Open Letter from the Vaad L'Maan Kovod Harabonim

B”H

Vaad L’Maan Kovod Harabonim
Brooklyn, NY 11213
DaasHakohol.com

To all our dear Anash of Shechuna's HaMelech, Kan Tziva Hashem Es HaBrocho:

As you all know the Rebbe was personally and publically involved in setting up a Beis Din and representatives for our community. So that there will be unity and guidance until we’ll once again see the Rebbe with our eyes of flesh.

Hashem created us all in His image. Yet ‘Ein Deioseihen Shovois’ as each one is unique with their own Maalos. Only, so that we could complement and help each other out.

As in any community there arise problems. But we need not see it as a negative about anyone cha”v. Just as technical problems to be solved. Sometimes, only by all of us being aware of a problem can we solve it be”h.

The Rebbe spoke about the Nitzchiyus of the Beis Din and it’s Rabonim. This means that once a Rav is elected he cannot cha”v be removed. Now this was meant specifically about those Rabbonim appointed to be part of the Beis Din of Mara D’asra (and not about any additional Rabbonim that at any time the Beis Din and community decide to hire to help out with Shaalos and Din Torahs. See the Rama at the very end of Hilchas Talmud Torah.)

When one of the Rabonim was Niftar and LeHibodel LeChayim Tovim another one doesn't want to be involved in decisions of Inyanim Kloliyim, so we were left with only one fully active 'elected' Rav. And with his Haskama another Rav was 'elected' who then 'receives' the same Koach of an 'elected' Rav and of Mara D'asra which the Rebbe spoke about and which the Rama (mentioned above) writes about.

Now we need another elected 'active' Rav for the Beis Din of 'Mara D'asra' to become fully active again, so that stale-mate decisions between the two existing active elected 'Mara D'asra' Rabonim could be decided by a majority.

But obviously any candidate worthy and acceptable (for community elections) to that position, needs first to be agreed upon and acceptable by both active 'elected' Rabonim of the community.

A true Beis Din is made up of three Rabonim who each has his own capacity for making decisions in Halocho and is not influenced nor Botul in his Halachik decisions to any of the other Rabonei HaBeis Din. So any candidate to fill the empty position has to be, besides a knowledgeable Rav and Yerei Shomayim, also not Botul in Halachik decisions to the opinions of any of the other two Rabonim.

Only then can there be a proper Beis Din of three Rabonim who are 'Mara D'asra' with independent opinions upon which any decision could be based on a basis of majority for the decisions of the Kehilo, which is decided only by those Rabonim who are, the, 'Mara D'asra.'

So, there needs to be a candidate which both active elected Rabonim 'agree' upon, that he is capable and worthy, and 'also' that he will make decisions for himself, and not based on satisfying one of them, in Inyonim of the Kehilo, etc.

All the candidates which are being put out for elections by the Vaad HaKohol now, do not meet all of these requirements.

Basically one of the elected Mara D'asra Rabonim feels that these candidates will not have their 'own' opinion in all matters of the community and will be influenced by one of them (the 'elected' Rabonim) and by others. And therefore it will not be a Kosher Beis Din of three Mara D'asra, but really merely the opinion of one Rav which will prevail over the opinion of the other Rav, which is not how a Beis Din is supposed to be.

There have been problems in various areas, as both Rabonim have different opinions, like in Kashrus and about representation of Netzigim and other decisions for the community. And as long as there are only two Mara D'asra, there needs to be the agreement of both, in all such matters. And, issues of Kashrus and some other issues have been the cause of a lot of strife and pain in our community.

This cannot go on and we need to find a candidate(/s), but only, to which both Rabonim 'fully' agree. Otherwise it will only cause even greater problems then we already have. And the Rebbe's Shechuna doesn't deserve this. Nor does any Jewish community deserve this cha"v.

So we beg of all of you who hold the Rebbe precious and this, his, community and it's welfare precious, please protest and do not let this present election happen. As it goes against and isn’t with the ‘agreement' of both Mara D'asra Sheyichyu.


Thank you all sincerely


Vaad L’Maan Kovod HaRabonim



May we all see only true Sholom and Shefa Brocho in our community Bichlal UBifrat, Besoich Klal Yisroel. And may we see already with our eyes of flesh, Malkeinu Nesieinu, Vehu Yigoleinu, Ubekoroiv Mamosh, Mamosh, Mamosh, Now. Omein, Kein Yehi Rotzoin.