By COLlive reporter
A list of candidates running for the Vaad Hakohol – Crown Heights Jewish Community Council’s executive committee has been approved by a rabbinical authority.
Some of the hopefuls who submitted their candidacy by May 12, 2010, were opposed by parties involved in the Brooklyn community’s affairs which led to a 10 day delay from the initial deadline.
The candidacies of Yosef Hackner and Aron Vogel were opposed because of their age, as per the bylaws of Vaad Hakohol that requires the age of 30, although the bylaws of the council requires only the age of 20.
In a ruling released Sunday, May 23, Rabbi Abraham Rosenberg wrote: “Because the election of Vaad Hakohol and the Council were merged (in the 1980’s) as per orders of Rabbi [Yehuda Kalman] Marlow there cannot be separate bylaws for the two organizations… the bylaws of the council controls.”
Furthermore, Rosenberg ruled that “the most logical compromise would be to set an age between the two ages in the conflicting bylaws. The highest age a Bais Din would’ve set as a compromise would be 27,” and both in question are above this age.
A stronger objection was directed at current Vaad Hakohol members – Fishel Brownstein, Chanina Sperlin, Zev Cadaner and Elie Poltorak – who opponents said were not complying with Rosenberg’s Psak on the Bais Din.
But Rosenberg, a respected dayan from Monsey, dismissed the claims saying, “those allegations as of now were not proven, and therefore can’t serve as grounds for disqualification.”
Cadaner’s candidacy was additionally opposed because of his involvement in the Ohr Menachem boys school in Crown Heights (The bylaws disqualify an administrator or executive director of a local institution).
In this case as well, Rosenberg dismissed the claims, noting that the bylaws “does not include a person who is running his own business and merely serves on a voluntary basis as a member of the board of directors of a Moisad.”
Two others, however, were not spared and were disqualified by Rabbi Rosenberg for their position in local educational and social organizations.
Rabbi Shea Hecht, chairman of the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE), was rejected for his family being “effectively responsible for numerous organizations in Crown Heights, that they collectively own and/or run.”
Another, Zalman Wilhelm, was eliminated from the race for being “the paid administrator” for Bnos Menachem girls school in Crown Heights.
So who is running besides the 4 current Vaad members? COLlive.com has obtained the full list:
Michoel Chazan, Meir Spinner, Avrohom Benaroch, Meir Schreiber, Zaki Tamir, Yosef Keller, Yosef Hackner and Aron Vogel.
We have not received word yet who are the candidates for elections for Gabboim of the main shul in 770, which will also take place on Sunday, June 13, 2010.
Related Articles:
+ 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
you are absolutely right!!
where is yisroel shemtov?!
p.s. who is yisroel shemtov?
You stated that the “previous 25 commenter s are unintelligent”.
No offense, but what exactly was so brilliant about yours?
We definately need him on there! Give ’em he….., Yisroel!
Hey I give a bracha that all ch’ers should think like you. (That’s if what I think u meant is really what I think u meant)
Reading the article and some of the comments it seems like everyone is throwing the blame at the wrong people. There are rules in place to keep a small group of people from getting too much control over our community organizations. A few people having too much control in Crown Heights has been what most of the strife and fights have been about in the last few years. While I do not know Shea Hecht personally, I do know Zalman Wilhelm and I wish he had been a viable candidate for the upcoming election. He is exactly the kind of… Read more »
I hope Hackner wins
go meiar schreiber he is the best he will do whats right in a nice way alweys Bachdos
“Same ++++ different day”
Actually the pask just looked at the bylaws.Therefore if you work for a mosad you cant run. Simple as that.
It does make sense , so as not to be a conflict of interests.I
Its not an indictment of Rabbis Hect or whilhelm by any means.Its just they don’t happen to qualify in this case.
who does hecht speak for his interests are for his business this is not a bad thing and he has every right to do so
but he does not speak from crown heights in any elected capacity nor has he ever
graet to see you running, you got my vote big time.
the only one who does something here and does not just tallk!
give the current vaad a fair chance to serve a full term.
reelect them, then we can judge.
THE PSAK SAYS THAT CADANER IS OUT AS WELL!!!
shea never intended to really run.
just making headlines… bussines as usual…
Hecht or Wilhelm being on the vaad would be the equivalent of a current head of an NGO being an elected government official – it cant be happen.
it seems that my prediction is getting you upset….. sorry but good honest people are recognized by the people…
Let’s not forget that the wake of Rabbi Rosenberg’s Psak Din does not end with the election of the Vaad Hakohol. It is to be followed by elections for a third Rov and by a revamp of the all-important Netzigim committee. The Netzigim are the ones who can move to have the bylaws amended, as it was this body that drafted them the first time around. In fact, I was a kid at the time, but I believe R’ Reuven Brenenson A”H spearheaded the effort and he was respected community wide. By the way, democracies have rules too; they also… Read more »
To bad the “current” Vaad is able to run
S. Heacht ran in 1986 and lost!
and ever since his been fighting the CHJCC in every step of the way and therefore, would have lost again.
this psak is fair and balanced
With elections coming up, perhaps it is time to examine a serious neglect in the procedure. Crown Heights may just be the only place left in the Western Hemisphere where women are not allowed to vote. UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE FOR MEN AND WOMEN!
25 comments, and maybe 4 of them are intelligent. You would think this Psak Din would be a major milestone, till you hear the people who are going to be votering opening their mouths. When you chap they truly believe the unsigned letters on their doorstep like torah misinai, and “he couldn’t of because he said he didn’t!” as sound logic, you know that the loudest clown is going to get the next circus act. If you are one of the “kent altz deiah zoggers” who wrote a comment above, please do yourself a favor and don’t vote. Take my… Read more »
I think women would run this thing with more organization. Sounds like an old fashioned “mishmosh” to me. May the best men win.
Why did Rabbi’s Hecht and Wilhelm try to run to begin with? the bylaws clearly state that they are not eligible.
I respect bot of them tremendously but this has caused unnecessary “balagan”
On a positive note as # 15 wrote: This is a democracy. Everyone who feels that the “Current Va’ad” isn’t good, should go ahead & vote. VOICE YOUR OPINION!! It’s worth a vote. 2’ndly: it happens to be that the Rabbonim gave a CHANCE for Sholom, through setting up new elections for va’ad hakahal & a Rav. They said everyone is able to run, but obviously in conjuction with the By-laws. If it makes sense to you or not, that’s the rule. 3’rdly & unfortunately (in my opinion) ITS OUR FAULT, we were given a chance to get good young… Read more »
What do people expect, that the rules should suddenly change because Rabbi Hecht wants to run?
The rule also make sense, think about it; the Vaad distributes money to various organizations, can Rabbi Hecht be impartial about how much to give to the NCFJE?
Calm down. First of all Rabbi Rosenberg. Decided about Rabbi hecht which was as it is in the By laws, which as we say, Dorten Liket De Hunt Bgarobin. Why in the world do we have by laws that say anyone involved or who runs a Mosad can NOT run, shouldn’t we have a law that says ONLY those who have or run a Moisad run? These are our best people, who understand better then a typical Balabos does what it is we need in our community, so you say….ohhhh how can you have a person from a moisad be… Read more »
They should allow anyone who wants to run, run and let the people decide.
22 – i vouch for every word you said. I’ve never met a man like Shea. I don’t know any other person who spends such an enormous amount of TIME and MONEY listening to, visiting, coaching, and helping people he never even met. All, for nothing in return. He has a huge zchus.
WE WILL NEVER HAVE ACHDUS!!!! JUST THINKING AND SAYING THAT IS THE OPOSITE ALREADY
The candidates listed in green of the email are valid.
It is terrible that people are being disqualified because they are too qualified.
The fact that a person is already successfully involved in a mosad, is an indication that he may actually be good for the job…
So sad, so sad.
Shea Hecht is one of the people in this community who doesn’t just talk – he ACTS. He cares about individuals who he has never met before and gives them of his time and energy, refusing to take anything in return.
The community would be SO LUCKY to have a genuine mentch like him to serve it. Having someone like Shea would bring the Vaad Hakohol my respect for the first time in its history…
Listen to rabonim and you won’t be concerned, more than that you won’t be part of instigating machlokes.
Hope every eligible voter goes out and votes for their best candidates.
Psak Din is Daas Torah and Final
Opinions keep to yourselfs.
the people involved in machlokos could run again but the people who are involved in a mosad cant?
keep the old vaad out
Crown Heights is officially going down the drain
pretty straight forward, if you get paid by a mossed you cant run.
Everyone should remember that just because certain candidates were approved to run does not mean that they will be elected. If you as a voter do not think the members of the current Vaad should be re-elected, vote them out. That’s what the democratic process is all about. There are more than enough candidates to vote for besides them. I personally agree with #8 that the current vaad will be re-elected, possibly with 1-2 others. To all those who are upset about the Hecht decision, you have to understand that regardless of the wonderful work he and his family have… Read more »
“I predict teh current vaad tpo be re-elected…. ”
Wow, what a prediction, you think?
Just look at the long list of choices we have, what are the chances the same people will win?
Your so smart, you should be running.
BS:D To no 5 you have some very talented candiates, not at all goons.Please set forth your qauaifications and what if anything you have ever done for the community
How can it be said that the present vaad has not been proven that they did not comply with the psak. Did they comply or not.
I know for a fact that #nun vav (56) of the psak which says that the court cases must be taken out of court has not been complied with by the present vaad. The other side took the ikul against running the election out at the the beginning of the zablah.
What greater proof that they are not complying is needed?
Yossi Hakner is meeting with Rahm Emanuel is Israel as we speak.
Don’t think could be part of VAAD
Happy that spinner is in.
It sounds to me that Rabbi Shea Hecht avoided embaressement as he would have not been elected. I predict teh current vaad tpo be re-elected….
No one else has this news Item Posted
Rabbi Hecht seems to be the only one who does anything for Crown Heights.
But he can probably be more effective in his current capacity
Thank you Rabbi Hecht for all you do!
the candidates look bleak… anyone worth running is already involved in a mosad, or has been doing something positive for this community.(which ironically disquilifies them) and leaves us with a bunch of goons..
With all due respect,
Rabbi Rosenberg is a one sided person if you notice he threw out all the runner on a neutral side but schwei side he kept. They will now win and all the orginal fights will begin again. 175,000 dollar dowm\n the drain.
i thought who ever runs needs to be approved by both sides. why are they letting the previous board to run again??? they throw out hackner and hecht but allow these people to run again??? we will never have achdus
thank g-d he was opposed! Good move!
all the normal people cant run?? this is crazy. thats why we will never have achdus in CH!!