By Mica Soffer, Publisher of COLlive
A Brooklyn financier is bankrolling a documentary on the life of embattled meatpacking executive Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin.
COLlive.com has learned that investor and Crown Heights resident Simi Jacobson has put up an undisclosed amount for the as yet untitled film.
Rubashkin and his family owned and ran the now-defunct Agriprocessors Inc., the country’s largest kosher meant plant, until a controversial immigration raid which led to its financial ruin.
Sholom, a father of 10, is currently serving a 27 year sentence in the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Otisville, NY.
“When a Jew is sitting in jail, it says that you can even sell a Torah to save them,” Jacobson told COLlive.com in an interview, noting he is not a legal expert in the matter.
“Being in prison is like a live death, or even worse, because the whole physical environment is so terrible – it’s pain for body and soul,” he stated.
Jacobson, CEO of the J-Group investment firm, says he remembers Rubashkin from his days at Chabad’s Gan Yisroel summer camp in Parksville, NY.
“He was the arts and crafts counselor and was a very lebedike guy,” Jacobson said. “Sholom Mordechai could have been a great rabbi and shliach. The business world wasn’t for him. In my opinion, mistakes were made, but were not malicious.”
The film is being produced by Danny Finkelman, producer of the star-studded “Unity” song for Rubashkin and will be directed by Marcio Arenas, a filmmaker and teacher at the NY Film Academy.
A camera crew has already visited the Postville town in Iowa where Rubashkin built up the Jewish community with a shul, school and a yeshiva. They are currently interviewing various people familiar with the case.
“Danny is keeping the issue alive,” Jacobson said. “Usually when someone gets sentenced people care at first, then they forget within a couple of years. We must keep the fire on because people shouldn’t forget and move on.”
Aside from film making, Jacobson said he has another plan how to assist Rubashkin repeal the sentence which many law experts, including a former U.S. Attorney General, have questioned for its harshness.
“We have to start working together and put arrogance away, which is the first thing they teach us on Wall Street. If you’re not humble you will never grow,” he says.
Jacobson says he is speaking to corporate investors, trying to rally the support of influential firms such as Goldman Sachs, Seahawk Capital and Merril Lynch.
“The people who work there have a lot of clout,” he says. “We need to get Wall St./Corporate America to put pressure on Washington to help Rubashkin, who is right now helpless.”
The investor says he was afraid of witnessing “another Jonathan Pollard situation G-d forbid.” He called on all members of the Jewish community to lend a hand or a dollar, noting that “people don’t realize the strength they have as a whole.”
VIDEO: Simi Mentions Rubashkin at Stock Market
Unity song for Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin
on behalf of the j group for supporting this great cause may g-d bless you and your famly
to good people like simon lets make this world a better place
you got the eye of the tiger you are a visionary & leader the rebbe loves you g-d bless you
Thank you Simi and Dani Finkelman and COLlive for keeping the flame burning. We must keep fighting for JUSTICE until he’s out!
Hashem knows who to give the money to…….
simon you are that ligth g-d bless you man
your the real deal g-d bless you simon and you will go from strength to strength with the rebbe blessing you all the time
he looks like hes joking around. Seriously ur doing something serious thats a TRAGEDY….
yes you can make the blessing when one feels alive ther is no problem with that its a good thing
there’s no one like simi…!!!
Tears and smile. Pain and hope. Struggle and challenge. Pride and humanity. Beauty of the unity. Hope for justice.
You did it again! You are doing it all the time!
Warmest blessings!
great hishtadlus Simi!
Everyone should keep davenng for Sholom Mordechai halevi ben rivka
dont let it go on till he gest out of jail ( a verry serious shliach a shliach from shanghai,china
we were there and couldnt believe that one of ours could have such a impact on so many people ,continue all ur good work and make alot of money.
very proud of u ,simi ur the best …………..
only someone like simi could take over the nyse ,next stop ‘white house
are we aiming a little high there buddy?
yes, there are plenty of us out there,
Im 19 & in college, i realized that the trick for us is to stay “in the fold” to an extent that we still feel the same level of chasidishe camaraderie towards our friends still in yeshiva, this is what is keeping me from crossing a lot of lines.
I was a bit worried though, it’s good to know that there are girls out there who are in this little “niche”
before you start lecturing on what and when you should make brochos …… we should all have such zchusim and great events and moments in life to say shechiyanu daily!!!!! both of you in lncluded
#13 For reliable info you can call Rabbi Brennan 718 773 7173 – 917 826 7866.
Wow – always a man with a big heart. I never heard a negative word out of Simi’s mouth about another person.
this is a blessed family, when i was getting married i had no money i came to one of the jacobson brothers and he gave me 1500 dollars with a smile and a blessing.
You are a “ROCK STAR” keep it up!
A fan.
thank you so much Simi. Fight the good fight. You’re needed
I have contributed a few times to the fundraising efforts for the release of Sholem Mordechai Rubashkin (as I am sure other Canadians have) including as recently as last night to the Klal Yisroel fund and I feel that events such as last night’s rally are a great KIddush Hashem and a great opportunity to strengthen Achdus among Yiden and a tremendous chizuk I am sure for Sholem Mordechai and for us to see how much is being done for him and to sensitize us to the situation that this is a Klal matter, as we continue to daven for… Read more »
For the kovod of the Rebbe & Lubavitch please edit out the shehechyanu.
SHKOACHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!
We want to see you run for president in 2012!
Im so proud to have such an amazing uncle like you simi!
keep up the gr8 work:)
Simi, if you need additional writers for the film email me at [email protected].
Alex Kohn
I wish u all good luck
except y dos he say sh’hechiyanu? its a bracha levatala!!
Love it, stop at nothing til we’re victorious! Yasher Koach Reb Simi for using your money to save souls! Zai G’bentcht
Keep it up.
love the video very nice
A Hollywood Style Movie is the call of the hour and SIMI is calling in the Cavalry..> GO SIMI SO!!!!!!!!! YASHER KOYACH
מחיל אל חיל