By COLlive reporters in Crown Heights
Rabbi Shea Hecht, a veteran activist who bills himself “a life strategist” for defending security and solving marriages, is on the sidelines, COLlive has learned.
Originally disqualified for conflict of interest (as Chairman of NCFJE), Hecht was thrown back into the race after a rabbi revoked his earlier decision.
And while he has been seen conversing with key people (seen talking to Eli Cohen, Director of the CHJCC), he says his campaign is on hold.
“I am a very strong believer that when there is a question you should turn to friends and a Mashpia – like the Rebbe instructed us,” he said.
So what did your Mashpia say?
“He will be giving me an answer Sunday morning and until then I put everything on hold.”
Can you reveal his identity? “People are coming over and asking for his name so they can speak to him. I’m not giving it out.”
UPDATE (Sunday, June 6, 10:57 AM ET): Hecht has notified COLlive.com that he is running after receiving an OK from his Mashpia.
“He feels that I will be an asset to the community and therefore I should run,” he said.
“When you’re in it – you want to win it,” he added. “And I would like to know I have the people behind me and my track record speaks for itself.”
* * *
Another candidate in question is Zalman Wilhelm, who like Hecht was disqualified and later put back on the ballot.
He told COLlive.com a few days ago that he is not running and we called him Friday to see if anything changed since.
Are you in or out?
Wilhelm: “As of now I’m out. I am not a candidate.”
Can something change your mind?
Wilhelm, administrator of Bnos Menachem girls school, preferred not to elaborate.
* * *
But an anonymous website is not waiting for Hecht or Wilhelm to make the call and has included them in their recommended list for “a new Crown Heights.”
Their choice of candidates are Dr. Meyer Spinner, Hecht, Avrohom Benarroch, Wilhelm, Zaki Tamir, Aaron Vogel and Yossi Hackner.
Everyone but the current members of the Vaad Hakohol were included in the new site – ANewCrownHeights.com.
“We selected a group of seven candidates in whom we see the ability to deliver what we would all like to see in the future of a new Crown Heights,” the website stated.
Included in their vision: “770 needs to be a place where a Chossid like Reb Yoel Kahan… Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky and Rabbi Avrohom Shemtov are welcome and invited to organize farbrengens for Chassidim and Shluchim.”
They recommended some of the previous Gabboim: Avrohom Holtzberg, Yosef Losh and Menachem Gerlitsky.
* * *
“New is a new toy,” said Fishel Brownstein, current Chairman of Vaad Hakohol, who brushed off the idea of a “new” Crown Heights.
“We represent stability. Things were rocky and questionable before we were elected last year,” he said in reference to the Moshe Rubashkin administration.
“The current Vaad has an accountant (himself), an attorney (Elie Poltorack), private businessman (Zev Cadaner) and Chanina Sperlin, a known figure in the public area.
“Each one of us has qualities and abilities, and we melded very well – and we want to continue to bring Crown Heights together,” he told COLlive.com.
Is that sling on your hand (see photo below) from work?
“That too (laughing). I fell while walking. Nothing to be published.”
* * *
Chanina Sperlin, current Vice Chairman of Vaad Hakohol, is not too concerned about the matter. The New York Post had him on page 2 recently.
Sperlin was pictured walking side by side with Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic candidate for Governor of New York, at the Israel Day march in Manhattan.
“I’ve been involved in Crown Heights public affairs for the last 13 years and let me tell you, we didn’t have muscle before that,” he told COLlive.com.
In what sense?
“When Sam Malamud (then Chairman) asked me to run the Political Action Committee, the intergovernmental world wasn’t really paying attention to Crown Heights.
“I can safely say today that I put Crown Heights on the map. Every candidate for city or state-wide offices knows he needs to come here to get elected.”
“And all these connections have brought the shchuna real funding and many job oportunities that don’t make the headlines.”
* * *
All candidates – whoever is running that is – are expected to sit together at an event Sunday, June 6, at the Lubavitcher Yeshiva hall on Crown and Albany.
Titled, “Come Meet the Candidates,” each hopeful for Vaad Hakohol and Gabboim of 770 will give a 5-minute presentation introducing himself and outlining his plans.
After the presentations, starting at 8:30 pm, there will be a chance to submit questions for the candidates.
UPDATE (Sunday): Representatives of Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba and Rabbi Yaacov Schwei met Motzoei Shabbos at the Bais Din’s offices to discuss the election process.
Present were Noochie Gross and Yosef Katzman (representing Rabbi Osdoba) and Yanki Herzog and Mendel Schneerson (representing Rabbi Schwei).
“They were looking into an emcee to Sunday’s Candidates Forum and planning final details,” COLlive.com was told.
An election company has not yet been hired.
“We’re looking into it,” Gross told COLlive.com.
Voting for the June 6 elections will be at Tiferes Zekainim Kollel in the 788 Eastern Parkway building (entrance from Kingston Avenue).
* * *
One of the ideas that will be presented at the event will be Crown Heights Machtzit Hashekel, presented by attorney Zaki Tamir and credit counselor Aaron Vogel.
“It will be a marketplace online where people offer an hour of their time in their area of profession/expertise to help each other when needed,” they wrote in an email.
The website is not online yet, but 2 screenshots have been posted on their joint blogs – VoteTamir.com and AaronVogel.com.
“Some might be skeptical but we are not worried about it,” Vogel told COLlive.com. “90 percent of the people we spoke to loved the idea.”
Tamir added: “Within 3 days (since announcing the project on Facebook) we had 2 videographers, 2 photographers, a techi, 2 web designers, a blogger and three foot soldiers.
“I was blown away. These guys mean it, they want change, they want to be part of the solution. And they don’t want credit for it.”
* * *
COLlive: 2010 Election Coverage:
+ 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
Women really accomplish what goes on without pictures, politics and puffed up pompous men!!!
CAN OUR CANDIDATES PLEASE LOOK LUBAVITCH IF THEY ARE REPRESENTING US? ITS SO EMBARASSING TO HAVE NON-BEARDED OR PINK-SHIRTED INDIVIDUALS UP THERE!!! AT LEAST SOMEONES WHO IS PROUD OF WHO THEY ARE!
Thank you present Vaad for keping it clean.
The others are hiding behind people
They are not promising anything about 770. They can only try.
Read the website aNEWcrownheights.com and you will see that it is that site that it hoping for that.
A. Wake up and smell the coffee. Many of today’s kids have facebook, email etc. Too late to stop that. Try to educate your children better at home so when they do get exposed – they will know how to properly deal with the world out there. If you closed them up in a ghetto, they will be embarrassing the ‘world’ more then you want.
B. Their program is not on Facebook. Read their blog. It will be a regular website. They just announced it on Facebook.
I hope you run
We need young chassidishe and capable people to run the community
pls run (not away)!
We all know the danger of facebook for our youth you are forgetting that this is CH the Rebbes schune and that Lubavitcher chasidim live here and we expect our kids to grow up to be chasidim as per the Rebbes wishes. Apparently you and your running mate envision something else in life please do not bring it here. If you run to be a leader here in CH you should know better and be a real dugma chayo (living example) how a chosid has to conduct himself. Please do not give our children the wrong message.
Shea Hecht? You have MY vote. Who are your running mates? Why don’t you make a ticket?
They brought the peace!!!! Fact!!!
check out the website aNEWcrownheights.com
Way to go. Hang out all the dirty laundry for the world to see. Malign people. Why not? Since when did Yiddishkeit and eidelkeit make a difference. “Let us behave political, just like the goyim.”
Sperlin wants to stay on the board for a life term. He should support the vote for women, just like the United States does. That should help him stay in office forever.
VOTE MIER SCHRIEBER!!!!!!!!!! HE KNOWS WHAT HES DOING!!!
So I still don’t understand why women can’t vote. If its one vote per family, either the husband or wife should be allowed that vote, not just the man. Seems a bit antiquated…
i’m not voting for fishel brownstein zev cadaner chanina sperlin eli poltorak these 4 claim that they had one goal and that is to make peace and to bring to a din tora. they accomplished it by entering a vicious mesira against Rabbi Osdoba & his 3 sons and against Rabbis Segal, Zirkind & Raitport that they stole money from the government. are you saying that the end justifies the means? if you must be an orthodox jew to run for vaad does mesira qualify you as orthodox? and i ask did you get a heter from any rav that… Read more »
Sunday night’s meeting is arranged by the bi-partisan election committee appointed pursuant to the Psak.
Who arranged this?
how come there is no signature to it?
this is all part of the current Vaad smear campaign
if he resigned he is out can’t come back. this is not a game. now he is like any other resident that would want to come in when it’s already closed.
i got married a few months ago, i am not in the tzach list yet – how do i prove im married and that i can vote?
its 1 vote per family – so if a family is missing the husband because of divorce or c”v ptira – the woman should be allowed to vote in his place… i dont understand all those wondering why no woman can vote or run; you cant run because it is not tsnius to have a woman in a position that makes her in charge… ein kan mekomo leharich.. and why should a woman be allowed to vote – its only 1 vote per family – a 18 year old cant either vote.. again only 1 vote per family. and there… Read more »
we need new ppl that respect everyone. rabbi hecht is a real mentch and, if he goes for it, will bring real change. good change. chsidishe change.
PLEASE RABBI HECHT, GO FOR IT! WE NEED IT! OUR CHILDREN NEED IT!
why can’t women vote?
Why can’t women run for elections? Why can’t women vote?
you are wrong. you are not forcing anyone to do anything against their will. the 770 bochurim dont need to do anything. its the gabbaim that will do and if the bochirim pick a fight they will be arrested and shipped back to israel
The Tamir and Vogel group are good speakers, but doing, I am not really sure.
How am I so sure of what I am saying?
the stuff that they say they are going to say is imposable to happen – there were to many people that tried and the 770 Buchrim did not give in. the only time the 770 Buchrim will give in is if the people who are trying they like but this group they don’t like them so they for-sure wont give in.
P.S. You can’t force 770 Bochurim to do something against their will
i hope you dont live here and cont come to visit
Say YES to Z. Tamir
we need a new crown heights new leadership….
you guys are pathetic!!!!
this sounds like fun!!