To the esteemed members of the Crown Heights Jewish Community,
It is customary not to make the Bracha of Shehechiyanu during the period of the counting of the Omer. However, a major monumental event has taken place this week.
I thank Hashem for his kindness that he has bestowed upon our community that has enabled us and has given us a chance to rid ourselves from all unwanted and unnecessary behavior associated with strife and lack of Ahavas Yisroel.
This week a Psak came out from the honorable Bais Din headed by Rav Avrohom Boruch Rosenberg who was joined by Rav Moshe Havlin, Rav Binyomin Kuperman, Rav Boruch Boaz Jurkowitz and Rav Yosef Hecht.
The Psak which came in order to resolve a decade of tension in our community regarding the Badatz of the Schchuna as well as the Vaad Hakohol/CHJCC and the organization of the Netzigim, presents an opportunity to wipe the slate clean in order to start anew and fresh, all of the above mentioned Mosdos in the spirit of Achdus and unity.
As the saying goes, the ball is now in our court. It is up to us to dispose of all our differences and turn to unity by establishing renewed organizations that will nurture unity and productivity.
I have suggested to all the people who I know and which have been associated with the Machlokes in the past, to refrain from participating in the upcoming election as candidates, in order to give the opportunity to the community to start fresh, against a clean slate, with fresh faces and new young people.
And I also turn to the so-called “former opponents,” to do the same.
We must show the community that we have no desire to be reminded of the negativity of the past, and as the Rambam states that a Baal Teshuva should bend over backwards, more than the ordinary Yid, in order to protect himself from succumbing to possible temptations of returning to the old ways.
Let’s do all in our efforts to nurture peace and Achdus, especially in these days of Sefirah when Ahavas Yisroel and Achdus Yisroel is the order of the day.
I appeal to the entire community, get involved.
Every Shul should participate in the Netzigim organization and the Netzigim process. Every Rav, President or Gabbai of every Shul in Crown Heights, please encourage the able and fit members of your Shul to volunteer and run as candidates for Vaad Hakohol/ CHJCC board of directors in the upcoming election. Implore all the members of your Shul to participate and vote on Election Day.
Beseech the young energetic capable members of our community to take the reins of leadership in Crown Heights. After all, The Rebbe built Lubavitch mainly with the young Kollel graduates.
This way we will avoid falling back into the trap which nurtures Machlokes, by enabling a few individuals from taking control of any of these most important Mosdos, for the purpose of furthering agendas and personal interests, over the broad interests of the community at large.
The Psak din of this din torah is a victory for the entire community; it has given us the opportunity to leave all machlokes behind us, and to march forward in a spirit of Achdus and community mindedness.
Grab the opportunity and run with it. The future of our children is on the table. The future of our grandchildren is on the chopping block. The future of Crown Heights is dependent on what we do now, by demonstrating our ability and willingness to step up to the plate, and to be counted and heard in a spirit of unity.
Imagine the Nachas that such a demonstration will bring to our holy Rebbe. Think of the thousands of times that The Rebbe beseeched us to get involved and make the world a better place through Achdus. Remember how many times the Rebbe promised us that through unity we will bring Moshiach.
Finally in simple words, in unity there is strength. If we want a good environment to live in. If you want to have a strong Schchuna which is the model for the world. If you want a neighborhood which can garner all the necessary support from Government and others to whom we need to support our community. Please let your voice be heard and be counted.
Participate, join, run and vote.
Yosef Katzman
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Peace & tranquility in the Rebbe’s Shchuna, will have same effect all over the world!
There should be: “nohagu kovod ze loze”.
In addition to the plain meaning (us with our fellows person), we mustn’t forget that the Rebbe absolutely insisted we respect the Rabbonim. If you really feel an issue/psak from the Rabbonim needs redress; go about it in an UNMISTAKABLY respectful manner.
Let’s all agree to make a Hachlota to ask our Mashpia, in the future before we act/react. (hope your Mashpia has a Mashpia.)
how about, from now on only positive actions. if criticism is necessary, it should be done respectfully and with sensitivity.
all parties who were previously against any of the rabonim of the B.D., should sign a letter, that from now on, they will fully respect the rabonim & obey what the B.D. says.
I didn’t know about the public asking of Mechila (#35). I’m impressed.
it would truly be great if all who publicly disrespected any of the Rabbonim would publicly ask Mechila; it would get rid of lingering bad feelings & be starting over with a clean slate! WHO KNOW WHEN SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY WILL REAPPEAR!!
Let’s seize the moment!
Yosef Katzman has been very much iidentified with one side in community issues . If he is willing to stand down and call for new blood, we should consider his words very seriously. Now is the time to put skepticism aside and give people the bernefit of the doubt. Last Friday night I watched as he got up in shul and publicly asked mechila from Rabbi Schwei. I don’t believe anyone told him to do it. It was just the right thing to do. To all those disaffected by these past machloikuses, let’s consider them mamash as past and try… Read more »
I want to make clear that I of course the people will decide, so even people with baggage COULD run, but that will drive that same feeling of “wanting to stay out of it” that so many bystanders feel in Crown Heights. By people with baggage saying they won’t run this will foster a POSITIVE feeling among those who “stay out of it” and see even the old names want a new beginning to crown heights politics.
Any eligible resident of Crown Heights should be able to stand for election, regardless of them having held communal positions before. Its up to the voters to decide if they want them again. Invariable, those who have performed well in previous postions of authority will get in on their track record, and those who haven’t performed or have abused their positions will not get voted in anyway.
To author: I hope you didn’t cave in to some ANONYMOUS critics, but did so out of your own reassessment. To nos. 5 & 11: The author tried to make some suggestions for CONSTRUCTIVE purposes. He didn’t do so in a snide, critical or mean manner. I thought it was said fairly respectfully. Yet you (#5) call it ‘pashkvil’ ! and #11 demonstrates that his anonymous post, including both insults, apply more to himself, than anyone else. Let’s see if now, any of you, will ‘go back’ & identify yourselves? In conclusion, if we want ANY hope of improvement, we’d… Read more »
HI
I would move to CH if they elect me
I am a new guy,no machloikes
go katzman. you said it rite. couldent say it better and the fact remins that this is the only way out oh the problems
there’s a sizable amount of people who post here that don’t pay much attention to detail and prefer finding fault. the first four words of the headline have the op-ed writer’s name. by the way, is katzman part of th eold? or can or will he run for election? more importantly, why would anyone want to clamor for a thankless position that guarantees oneself public abuse? but most importantly – shouldn’t it be made clear – indocuemtn and public form, exactly what level of authority comes with the position? what exact responsibilitiy? stahm pushing oneself in the public eye for… Read more »
This is where you are so wrong. Many MANY CH’ers were NOT involved in this machlokes because most people just want to stay out of it since we just feel its the same names, the same fights, the same agendas.
The way to bring the FULL CH into the process is to open it up to people who are not tarnished by past issues and baggage.
Don’t just assume all CHers are well versed in the histrionics of these sad fights.
by letting others live.
if people want to run, let them run. if people want to vote let them vote. if they want to stay home that is their choice.
the problem till now, is everyone tells everyone else what to do.
tut altz vos ir kent dosnt mean tell others what to do. it means do yourself.
yossi, as a friend, run i might even vote for you.
Please give peacea chance……
Let the new Vaad run, let all eligable to run……
I promise you that the elections will be done without “SHMUTZ”
Since Crown Heights residents were (for the large part) involved in machlokes, therefore a new CH is required, with new residents who were never involved in machlokes. Everyone should sell their houses and move out…Going down the road of Op-Ed leads to strange destinations!
go r’ yossel
let us choose
if we elect the old guys thats who we want. if we go for new blood that also fine.
as long as all the choices were there to choose from
you missed the point
the point of this OP-ED (i hope) is to add in Achdus, and to end the fight once and for all.
but it accomplished the exact apposite, by giving room for argument AFTER the elections.
because as i wrote before, “the FACT is that many of the people that were involved in the Machlokes on both sides, will be running in the elections”
so if he wants to call on the residents not to vote for them thats fine, everyone has a say, but delegitimizing them will only continue the Machlokes.
I couldn’t agree more. If the same people run, we will have the same bad feelings, political agendas and machlokes.
We need ONLY new names. I think many of the people who otherwise want to “stay out of it” also agree. The same names, the same fights.
Let’s all agree to only support NEW people!!
Everybody could do tshuvah even the people that were part of the machlokes and everybody could follow the psak of the Beis Din, even the Rabbonim, so, even though it may be a good idea for the people that were part of the machlokes to do what you suggest, it is a private decision and from our part we should not even hint that the candidacy of any individual is not legitimate or not legitimate enough or tainted Ch”v. The only illegitimacy should be if they don’t follow the psak or do other things again Halacha or the bylaws etc.… Read more »
The new Vaad worked B’acch-dus, to bring Achdus.
Anyone with the slightest bit of sense, can read between the lines and see how this op-ed is contradicting everything it speaks about
An Op-Ed cannot stop anyone from running, it is an appeal for those who were not part of the Machloikes to run, and for others to vote for them.
Getzy is this one of yours? Either way to #5, if you sign your name you are inviting criticism, which you may not fear, however it is easier to avoid.
Let’s just see who the candidates are and the people can choose for themselves if they don’t want the old guys. It is foolish to think that you need a bais din, to decide such a silly matter and an article to explain communism (that we should only allow new people to run). If they are good and the majority believes so, gezunter heit, elect them.
I believe there are rules in the by-laws that exclude unmarried males. Why can’t rules be added, like term limits or no convicted felons?
your Op-Ed calling for anyone that had anything to do with the Machlokes should abstain from running is well intentioned but does more harm then good. let me explain: the fact is that many of the people that were involved in the Machlokes on both sides, will be running in the elections. the reasons for this don\’t matter. the fact is that they WILL run. (and the Psak gives them the right to run.) so your article only gives credence for complaint that whoever wins is not legitimate, because they were part of the Machlokes… thus continuing the same Machlokes… Read more »
What does it matter who wrote it, it is the content that matters, if you agree with the idea than who cares who wrote it?
“Accept the truth from whoever said it”
i know you have good intentions but your article does more harm then good. let me explain. the fact is that many of the people that were involved in the Machlokes on both sides will run in the elections. the reasons don’t matter, the fact is that they WILL run. so your article only gives credence for people to say after the election that whoever wins is not legitimate, because they were part of the Machlokes… thus continuing the same Machlokes that your article tried to eradicate. rather then live in a world that doesn’t existed, let us call for… Read more »
Sign your silly Op-Ed
For all the negative remarks on this article just comes to show that some ppl out there love blood. If it will help out future (THIS IDEA WILL SHURLY HELP) then grab it and run with it. However there ppl who need action and can’t stand it being calm. Yes we have problems with such people
Excellent article and sounds great.
HOWEVER: any attempt to disenfranchise a section or group (no matter how small) is the first step in the direction of….?
Machloikess.
Leave well enough alone. Let the people decide. If they wish to re-elect – then allow them to.
Let me guess – the writer wants to run unopposed by those who were already elected (or nearly elected)? Great idea to “disqualify” competition and subvert the will of the people. Hence, the writer remains annonomous, concealing the true motivitation and agenda.
Listen, we have a Clear Psak Din now, and although you’re are saying nice things to do, I strongly believe it to be the Rabbonim, who signed the Psak din would have mentioned it. It is not a free for all, to say ANYTHING after a Psak din has been rendered. If you feel that your idea is SO good, then present it to them, for them to append their Psak Din. The Law IS the Law. We must not add or subtract to a Psak Din. Otherwise, it’s open season again, and you, and the community don’t want that!
No, I think the current vaad are doing a fantastic job and should be retained.
It’s hard to take a pashkvil seriously. If the writer wants us to take note (& I don’t disagree with his sentiments) he should be confident enough to sign his name for the public.
What’s he afraid of? Retribution for his kids? Physical attack? He should lead by example & not cave in to the intimidation, meseira, & sina that fouls our community.
Excellent article!
SUNSHINE!
i agree with all that was written
but the writer should look into a miiror and read what he wrote
he lauds the psak but does not mention the gaboyims election ?
ooohhhh i see that is NOT part of the community ……..
770 is just a small shul in the hood
no person who served in the past on vaad hakohol should be allowed to run again