shouldn’t be called heroes. That’s their job. Every shliach is a hero then. Why should we let a panel decide who’s the ‘best’ shliach? Why do we need these silly contests that really have no meaning anyway? I’m tired of them.
With all the respect I have for Dimitry, what did he do to be among the “Jewish Heroes”? I’m confused, but did I miss an episode?
why should Rivkee Rudolph not run because one of the many judges might have to leave?? she still could have won! and I’m sure she asked her father in law if he minded not voting, knowing that Rivkee Rudolph is a very good daughter in law.
This contest, like many others, has absolutely nothing to do with being a hero, and has more to say about one’s social netwrok marketing skills and even more imprtant, for JTA to get 300,000+ Jewish email lists which they can then sell to jewish companies and organizations renting lists to promote their goods/services/charities, etc
So don’t get excited, just do what the Rebbe wants from every Jew, and let’s not blast each other, the candidates, their worthiness, the mindset of the judges, whether Lubavitch or not.
when the menuval Shmuly someone or other who was one of the anti-Rubashkin attack mutts was a top 5 and therefore was a judge this year. No one divisive won this year – there were 2 promoters of intermarriage and a total nut on the top 20 and I feared for the worst which BH did not come to pass.
What a story. he was once a hater of Chabad and Chassidus and he did major Teshuva. Kol Hakavod Rabbi Lipshitz
He helped Sholom Mordechai! What nonesonse that Dimitry won! He’s just a good boxer!
doesn’t sound very heroic to me
Boxing is heroic????
No wonder this generation is so challenged!!
Maybe if she is a daughter in law, she should have not run, creating a situation where one of our judges needed to leave…
yes he is a hero, because he won’t play on shabbos and he proudly presents himself as an orthodox jew, and he champions Judaism for many people, so many jewish kids who look up to him see they don’t have to give up their values to be what they want to be!
yankelowitz who started the crazy hechsher tzedek shinanigan was one of the judges!
choose a lubav last year, last year, second round was thru VOTING, not a panel choosing, to there liking…
What has he done that is so heroic? he is a talented sportsman yes but a hero?????? what is with the world today?
Pinny Lipschitz – a winner hands down!
so why did you have to include that mornic quote from “Baruch” == They even had lubavitchers on the panel!!!
Commenters, if you post thoughts similar to those of boruch you dont do any favors to Chabad