Beaten in Court, Rubashkins Battle to Keep Crown Heights Leadership

Even two felony convictions and his current location in a federal penitentiary may not be enough to bar Moshe Rubashkin from Chabad leadership.

Beaten in Court, Rubashkins Battle to Keep Crown Heights Religious Leadership
By Elizabeth Dwoskin • Village Voice

Just when you think things in Crown Heights couldn't get any stranger, they do.
Last December, we chronicled the tale of the powerful Rubashkin clan -- the Crown Heights Lubavitch family that practically ran the kosher meat-processing business in America, until they were brought down by a huge immigration raid and a host of legal troubles.

Throughout the national news frenzy, the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights was like the eye of the storm: as chaos ensued, people gathered in solidarity with the Rubashkins. When Moshe Rubashkin had to appear in court in Philadelphia -- the twice-convicted felon was accused of illegal storing hazardous chemicals in his abandoned Allentown textiles factory and then lying to the EPA -- hundreds of religious Crown Heights residents woke up at 5 a.m. and came to the trial by busload. Even people who privately disagreed with his conduct were there to support him.

For those crimes, Moshe Rubashkin -- the brother of Agriprocessors meatprocessing plant CEO Sholom -- was sentenced to sixteen months in a federal prison, where he is currently serving time. For two years prior, Moshe also directed the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, a publicly-funded social service organization whose leadership doubles as the neighborhood's rabbinical council. (It's a powerful position for many reasons -- not the least of which is that its leader has the power to appoint the rabbi who certifies the meat that is considered kosher by neighborhood supermarkets!).

No one seemed to mind that he had been twice-convicted on felony charges. And the strange thing is, even though he went to jail in November, he remained president of the council until elections were held in May.

In May, Moshe Rubashkin's ticket lost the election. And then, something strange happened: Over the past few months, Moshe's family and supporters have waged a court battle to retain control of the council.

They have asked a judge for a restraining order against rival rabbinical leaders who won the election. In May, the rival leaders obtained a restraining order against them from a Brooklyn judge. The judge also prohibited the Rubashkin camp from coming close to the council's Bank of America account
(Two years prior, Rubashkin had been prohibited from handling the council's money when he was convicted on a felony charge of writing $325,000 in bad checks. But that didn't stop him from being elected to the leadership position, or folks like Mayor Bloomberg from calling him when he wanted to convey a message to the community).

Recently, a letter from the Rubashkin camp showed up on one of the rival leader's blogs. The letter, from a leading rabbi, was a religious mandate saying that "even from jail," Rubashkin was allowed to lead the council until he could appoint another leader. "He is the most corrupt rabbi in the world!" screeched an anonymous post on an anti-Rubashkin site. Yesterday, the dueling rabbis were in court again.

Comments

[yidandahalf]

What does she mean the Jewish Community Council is publicly funded, that is to say by taxes? And it doubles as a rabbinical council? The holy rollers ride on the tax payers' backs as usual. Religious parasites the lot of them.
If it is paid for by public funds/tax dollars how could the RCF ask for a restraining order against the rival rabbinical leaders and how could such an order be enforced against them?

[Concerned for the Postville area..]

Beaten in Court, I just LOVE that headline!

[Curious Postville Native]

[Beaten in Court, Rubashkins Battle to Keep Crown Heights Leadership]

I just love that headline.

[Curious Postville Native]

Wow ! ! ! ! !

Great minds think alike.

[Concerned for the Postville area..]

Great minds think alike!!

[Concerned for the Postville area..]

Break out the Vodka and Mt. Dew!!!

[Curious Postville Native]

C-H-E-E-R-S ! ! ! ! !

[Paul Freedman]

I think that at one point both camps were operating out of the Council headquarters both claiming rights to occupy it. Wags on Chabad blogs are calling for a "two-state solution":

"The Road Map to peace must begin with each side recognizing the other's right to exist. Each state will have boarders, dividing the avenues and streets of Crown Heights. The shul of 770 will have a white line going down the middle from north to south and from east to west. The west bank will be occupied by Shwei while the northern front will be for Osdoba. The tzfati's and radicals to the south. The eastern front will be reserved for guests. A two state solution is the only solution to achieve peace!!!"

This communal train wreck is by now means a whispered scandal in the community judging by the lively debate.

For the latest see Crown Heights info:

http://www.crownheights.info/index.php?itemid=18902&catid=26

----

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] – Lawyers representing both the old and new Vaad’s appeared in court yesterday, and each left with the feeling that they were victorious. In arguments the judge dismissed the initial action attempting to bar the elections from taking place altogether, saying it was moot since the elections have already taken place. But the judge ordered a hearing on an action contesting the “legality and validity” if the entire election process.

[Sparky]

Sounds like another Soprano's episode to me!! I do believe the series finally ended, though!! Let's hope this one does, also!! Sparky

[CH]

Sloppy reporting at best.

The community council is not a rabbinical institution and its members are not rabbi’s.

The problem is, the bi-laws of the Community Council require it to resolve its disputes in Bais Din and since there are two Botay Dinim in crown heights, they never get resolved.

So no, your taxes are not going to a religious institution but to an institution who’s bi-laws require its members to agree to arbitration in a Bais din.

[David]

How much more do the leaders of the Lubavitch cult have to do before our Rabbonim cast them out? Avodah Zorah? Check. Treif meat? Check. Fraud? Check. Underage workers? Check.

[sage]

How can our so-called Rabbonim cast the Lubavs out, when they are also equally as corrupt?

[Paul Freedman]

David, it isn't a cult. It is a community with differences. This blogs emphasis on the flaws of the community will not imo lead to them being cast out. Secular Jews and Conservative Jews and Reform Jews (the overwhelming majority of the Jews in US and internationally) will prefer to let them be themselves than join in with the tom-tommers beat beat beating of the bongos here.

[yidandahalf]

BigChabad IS NOT A CULT. Oh, boy am I glad we got that straightened out. Sweet Jesus, I had been just sick to death for every so gosh oh golly long. But now I know the Lubabs aren't a cult, I can relax. Freedman, why the fuck don't you smoke something or just take a long vacation.

[Avraham Nechemiah Ben David]

I knew that Crown Heights always physically smelled bad, but it appears it is spiritually rotten too. Boy, it's amazing what following the Torah's precepts do for building great Jews with strong character!

I love it when Jews who pretend to live their "holy" lives by the Torah run to a secular court to overturn their religious court. They are showing that they love their power more than their Torah and undermine their own "sacred" Torah by their actions. We should all follow suit and keep the federal government, state government and local regulators breathing down the backs of Chabad and prosecuting them for each and every secular law that they break. Hopefully God prosecutes them for all the other laws they break including bribery, lying, deceiving, stealing and distorting the Torah as they see fit for themselves.

[Paul Freedman]

yidenahalf , David doesn't know you piece of shit. Is that a dick up your ass or your mother?

[Paul Freedman]

oh golly gee excuse me, it's your brains

[sage]

Hi ANBD,

GREAT POST!!!!!

[libby in the hood]

Sage: I agree about ANBD's post at 2:07pm.
Great post ANBD.

[Avraham Nechemiah Ben David]

Thanks sage and libby.