Schneur Zalman of NY on elections in Crown Heights
There are two important elections today one is in Iraq and the other in Crown Heights. Both regions yearn for democratic process and order. Shheur Zalman is thinking about one of the elections (via comments to this post).
Elections are being held today (Jan. 30, 2005) for the Vaad Hakahal (Community Council) of Crown Heights. This body is supposed to be sort of a neighborhood Jewish governing body dealing with communal religious and secular issues. The body is currently led by Rav Chanina Sperlin Shlita.
Many candidates are running for the 7 slots on this council. The Crown Heights hotline has allowed them to tape their messages in hopes of winning election. One can dial it up and listen to the truth in Crown Heights. Yes the truth is available for the cost of a phone call!
A common theme is that there are many widows, orphans and poor people in CH not being assisted by anyone. They are allowed to remain isolated and poor. Exact numbers of such cases are given. The rabbinate is split and do not talk to each other. Here we are even not talking about Rav Heller who in fact quit the rabbinate. One candidate suggests that they "duke it out" in private. Others suggest new rabbinical elections. Clearly the Rabbis rabbi Ozdaba and Schvei are having problems dealing with each other.
The candidates recognize the need for social services for teenage boys and girls and young married. One calls for the erection of a JCC with a swimming pool so that women can relax in the AM by taking in a few laps. Perhaps this center could be named after the ideological father of community centers - Dr. Mordecai Kaplan. The candidates recognize that the present Vaad is a no can do group. They claim it does not represent neighborhood needs at the appropriate legislative and administrative bodies. Some candidates admit that the Williamsburg leadership has led to an unprecedented growth of that kehilla, including massive housing construction, while CH is not growing. Other talk of some 30 millionaires among Chabad yungeleit in CH. The implication being that these men are not too supportive of neighborhood needs. The new Children's Museum also comes in for criticism as a waste of millions that the community needs in terms of social services (by the way kahal's mikveh in Ch was closed for almost a week recently).
A general consensus is a breakdown in religious values among many teenagers and young married. Rav Muchkin a serious candidate calls for a VH paid mashpia on each and every blokc using the Yeshivas Rabbi Chaim Berlin mentor model. Only in this way does he claim can younger people be influenced to daven and learn. What is clear is that CH has many spiritual and material problems. And that the locals recognize these issues and seek to deal with them. Unlike the Krinsky propaganda aimed at the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and its affiliates claiming that all is well after the events of 1994, all in fact is not well. And in fact these issues do not even include the messianic issue!
It seems that locals in CH know well what is going on in Flatbush and Williamsburg and BP. They know of rabbinical groups, social services and serious attempts to deal with at risk kids.
The reality of Crown Heights conflicts with the PR image so important to Krinsky, Herson , Cunin , Kotlarsky and Co. Why not appoint a shliach to CH, someone like Krinsky or one of the Cunins. If no one wants the job I will gladly take it and I promise not to fund raise.
Signed: Schneur Zalman of NY
Elections are being held today (Jan. 30, 2005) for the Vaad Hakahal (Community Council) of Crown Heights. This body is supposed to be sort of a neighborhood Jewish governing body dealing with communal religious and secular issues. The body is currently led by Rav Chanina Sperlin Shlita.
Many candidates are running for the 7 slots on this council. The Crown Heights hotline has allowed them to tape their messages in hopes of winning election. One can dial it up and listen to the truth in Crown Heights. Yes the truth is available for the cost of a phone call!
A common theme is that there are many widows, orphans and poor people in CH not being assisted by anyone. They are allowed to remain isolated and poor. Exact numbers of such cases are given. The rabbinate is split and do not talk to each other. Here we are even not talking about Rav Heller who in fact quit the rabbinate. One candidate suggests that they "duke it out" in private. Others suggest new rabbinical elections. Clearly the Rabbis rabbi Ozdaba and Schvei are having problems dealing with each other.
The candidates recognize the need for social services for teenage boys and girls and young married. One calls for the erection of a JCC with a swimming pool so that women can relax in the AM by taking in a few laps. Perhaps this center could be named after the ideological father of community centers - Dr. Mordecai Kaplan. The candidates recognize that the present Vaad is a no can do group. They claim it does not represent neighborhood needs at the appropriate legislative and administrative bodies. Some candidates admit that the Williamsburg leadership has led to an unprecedented growth of that kehilla, including massive housing construction, while CH is not growing. Other talk of some 30 millionaires among Chabad yungeleit in CH. The implication being that these men are not too supportive of neighborhood needs. The new Children's Museum also comes in for criticism as a waste of millions that the community needs in terms of social services (by the way kahal's mikveh in Ch was closed for almost a week recently).
A general consensus is a breakdown in religious values among many teenagers and young married. Rav Muchkin a serious candidate calls for a VH paid mashpia on each and every blokc using the Yeshivas Rabbi Chaim Berlin mentor model. Only in this way does he claim can younger people be influenced to daven and learn. What is clear is that CH has many spiritual and material problems. And that the locals recognize these issues and seek to deal with them. Unlike the Krinsky propaganda aimed at the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and its affiliates claiming that all is well after the events of 1994, all in fact is not well. And in fact these issues do not even include the messianic issue!
It seems that locals in CH know well what is going on in Flatbush and Williamsburg and BP. They know of rabbinical groups, social services and serious attempts to deal with at risk kids.
The reality of Crown Heights conflicts with the PR image so important to Krinsky, Herson , Cunin , Kotlarsky and Co. Why not appoint a shliach to CH, someone like Krinsky or one of the Cunins. If no one wants the job I will gladly take it and I promise not to fund raise.
Signed: Schneur Zalman of NY
posted by Tzemach Atlas at 1:15 PM
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