Rabbis Gather To Honor Rabbi Who Called For Rabin Murder

A group of haredi rabbis including Israel's Sefardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, gathered in Brooklyn to honor Chabad Rabbi Abraham B. Hecht for his 90th birthday. Hecht infamously labelled Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin a rodef, noting that rodefs should be killed. Rabin was assassinated not long afterward, and Hecht – who later apologized – was banned from entering Israel.

Rabbis Shlomo Amar (turban), Abraham B. Hecht, And Shaul Kassin. Kassin recently pleaded guilty to money laundering.

Rabbi Abraham B. Hecht Celebrates 90
A special red carpet reception honoring the upcoming 90th birthday of the president of Igud Harabanim - the Rabbinical Alliance of America, Rabbi Abraham B. Hecht - was held yesterday morning (Tuesday) at the Sephardic Home in Brooklyn, NY ● The reception was attended by Israel's Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar; Chief Rabbi of the Syrian Jewish community in New York Shaul Kassin; Rabbi Herschel Kurzrock, Av Beis Din of Igud Harabanim; Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum, executive director of Igud Harabanim; and many community leaders
Joshua Abrams • Chabad.info

A special red carpet reception honoring Rabbi Abraham B. Hecht’s upcoming 90th birthday was held Tuesday morning, March 27, 2012 at the renowned Sephardic Home located on Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn, NY.

The special reception was sponsored by the well known Sephardic community leader Mr.  Jack Avital and was attended by Israel’s Rishon Letziyon – Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar.

Speaking on behalf of the Syrian Jewish community and Congregation Sharre Zion which is the flagship Synagogue of the Syrian Jewish Community where Rabbi Abraham B. Hecht served as spiritual leader for more than 51 years, Mr. Jack Avital introduced the well known philanthropist & businessman Morris Bailey who together with Mr. Jack Cayre and Mr. Stanley Chera officially offered an apology to their life-long esteemed Rabbi and spiritual leader Rabbi Abraham Hecht, while invoking beloved memories and sharing their expressions of appreciation to their Rabbi and friend. Also presenting words of greetings were Michael New the Executive Director of the Sephardic Home.

The Chief Rabbi of the Syrian Jewish Community Rabbi Saul Kassin extended warm greetings to his colleague Rabbi Hecht extolling the many years of Rabbi Hecht’s service to the Syrian Jewish Community and to the Jewish people also  serving as the distinguished President of the Rabbinical Alliance of America – Igud Harabanim.

In attendance were members of the Igud Harabanim Beth Din its  Rabbinical Court led by its illustrious Rabbi Herschel Kurzrock together with the RAA executive director Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum.

The Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel noted in his warm remarks that in reality “he did not come to honor Rabbi Abraham B. Hecht but rather he and everyone present are honored by being able to attend Rabbi Hecht’s 90th birthday gathering”.

“Everyone knows the yeoman achievements and accomplishments for Torah, Judaism and world Jewry that Harav Hagaon and Harav Hachassid Avraham Hecht Shlit”a has accomplished within his own Community in America as well as his exceptional leadership for Jews the world over. Here before us is a person of great kedusha and chochma –(holiness and Torah wisdom)

“As a devoted Chassid of the holy Lubavitcher Rebbe –Rabbi Hecht spoke out on the issues of the day in support of the Jewish people of Israel with selfless devotion bringing the message of Torah to all” said Chief Rabbi Amar.

The Rishon LeTzion blessed Rabbi Hecht to have  many more years of Nachat and happiness from his community and from his family,  the children and grandchildren and great grandchildren until the imminent arrival of the Moshiach in this month of Nissan the time of our redemption. Amen.

Attending the event were some of the children of Rabbi Hecht who reside in proximity to the NY area.  They are  Rebetzin Nechama Kantor, Rebetzin Esther Kaplan,  both of Crown Heights and Mrs. Shoshana Fasten of West Lawrence, NY and  Rabbi Yehoshua S. Hecht of Norwalk, CT and many of  Rabbi Hecht’s  grandchildren.

Comments

[Lubavitchers are Christians]

Shmarya,

You also at one point in your life also considered Rabin a roidef. In fact, you almost acted on your belief. And then you saw the light, and you retracted.

He saw the light, and he apologized.

I think he deserves to be honored, just as much as you deserve to be honored.

[Lubavitchers are Christians]

He should be honored even though, as a Lubavitcher, he is in essence a Christian.

[Moishe]

Happy Birthday! May he be blessed with gezunt and arichas yamim.

[Adam Neira]

Interesting history. I wonder how many Rabbis who called Rabin a rodef sincerely regretted their words after he was murdered.

[What a great organization]

The Hechts are a leading family of the Rebbe's Chasidim and no one can take that from them, not even cynical bloggers!

They followed the nosi hadayr before it became popular and are not Johnny come latelies to the cause.

Let's hear it for Rebbi Gershon Tannenabaum and the Igud. What a great organization!

[Fred]

It's nice that they gave him a party -- though he kind of looks like all he really wants is a comfy sweater, a mug of tea, some home made cake & a visit with his great grand kids -- however, since I never followed the Rabbis pronouncements, pre or post murder, I'm not qualified to debate the "what he said, when he said, why he said" hot potato.

BUUUUUT, on a sheer 'social/society' note, I'm ROTFL that Chabad obviously can't bear to mention a daughter of the great Rabbi lives in Far Rockaway (oy, nebesh) & so they go with the idiotic, non-existent except in a snobs mind, "West Lawrence".

The 5 towns are NOT amused Chabad. Not at all. Unless of course, you'd like to start paying some overdue property taxes for your imaginary '6th Town' & stop burdening the post office with your mail using the Lawrence, LI zip & FR, NY addresses.

&, yes, I grew up in the 5 Towns & went to elementary in Far Rockaway (HiLi which became HAFTR), waaay before the 5T-vs-FR VAD (aka $$$) wars kicked into high gear ... & I moved to the much more sane South-Willi.

[rebitzman]

@Lubavitchers are Christians

RE: Your 1st post in this thread.

As much as it pains me to say this, but I could not agree with you more. The Rabin declaration (as it played out) was a horrible HORRIBLE thing, but if you believe in teshuvah..........Rabbi Hecht certainly has outwardly done what is necessary.

To me, he is a bit of an enigma. His books are very deep, spiritual and loving, but in the given example and other instances (his rather virulent stand on "who is a Jew" as well as his stand on Oslo that moved more than just Amir to violence.............. Suppose that makes him human.

Happy 90th, Rabbi - may you build on your success and learn from your mistakes.

[Robert Wisler]

Is this R. Hecht related to the Rabbi Hecht from Chicago who passed away about 40 years ago and was an emissary of Yakov Isaac Schneersohn? I have very good memories of the Chicago Rabbi Hecht.

[thelionroars]

yes they are brothers
in fact the family had six brothers all american born all who became rabbis in various communities

the hecht family has a legacy of community service throughout the world and no one should make light of all they accomplished

they may have made some mistakes but they brought a lot of torah and kindness throuout the world by there efforts

[lewfass]

What a great organization -really its such a great organization that its obsolete,how do you know rabbi G. tennenbaum so well?.

[ruthie]

if hecht was really at all just a bit REALLY smart ...he would never have never spoken against a soldier of israel in the first place.
full stop.

[Russian PhD]

Unbelivable, Rabbi Shlomo Omar, who is acting as a senior justice official of the State of Israel (he is incumbent president of the Supreme Rabbinical Court, the integral part of Israeli judiciary) honoring fundamentalist religious terrorist involved in the murder of Israeli Prime Minister (“Rabbi” Hecht). Can you imagine American Supreme Justice honoring Imam from El-Qaida?

[Heshy Friedman]

And how many Jews were murdered by Rabins peace charade and his giving of fifty thousand guns to the Arafat terrorists. A thousand dead Jews. This Rabbi Hecht is a hero for speaking out.

[Rebitzman]

@HeshyFriedman

Rabbi Hecht himself disagrees with you.

[Russian PhD]

Heshy Friedman,

For your information, to make decisions, and even decisions with a risk to civilian lives, is a prerogative of the democratically elected government (that Rabin headed). It is not fucking business of Hecht who is not even a citizen of the country that he has Hutzpa to speak how and by whom it should be ruled.

[Mike]

@ Heshy Friedman:

If you're trying to pretend to be the guy from Frum Satire, you got his last name wrong.

Also, anybody who calls for the death of the Israeli Prime Minister is no hero.

[Lubavitchers are Christians]

For your information, to make decisions, and even decisions with a risk to civilian lives, is a prerogative of the democratically elected government (that Rabin headed). It is not fucking business of Hecht who is not even a citizen of the country that he has Hutzpa to speak how and by whom it should be ruled.

Posted by: Russian PhD | March 28, 2012 at 04:06 PM

While I don't agree with Rabbi Hecht, what you just wrote is one of the stupidest comments I've ever seen.

Rabin is responsible for his decisions PRECISELY because he headed a democratically elected government, and PRECISELY because his decisions had ramifications for millions of people. If Heshy Friedman feels that Rabin's decisions (right or wrong) caused thousands of Israelis to be killed, Heshy Friedman is right for pointing out that Rabin's decisions caused people to get killed.

Rabbi Hecht, on the other hand, is a private citizen in a country that still adheres to the principles of free speech. He has the right to say what he wants, though he holds no power over anyone. Since he has no power to make decisions for others, his speeches mean nothing and therefore are inconsequential.

To somehow posit that Rabbi Hecht's speeches are more grave and consequential than Rabin's actions, leads me to believe that your Russian PhD is as Russian as as you sound.

Russia produced Lubavitch.

[Litvish]

Do not criticize Soviet PhDs.

The Soviet Union, whatever its failings, had one of the best systems of higher education which, blessed be Lenin yisborekh, was available free to all Soviet citizens.

пусть всегда будет советские образование!

[Yosef ben Matitya]

Russia produced Lubavitch.

Posted by: Lubavitchers are Christians

indeed, in fact as christians come, those are pravoslavs.

[ruthie]

And how many Jews were murdered by Rabins peace charade and his giving of fifty thousand guns to the Arafat terrorists. A thousand dead Jews. This Rabbi Hecht is a hero for speaking out.

Posted by: Heshy Friedman | March 28, 2012 at 03:42

heshy friedman,

1. have you ever eaten in an arab's house. 8 course meals. real arab tradition like feast. i'll skip over all the wonderful cultural details.
2. have you ever had a few good arab friends?
3. have you been with israel since day 1....meaning a bit before 1948?
4. so i understand why you don't understand what he did.
i do...as a jew, as an israeli and as a human being.

sometimes heshy you have to make the souffle several times before it comes out good.

[Heshy Friedman]

Everytime Jews were murdered the Rabin mouthpiece would announce," Sacrafice for peace." It wasn't about peace,it was about tons of money flowing from the EU and the US to keep the charade going as Jews died like flys. Then his sidekick Peres the other dunce gets his noble peace prize along with Arafat. And the secular American Jewish leaders ran over each other to kiss and hug Arafat for photo shots. Rabbi Hecht had the guts to call a spade a spade unlike the jellyfish secular leaders of Israel and their counterparts in America.

[Litvish]

indeed, in fact as christians come, those are pravoslavs.

Posted by: Yosef ben Matitya
====

Funny!!

очень смешной!!

[ruthie]

heshy

i know people that think like you.
it's all good.
but you.are.so.wrong
i don't think you get it.
but without the experience of army, people, places and things...
you won't.
don't feel whatever...i wish i knew as much as i don't

[thelionroars]

the hecht family has changed the face ofjudiasm in america for the better and noone can change that fact from chicago to new haven to flatbush to australia israel queens and all the other places hecht family members do incredible work

[ruthie]

yes, let's say the hecht family has done wonderful work.
we thank them.
they know nothing about israel.

[Jake]

Rabin and Peres have the blood of thousands of Jews on their hands do to Oslo. With more coming....

As to the din of rodef.........

[herbert]

i read an article in the ny times a couple of years back they say with the help of edmund safra he became the riches rabbi in the world.

[Yosef ben Matitya]

rabbis gather?
rabbis my butt.
kassin the derelict felon
& amar the israeli official toasting
messianic hecht with the whole thing
celebrated on a messianic website.

[Yosef ben Matitya]

don't feel whatever...i wish i knew as much as i don't

a very profound and mysterious thought. it all has to do with 'only israelis who have been in the army can understand' god knows what!

[Yosef ben Matitya]

the hecht family has changed the face ofjudiasm in america for the better and noone can change that fact from chicago to new haven

oh! it's a meshicghisten family that changed the face of joodiahsm! talk of nepotism and regression to the stone age.

[ruthie]

Posted by: Yosef ben Matitya | March 29, 2012 at 05:54 AM

no no mr. matitya,

i didn't intend to say that.
it iIS so profound i have trouble putting it down.
not...-only israelis who have been in the army can understand-
no
more like
-those that have not been in the army cannot understand-
but that's only a fraction of israeli life that allows one to befriend an arab, walk in villages, talk with them, visit their homes, rabin experienced israel in a way rabbi hecht could not and DID NOT....i'm not sure what rabin did was right...but i know it came from a deep love for israel.......rabin and many israelis live a different life than that of an orthodox hasidic rabbi.
maybe hecht is right.
maybe rabin is right.
but if i had to join an army....i wouldn't think more than a sweet second before signing up with rabin. BECAUSE I LOVE ISRAEL. now if my friend boaz was leading the army...i would sign up with him.
i'm just saying between rabin and hecht.
hecht knows torah. or thinks he does.
rabin knows israel

[Russian PhD]

Christian Lubavicher,
Of cause Hecht can express his opinion about Israel and its government (however, his opinion will interest me same as barking of my neighbor’s puppy). I wouldn’t care if he was just saying his opinion-and wouldn’t give a fuck to his opinion as well. However, he CALLED to change Israeli government (and may be also WAY of the government) by extremely VIOLENT way. And this IS badgering me. Do you get the difference?

[Russian PhD]

Litvash,
Even with my inferior, primitive, free of charge, godless and totalitarian Soviet Union education I somehow understand that it is bad to call for somebody’s murder. You, with you holly, pure and very expensive Eshiva background, cannot achieve the same level?

[Yosef ben Matitya]

maybe hecht is right.

don't worry ruthie.
I have a profound dislike of hecht, his likes and what he stands for; his torah isn't my torah either.
I also loathe kassin and those who failed so far to get rid of him out of their community.