By COLlive reporters in Crown Heights
After accusations hurled at the candidates forum and on blogs, a key player came out in defense of current members of the Vaad Hakohol – CHJCC who are up for reelection next week.
In an email sent Wednesday, June 9, Rabbi Avrohom Rosenberg who presided over the Crown Heights community Din Torah, said Elie Poltorak has complied with his ruling.
Poltorak, an attorney associated with Crown Heights Bais Din member Rabbi Yaacov Schwei, was accused of not withdrawing court actions against the previous Vaad.
But Rabbi Rosenberg wrote that Poltorak did get the stipulation signed to withdraw the case 2 months ago, and with that “Rabbi Swei Shlita’s party has fulfilled paragraph 56” of his ruling.
Rosenberg added that Yosef Katzman, representing fellow C.H. Bais Din member Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba, “wanted the cancellation of the court actions be combined with a confirmation of the Psak Din (which was never ordered, it was only allowed).”
And from there, it seems, a ping-pong game began with each party blaming the other for the delay (Vaad members opened a website to prove this – AchdusTeam.com).
To solve this, Rosenberg now writes: “I’m ordering the parties to do it the way it was initially intended, and Rabbi Ozdova Shlita’s party shall see that their attorney shall co-sign the attached stipulation to withdraw, so it can be filed in court without delay.”
At 12:37 AM on Thursday, June 10, Katzman sent COLlive.com a copy of the stipulation with the signatures of his side’s lawyers.
“We listened and acted in a second!” he wrote. “That’s the difference between us and them. Yes, we have huge taanos (complaints), but that’s not for disobeying an actual psak. They will play and play and play.”
He added that Rabbi Shlomo Segal, a dayan at the Badatz, was not given an office or a salary as Rosenberg instructed.
Katzman: “The heat of their vicious Mesira caught up with them so 2 days before election they went ahead and took it out of court after playing games for two months.”
In response to Katzman, Poltorak said: “This psak serves as further proof?if anyone still had any doubts?that our critics lack credibility. They will exploit any good-will gesture we make against us. Had they obeyed the psak, the court case would have been closed months ago. I have no doubt that Katzman will now concoct another accusation. The bottom line is that so far, all of our actions have been vindicated by the beis din.”
Lawyer Vs. Lawyer
While Poltorak and his incumbent running mates make the case for reelection for supporting the Din Torah to solve the community’s issues, a fellow attorney and candidate Meir Schreiber claims the opposite is true.
“Can they point to one election document from that time stating that as their intended purpose,” he asked in an email to COLlive.com highlighting “The Short Comings of the Psak Din” and blasting the last 3 Vaad administrations for infighting.
Schreiber says he spoke to Rabbi Mendel Gluckowsky of Rechovot, Israel who spearheaded the efforts for a Din Torah and heard that the “process had already begun prior to the elections.”
“The present Vaad, and I quote, “fought against it”, “opposed it”, etc. What is particularly disturbing to me is that their handlers “were even more vehemently against it”. Finally, upon realizing the futility in not agreeing to it, to his credit, one particular member, agreed to arrange participation in the Din Torah.”
(Poltorak told COLlive.com in response: “It is unfortunate that Mr. Schreiber allows himself to be used as a tool against us. Mr. Schreiber’s letter is replete with fantastical fabrications. Our record speaks for itself. We take particular offense at the false quotes attributed to Rabbi Gluckowsky. I urge anyone who is inclined to entertain the possibility of their authenticity to pick up a phone and call Rabbi Gluckowsky. He will quickly disabuse you of the notion.”)
Schreiber, who calls himself a centrist and independent, said the Psak “has not brought about peace. One cannot Paskin feelings. In spite of the Psak Din, not much has changed. In fact, it seems that the gap between them has widened.”
In order to achieve that, he suggested that “the influences that play on each side be removed once and for all” and that “a neutral, fresh new secretary should be shared by both of them.”
Elections to add a third rabbi to the C.H. Bais Din will take place after the Vaad Hakohol and 770 Gabboim elections on June 13.
Is Shea Hecht Game?
Several readers sent us a link to a new website VoteForShea.com which is selling red velvet Yarmulkas – the kind candidate Rabbi Shea Hecht is known for wearing on his head.
The Yarmulkas are going for $8.99 and the website stated it has only 999 items for sale. 3 were sold as of now (Wednesday night).
Proceeds, the website promises, will go to help for “education, food and rent for the families that are in need.”
A source in Hecht’s NCFJE offices told COLlive.com the website does not belong to the campaign. In fact, he added, “we are trying to find out who is behind it.”
A Whois Records look up said the website was created on June 8, 2010 and is registered by “Shea Fan” at the address 770 Empire, Brooklyn, New York 11213.
Meanwhile, Hecht himself released a statement responding to “accusations made against my character and qualifications as a candidate for the Vaad” at Sunday’s candidates forum.
He attests that he worked closely with both Rabbis Osdoba and Schwei and that he had tremendous respect for the late Rabbi Yehuda Marlow OBM, “who was my rebbe in yeshiva and the rov that I approached for my questions in halacha.”
Talk About Fluff and Trash
Another candidate who didn’t like the proceedings at the candidates forum in the Lubavitcher Yeshiva hall was Michoel Chazan, Chaplain of Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center and a former chairman and member of the Vaad.
“Most of what was said there was fluff,” he told COLlive.com. “You had people speaking there with zero knowledge on how things really work and run.”
As an example he mentioned a candidate’s promise to change the annoying alternate side parking regulations for street cleaning.
“When we were in the Vaad we said the same thing and tried to fix it. City officials showed us the statisties on how much garbage the neighborhood produces and how it not practical to change the dates.”
Chazan, who was in the Vaad from 1996 to 2002, said he should be voted back in based on “my experience and integrity” and mentioned building projects he developed during his tenure.
Zaki’s Got a Jingle
And the entertainment does not stop there. Candidate Zaki Tamir sent COLlive.com an audio track that he says is his official “campaign song.”
The heavy metal song titled “Ad Mossai” was composed and recorded at some studio by his brother Shevach Tamir of Miami.
Its length is 1:49 minutes. Enjoy.
AUDIO: Ad Mossai by Shevach Tamir
COLlive: 2010 Election Coverage:
+ The Candidates Answer COLlive
+ Candidates at Heated Forum
+ COLlive on the Election Trail
+ 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
Great song indeed!
Recorded at W4M Studios, Bal Harbour Fl.
produced by Ovadiah Tank
weird head coverings , beards. etc I think that even though the capacity of leading and doing a good job is the most important thing in an election, nevertheless, those positions should be filled by people that are committed Chasidim, so weird colored yarmulkes, hats, and not having the minimal commitment to have a normal growing beard, for example should be an automatic disqualifier. To understand what I’m saying take it to an extreme: for example if most of the electorate would not be frum or somewhere in between, there is a big chance that the vaad hakohol would completely… Read more »
BS:D
PS in further answer to # 63, the point that he is dwelling on has nothing to do with the crux of my desire to run-which is to free the 2 Rabbonim from their third party influences, thereby allowing an environment to exist wherein they can function and to have a neutral person if need be assist the process.Making Rav Gluckowskys statements disappear does not at all change the atmosphere that exists and has existed with the 2 Vaads prior to the present one
its amazing every one says they spoke to gulkowsky. and has a diffrent story. why cant gulkowsky come out and say the truth. however ofter reeding all the facts. i see that poltrac tried to stop the din torah only ofter they had no chioce. as why are they trying to make the ellections so diffcult. no privet company etc. as there affraid
BS:D number 63 is totally falsifying the converstation.Rabbi Glukowsky answered each and every one of my questions when I spoke to him Shabbos, then one of the current Vaad members told me new accusations (which had nothing to do with the items previously discussed with Rabbi Gluckowsky) that I wanted to clarify, once again to get to the truth, at that point he was back in israel and I could not reach him, I said I am sorry for upseting you but the truth is the truth and as i said to him as well as the current Vaad member… Read more »
for some reason i would say that all the comments Bashmutzing the current Vaad is being written by one person!
There is no question if not for the current Vaad we would not have this democratic Election for Vaad Hakohol and Gaboim.
Please vote for whoever you want but no Loshan Hora and Rechilus and heresay. Not everything that comes to mind you have to pen. Main thing is listen to the Rabanim and go out and vote this sunday.
I personally spoke to R’ Glukowski and he completely accredited Poltorak. He said without E.P. this couldn’t have happened. And for all those saying the preps were going on before the vaad took office–E.P. had been working on it for years, and had been in touch with R’ Glukowski for much of that time! It’s only that after he took office was he able to finally force the other side to accept a din torah.
you foolish people, the din torah was going on then so of course for you nice community residents it was peaceful. dont judge yossel katzman until your in his shoes! boy does poltorak know how to turn the tables!
This present vaad, Bronstein, Sperlin, Cadaner and Poltrak, are NEW. They are still in their FIRST YEAR,
שנה ראשונה
Being very familiar with the whole history leading up to the Din Torah, I called up Schreiber and had a conversation with him for a half hour. He admitted to me that Rabbi Gluckowsky refused to answer most of his questions . Therefore he tried desperatetly to extract whatever he could in some type of fishing expedition against the Vaad. When I conforonted him with all the true facts, his response was Im sorry, its too late , its printed already. If he told me he had that conversation with Katzman, Id believe him, but not with Rabbi Gluckowsky. Being… Read more »
for some reason i would say that all the comments saying to vote for the current vaas is being written by one person!
vote shmote.
vaad. shmad.
how many people realize that this circus is a distraction to the real problem here – lubavitch without a rebbe is a body without a soul or heart or mind.
just vehr a mentsch. everyone should privately clean their your own dirty laundry and there won’t be a dirty street.
stop looking for someone to follow (or criticize).
I am voting fro a new CLEAN slate.
that rabbi segal has not been paid yet. rabbi eosenberg said what they did 2 month age was called lisning but they have changed there minds since then. reed between the word
Wow. I truly can’t believe Katzman’s letter. I hope Rosenberg crashes down on him for this!
The “NEW BLOOD-LIABLE”.
The current NEW Vaad, are new energy. I vote to let the finish what they so successfully began.
VOTE FOR;
Beronstein
Sperlin
Cadaner
Poltrak
+
Chazan and two more.
All are fine good intentioned.
You needn’t agree with their every substantive decision to realize that the current vaad was very, very good. They forged ahead. Vote them back in and let them keep working for us!
I love how all these people calling for new blood say to vote for Shea Hecht.
As if he was never involved in CH politics before…
It’s well known that the process for the din torah started well before the new vaad came in. It seems pretty clear that if anyone wants to give peace a chance, they should vote for people who haven’t had a hand in the machlokes from either side.
There are no sides to hunger; There are no sides to poverty; There are no sides to safety; There are no sides to security; There are no sides to any of the things that I care about and there should be no sides to the things you care about either. Like Rabb Shea Hecht said at the forum, in respomse to M. Chazzan, “I will be happy to work with you too if I get elected.” Thank you again for your interest and I look forward to applying my best efforts to helping all equally with the Machatzis Hashekel project… Read more »
“Rabbi Rosenberg wrote that Poltorak did get the stipulation signed to withdraw the case 2 months ago”
but katzman says thats NOT TRUE “The heat of their vicious Mesira caught up with them so 2 days before election they went ahead and took it out of court after playing games for two months.”
Rabbi rosenburg: “they obeyed 2 MONTHS AGO”!
Katzman: “they played FOR 2 MONTHS”!
Hmmm… who to to believe?
as long as the OLD Vaad was in place there was only fighting.
AS SOON as the NEW Vaad came in to office, there was a Din Torah and a clear Psak.
i don’t think that a coincident, the old Vaad had 5 years to work on sholom, but didn’t, but within months of the NEW Vaad we have a cornerstone for peace!
love the song!
All the yungeliet are well intended, however , I will be voting for the CURRENT NEW VAAD. As people before me wrote they are NEW people, with New track records.
For;
Bronstein
Sperlin
Cadaner
Poltrak
Excluding no one else and may add some.
If I was running, I would take a page of some of the fellows running now, and promise a chicken in very pot and a car in every garage…..Guys be careful what you pray for……..
Regardless all are very fine gentlemen
To all those crying NEW – BLOOD, you had plenty of BLOOD, before this NEW vaad took office.
When this vaad took over, the flow of blood stopped B”H and NEW – ENERGY began to flow.
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.
Mr vogel you did not confirm or deny the claims made againts you. can you please make it clear for us which side you stand. everyone that is runing we know what side they are on except for you and tamir everyone has a opinion we would like to know yours. say it loud and clear
thank you
someone who is not sure if they should vote for you or not
BS:D
BS:D directed to # 22
What does saying yechi have to do with being a centrist, independent candidate,the definition of independent is that I hold by both Rabbonnim.You are mixing apples with oranges
Doesnt sound AT ALL like Katzman called him a Liar
rabbi rosenburg said that rabbi shwai side complied with the psak and katzman is saying that is not true
in other words he is calling him a lair!
Meir Schreiber!!! Yossie Katzman???
where did Katzman call Rabbi Rosenberg a liar? He says that he has taanos, does this translate into liar?
these ppl just fighting to get elected
ungry power
please, better , candidates might be elected by the ppl
we need new ppl
we do not want ppl involved in machlokes
the only way we can know who is and who is not listening to the psak is if all the rabbonim on the din torah will sign a letter saying who is and who is not otherwise there will always be one rov that has a personal opinion
he actually is coming out with a cd in the near futre….
I would like to clear up any confusion.
We are not siding with anyone.
We would be able to work with anyone, if elected, in order to help the community.
You can email me at:
[email protected]
if you would like to knwo more.
Thank you.
Aaron Vogel
why would anyone consider voting for a candidate who trims his beard? this is the rebbe’s shchuna we’re talking about here…not just any neighborhood.
it’s really sad
BS:D Indeed if anyone wants to call Rav Gluckowsky please call me at 718 774 2030 and I will give you his phone number
dont you have proportion in whats really important?
this pettines is rly starting to bore me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111
sure looks like it
get yourself outta the mud… make the rebbe proud and use your intelligence the right way
it really is clear that RABBI ROZENBURG is saying that Rabbi Shwai’s side abayed the Psak Months ago, and Rabbi Osdobo’s side (for whatever reason) didnt!
now Katzman (from R.O. side) is saying that Rabbi Rosenburg is not teling us the truth!!!
i choose to belive Rabbi Rozenburg over Yossel Katzman
this will be the biggest step thourghts peace
I like all this talk about “fresh start” and “CHANGE”….
Interesting, I think we heard this somewhere else….. Oh yes, (lehavdil) Barack Hussein Obama – the whole country was going crazy over this “change” and now look at the poles, how many are deeply disappointed with him.
Change is NOT always the best thing….
BS:D
Yes indeed, just Call Rav Gluckosky, any one who cares to do so please call me at 718 774 2030 and I will tell you his phone no.
he’s sooo weird
I will give Meir Schreiber $10,000 if Rabbi Gluchowski confirms the quotes attributed to him. Ask any of his relatives in Crown Heights what he thinks of the incumbent Va’ad.
I believe that Schreiber is really from the Radical Poltrak/Mishichist camp and is posing as a centrist/independent to try to win poltrak one more vaad seat, so poltrak is playing along with the game as if he is schreibers enemy.
Why do I say this? Well, Schreiber is a partner in Chayolei Hamelech (Shpritzer’s radical messianic overnight camp); isn’t that a massive red flag (or should I say yellow flag!?)? Schreiber can say from today till tommorow that he evolved from a radical into a centrist, but that isn’t a risk that I would be willing to take.
As polterak says: just call Gluchovsky.
I think Rabbi Rosenberg made it abundantly clear!
Both sides picked Rabbi Rosenborg – Rabbi Rosenborg said clearly that Elie Poltorak is listening to the Psak and Katzmen is not, so what’s the question of who is right?! its clear vote for the current vaad!!!
tamir &vogel are with chanina poltrak brownstein kadana
This certainly seems the best of the bunch. Now the problem is, my husband refuses to vote, he says it’s all corruption even his good buddy Shea isn’t making a difference.
If I could vote…. hasn’t anyone ever gone to court to get this chauvenist rule FOR THE CHJCC (not the Vaad) overturned?
If Shea Hecht doesn’t get in, assuming all the comments over the past few days are genuine & from individuals, then I already smell the stench of election fraud & tampering.
How can i learn the exact knack at wearing my hat on a tilt like Rabbi A. Rosenberg. if anyone seems to have it all figured out , to me it seems like he does. Kudos to the Rabbi I love him. we must respect Our Rabbonim they are the chevra of our century
Shea’s decision not to start mudslinging and call for a new era of respect and cooperation is spot on! He has my vote!
Even Obama-McCain wasn’t as insane as all this.
I vote for WOMEN to have the right to vote. Trust me, none of this garbage would get past any female electorate. You men are a bunch of boys playing in the schoolyard & bullying the opposition.
BS:D Poltorak can try to deflect my words by asserting that I am being used as a tool but the facts are quite the opposite.If someone had approached me than one could conjure up such a term Rabbi Gluckowsky was in Crown Heights for Shavous.At Shabbos morning dovening I asked him if I could speak to him after dovening as I wanted to seek the correct version of what occurred.I had no pre dertermined adgenda to go against the present Vaad ( as set forth in my letter). He stated that he would be in a rush and we could… Read more »
Great! My vote:
SHEA HECHT
ARON VOGEL
ZAKI TAMIR
A BENNARUCH
YOSSI HACKNER
THEY DONT GET CAUGHT UP IN THE HATE EITHER
why doesnt zaki’s brother make a cd? thats REAL music!!
WE NEED A FRESH START TO MAKE THIS ELECTION COUNT VOTE IN A NEW BOARD LETS START CLEAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
shea hecht zaki tamit aaron vogel meir schrieber yossi hackner anyone new without hard feelings who can work with ANYONE have MY VOTE. I don’t hear THEM making SMEAR campaigns like was promised by the current vaad.
Evil tactics
all i can say as someone who knows yossi hackner for many many years he is a true mentch and someone who will help anyone in this community!! and most important has no special agenda in getting elected other then helping the community!
what kind of name is achdusteam for a website? they sound like they are in camp in color war!!
SINCE ITS HARD TO KNOW WHO IS TELLING THE TTUTH AND WHO IS LYING, ANYONE THAT IS INVOLVED IN THE MACHLOKOS FROM BOTH SIDES SHOULD NOT BE VOTED IN. ITS NOT A MATTER OF WHICH SIDE GETS IN ITS ABOUT WHO WILL BRING MACHLOKOS TO THIS COMMUNITY
Reporting on every little accusation and shmutz that one side throws on the other is demeaning to the community and to this website. Please stop
……………And the circus goes on. Stay tuned for more of the same (if you’re not bored already).
My vote is for hecht. He is doing something about the shadchen crises! May he have hatzlocho in doing what has to be done and not care about the main stream ch looser. Ppl like him made wlliamsburg the way it is