Drug Smuggler Kingpin’s Aufruf Cancelled

A billion-dollar drug smuggler was supposed to have his pre-wedding Torah honor and celebration at the Young Israel of Staten Island today. But after news of the aufruf was made public, members of the Orthodox synagogue’s board and members of its congregation objected and the celebration was cancelled – although by whom and under what circumstances is still unclear.

Jonathan Braun

Drug Smuggler Kingpin’s Aufruf Cancelled
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com

Jonathan Braun’s aufruf was cancelled.

The billion-dollar drug smuggler was supposed to have his pre-wedding Torah honor and celebration at the Young Israel of Staten Island today.

But after news of the aufruf was made public, members of the Orthodox synagogue’s board and members of its congregation objected.

The synagogue’s rabbi, Yaakov Lehrfield, whose brother is closely involved in the scandal surrounding hundreds of millions of dollars stolen by haredi fraudster Eliyahu Weinstein, at first saw nothing wrong with holding the aufruf in his shul and told the Staten Island Advance last week that it was wrong to punish Braun’s entire family for Braun’s own crimes – which included smuggling in excess of $1 billion of marijuana into the US with the help of the Hell’s Anglels gang.

Braun pleaded guilty and, while awaiting is on house arrest at his parents home on Staten Island on an $8 million bond.

A federal judge granted Braun special dispensation to travel to the grave of the Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson in Queens, to get a tuxedo and have it fitted, to shop for a new home, to go with his pregnant fiancee to doctors appointments, and to attend post-wedding sheva brachot meals around the city.

Lehrfield told the Staten Island Advance on Friday that Braun’s "aufruf" was cancelled and would not take place at any time in the foreseeable future. Lehrfield reportedly said that he did not know if Braun had switched the ceremony to another location and claimed that he did not know why the aufruf was cancelled – meaning that Braun had apparently cancelled it.

Related Posts:

Billion Dollar Drug Smuggler's Aufruf May Be Off.

Bail Denied For Orthodox Pot King.

Billion Dollar Orthodox Drug Smuggler Given Exceptions From House Arrest To Prepare For Wedding.

Comments

[RWisler]

Why's he a member of a Young Israel synagogue if he's so worried about visiting Schneersohn's grave? Also, if his fiancee is already pregnant by him, what does he need an aufruhf or a wedding for?

[typadder]

And his fiancee isn't calling the wedding off?

[Reese]

Time for the National Council of YOUNG ISRAEL look into these rabbis from Staten Island and Brighton Beach and their relationships with convicted felolns at the exxpense of the law abiding members.

[mediamensh]

I am totally shocked by the leniency, privileges provided by the judges in the criminal cases involving both Johnathan Braun and Eliyahu Weinstein. The crimes in which they've been accused of are of an egregious nature and to read about Braun's apparent ability to engage in such casual every day activities is surprising to say the least. Also, Braun's Kallah doesn't seem fazed by the gravity in which Braun is being accused of.

[Account Deleted]

And what do Braun and Weinstein have in common? They are both protected by Lehrfield "rabbis". Moshe M. Lehrfield, aka "Rabbi" Moshe Lehrfield, Weinstein attorney and multi-million dollar escrow magician.

[anchell]

the hyprocacy of putting this man behind bars for something we all know is on it's way to being legalized both here in north america as well as the capricious basition that is europe. As so long as it can pass the "heir" of being a legitimate big business (i.e., it medicinal use), and the government can benefit from its sale. The lesson we are slowly learning is It has never been the right or wrong of a thing that makes it unlawful as we will soon see, but just how much economic gain can we garner through it's control.

[put a square into a hole]

The wedding last night was beautiful. The fatger of the bride Sholom Hurwitz was dancing away.Stay tuned for an update of the birth of the baby. Its about 4 months away. The maternity gown was a beauty...