Zaki Tamir, Chairman of the Crown Heights Vaad Hakohol:
A few days after the ikul was issued, I was in communication with Rabbi Avrohom Binyomin Rosenberg, and we discussed a conversation he had with Rabbi Chaim Krauss (who issued the ikul).
In a conversation between Rabbi Rosenberg and Rabbi Krauss, Rabbi Rosenberg informed Rabbi Krauss that even before the ikul was issued:
1. The hachtarah had already taken place
2. Rabbi Braun’s contract had already been signed by the majority of the vaad members, and was apparently in full effect
3. That the shtar birurin of the zablo Din Torah had been signed on all of the elected bodies of the kohol (the Vaad Hakohol, the Rabbonim, Gabboim, etc.)
4. The elections had taken place in a very public manner, under the guidance of the zablo, and that a large majority of the kohol had participated
These crucial details may have not been disclosed to Rabbi Krauss by the plaintiffs at the time the ikul was issued.
Furthermore, Rabbi Rosenberg challenged the ikul by questioning how any group dissatisfied with the psak din could have the right to run to another beis din to overturn that psak. If so, any group claiming to represent the Crown Heights community could always go to an outside beis din, and there would be no end to the conflict.
Rabbi Krauss conceded to Rabbi Rosenberg, stating that if the plaintiffs could not demonstrate they could act in a way that would bind the entire community, then he would retract the ikul (Rabbi Rosenberg told me that he believes that the plaintiffs cannot demonstrate this).
It is very important to note that the ikul stated that a hearing date would be announced ‘within the coming days.’ Since the ikul was issued, nearly six weeks ago, the Vaad Hakohol has received absolutely no communication from the Beis Din of Rabbi Krauss. We were never informed who the plaintiffs were, the reason the ikul was issued, or received any hazmonah. In fact, the ikul itself was not appropriately served to the Vaad Hakohol, but instead a copy was faxed to the Vaad Hakashrus office.
I have made numerous attempts to reach Rabbi Krauss. My calls have never been returned. I managed to reach him for a brief moment a few days ago. He told me to call him in the evening. Since then, he has not taken my calls. I hope that Rabbi Krauss will retract the ikul, in order that (as Rabbi Rosenberg said) there will not be “war” between batei din.
Until then, the Vaad Hakohol will continue to act as responsibly as we can to resolve this issue. It’s unfortunate that the lack of a functional Beis Din is what forces the Vaad Hakohol to have to bear the full burden of these decisions.
Finally, the Vaad Hakohol has spent much time, effort and money to ensure that the Din Torah and elections could take place correctly. The community came out in force to vote for Rabbi Braun, and we honor and respect that decision. I, personally, have total confidence in Rabbi Braun’s integrity, talent and his ability to fulfill his position of Rov in a manner that will honor the Rebbe’s schunah.
Actually, the percentage of people who are ‘eligible’ to vote constitute a minority of the community. Give more people a say and more people might cooperate with the decisions.
Zaki is the best thing to happen to the Vaad Hakohol. Moshiach NOW!
From your cmment, it is obvious tat you are not a Lubavitcher chassid. Go read the sicha that explains the qualifications needed for a Rav for this community.
Sheker Gamur! The community is upset that they were duped! If there were new elections now between Rabbi Bogomilsky and Braun, the latter would lose by a very wide margin. Wake Up!
From experience, Rabbi Braun is more highly inteeligent, higly educated, and most of all – down to earth. He makes time of day for those who request it. I am writing from Sydney Australia, where he will be greatly missed as he is the best around.
Peace
Most of the community that had voted for Rabbi Braun is happy to see him on his seat active… good luck to R’ Braun and our community.
Yo are right he’s playing games. Unfortunately you can’t always be good with everybody. In this case the humiliation is covered with fancy legal terms.
What you answered to #18 makes no sense. Obviously #18 was asking because Rabbi Osdoba shlita had raised serious and important questions which were never answered. With the answer that you gave, it’s better that you give no answer at all!
As a RABBI outside CH I can see things more objectively. I believe that the Zabala Beis Din that Rabbi Osdoba agreed to follow is good enough to determine whether Rabbi Braun’s election is valid or not. Let’s move on. CH the world is counting on you to progress in peace!!!
as if any of you care if he has smicha or not! you have alternative reasons for bashing him. you are just blaming the lack of smicha, he was born into a family of rabbonus and he knows smicha better than 99.9% of bochrim who take smicha tests nowadays! his life has been one long shimush growing up in the family that he did! the guy knows his stuff! regardless if he has an official smicha document rabbi rosenberg insisted that he can take the job so its not your business whether he has smicha or not! you dont like… Read more »
what does “de facto” mean? either he is, or he isn’t.
very simple. this has nothing to do with Rabbi Osdobo! there was an election called by the COMUNITY. this whole process was overseen by 5 highly competent, independent Rabbonim! The COMMUNITY elected Rabbi Odsdobo shlit”o in 1987 – yaarich yamim al mamlacto ad bias goel tzedek The COMMUNITY elected Rabbi Braan shlit”o in 2010 – yaarich yamim al mamlacto ad bias goel tzedek They are both equal members of the same beis din. I hope they learn to work with each other and serve US – the people who elected them both. I wish all the best to ALL members… Read more »
Zaki, you truly know how to move things along in a professional, yet quite manner, thus avoiding lots of public shmutz.
Zaki, I believe you are a honest, simple Jew just looking to do what is right AL PI TORAH.
You don’t seem to take actions based on politics. You clearly follow the Beis Din agreed on by Rabbi Osdobo, Rabbi Shwey and the Vaad Hakohol – to the very last detail.
We should all learn form Zaki to place our personal “feelings” aside and follow TORAH.
Let’s get something straight! He never lied! He claims he has smicha and R’ Rosenberg has affirmed that he does, in fact, have smicha. As to the letter from R’ Tzinner, R’ Braun never represented it as smicha! Some people saw it as a letter for recommendation, others as a smicha. It is what it is, while R’ Braun never once claimed it to be something other than what it is (letter of recommendation). What I see here is a conspiracy theory, a bunch of sore losers, and a dreadful smear campaign.
Clarity!
it’s people like you who are destroying Lubavitch, you are making slanderous and baseless accusations against Rabbi Braun, you don’t even know who he is and you probably don’t care either, all you are interested in is to make and strengthen machlokes and make sure peace has no way to surface in CH.
this applies not just to you but to many others in CH with similar opinions!
This whole business with the third “Rav” is a farce.
Why the need for one subterfuge after another. Truth does not need to lie and cheat and use smoke and mirrors.
ENJOY
thank you rabbi braun you gave me good advice to try to not to talk during davening and to try to finish before chatzos
If this “Rav” had any was really a RAV there would not have been any need for all this trickery.
in the Badatz of CH
I will never except him as my rov.
Rabbi Chaim Krauss is a fraud. He is known to issue all sorts of ikkuls, siruvs, and other stuff for money. Ask around!
Oh please. Move on! Rabbi Braun is the Rov of CH now. Let’s accept that FACT and let’s give hm a chance to lead CH to the right direction.
CH must become a place for all chassidim to be like days of old.
With all the turmoil in the world….Revolutions in the Arab world, terrorism in Israel, deadly earthquakes in Japan, nuclear meltdowns, possible panic in the world…..shouldn’t we regroup and refocus on UNITY and PEACE among our people?? Wonder what the Rebbe is thinking right now???
i read your 1st comment and i said i agree
i read your 2nd comment and i said i agree again
i read your 3rd comment and i said i agree once again – with 1 difference – the machloikis in ch will just get bigger and bigger NOt smaller and smaller as originally intended.
Give it up already. Get somebody else!
Why is there no mention of Rabbi Osdoba’s objections? Why is Rabbi Osdoba not mentioned at all in all of this?
Zaki you write: “Until then, the Vaad Hakohol will continue to act as responsibly as we can to resolve this issue. It’s unfortunate that the lack of a functional Beis Din is what forces the Vaad Hakohol to have to bear the full burden of these decisions.” I don’t understand why are you mixing in to this. You are binded by the psak din of the zablo. You signed the Candidates Statement of Intent that reads as follows: “Accept and will abide by the Zablo Psak (ruling) of Rabbis Rosenberg, Havlin, Hecht, Jurkowitz and kuperman dated 3oth of Nisson 5770.… Read more »
So that’s the answer? its too late because he is here already?
So if i steal money from some one the B’D will tell me to keep it because i have it already?
De facto is a Latin expression that means “by [the] fact.” In law, it means “in practice but not necessarily ordained by law” or “in practice or actuality, but without being officially established.”
number 3 why must we make only machlokes every single daand the whole woldmust know that in crown hights only machlokes day after day how will we bring moshiaach
The Vaad Hakol were begged not to do the hachtarah until all the issues were clarified, how can they use that as the main reason we have to accept this farce?
Where do i bring my de facto questions?
R’ Braun only got in through fraud, he doesn’t have Smicha, he will never be accepted.
we havent heard from you in a while. We want more Zaki Tamir!
respect a man or even listen to a man who got elected in on machlokes
YOU are a Baal machloikes. It’s a shame that people like you give in to the Satan who will do everythink not to have peace in the Rebbe’s shchunah.
lets just catch this early and try to go by the Rebbe:
first do your Chitas, and then go about your day.
the litle power that we hade on crown heights that inshured that the mesiachasten have no power was lost
Mr Tamir tell us why until today you did not sign Rabbi Brauns contract.
Thank you COLlive for posting relevant and factual news stories!
r’ brauns position will never do anything except cause people to go elsewhere for any rabbinic rulings.
I for one will not contribute to his upkeep…and am sure there might be others who feel the same way…
and, one judgement against the ones who are paying him will annihilate any potential salry.
He’s a fantastic Rabbi. Let’s accept him and move on to some healing. He can heal the entire community. (Note that while R’ Schwei’s letters say Yechi, R’ Braun’s do not, despite (I believe) his being mishichist. I think that shows sensitivity and an understanding of his position and his responsibility to unite the community.)
Zaki I’m not mekanh the pressure and nonsense you have to deal with., yeashar chaylach. hope fully well see and end to the fighting and machlokas very soon.