By COLlive reporters in Crown Heights
You can say that Crown Heights is divided into two camps. No, not Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba’s and Rabbi Yaacov Schwei’s (as their representatives might think is the case).
Chassidic Jews in the Brooklyn section are actually divided by those who care about communal affairs and those who also care but don’t think the Community Council – Vaad Hakohol is the answer.
As a recent poll on COLlive.com showed, only 38% think the June 13 elections are important. The other 30% thought change is not near. (32% didn’t know what the Vaad Hakohol is – but those can be out-of-towners).
The Meet the Candidates forum on Sunday proved the same.
There were 300 worried citizens who filled the Lubavitch Yeshiva hall (more than previous elections). On the other hand, where were the rest of the 2000+ households? (And not to mention the women – only 4 were present).
With Dr. Tuvia Tatik as moderator, the 13 candidates for Vaad Hakohol, the government-funded social service organization, and 9 vying for the Gabbai post of 770’s main shul, had a chance to introduce themselves.
And as in every election process, promises and allegations ran free and gave way to some bursts of emotion and anger from the crowd, as well as applause.
Dr. Meir Spinner said we are our own enemy (for lack of unity), while Aaron Vogel said it was the police who are not doing enough while crime escalates.
Meir Schreiber pointed out that older people have more experience and accomplishments to vouch for them, and Avrohom Benarosh endorsed candidate Yossi Hackner who at his turn called for education vouchers and accountability and integrity in the community council.
Chanina Sperlin bragged about the amount of community organizations he has helped, and Elie Poltorak said his goal is to finish what he started in his job in the current Vaad Hakohol. Zaki Tamir said although progress has been made, he will not be able to change the way he feels about the incumbents.
And speaking of promises, Rabbi Shea Hecht mentioned his years of public service and political connections that he will put to use if elected. Yossi Keller, however, said he’ll “demand” federal funding for education.
Still, after hearing all the campaign talk from each candidate, answers were demanded by the at-times restless crowd.
During the question and answer session which followed, residents asked about varied topics which ranged from rumors (Did Hecht support Mayor David Dinkins after the ’91 riots. Answer: no) to substantial concerns on how to engage disenfranchised youth.
Then there was Shmuly Brashevitsky of Keren Simchas Chosson V’Kallah who asked about funding for weddings for the needy, and Yehuda Adelist who inquired why so little subsidized housing is available to Crown Heights residents struggling with large families in small living spaces.
The answers to these questions are not necessarily at the disposal of the Vaad-CHJCC members, as one former member pointed out to COLlive.com.
“There are many, many things that need to be fixed,” he said. “I would be happy if they stick to social issues like housing and employment and leave the ideologies and spiritual stuff for the rabbonim.”
Wow this was a intimate post.. I’ m enjoying it.. ethical resource
If it is true that the council receives any funds from the government of this nation, which, last I checked, allows we of the “weaker sex” to cast a ballot, someone should file a suit. My goodness… what are we telling our sons and our daughters about their rights, status, and their place in our “living and breathing” religion.
To #42. “There are no followers because there is no one to follow….” Well said. Except logically flawed – and in fact proving the point. 1. What would (should) you see in someone that would cause you to follow? 2. Please share the details here. 3. Please keep in mind that if you had the makings of a neshama klalliss lurking in Lubavitch, how would he be placed sociologically among chassidim, where everyone is equal, and a barmitzvah boy, and certainly an 18 year old bochur, can (and does) tell an elder exactly what the Rebe wants from us. How… Read more »
We need MENTCHEN on the Vaad – Men are easily fooled – if a guy never misses minyan so they think he’s a Tzaddik !! The REAL questions are : How does this person treat his wife and family ? Does he take his sons to shul and pay attention to them ? Does he have a big temper / yaish ? Is he clean in his business dealings ? If woman can’t vote, they should at least “educate” their husbands about who these candidates REALLY are !!
A better look in the personal lives of these candidates-asking how did they conduct themselves in their minicommunities(personal & family life)? This will be indicative in how they will run the community at large-Of course from a Woman-What normal woman would let their man get involved in this mishagash! Save Us!
If each one of us helped each other. If we took the time to listen to our neighbors and really made an effort to help each other, our community would begin to support each other and bring unity. Together we are unlimited . We can do it!
300 men? looks like 125.
women have their role, which, if they embraced it and knew or learned how to use it would be more powerful than any elected position. smart women make their men think they are smart while influencing all.
you can’t “make” a lubavitcher rebbe.
there are no followers because there is no one to follow
time to take off your training wheels and learn how to ride alone. don’t just talk. do.
we cannot trust woman to vote, they will vote based on their moods. that will not work. they are good at what they do well, thats it
with what you say it doesnt sound like youve learned Bassi legani or much chassidus either.u should really take back what u say!!! if the rebbe heard what u guyz are sayin im sure he’ll be hurt.look at what the rebbe is doing for u! and u want a new rebbe??? If you need a new candidate, good luck finding one! even just stam a leader. you see how people respect rabbonim. you know what? check out the tapes in which the rebbe is begging the community to respect authority and rabbonim, and we’ll see your attitude! oh and if… Read more »
in reality there should be only one vote per family. husband and wife should technically have the same vote. however, if there is no man in the house (widow or divorcee situation) then women should be able to cast a vote. bnos zelofchod pleaded their case for the yerusha and Hashem said Yoffa Dibarta to Moshe Rabeinu. why is this any different?
ARE YOU NUTS????????
A DIFFERENT REBBE????
GOD HELP U
women are not allowed to run according to halacha (see rambam hilchos melachim)
To #27.
Yes. Agreed. We should all become the dugma chaya.
Precisely the stratospheric (and thus unattainable) aims that are having kids drop off like flies.
Get real please.
the guys with the funny colerd hats and modern guys that don’t where chassidic garb -black hat black suit white shirt should not be candidate.a shame to the rebbes shchuna!!!!!!!!!!!
a living model is basics
but picking a new rebbe?
each and everyone has to start being that dugma chaya and not say that some1 else will be it.
unless we start with new rabbonim for the community it wont help.regardless if some like one or the other.
#24- Mr. tatik is a dr. but also known now as mr. T .as he worls in p.s.22 .
he is th best crown heights man i every met.
he learnt all the little tricks from breaking up fights in his school!!!
hes the best!
There a letter from the Rebbe that actually gives insight into the CH present situation and puts many of the above mentioned issues into prospective. The letter was written in the days around gimmel tamuz -and refers to the parshos of shlach and korach. The Rebbe points out that in both parshos the men were busy in controversy, fighting with or against korach, meraglim.” And where were the women?”, the Rebbe questions. He replies that the women were busy raising a generation who would be entering Eretz Yisroel. While their husbands were busy with politics – they kept focused on… Read more »
To #27. 1. No, I am not high. 2. High enough to notice that the Nessiim mentioned in parshas Bamidbar are not the ones mentioned in Shalch and sent as meraglim. Did all the previous die? No. There were 2 levels of Nossi. Look at the words. There were Nessiim al-ha’eda and Nessiim -mitoch-ha’eda. 3. No one questions the Rebbe’s position. He is the last Rebbe of Atzilus and all that goes with that. What people are saying here is that neither they (nor children) are able to connect in the higher worlds of just ruchniyus. (In fact I would… Read more »
Can someone point me to actual quotes of the Rebbe, explaining why women cannot be allowed to vote for vaad hakohol?
I cannot understand it at all. VHK/ Community council is a SECULAR organization. It receives federal funds. There are many women who work for community council. Why should we not be allowed to choose our representatives? Particularly considering that on the whole, in many respects, women are better educated and informed than the men in this community.
We need a leader. The younger generation is growing up without having seen the Rebbe, ZATZA”L. We need to go forward, we can’t live in the past, not for ourselves as much as the future generations.
the guy who looks like a crown hieghts mafionair
are you high?
theres is only 1 leader!!
the rebbe!!!
check out the hayom yom from sunday and act on it (it tells you how to conect to yur leader)
if you will learn about the rebbes leadership and what its baset on (starting form bosi legani and b4) you wont b talking the way u did
I’m a woman speaking here and like #2 said and contradicted herself-if the Rebbe wanted women to vote then we would. Lemme ask you, do we really need more cooks to spoil the food??
as for #23 if you can write such a comment u do not belong in ch! The Rebbe institued the vaad hakol as the “board” to lead the community as well as the Rabbonim…like someone else pointed out, we have enough leaders, not enough followers.
if all the “leaders” took their ego out of the equation, we might have some peace!
If not for Dr. Tuvia Tatik as moderator, the meeting would have been a mess.
Great job and thank you very much
We need to go beyond gimmel Tammuz and elect a new leader. Of course, no one can replace the Rebbe but that doesn’t mean we need to be without a leader 16 years now.
Unfortunately, for some inexplicable reason, women are discriminated against in Crown Heights and cannot vote. Perhaps they would be more involved if they were not disenfranchised. Women live here too and deserve to have their opinions counted.
there is some truth to what you write.
We need a professional approach. It seems as though many former elected officials made promises and shared goals, yet those dreams were short lived. We need follow through not empty campaign promises. I have spoken with Zaki Tamir at length, he cares for the community and has the ability to boost our funding opportunities and social services.
To #11.
It is not true that there are no leaders in Lubavitch. There are tens of thousands of them.
There is a problem: There are no followers. Or very few followers. If there were true followers looking for a leader – there would be a leader.
But tens of thousands “know” exactly what is necessary now (many think we need to leave things alone, and/or MOTS [more of the same].)
However, do not despair. A new Rov is the next communal position to be voted on. Hopefully there will be a list of good choices.
May he who has the silliest hat win. Extra points for funny pocket squares.
I’m surprised that 4 actually showed up. Let women vote (and run) and they might show some interest.
I totally agree with #8. The only thing is Gadi has lot more to busy himself with than these sort of things.
I’m voting for Hecht because I love his red Yarmulka!
Zacki praised the incumbents. This article has it backwards.
Since Gimel Tamuz there is no leadership in Lubavitch in general and Crown Heights in specific. With all due respect to both Rabbonim, they don’t have the personality to lead or unite the community. Why do any of candidates place so much faith in them??
We need a dynamic leader that can unite us!!! We need a Reagan!
not only didn’t
Shea Hecht back Dinkins after the riots , but when Joseph Spielman and his vaad hakohol backed Dinkins against Rudy Giuliani, in their first battle for mayor, the Hechts backed Rudy
wohu
Contrary to Tamir’s misinformation, there will be ONLY ONE voting place, on Kingston Ave, in 770
Maybe some people who actually do some good for the Schechuna, like Gadi Hershkopf, should run.
I am going to give my vote for the one that PROMISES to give me something for nothing, this is for the vaad hakohol. And as far as the gabaim vote, i give my vote to the one promising to change the recipe of the 770 cholent
weird who the dude in the brown hat? what type of message does he send our community? i was wondering if he learned
some jewish law too?
hackner and hecht – anewcrownheights.com
I saw only 1 Real potential resident who could actually make any improvements in our neighborhood, unfortunately he was in the crowd. Zalman Chein you’re the real man for the job.
Charlie Buttons
Sidney/Shmeel
You wonder why there were only 4 women at this event?! Really?! Perhaps it’s because women in Crown Heights feel disenfranchised, that their opinions are secondary. I’m curious. Is there anywhere else in the United States where women are denied the right to vote? OK so I understand the bylaws and accept any protocol that was endorsed by the Rebbe. Still, why isn’t even my opinion allowed to be legitimately expressed if I have a real concern about the honesty of an individual who is ultimately going to represent me to the world if he wins? Once a candidate is… Read more »
ch will never get it. only williamsburg knows how 2 help the fellow neighbor just as yourself and not have any personal agendas. in ch u gotta just do what u can for yourself! from tuition for your child to their shiduchim! in lubavitch if you have a connection you will use it for your self only on a rare occasion will you help the next. in satmar you will not even think be4 u help another, from a job to a business hook up!! shame on ch