By Zaki Isaac B. Tamir, candidate for Vaad Hakohol-CHJCC 2010 & VoteTamir.com
1. What is the Va’ad Hakohol/Crown Heights Jewish Community Council (CHJCC)?
The Vaad Hakohol Board is a community organization that relies heavily on government funding it is distinguished from the CHJCC only in name. The two organizations were originally separate in that Vaad Hakohol was responsible for the more religious matters e.g. Simchat Bais Hashoeva, the vaad Hakashrut hechshur, the salary of the Rabbonim etc. The CHJCC was assigned to the material matters such as social services, finance, political lobbying, clean streets etc.
The two organizations were merged many years back for a reason unknown to me, but I intend to address the advantages of severing the two organizations in a petition to amend the bylaws pursuant to the recent Psak calling for review of the bylaws.
For the purposes of this coming election any candidate voted into one (e.g. vaad hakohol) is automatically elected on to both panels, as stated above the Vaad and the JCC are virtually one and the same.
2. General specifications of elected council
THE TERM: 3 Years
MAX BOARD MEMBERS: 7
MIN BOARD MEMBERS: 3
SALARY: 0.00- Volunteer
3. Who can vote?
Jewish
Male
Over 30 years old/ or married
Crown Heights Resident (Identification required)
4. Voting Rules of Thumb
Every voter must vote for at least 3 candidates for the vote to be counted.
May not vote for more than 7 candidates.
Absentee ballots are not accepted
The vote is casted in favor of individuals not slates, but candidates are free to campaign together and/or present as a group.
5. Selection Process Post-ballot-casting
Voting process is conducted by a hired staff employed by an independent election company.
The number of voters is counted and the number of voters is recorded
The election company then counts the amount of votes each individual candidate received (considering that each voter can select between 3 -7 candidates).
In order to be considered for election the candidate must receive more than 50% of the number of voters (e.g. 1800 voters -50% = 900 voters, to be considered a candidate must have 901 votes, as in any number above 50%).
The candidate with the most votes is elected as Rosh Kohol/Chairman.
If less than 3 candidates get over 50% of the voters the 3rd and 4th place candidates (although having gained short of 50%) have a separate run-off election, the winner of which fills the 3rd seat available.
6. Where and When does voting take place?
Voting booths will likely be accessible at several conspicuous locations in Crown Heights. In addition, a voter can certainly cast a ballot in 770.
The election is on Sunday Rosh Chodesh Tamuz (two days before gimel Tamuz), 06.13.2010.
7. Why Is It Important For You To Vote In This Election?
Crown Heights is estimated to possibly have 2400 eligible voters.
The number of actual voters estimated ranges from a low of 1200 to a high of 1700.
Notwithstanding the number of voters a candidate can always achieve election by one single vote over 50%.
That vote may be yours!
COLlive: 2010 Election Coverage:
+ 7 Election Facts to Know
+ Candidates Honor NY Senator
+ Hecht, Wilhelm Can Now Run
+ Candidates Agree: No Dirt
+ Candidates for 770 Gabboim
+ Candidates for Vaad Hakohol
+ Last-Minute Signing
+ No New Candidates Yet
+ Election Commitee Reps Chosen
+ Op-Ed: The Psak is Out, Now What?
+ The Ruling on Crown Heights
+ Community Din Torah Ends
COLlive poll:
male chauvinists please step aside and let woman vote. What is this discrimination? The 20’s are over! WOMEN SUFFRAGE NOW!!!!
I believe that in truth, its only the women who vote, now more then ever, and it has been going on for a very long time,
In Parshas Korach is where it all began and everyone knows that it was O’n Ben P’eles’es wife who did the Voting NOT O’n, and she saved his life while at it.
I encourage the women of CH to continue in the footsteps of the WIFE of O’n Ben P’eles and let’s bring Sholom & Achdus in our community.
Let women vote!
what is this? why can’t women vote? last time i checked, we were in 2010…
someone explain this to me!
Admittedly there are some service organizations in CH that often actively deal with women and (unlike in certain other communities) sorely lack the much needed presence of qualified women on their teams for certain services.. BUT, these positions at the vaad hakohol really are not one of them. In general, like #31 says, there are so many successful women-run organizations which you can join to make a difference. Why can’t we let the men run this one? Why does any woman really want to join such a controversial system, anyway? I think that, often, women want to join or vote… Read more »
I can see the logic if you say one vote per household, but a single woman over 30 or a widow, divorcee, why should they not a say in the affairs of their community?
Do we not count?
where is the source for women not voting, where does it say?
and if a woman feels that she doesn’t have to vote because her husband is representing her, then she should make that decision, you can’t force her out because that’s what you think, let her vote for him.
“Look at the sichos of the rebbe regarding voting the first time we had elections in the community”
Please quote them here. We’re all very curious. Thanks.
Nothing more inspirational than young men who have made serious changes for the better in their lives and now want to make a change in their community for the better as well.
Moishe Feiglin
the person who gets the most votes might be the chairman but he is NOT the rosh haKohol
can you post them for us?
look at the sichos of the rebbe regarding voting the first time we had elections in the community
who’s talking about electing rabbanim? we’re discussing counsel members- purely administrative agents of the community. there is very little religious authority vested in the vaad members. there is good reason why they are separate entities.
OK, so you see no problem with women supervising Rabbonim.
One cannot argue against that.
The rational does not play on the turf of emotional.
Your posting has strengthened those who would keep the status quo.
how naive.
many husbands don’t vote, don’t care to vote, don’t know the issues, etc.
what about women who are single/ divorced/ widowed?
“It definitely would be against halacha for women to elect a vaad that oversees Rabbonim, Kashrus, and etc. ”
Why? What are the sources? This has been the status quo for centuries, but does it have to continue this way if the kahal wants a change?
It would definitely makes sense for women to vote for the secular (social services etc) organization. It definitely would be against halacha for women to elect a vaad that oversees Rabbonim, Kashrus, and etc. The two organizations need to be separated for this reason alone. Furthermore, it will provide some system of checks and balances. A system of referendums also needs to be mapped out. This would provide a further check and balance, whereby the grassroots community has a backup possibility on matters of urgency overlooked by the Councils. Now: Who is going to write a clear statement about the… Read more »
Discuss your vote with your husband and let him do the schlepping all the way to the poling station to cast the vote representing both of you.
If you cant discuss it and come to an infored agreement youve got bigger issues to deal with than the vaad hakohol!
# 37, ON PAPER they are 2 entities. But when you have 1 election process & 1 lot of appointees doing both jobs you have corruption. What I don’t understand is, how they get away with it from a legal standpoint. We have lawyers here, men AND women. I will sign any petition to change the by-laws…so will my husband, I’ll stop cooking & washing his socks if he won’t 😉 #29 is quite right. And I definitely agree, COL listens to us. Now we have to get our husbands to do the same. Ladies: go on strike! I am… Read more »
maybe this is the root of the tznius problem.
no respect for women.
when one observes the decay in the tznius standards in the neighborhood #19’s idea is not so out of line
This article is completely inaccurate. CHJCC and Va’ad are completely separate corporations sharing a mutual board of directors. There are several other gross inaccuracies.
only cadaner could make a change!
… when the bylaws are changed. This can only be done my the netzigim. Residents of CH, men and women, need to become familiar with the process by which we elect our leaders. If you know the process you can start moving toward change.
The women in Crown heights are Tznius and they won’t make demonstrations in the street in order to get their voting rights,
at least COL is giving them a voice on their site (in the comment section, and they don’t censor it, Kol Hakavod).
the present vaad did more good for the community in this few months then the old one in eight years
im proud to be an american! where at least i know i’m free…. and have women’s rights to vote….. 🙂
Seriously, since this is not a halachic issue, it should be allowed to change with time! The fact that woman can’t run or vote is absolutely wrong. If women could vote, there would be real change. Take a good look around CH and observe which organizations are successful, effective and not corrupt or political (Just to name a few: ten yad, bikur cholim, KSCV, friendship cirlce, etc). Now take a good look at who runs them….. surprise, it’s women. Shouldn’t these women, who have the true good of the community in mind, be allowed to participate in choosing the communities… Read more »
what’s a vaad hakol. good one!!!! 😀
I guess those families have no say in Crown Heights. Talk about women not making good choices. They did not participate in the sin of the golden calf . Throughout history we have seen the great understanding of women. Look at our Rebbetzins and Nivios. I think this is the influence of the dark ages not Torah.
I FEEL SO BAAAAAAAAAADDD FOR THE WOMEN THAT THAY CANOT VOTE
if you want exposer tell people about yourself and what are your plans. you made 2 mistakes and 1 omition:
1. Voting process is NOT conducted by a hired staff employed by an independent election company It’s conducted by the election comittee.
2. Will be only in one place 770.
3. you omited a very important thing the jewish male MUST BE SHOMER TORAH UMITZVOS
2.
thank you for this !!!!
now i finally understand this better
LETS START OUT FRESH VOTE FOR NEW PEOPLE NOT THE OLD ONES WE NEED NEW BLOOD NOT THE SAME OLD CORRUPTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is to get Yossi Hackner in charge
women should take it to court
Good move, this article should get you lots of votes.
It’s good to see that someone running has some brains, and even before he is elected he is helping the community.
And therefore what?
Are they not a part of the community?
Of what gender is your mother, did she not raise you?
Maybe it is better for the have a ‘Daas Kal’ look what kind of mess the men made without the ‘daas kal’.
i’m voting for the current vaad hakol!!!
you sound like a muslim fanatic, do you want woman to start walking around with Burqa’s as well?
Zaki, inspirational! I want to commend and VOTE for the young chevrah running for vaad. Wwe need this fresh approach, untainted by history and bad feelings of anomosity.
I am hoping the entire community gives them a chance.
HAS IT REALLY BEEN SO GOOD UNTIL NOW???
women are more middos, men more seichel
also, see Rambam on why women cannot hold positions of power, be on boards etc.
liberated women is a klippah
a true liberated woman knows her role, just like a true liberated man knows his
why must we blur these beautiful roles which Hashem gave us?
Why does it seem as though neither men nor women can spell the word “women” (plural)? It seems rather simple… Woman is singular, women is plural.
Woman know more about the community then men! Let married woman vote!
This is 2010
Why can’t the women vote?????????
thanx for the much needed info
The fact that the Vaad & CHJCC are the same people makes corruption & misappropriation of funds more likely & more possible. But what do I know? I can’t vote, I’m just a stupid woman.
When hell freezes over.
when will women get to vote, maybe if women were involved things would get done.
When you write 50% – does that mean 50% of all eligible voters? Or, 50% of actual voters in that particular election?
Thanks
A very clear and understandable explanation of the process. Thank you for providing us with this article.
He is the people’s candidate. He has so much respect for the Rebbe’s schuna, it’s awe-inspiring.
NOSHIM DAYTON KALOS!
I thought the Psak says that there should only be one voting location.
when will woman be allowed to vote?
why can’t the women vote?
You are the man!