The brochure, written by activists claiming to be the “silent majority” of the Orthodox Jewish community, urged voters to support the ward system and bring an end” to this irresponsible behavior that only benefits the pockets of a numbered few greedy developers who unfortunately have the money and power to maneuver Rabbis and scare members of our community to come out with the truth.”
Group Of Grassroots Haredim Buck Rabbis In Ramapo
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
The now heavily haredi Town of Ramapo, New York is voting on two referendums today. The first would increase the number of town board members from four to six. The second would institute a ward system, meaning that board members would no longer be elected by the entire town, but instead would be elected by a geographical chunk of it.
Because haredim tend to live together in the same neighborhoods, if the ward referendum is passed, the ability of haredim to control the town – and to continue to use that control to trample non-haredim – would likely be reduced.
Therefore, it is not a surprise that the haredi establishment strongly opposes the ward system.
But JP Updates reports that a grassroots group of local haredim openly bucked that haredi power structure and published a booklet in Yiddish supporting the ward system and urging haredi to vote for it:
…In a pamphlet distributed over the weekend in Yiddish, and obtained by JP, [grassroots non-official] Hasidic activists urged community members to go against the establishment and vote ‘YES’ in the referendum in an expression of unity and peace.
The brochure, written by activists claiming to be the “silent majority” of the Orthodox Jewish community, urged voters to support the ward system and bring an end” to this irresponsible behavior that only benefits the pockets of a numbered few greedy developers who unfortunately have the money and power to maneuver Rabbis and scare members of our community to come out with the truth.”
“We believe that enforcing the Ward System is the best thing that can happen to this town, and we see it as the only means to the ultimate end, which is to restore the harmony and neighborly peace this blessed corner of the world was once known for,” they write.
Speaking to JP, Spring Valley resident Yoel Falkowitz said, “We’re basically the silent majority. Most people are afraid of the developers who have the money and control our politicians in every way that benefits their agenda. The people of Rockland county are decent people who want peace and quiet. It’s the developers who are making it sound like we’re in a battle.”
“We’re here to say ‘enough is enough, we don’t want to fight. We want to live in peace and have everyone’s needs represented properly,” Falkowtiz added.
[Hat Tip: Devorah.]