By COLlive reporters in Crown Heights
With the June 13 elections coming up for the Vaad Hakohol – Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, we sensed that many residents didn’t have reliable information about the candidates and their goals.
With less than 300 people attending the Meet the Candidates forum on Sunday and much of the printed literature going directly to the trash bin, COLlive.com is giving all candidates a fair chance to define themselves.
As the mainstream Chabad-Lubavitch Community News Service, we sent out an identical questionnaire to all 13 candidates to answer, offering them to fill in their biographies, goals and skills.
Meet the candidates, in their own words and in alphabetical order:
Fishel Brownstein
Age: 57
Family: Married with 11 children, father of Shluchim and Klei kodesh B”H.
Residence: Living in Crown Heights for 26 years.
Occupation: Self-Employed Accountant and Financial Advisor.
Shul: Ksav Sofer
Rabbi/Mashpia: Rabbi Nissan Mangel
Activism: Served this past year as a member of the Vaad HaKohol, hired capable people which resulted in an increase in funding (over $2 million) for performance.
Skills: As a CPA, I have a fair knowledge of the financial auditing concepts and procedures as they relate to non profit organizations.
Goals: To maintain the stability we (in the current Vaad) have established between the two organizations in the community, and get the community back on a positive track. Also to work to solve some of the long range problems we have.
Zev Cadaner
Age: 46
Family: Married with 8 children, B”H.
Residence: Living in Crown Heights since I was 16 years old.
Occupation: Partner in The Print House
Shul: 770
Rabbi/Mashpia: For Halacha I go to any of the rabbonim. Mashpia – private.
Activism: Involved in Tzivos Hashem since 1987, on the board of Bais Chaya Mushka girls school and Ohr Menahchem boys school, and personally learn with Oholei Torah Zal bochurim who need help.
Skills: I’m a person who gets along with people from all sides and parties. I don’t get involved in politics and know how to get things done.
Goals: Continue to promote achdus between the rabbonim and work on helping the youth – something close to my heart.
Michoel Chazan
Family: Married with 5 children, B”H.
Residence: Living in Crown Heights for 24 years.
Occupation: Director of Chaplaincy services at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center.
Shul: Kingbrook Medical Center and Reyim Ahuvim.
Rabbi/Mashpia: Rabbi Nissan Mangel.
Activism: Past Chairman and member of Vaad Hakohol – CHJCC, was/is member of Shmira, Ahavas Chessed, Yad Vaezer and helped the Bais Din in different aspects, and Chaya Mushka Bikur Cholim.
Skills: I started from the bottom up and didn’t inherit anything from my father. I have the experience and the integrity. I’ve had success in bringing people together and in good connection with both rabbonim.
Goals: We need improvement in the areas of tznius, achdus, chinuch (the mosdos and the youth which are falling between the cracks). Not everything can be solved by the Vaad Hakohol, but more can be done to help.
Yossi Hackner
Age: 28.
Family: Married with 1 son, B”H.
Residence: Living in Crown Heights all my life.
Occupation: Real estate.
Shul: 770, Bais Shmuel and on Shabbos at The Crown Heights Shul.
Rabbi/Mashpia: Rabbi Sholom Charitonow and Rabbi Ezra Schochet from Los Angeles.
Activism: The Crown Heights Shul and other organizations.
Goals: Machlokes-free community, honesty, accountability and integrity in the Vaad, defend kovod rabbonim, and improve security and social programs.
Skills: I’m running with Avraham Benaroch and we’re ready to work with anyone who is elected. We are the new young generation and it’s important that our voice be heard in the council. We want the young people to get involved and care.
Rabbi Shea Hecht
Age: 56
Family: Married with children (5 on shlichus), B”H.
Occupation: Chairman of the board of National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE).
Residency: Living in Crown Heights most of my life.
Shul: 770 and Hadar Hatorah.
Rabbi/Mashpia: Private.
Activism: Besides for my organization, I helped most Crown Heights mosdos and have always been involved in community crisis. The last example was the trial against Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin where we helped with legal advice, raising funds and lobbying people in the government.
Skills: My involvement that I’ve had since the passing of my father with key people in government – Washington, Albany and City Hall. I have fair amount of training in dealing with family crisis, and alcohol and drug abuse.
Goals: For the last 35 years I helped individuals with Sholom Bayis, chinuch, jobs etc. I’m committed to the Bais Din, the schools and mikvahs etc., but I’m also here for the little guy, the child, the spouse, the family.
Yosef Keller
Age: 42
Family: Married with 5 children, B”H.
Residence: Living in Crown Heights all of my life.
Occupation: Author, researcher and librarian.
Shul: Aguda Shul, Empire Shtibel, Reb Michoel’s Minyan.
Rabbi/Mashpia: Whoever is available.
Activism: I’ve given many classes to women and bochurim, and have been involved in campaigns for Eretz Yisroel and 7 Mitzvos Bnei Noach.
Goals: Get government funding for schools, improve city services for the community, defending the rabbonim, and make sure the politicians we endorse actually help our community after they’re elected, suggest an occasional community tax for fund services.
Elie Poltorak
Age: 31.
Family: Married with 2 children B”H.
Residence: Living in Crown Heights for 6 years (since marriage).
Occupation: Attorney specializing in commercial litigation.
Shul: 770.
Rabbi/Mashpia: Private.
Activism: Director of Yeshivas Kayitz in Gush Katif (during the summer of the expulsion), current member of Vaad Hakohol – CHJCC (I pushed for the community Din Torah when everyone thought I was dreaming), and helping at-risk boys.
Goals: Due to my preoccupation with the Din Torah during the past year I was unable to devote as much time and resources to many other issues, but helping youth will be my primary focus during my next term. I will also work to create a social services infrastructure and lower cost of tuition.
Skills: My experience as an attorney and negotiator has served me well in beginning to mend the rifts in our community and I have a proven track record of mediating between the rabbonim.
Meir Aaron Schreiber, ESQ
Age: 60.
Family: Married with 6 children.
Residence: Living in Crown Heights since 1976.
Occupation: Lawyer.
Shul: Shain Shul, 770 or Chevra Shaas.
Rabbi/Mashpia: Rabbi Nissan Mangel.
Activism: On the board of Camp Chayolei Hamelech, helped the Morristown Yeshiva, Machon Chana.
Skills: I am a centrist, independent candidate. I’m not running around with grandiose claims of being able to offer peace when the true definition of peace is “do it my way.” I have a good relationship with both rabbonim.
Goals: Peace and harmony among the Rabbonim will breed peace and harmony in the community, which in turn will bring new energies and solutions to the problems that plague us.
Chanina Sperlin
Age: 46.
Family: Married with 3 children, B”H.
Residence: Living in Crown Heights all my life.
Occupation: Real Estate Management.
Shul: 770.
Rabbi/Mashpia: Rabbi Daniel Goldberg.
Activism: Current member of Vaad Hakohol – CHJCC, Crown Heights Political Action Committee, Kings County Hospital, Downstate Medical Center, Maimonides Medical Center and NY Health and Hospitals Corporation.
Goals: I would like to complete the term that we began last year.
Skills: For the past 10 years I’ve been cultivating connections and finding jobs in government for the benefit of our community members. Even though times are hard and government is downsizing and there are less people being hired, B”H we have still had success in this area. We are also working on a major program from the State, with the help of the Senate Majority Caucus leader John Sampson, that will expand emergency assistance that we can provide to families in crisis.
Meir Shlomo Spinner, M.D.
Age: 55.
Family: Married to Dobra with 2 children, B”H.
Residence: Living in Crown Heights since 1987.
Occupation: Psychiatrist in private practice.
Shul: 770 and on Shabbos at Congregation Kol Israel (S. John’s Pl. between Franklin & Classon Ave.).
Rabbi/Mashpia: Dr. Eli Rosen.
Activism: Past Vice Chairman of Netzigim and current member (will resign if elected), involved with Focus on Fathers Program in Crown Heights (was funded by the NYC DYCD).
Goals: Fully functioning and accountable system of community governance (Beis Din, Vaad Hakahal and Netzegim) along with the physical maladies from which our community suffers – crime and safety issues, poverty, and housing being the most serious.
Skills: As a psychiatrist I must first accept the person before me for who he or she is, without prejudice. I enjoy challenges and like to think independently and have a never-give-up attitude.
Zaki Isaac B. Tamir
Age: 31.
Family: Married with 3 children.
Residence: Living in Crown Heights since 1999.
Occupation: Attorney; Criminal Defense; Former State Prosecutor; Licensed in NY State/Fed.
Shul: Empire Shtibel, Aliya, 770 and The Shul.
Rabbi/Mashpia: Rabbi Leibel Schapiro of Miami.
Activism/Skills: As an attorney in the area of criminal law (4 years as a state prosecutor in Kings County) I have gained experience in conducting investigations and handling criminal matters on trial. Through my good relationship with District Attorney Charles J. Hynes, I have participated in raising awareness about abuse and domestic violence, and mending ties between the NYPD and citizens of Crown Heights.
Goals: Improving security, social services, solicitation of government funding and intra-community fundraising to help financial growth.
Aaron Vogel
Age: 29.
Family: Married with 1 daughter.
Residence: Crown Heights is my home since 2002.
Occupation: Sales and Customer Service.
Shul: The Shul and Aliya.
Activism: Supporting Aliya and its members, and assistance to Rabbi Moshe Feiglin in various areas. And helping The Shul, the Sephardic and other communities.
Goals: Providing security and social services (From Welfare to business loans and Gmachs) which are easy as pie to obtain in neighborhoods such as Williamsburg and Flatbush. Machlokes should not stand in our way.
Note: Candidate Avraham Benarroch did not provide answers.
COLlive: 2010 Election Coverage:
+ 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
i’m voting:
Fishel Brownstein
Dr. Meyer Spinner
Avrohom Benarosh
Yossi Hackner
Zaki Tamir
Aaron Vogel
Michoel Chazan.
I think they have the cleaner backgrounds, and are the most normal of the bunch.
Do you agree?
I tracked him down to South Africa where he is for Shabos. He vehemently denied the quotes Schreiber attributes to him and said he told Schreiber the exact opposite! You can either try to reach him in Johannesburgh or ask his brother Moshe Meir or his son-in-law Shlomy Sternberg.
Proof? It’s easy to blame it on the Rebbe…
The reason they don’t have women vote is because it’s easier to do what’s always been done instead of examining why it had ever been that way at all…
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 stop being the vaad hakohol that… Read more »
I am looking at who is endorsing who.
Rabbi Hecht, you are a sweet guy, sweet as honey, but you are attracting the bees.
New Va’ad’s blog
they got the rabonim to seat together by the din torah. let them complete the job.
the best!!!!
Its just the oppesit Tamir & vogel only want to work with young pepoule
Hecht only wants to work with the older
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 stoped B”H.
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.
The greatest achievements of the CHJCC this year has been in job training.
The current Vaad has accomplished an incredible amount in a really short time. I keep out of politics, but I’ll never forget (as many pple seemed to have) the toxic environment in our community just a short year ago. The Vaad has managed to completely change the nature of the conversation. Because they refuse to stoop to the level their opponents have operated on for years, our entire community dialogue is elevated. Now all the opposition can think of to campaign on is “change.” As if we are little children who need a shiny new toy every year. For this,… Read more »
I know Meir Spinner has the welfare of individuals at heart and is very devoted to bettering our community. Lets have some fresh perspectives!!
Why can’t women vote? Half of the Crown Heights population is disenfranchised.
SOME OF THE NEW GUYS LIKE HECHT TAMIR AND VOGEL ARE AGREEING TO WORK WITH ANYONE, I AM VOTING FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY DONT CARE WHO IT IS AS LONG AS THEY CAN HELP
Very cute, “new current” . People want to be rid of the hate and picky choosy help, stop trying to change the words
I took the time to ask Menahlim of Moisdos, Reb Chanina is a tremendous asset to the community.
My vote goes Sperlin and all that I feel, will assist and not hinder, in his Avoidas Hakoidesh.
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
For what ever reason the I believe the Rebbe did not want women to vote.
To the people with out experience, they speak of lofty possibly unattainable goals. They do not know what awaits them.
To the people with experience (perhaps besides Chazan who was involved in getting some programs set up) what did any of them do?
Every time there is a new board there is a new CEO in the council. How can you get anything done when you change CEOs that often?
LOL!
Terrence Nelson – at least he knows how to get free housing and free GPS’s.
One candidate after the next stands up to talk about how they are going to facilitate access to welfare programs, yet not one of them talks about how they are going to create an environment in which future generations will not have to rely on the government for handouts. It’s almost as if welfare has become so institutionalized, these candidates are afraid to speak the truth. The US government, along with most state governments are quickly going broke, and unless a cultural of self-reliance is promoted, the problems of the current generation will pale in comparison to the problems of… Read more »
Anyone think it’s interesting that women can not vote in these elections? Here we have activists who are trying involve people from all parts of the community, but half of its members do not have a say at all…
I like that mentality. So much more can be accomplished. Good idea ZAKI TAMIR. What a team player. Vote Tamir !!!
What a great candidate. Speaks well and is serious about the Crown Heights community. He’s got my vote.
the new/current vaad
plus chazan
i would have voted for wilhelm but he dropped out
I am also voting for:
Rabbi Shea Hecht
Avraham Benarroch
Zaki Tamir
Aaron Vogel
Yossi Hacker
They dont attack other people as their campaign, even though THEY SAID NO DIRT, what a shame. How can you talk achdus and show sinah?! It is not about power, it is about leading the community so start showing your worth at that.
The cnadidates i am voting for have shown they have one goal – OUR GOALS.
AND PLEASE DONT JUST VOTE FOR ONE PERSON, YOU MUST VOTE FOR AT LEAST 3 EVERYONE – OR IT WONT COUNT.
Sorry to say this, but the ‘New Crown Heights” planes are imposable to accomplish. The people who put them together a asked them to run are people that don’t want the Psak to go into action The current Vaad said something last which seemed imposable but it worked because the Rov who was stopping the election realized that he had no hope besides to go to Bais Den so he agreed. Now the current Vaad is saying something that both sides could do, but to many and a lot of others the other side is the to make sure that… Read more »
but i think it will be great to have some from old vaad, some new guys – mix it up a bit
that will get hthings moving
R. Shea Hecht
Reb Zaki Tamir
Reb yossi Hackner
Reb fishel bronstein
undecided about
Reb eli poltrack
Reb chanina Sperlin
Reb Zev Kadaner
I’m also voting only hackner!
Can you please post the questions and answers from the event. TY
I am voting for
Avraham Benarroch
Chanina Sperlin
Shlomo Spinner
They are the people that truly care to help our coummunity
If nothing else, at least this whole election process made two more people grow beards.
He helps a lot of people behind the scenes and I believe he can be a great benefit to our community as a member of the vaad hakol
Hackner will do a great job! He will be getting my vote!
Why is lashon harah allowed? If you have something nice to say it, go ahead! Otherwise, what is your goal? Why?!?
I believe that Tznius of the mouth is the first and most important part of Tznius. so i would advise candidates that before they lecture us on Tznius, they should work on himself to improve on Tznius and watch his mouth before he attacks and (attempts to) embarrass another Jew in public.
And while on the topic of Achdus, I wonder how anyone thinks that he will foster Achdus by attacking others in public?
An apology is order, including to Rabbi Osdoba. And teshuva is always accepted
This NEW vaad (of the past ywear), will bring Crown Heights back to it’s OLD glory.
ye they wote under tha they are missing soemone
I am appalled.
If anybady wants to make sure that the psak will go into action vote for the corrent Vaad
really well said
Wow! Rabbi Shea Hecht has always been a person that has invested his time in individuals! He has my vote!
Bar Reb Chanina Sperlin (who is an Asken with a great heart); all the members ARE new people, working in the Vaad for the past year.
This NEW Vaad speaks with one voice and all have asked for the participation of Reb Chanina.
This NEW Vaad moved mountains and brought the Shchuna to this point of POSSIBLE sholom.
We must give this NEW Vaad the opportunity to forge ahead; they have a NEW track record to run on.
give your vote to ZAKI TAMIR he is the best 4 our community
after seeing this video i must say that b”h i am b”h gonna b”h not vote for poltrack b”h, he brings hate and politics wherever he goes. (i vaguely remember during nun nun gimmul -nun daled that a certain poltrack was causing rifts and using violence…)
no way – so not true
i think it is important to point out that there is one candidate, Michoel Chazan who wants to work on tznius-this is a serious topic, people aren’t dressing or acting properly,
i don’t know all the stuff and what goes on in ch with the whole vaad thing, but…
Isn’t there someone missing from the list of candidates???
Chanian Sperlin Mashpia is Daniel gordon. Who is he????
The only worth my vote is Rabbi Shea Hecht
he is the only one who will do the job right and wont put up with any garbage from anyone else
u r sooo right
the current vaad is great!
the current vaad is truly amazing
they accomplished things nobody would have dreamed of
Now that I know that Hackner’s mashpia is the Rosh, he’s earned my vote! Rabbi Schochet is the best!
Hecht
Hackner
Tamir
Vogel
Bennarush
don’t be fooled by the “new guy’s ONLY” campaign, its just an election tactic to get one side in.
everyone that is running has an opinion and a side, some more and some less.
VOTE FOR WHOEVER YOU THINK IS THE BEST FOR YOU AND THE COMMUNITY
I read Meir Schreiber’s letter (boy he seems like a nice guy, never knew him before), for years I wanted to know – what happened betwen the “2 Rabbanim” and what does he mean that the “Vaad didn’t make an anevironment for them to work together…” Does this have anything to do with “Yechi.” Really, I have no clue and it’s kinda hard to make decisions on current elections without knowing what seems to be obvious to everyone else. Thanks in advance