By COLlive reporter
A new development in the disputed elections for the Crown Heights Vaad Hakohol: one of the promising young candidates called it quits.
Zaki Tamir, a criminal defense attorney who moved to the Brooklyn neighborhood 10 years ago, announced Wednesday his resignation from candidacy to the CHJCC: Crown Heights Jewish Community Council.
“With much disappointment I regret to inform you that last night (5/19/09) I received a Psak Din (dated 5/18/09) prohibiting my involvement with the upcoming elections,” he wrote in a message.
“Because of my love for this town, its people, and its holiness, I continued to press forward notwithstanding the suggestions given to me by the opposing Rabbonim.
“But now the Bet Din has spoken, and has served me with their ruling on the matter, I regretfully submit myself to their ruling,” Tamir wrote on his blog votetamir.com
Born and raised in Miami Beach Florida to Israeli parents, Tamir was attracted to the Lubavitch philosophy and recived Smicha the the Yeshiva in Kfar Chabad, Israel. He now lived in Crown Heights with his wife and three children.
“I didn’t want to polarize,” he told COLlive in a phone conversation. “I’m not going to divide in trying to unite.”
In other news, the remaining candidates were spotted Wednesday afternoon holding a secret meeting with Rabbi Mendy Hendel, Director of the “Chabad World Center to Greet Moshiach” and the organizational backbone of Lubavitch messiancs.
The meeting at an office building on Eastern Parkway was also attended by Rabbi Shmuel Kraus, the secretary of Rabbi Yaacov Schwei, senior member of the Crown Heights Bais Din, who is backing the elections.
A candidate who attended the meeting confirmed this information. “We talked about the people trying to stop the elections,” he told COLlive.
Rabbi Schwei is opposed by his senior colleague Rabbi Avraham Osdoba who is calling to hold off the elections until the two work things out.
COLlive Elections Coverage:
+ Op-Ed: Why We All Need To Vote
+ Op-Ed: A Letter to My Supporters
+ Disputed Candidates Press On
+ Vaad Hakohol Under Dispute
zaki! Kol hakavod!!!
and zalmen der shikker as vice prez !
Zaki is one of the good ones.
I am sure that Rabbi Osdoba also agrees that we need elections every few years. However there are priorities & Rabbi Osdoba wants unity before elections. Rabbi Shwei did not recognize the last legitimate elections for rabbanim as a result he does not hold of the concept of having a majority in the Bais Din that we can follow. What Rabbi Osdoba wants is for Rabbi Shwei to recognize previous elections before new elections happen, I feel that is unlikely for Rabbi Shwei to agree to recognize his opponents. I think the solution would be for all the Rabbanim to… Read more »
Hayom Yom Lessons for Wednesday,May 20, 2009 – Iyar 26, 5769
The command “You shall rebuke” is preceded by the words “YOU SHALL NOT HATE YOUR BROTHER,” for this is a precondition for the rebuke. The Torah continues, “…and you shall not ascribe sin to him,” for if the rebuke was ineffectual, YOU are certainly the one responsible, for yours were not words coming from the heart.
Compiled and arranged by the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
I don’t know who you are but I commend you for your actions. You did the right thing.
MR. Tamir
YOU ARE THE MAN PERIOD
g-d bless you and your family. we just lost the best candidate!
At least someone has respect and kabbalat ol – it took a guy with a trim beard to show us what a CHASSID is!!! Look at these guys in the picture – feh!!
Kraus is the BIGGEST trouble maker! It could be traced to the moment he moved to CH!!
Let’s do celebraty boxing
he was the only serious candiate, that can actually do something. i mean most of the guys should be disqualified. whats next zalmen the shikur runs .
Mr Tamir, you have done the right thing. Nothing good can come out of such a dispute. I’m sure that you have a lot to offer our community and I’m sure that you time will come to put these qualities into practice but not quite yet. Clearly we have to rebuild from the top down. It is now time for the Rabbonim to do the same. They may be outstanding Talmidei Chachomim and know the 4 sections of Shulchan Aruch by heart. But it is now time to allow the 5th section to kick in. This is the section of… Read more »
I am proud that Rabbi Tamir demonstrates respect for our Rabbi’s yet I am distressed that we are losing our best candidate. Is it fair to eliminate those that respect the Rabbi’s and encourage those who don’t. the election should be put off until we can reach an agreement.
not a chance. This is the most corrupt place.
How exactly would one go about polarizing one’s self if they did want to do such a thing?
Maybe he meant he doesn’t want to polarize the community.
When you run again legaly I will vote for you. You have a high moral standerd.
We all want new elections so let us get Real Netzigim and a fair Election soon.
“Why do you think this is right? to cave to this kind of pressure? The bylaws state we must have elections every few years. Who is R Osdoba to get involved???? I cant beleive this!”
is this a quote from the sicha???
instead of admitting that number 8 wrote a stupid remark blame it on the rebbe
how far have we gone???
If this isn’t worked out soon, I can see this whole thing getting physical, like it has in so many other occasions!
Very commendable, so when (if ever) a unanimous election is held, he can show that he is a true man.
There’s a letter from the Rebbe that states just that!
It’s ta’ke a lose, but we must persevere!
what do you think this is since since when did “bylaws” trump rabbanim???
Tamir’s intentions were righteous. I knew that he would ultimately come to this conclusion. Now it’s time for Brownstein (also with righteous intentions) to do the same. The rest are either thugs or clowns.
I don’t know what you are talking about or where you live, but here in Kan Tziva thing ARE run as a dictatorship. every rov is a KING – can mix into whatever he wants, doesn’t need to listen to both sides BEFORE formulating an opinion (and especially a PSAK DIN). And most importantly, it seems like in our holy shcuna Rabbomin can PASKEN FOR THEMSELVES meaning that if there is an issue which DIRECTLY involves HIM (either his kovod, money, kids etc.) HE AND ONLY HE has the right to render Piskey Dinim regarding these matters and Chas V’Shalom… Read more »
He did the right thing. I don’t stick up for either of the Rabbonim, but continuing on would have been an impossible situation.
“I’m not going to divide in trying to unite.” Well said.
Umm, excuse me!!
Who do you think are the real DICTATORS???
People who think they can use extortion, indimidation and threats to get people to do what they want?
People who say “If the rabonim dont do what we want, we’ll just get rid of them??
Dont be such a typical “sheep” following the hordes.
Learn to think for yourself for a change.
Thank G-d Mr. Tamir decided to quit.
He knows right from wrong.
I see some people say: this is great – finally we may have shalom, let all the candidates step down…. WHO do you think YOU are fooling, let all of the ‘regular’ people step aside and let the DICTATORS take charge without any opposition – this way we will have TRUE shalom (the way the Rebbe wants it? I don’t think so. the Rebbe ALWAYS wanted that the will of the PEOPLE should rule…)
this whole situation is a tragedy
Moshiach Now!!!
Why is he quitting? just because r osdoba said? what about the other rov of CH rabbi schwei? if hes so concerned about rabbonim, he should listen to the real rov here
your right!!! somehow M. Hendel is always around when ther is machloikes…just some food for thought….
Why is Mendel Hendel always in the middle of trouble? Who elected HIM to anything???
Rabbi Schwei shouldn’t be involved in “secular” elections. Nor should Rabbi Osdoba. Didn’t the Rebbe tell the Rabbonim not to mix into politics (or am I confusing another issue)?
Go Zaki! Be strong!!!
Good job Mr. Tamir. you are bringing peace to our neighborhood. Now if only the other clowns will follow his lead, we can try to create true sholom in CH
Why do you think this is right? to cave to this kind of pressure? The bylaws state we must have elections every few years. Who is R Osdoba to get involved???? I cant beleive this!
Wow, I’m impressed! Finally someone has stepped forward to do the right thing! There is hope still in Crown Heights!!!
This is the right thing to do! If we have to rabonim, and we do what ever we want, where will we be? The Rebbe would be proud..
honestly – this is not the white house
What a shame that this is what the community is coming to. communism died in most of the world EXCEPT in lubavitch. In Crown Hights and by Shlucim…. very sad we have ‘kings’ and ‘dictators’…
true man running for a true change l’sheim shamaim
I think Zaki must be the one to arrange a united election to be held before the summer.
in first place, he would not be elected?