NEW, Post Election Letter by the Vaad Hakohol members: Leibish Nash & Chanina Sperlin

בס״ד

LEIBISH NASH CHANINA SPERLIN
Members of the Vaad Hakohol
of Crown Heights

7 Iyaar, 5766


To All Anash:

The community has spoken forcefully and overwhelmingly, and rejected the Moshe Rubashkin/Yossi Brook cartel’s attempt to force their choice of Rabbonim on us. We reject their dictatorship! We will never accept their attempt to force Rabbonim upon the community against its will—contrary to the Rebbe’s instructions. We respect the candidates that stood for election, but we hope that they have the self-respect to face their rejection by the community, rather than attempt to force themselves upon us. Of over 2,300 eligible voters, by Sunday night less than 600 people voted (and 350 of them voted only in order to weaken the Beis Din – see below). That means that over 1,700 people stayed home and chose not to participate in this mockery of elections. The Netzigim, the real Netzigim, will now undertake the difficult task of finding suitable candidates and running a fair and honest election.

The Rebbe taught us that we must turn the negative into something positive. Indeed, the experience we have just gone through has taught us much:

• Both Rabbonim, on their own demonstrated that they are interested in making peace and they both signed an agreement to make fair elections. (It was only when pressured by individuals with self-interests and personal agendas that one of the Rabbonim changed his mind.)

• The organizers of the election showed their true colors. The election materials they distributed were transparently distorted and manipulative. They were full of personal attacks on some of the most prominent people in the community, and they brought down the level of public discourse to a new low.

• The election propaganda, and the election workers, were paid for with community funds. It is now high time that there is financial accountability by Mr. Rubashkin. Should he continue to ignore hazmonahs to Bais Din, then we will use legal pressure to have him comply with his responsibilities to the other members of the Vaad HaKohol and to the community at large.

An analysis of the election results, is as follows:

• 350 plus long-term enemies of the Beis Din, those who never participated in the elections even when the Rebbe was distributing dollars, came out to vote in force. They have always been interested in harming the institution of the Beis Din and they have refused to recognize or support it. Their interest here is to weaken the Beis Din by encouraging internal fighting.
To them we would point out that there has been enough fighting and machlokis in the community. By weakening the Beis Din they are weakening respect for all authority figures in our community – Rabbonim, teachers, parents, and ultimately creating disrespect, chas v’sholem, for Torah and Halacha. This is destroying all our families, including, G-d forbid, their own.

• 100 or so voted because they bought the argument that this is a war and they must defend “their side.”

To them we say that we are one community and we cannot allow ourselves to be split. If one side “prevails” over the other, we are all destroyed. The machlokis must be dealt with by mediation and resolving the dispute, not by layering additional splits and fighting on top of the existing problems. When the community clearly expresses its zero tolerance for continued fighting, the Rabbonim will be greatly encouraged to negotiate, just as they did this past motzei Shabbos, until certain people mixed in and interfered.

• A number of people who were intimidated/harassed/embarrassed into voting.
To this group, and the many others who have complained about all the irregularities in voting, we have requested a lawyer to look into the issues, to ensure that nothing like this happens again.

• The remaining individuals voted because they are so outraged at the present situation in the community and they desperately want a change.

To them we point out that no good can come from an edifice built on a faulty foundation. This election was designed to continue the machlokis, not resolve it, as many in the community do not recognize the validity of the results and do not accept the Rabbonim as part of the Beis Din.

As we said, the Netzigim will now begin the very difficult process of identifying proper candidates, with Hashem’s help, and arranging fair elections. In addition, we request the community’s help for the following projects:

First, we must remove those with personal, selfish agendas from positions of influence in the community. They have violated the community’s trust and placed all of us in harm’s way, may Hashem protect us. When the opportunity arises to remove them, please step up to the plate and do the right thing. Otherwise they will continue to destroy the Rebbe’s shchuna and mosdos.

Of utmost importance, we must encourage the Rabbonim to make peace. No one should side with one Rav over the other, as this simply encourages the dispute. The details of the arguments are not our affair, nor are the terms of resolution. We must all resist the temptation, and help our family, friends and associates resist the temptation, to take sides. Instead we must all ask and plead with the Rabbonim to negotiate to resolve their differences. It can be done if we work together. It must be done if we are to survive as a community.

With heartfelt prayers for peace and healing in our community,



Leibish Nash Chanina Sperlin
Senior Member, Vaad HaKohol Executive Vice President