By COLlive reporter
An FBI sting operation that ended with the arrest of Rabbis and other orthodox Jews for money laundering and corruption has left the Jewish community stunned.
Thursday’s arrests also included mayors, assemblymen and other officials in New Jersey and New York.
Within hours after the arrests, Lubavitchers were emailing COLlive asking for more information. “It’s being reported all over British networks,” a London Lubavitcher told us.
Behind the arrests was Solomon Dwek, an orthodox Jewish real-estate developer of Syrian origin accused of bank fraud who became an FBI informant.
We contacted Rabbi Moshe Herson, Head Shliach of New Jersey, who immediately told us: “Rabbis working under our auspices are not involved, Baruch Hashem.”
Shluchim throughout the US were bombarded with questions about the arrests over Shabbos. A Shliach in California told COLlive that community members asked, “how could Rabbis take part in this kind of activity?”
COLlive was notified that in a Friday radio interview, Lubavitch bochurim were asked to comment about the corruption scandal which made headlines around the U.S. and the world.
After speaking about the Merkos Shlichus summer visitation program to Jewish communities, they declined to speak about the FBI round up with the broadcaster noting that “rabbis arrested were non-Chabad.”
In an email sent Friday to some 400 bochurim on Merkos Shlichus, Lubavitch World Headquarters advised them not to respond.
“Please take extra caution not to comment, discuss or mention this as it has nothing to do with chabad or your shlichus,” Schneor Nejar of the Merkos Shlichus Office wrote.
“If you are questioned or asked to comment on it and you feel you must respond, please ensure that you don’t say anything that could be seen as an opinion on the issue,” they were advised.
“You might want to say that you are not familiar with the story or those involved but in America you are presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
Not Chabad!? If it is |”us vs. them” then you might breath a sigh of relief. If it is the Jews (all of us) bringing light to the world vs. darkness then the comment inappropriate. “Please take extra caution not to comment, discuss or mention this as it has nothing to do with chabad or your shlichus,” The non-Jews don’t really distinguish between Chabad and other groups of Jews. In fact they might just think, “Black hat, coat, etc. those Jews over there…” And that is you buddy! There is a small rejoicing in the, “not us” comments. Don’t rejoice… Read more »
The FBI already knew about the wrongdoings, before Dweck got involved. Dweck served only as the last step to produce court-valid evidence. This is not a messira. If dweck wouldn’t do it, the wrongdoers would get caught anyway.
At what age does one acquire wisdom such as yourself?
19 of the arrests were FRUM people. Who cares if they are rabbis?
And no one was entrapped here … they all admitted to having done similar activity prior to coming in contact with Mr. Dweck.
I wonder how many organisations this punk approached rejected him. Amazing that after years of trying, he yielded 44 people only 5 of whom were Rabbis. I would like to know the number of politicians who rejected him vs. the number he approached, compared with the same figure in the Jewish community.
Bs”d
only this horror is in the Gemorra
are you on merkos shlichus? it says clearly that an e-mail was sent out to the bochurim on merkos shlichus.
when all is well hard core chabadnick like to say that every jew is a chbadnick.
with this episode they say bh they are not chabadnicks
Without justifying the crimes, please take note of the following:
Due to anti-semitism, for centuries, the only way Jewish people were able to survive was through the black market. Many frum people today have parents and grandparents who lived through these anti-Semitic times. Therefore, even until today, in the psyche of frum people, the black market isn’t looked upon as such a bad thing.
Of course, it is not an excuse, but it would help explain why religious people could do this.
most of those arrested will be released without charges being pressed. the governor of NJ needed some good PR. most of the arrests are by association.
lets not forget that the Rebbe did not reject those who were his Chassidim who were arrested and convicted.
IT’S THE NINE DAYS, FOR HEAVENS SAKE, CAN’T WE STOP BICKERING JUST FOR A WHILE. YOU DON’T HAVE TO LOVE THE VAAD HAKOHOL OR WHO EVER THEY ARE, YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE TO LIKE THEM, BUT FOR OUR OWN SAKES KEEP YOUR NEGATIVE OPINIONS TO YOURSELF. THAT WAY THE SATAN WON’T THRIVE SO MUCH. AND BE SO SUCCESFUL IN HIS MISERABLE WORK. PEOPLE HAVE RACHMONOS ON YOUR OWN BRETHEREN!!!
THE GOV SHOULD STOP PICKING ON THE JEWS ASPSHLY WHEN THEY DID NOT DO IT.
so when one group of arabs says we have no opinion about atrocities that another group did because we are not sure what really happened so we don’t want to comment regarding our anything, (shtikah kehoidoh) your alright with that??
or much better is when someone comes out with strong statements that we are abhored by the accusations even if these people are not guilty , you then feel that is the right thing to do, no???
Prosecutors look at Jewish sites for posts that give added information. It is not fair to those accused for those who don’t have the facts to make statements. The only fair thing to say is that the rabbis don’t represent Chabad and that we don’t really know the circumstances; only what the news is reporting.
Enough of these stories already. Let them all plead guilty and spare the Jewish community the “obligation” of providing pidyon shevuim funds for their legal defense. Each one of them is going to require hundred of thousands of dollars in legal fees to get them off of what is anyways only a maximum of five years. Not supporting them will also show that we, the Jewish community, do not approve of financial crimes. A greater chillul Hashem than doing the crime is the fact that the frum community actually supports these people through their trials. Haven’t we had enough already?… Read more »
The bochurim should address the question like this, thus giving:
“While we, as religious Jews, must condemn any sort of illegal activity, we are not familiar with the specific facts of the arrest and investigation and cannot give an opinion on the issue. However, it is important to remember that in the United States, one is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a fair trial.”
Was there really a communication from Merkos? Why can’t we see it?
Doesn’t Merkos statements come out from Rabbis Krinsky or Deren or Kotlarsky?
AS THIS POINT NOBODY “EVEN YOU” KNOWS THE DETAILS OF THIS CASE SO THE BEST THING TO DO SPECIFICALLY FOR BOCHURIM ON MERKOS SHLICHUS AS THEY MAY NOT BE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE NEWS IS TO REMAIN QUITE AND WAIT TILL THERE IS MORE CLARITY ON THE ISSUE.
With comment # 9
We condemn breaking the law, by anyone who does while not knowing the details of this case.
what would happen if Arabs killed ..and the christians tell their teenagers — tell everyone we have no opinion.
The bochurim on Shlichus should be the first people to be told our opinion,,, if we have one
The mayor of Hoboken was handcuffed
this is adirect quote of the Rebbeh
besides all jews are equal and the jewish community is in big trouble!
Fellow Yidden. Please remember that Ahavas Chinam is the order of the day. Before we spout off regarding another Yid realize that every one of us is also being tested regarding how we react. Keep sharp words of any kind away. Don’t post harsh comments. Let us not Westernize. While Yiddishkeit does not punish for most forms of speech. Speech is NOT free. We are required to police our own speech ourselves. Remember, baseless love brings the Third Bais Hamikdash. To number 8 The reason for “no comment” is because the media will make the worst of anyone’s words regardless… Read more »
Remember, these are 21 year old BOCHURIM on merkos shlichus. I think it was very wise of HQ to instruct them not to open their mouths. These guys need press coverage for their shlichus and they must make sure that the press do not use it as an opportunity to ask them questions about this subject.
The media are desperate for a one liner that will make a headline, especially in a small town.
today, chabad became a don’t get involved, have no opinion, make everyone happy Organization.
What does that mean, you have NO opinion about what happened. Do you agree in essence with what these guys are being accused of, are you against this kind of behaviour??? but my golly, what does no opinion mean???
What are our children supposed to make of these repeated situations in ALL orthodox circles. Do they also learn that , it’s no opinion???
do what you want, we don’t ask, you don’t say>>>>>
Who cares who they are? As Yidden we should care about it.
We are ALL responsible.
Do you honestly think the world knows the diff between orthodox Jewish Rabbis?
We should all be embarassed.
On another note, the scandals that were going on, happen all over the world-all the time. we are hearing about it more than usual, is b/c they are Jewish
notice how the mayors are not hand cuffed.
Why no coment on the major mesirah raking place now in our comunity by the new vadd Hakall
What a brilliant response – that they were not Chabad…
The story is ugly enough, but despite the secular media’s headlines, I would hope that COL and other religious web sites would desist from constantly reiterating and emphasizing “the rabbis” involved. Let’s stick to the facts, which are awful without embellishment. How many actual rabbis are involved, or even accused?
One is too many, but don’t follow CNN etc.. by painting this crime as the web of evil rabbi’s.