Agudah Focuses on Rubashkin

By COLlive reporter

The New York Hilton ballroom was packed Sunday night, May 9 with Orthodox Jews of diverse stripes, local and federal government officials, rabbonim and roshei yeshivos, as Agudath Israel of America held its 88th annual dinner.

The deeply disturbing prosecutions of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin, a Lubavitch Chossid from Postville, Iowa, was one of the issues that dominated the evening.

The evening’s chairman, Howard Friedman, president emeritus of AIPAC and a respected member of the Baltimore Jewish community, then introduced Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, the Rosh Agudas Yisroel, the Novominsker Rebbe.

Speaking in English, Rabbi Perlow extolled the community for its coming together and efforts on behalf of Rubashkin, the embattled former CEO of the Agriprocessors kosher meat plant.

The next address of the evening was delivered by Agudath Israel’s executive vice president, Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, with his sights trained on the Rubashkin case.

Making clear from the start that it is imperative to take steps to ensure that the law of the land is respected by members of the Orthodox community, Zweiebel asserted that “distancing ourselves from criminal activity does not mean distancing ourselves from the plight of a precious member of Klal Yisroel.

He said Rubashkin “has been pursued by the government in this particular case with a zealousness that borders on vindictiveness, with a harshness that borders on viciousness.”

After cataloguing some of the outrages in the Rubashkin saga, Zwiebel noted how no less than 7 former Attorneys General of the United States, representing a broad spectrum of political views, wrote to the judge expressing their horror at the prospect that Rubashkin would be sentenced to life in prison.

“If they can speak out,” intoned Rabbi Zwiebel, “can’t we? Shouldn’t we? Mustn’t we?”

The Agudah executive lamented that “One gets the sense that things are changing, in a dangerous direction. Even here in this benevolent malchus shel chesed, dark clouds are beginning to hover on the horizon.”

And with that Rabbi Zwiebel introduced Guy Cook, a partner in the Iowa firm Grefe and Sidney and former Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, who represents Rubashkin with the expert law team of Nat and Aliza Lewin.

Mr. Cook, said Rabbi Zwiebel, has “displayed remarkable sensitivity to the special nature of this case and the needs of a Chassidic Jew caught up in a merciless criminal prosecution.”

Taking the podium and surveying the large crowd, Mr. Cook said it was “an honor to experience firsthand the strength and determination of the Orthodox community.”

Then, after describing Mr. Rubashkin, his family and his good works in the community of Postville, the Iowa attorney presented a timeline of the case from its inception two years ago.

And he made a powerful case for the contention that, repeatedly and incomprehensibly, Mr. Rubashkin seems to have been treated with undue harshness.

From the unprecedented 600-federal-agents and Black Hawk helicopter raid on Agriprocessors in 2008 (despite Mr. Rubashkin’s declared willingness beforehand to work with authorities – a plea that was ignored) to the nature of the crime of which he was convicted – essentially receiving (and repaying) loans for which he did not qualify to an indefensible denial of bail while awaiting sentencing (despite his willingness to remain in effect under monitored house arrest).

At seemingly every turn, said Cook, Rubashkin has faced indignities and outrages that are unheard of in cases of first time white-collar offenders.

Mr. Cook was clearly not merely outlining a case, as before a jury. His personal strong feelings about Rubashkin and the way he has been treated were clearly evident on his face and in his words.

And when he completed his address, the crowd rose as one to its feet, and remained in a prolonged standing ovation in appreciation of the visitor’s efforts on behalf of one of their brothers.

Guy Cook’s speech – part 1:

Guy Cook’s speech – part 2:

Greetings were extended to the gathering by New York Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Anthony Weiner.

From Crown Heights participants included, Chanina Sperlin and Eli Poltorack of the Jewish Community Council, Rabbi Sholom Ber Hecht and Rabbi Lipa Brennan, both members of the Rubashkin Pidyon Shevuyim Fund, Eli Slavin, liaison for Rep. Yvette Clarke and Rabbi Levi Zarchi, Director of Cheder at the Ohel.

Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, editor of Yated Neeman USA and a defender of Rubahskin, and Hershey Friedman, the Montreal-based owner of Agri Star Meat and Poultry, formerly known as Agriprocessors, were also present.

The dinner also saw the bestowal of a number of awards on worthy members of the community.

A special video in tribute to the late and beloved Agudath Israel askan Reb Chaskel Besser was also presented at the dinner, bringing smiles and tears to many.