By COLlive reporter
Better late than never?
Elections are in the works for the Vaad Hakohol and Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, some 8 years after local residents were last given the chance to vote.
Zaki Tamir, an attorney who chairs both representative groups, has announced that elections “will be held in June / Sivan of this year.”
The last attempt to hold elections in 2016 failed because the community’s bylaws require an election committee to be formed by “netzigim” – delegates of each Crown Heights shul.
But with the Crown Heights Beis Din fractured into 2 separately operating bodies and kashrus agencies –Rabbi Avraham Osdoba and Rabbi Shlomo Segal on one side, and Rabbi Yaacov Schwei and Rabbi Yosef Braun on the other– that attempt quickly failed.
To bypass this hurdle, Tamir asked Rabbis Osdoba, Schwei and Braun to each designate 2 individuals to join the election committee.
“In view of the failure of the Netzigim to convene, he is requesting that the Rabbonim exercise their authority by appointing a special election committee to conduct a fair and impartial election,” Eli Cohen, Executive Director of the Community Council wrote.
In the letter dated Thursday, 9 Adar I 5779, Cohen writes that Tamir his hoping to “minimize friction and improve the chances of a campaign and election appropriate for our holy neighborhood.”
He asked the rabbis submit their names for the elections committee no later than 23 Adar I 5779 – February 28, 2019.
Doesn’t anyone else remember the historic election — with outside supervision — that was held here in CH at least 20 years ago? The issue was whether women would be allowed to vote in community elections. Great pressure was applied to convince women that they must vote according to the wishes of the powers that be. We were told to vote – against women having the right to vote! That was the only time, as far as I know, that women were allowed to vote in Crown Heights. We do live in a patriarchal society.
To commenter # 55 – What happens if the mother needs to work because the father is unemployed ?
What happens if the father is no longer around G-d forbid, do women get to vote then ?
Dear NYS Attorney General Tish James,
Please cease providing the CHJCC with over $2 million in public funds / grants ($1 million in federal CDBG for weatherization funds – its all legal and many agencies get it), until they stop discriminating against women in violation of federal and state civil rights.
This should happen every 3 years, like in the past, with new elections for gaboim in 770 as well
I am officially Announcing my election run for Vaad Hak this Sunday, don’t forget to go out and vote!
A Good Jewish mother should stay in her kitchen, all feminist rabble rousers please go back to your kitchens and become good Jewish mothers.
Thank-you. I cannot believe that this is even a point of argument or that people think that their vote should somehow be submitted by a husband. I am not married – should I have someone speak on my behalf? Thanks but not thanks.
If women are told they are not adult enough to vote in the CHJCC elections, does this not discourage them from voting in the regular elections in NYC, NYS and Fed ?
You just decreased the voting power of CH by 1/2.
Also, what happens if the husband is a dunce and the woman a genius who can put food on the table ? There are genetic differences in intelligence between individuals.
If only one gender needs to vote for the interests of a the family, why don’t only women vote in even numbers years, and only men vote in odd number years, since the men seem to be doing such a great job at holding regular elections and organizing the community.
Also, this website should be run by a man instead.
There is also no need for women in the Israeli army as many kitchens go uncleaned in Israel.
to all the liberal secular inspired calling for women to vote. I promise you that the vast majority of women in crown heights trust the men to vote for their interests, after all most families have about equal members of women to men. voting is a responsibility not a perk
Must allow women to run and run
Otherwise, sue them
It’s against the law
This was always the plan.
When they tried a few years ago, the had “rabbi” braun come and try to force us to sign a letter that we will listen to what they tell us to do.
This is not communist Russia
Enough of the lies
We need to take this to court so elections comply with law.
BS”D Right on # 19 & 31
Is just like the Democratic Party. So corrupt.
Even if someone else won, they would fix it and change it. Ahh are all the real estate moguls on the board? Shouldn’t it make sense for “outsiders” to run?
American elections can tell us a lot about our community, too: Women are the answer. Women’s votes make the difference; and more women are shifting the state of our politics (whether you agree or disagree is not the main part of the story). There are hundreds of women-led and single-led households in CH, all of whom contribute to this community and would like a say in how its run. It’s time to allow women the vote, and yes, to allow women to run. The boys clubs will keep perpetuating a broken system, women might actually be able to shift the… Read more »
Agree with every word. Also to the people saying that these rabbonim are keeping mashiach from coming don’t be so naive it’s because we don’t deserve it to come as a nation as a whole yet and at the rate these comments are going it probably won’t come any time soon. And, about what #12 said, no disrespect to the Rebbe, but what in the world is wrong with women voting? Is it also “not tznius”? It’s just nonsense and unreasonable “oppression” of CH women who are the ones at home raising the children, while the men get to be… Read more »
I love how women think they make a difference, should we also let kids vote?
1) Women and single men should be able to run for office
2) An independent overseer should oversee the election – United Jewish Appeal ? Ernest & Young Accountants ?
3) CHJCC must not be given public funds to distribute (about $1 million in weatherization funds for low income residents annually) if it excludes women from running . See https://www.charitiesnys.com/RegistrySearch/search_charities.jsp and Search for Crown Heights Jewish Community Council – Will Rabbis and high profile lawyers in CH look the other way at the Civil rights violation ?
The Netzigim should be allowed to arrange elections without any interference from anyone. Not the Rabbonim nor Vaad Hakohol nor CHJCC should be getting involved or have any say. This undermines the process of elections, democracy and free right of the people to exercise their right to appoint the person of their choice to represent them. It is true, that the list of Netzigim from 9 years ago is outdated. The shuls should be contacted by the current netzigim and be given a chance to appoint their representative by a certain date. After that, the election process should move forward… Read more »
What an absolute disgrace! The chutzpah of some people! The shul representatives are supposed to organize elections every 3 years as an independent group of the vaad hkohol and the Rabbonim. This is not supposed to be up for evaluation. It is supposed to happen automatically. Do the federal elections get decided in the Senate if and when they should happen? They happen on a schedule and no one gets to interfere. Two years ago, when some of them tried arranging elections, Rabbi Braun made some excuse and stopped them. Instead, this is a deliberate ploy that the Rabbonim should… Read more »
Last election Chanina was not voted in. Yet he is in every picture “representing” the community. This is not to say that Chanina does or doesn’t do good. Elections in CH should have consequences!!!!!
this will be blatantly biased phony elections (they will disqualify candidates they dont like) . completely controled by the braun side of the badatz dispute. maybe someone should go to court to force free elections like the braun people did 8 years ago.
Please do not try to rewrite history. Lets deal with facts, not with fiction.
If women can’t vote, the vote isn’t worth anything anyway.
its time to also have elections for the rabonim of the beis din!
2 reasons:
1) crown heights is a fast growing community and many of us were not around when elections for rabonim happened
2) the rabonim are fighting each other in court and are not even on speaking terms; this cannot continue! our community deserves better
Let women vote
Can someone share what the rebbe said about women running and voting in the community elections?
Since the CHJCC is the recipient of public govt funds/grants, how do they and their representatives get away with discriminating and excluding women(gender discrimination) and single men (familial status) from elections? Please note if CHJCC, did not receive public funds, I would not allege civil rights issues. Should NYS Attorney General Tish James investigate this. I heard there are women in CH who can write , read and even publish newsletters, and create museums. GOLDA MEIR was the prime minister of Israel.
Are you Moshe B.?
To #16.
In Israel one of the FRUM parties allowed women to run.
The Chabad Askin, Reb Tuvia Blau REFUSED to endorse them.
It’s not tzinius for women to run.
I want to see menachem gerlitzky making announcements again in 770! Miss his chasidishe chayas
Menachem Benchimon is a true community leader , with over 1000 followers on 4 WhatsApp groups he uses his voice as a means of doing Chesed on the communities behalf. This and more is done always with a smile and the general public can’t fathom the impact of his food. If we want real change then it’s tome for someone like Menachem to step up to the plate.
Bring Noochie back!!
Definitely should be voted in
They’ll either re-elect themselves or one of their cronies.
They should stop using the community as props.
We need achdus from all the rabonim why does all klal yisroel have to suffer because these rabonim cant get along?!?!?!?!?
Not saying this is the only reason but its definitely affecting something.
Everybody is full of it. The rule is pretty simple- anyone who is actually mentchlech enough to do well in such a position (ie. honest, considerate, humble, strong-mind and not easily swayed) would never want to get involved in such a mess. And anyone willing to get involved in such a big mess is probably not doing it with the best motives and intentions. More likely that it’s someone looking for power and control. Why not just get rid of the whole thing.
Will there be proper elections and more importantly will there be elections for 770 as well? We all know that the gabayim were told by the rebbe that “gabayos iz yerusha”… The rebbe said he would not come down after they made elections since it went against shulcuan oruch!
Are we capable I’m not being our own worst enemy?!
When will they bring back the proper gabayim?!
When will they stop pretending they’re doing the will of our Master when they’re doing the opposite of his will?!
To #’s 14 and 18 Nothing changes. You need to realize that even elections for vaad hakahol is pathetic. Was this letter sent to 2 or 3 or 4 Rabonim we will never know. The total amount of representatives from the Rabonim must be the same. Hoya lo siheeyeh that the election board chosen is a majority in favor of one Rav we will be back to square one. This issue must be clarified for everyone in the community to know. Let us hope the election continues to move on and everything will be fair. This will bring brochos to… Read more »
I quote statement by Zaki:
But with the Crown Heights Beis Din fractured into 2 separately operating bodies and kashrus agencies –Rabbi Avraham Osdoba and Rabbi Shlomo Segal on one side, and Rabbi Yaacov Schwei and Rabbi Yosef Braun on the other– that attempt quickly failed.
AD MOSEI. Can’t Rabonnim be united.
After so long, finally we’ll have elections. We the people of crown heights should decide who will run, approve by the people that have o rent a house or apartment, not by netzigim or rabbonim, because every single one of them has a friend and wouldn’t be fear for everyone else. Regular people with no personal interests. Let’s make a decent election please
Your right especially since the case is in Court each side should take 2
Drain the swamp!!!
The letter says that EACH of the 3 Rabbonim can pick two people. That would mean 6 in total. But the article says that the each of the 2 sides can pick 2 people. Which one is it?
letovas hainyan can we have a normal capable person from a differnt community to show ch how to run a community.. we are the laughng stock of the frum and not frum world. now the mc drop really put us on the map as head of idiots
Time to allow woman to vote!!!
Shlomie greenwald
what a crock of
if there are 2 “camps”
then each “camp” should have 2 reps
by giving 1 “camp” 4 reps it is a JOKE
Oiy vey! This community will be sorry if/when he does not get elected. He has done SOOO much for this community.
Mir velen benken nuch di teg.
As a woman, I dont understand why people keep asking about women running and/or voting. I am pretty sure it was the Rebbe who said no to those two questions.
Can someone please elaborate?
What does Zaki Tamir do now? We have not heard anything from him since he got elected, and he wasn’t even at any of those lavish restaurant meetings with the others….
We should run and vote. We need consensus in this town and the men can’t seem to get along.
I know better than to ask if women will be allowed to run, but will we be allowed to vote?
Can women run
THE CURRENT BY LAWS OF THE CHJCC PROVIDE THE PARAMETERS OF ELIGIBILITY TO RUN FOR ELECTIONS. FROM WHAT I REMEMBER ONE MUST BE A MALE, MARRIED ,AND A RESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY. ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY HEAD OF A MOSSAD CANNOT RUN.
IT WOULD BEHOOVE THE CHJCC TO POST THE RULES SO THAT ONLY THOSE ELIGIBLE WOULD APPLY FOR NOMINATIONS.
About time we made an election
Allow women to run. We will do a much better job than the losers we have now. You don’t mind Devorah Halberstam popping up everywhere, there are many intelligent, civic-minded and HONEST women in CH who will do an amazing job.
I am NOT one of them. But I can name names!
BH
I suggest that we all encourage Menachem Benchemon to run for office.
Time for ALL “leaders” to resign, especially the “Rabbonim”.
Crown Heights is the laughing stock of the Jewish World.
This is great news!
With everything going on, we can really use some young, new energy in the neighborhood.
Can anyone in ch run?