Community alerts, notices, bloc votes all of this was bombarding us for the past month. But what about OUR community, a community of growth, where we see huge development and expansion. The demographics of our community is evolving and the kids of ten years ago are the parents of today.
Why haven’t we had elections for our community which DIRECTLY affect every single community member.
Crown Heights and elections used to be like oil and water, it has always been an issue.
In 2005 it was an issue, in 2009 it was an issue, in 2010 it was an issue.
Since then it seems our community leaders have simply given up on allowing the members of our community to have a voice.
That all changed yesterday.
We see our leaders and activists speaking strongly about each person having an opinion to share by way of casting a vote. We were urged to come out to show that we matter. We were told that the best way for the government to recognize our needs is to vote!
The last communal election in Crown Heights was ripe with anonymous blogs and websites that were used to support potential candidates, even to this day some of the people who were behind those websites still have their identity unknown.
That is no more. We see clearly that the activists and leaders of our community today are no longer afraid of publicly supporting a candidate or even giving suggestions on how to vote on the ballot.
Every person has an opinion to share about whatever the topic is.
Why then are we so scared to allow community members, men and women, to vote for local positions?
Crown Heights is no longer constrained between Eastern Parkway and Lefferts Boulevard. Physical expansion has been occuring in every direction, new adjacent communities are flourishing alongside Shchunas Hamelech.
Spiritual expansion has been incredible, with new Shuls, kollels, and communal programs like we’ve haven’t seen before (events at 770, Tishrei Tent at 770, Improved Simchas Beis Hashueva, Avroham Avinus Tent etc)
These growths are not because of the lack of elections, they are occurring despite the lack of elections.
Why do families and yungerleit need to shlep to Boro Park and Williamsburg to seek financial and governmental aid from their community council?
Why was there not a central voice from an elected position guiding us through the confusing and divisive time of the coronavirus?
It’s very nice that the Rabonei HaBeis Din decided to come to the table and make peace among themselves, unfortunately this was just before Covid swept through our community and took away from us leaders and members of Crown Heights including Rav Schwei. Once again Crown Heights is left with a fractured Beis Din of two Rabbonim that have opposed each other up until very recently.
Why don’t we have a proper Beis Din in this community?
What about our shul 770, what about our Rabbonim, what about our community council?
Do our voices, opinions and needs not apply to these issues?
Why haven’t we had proper elections for our community in over TEN YEARS. Some elected positions are supposed to be up for community vote every three years.
We see that we can organize together and are encouraged to vote. Why aren’t we organizing and encouraging elections in our own daled amos?
We want to voice our opinion, we want to share our perspective on what direction we want crown heights to go. WE haven’t been given an opportunity in ten years!
When we last had elections I was a 14 year old Yeshivah bocher, now I am BH a married member of the community. I want my voice heard. I want my wife’s voice heard.
Vaad Hakol, a third Rov for the Beis Din, gaboim for 770, these are literal issues that directly affect me and you. This is not a governor race with empty promises and our leaders running after candidates coat tails. This is who we want to represent us in our religious and communal matters.
We need new Crown Heights elections.
A. Dufresne
This is true, why hasn’t this been done, alot of people are complaining about how things are done here. At least let there be an election.
%1000 Correct, Thank you!
But the answer is simple. The people in power are comfortable and don’t want to mess with the status quo. The rich get richer, the powerful get power and we play along like chicks we should. Time for change
Which have people have power in our community ?
When politics walk in with 10 people, 11 opinions walk out with no conclusion. When there is a division of hearts there is no outcome. When was the last time someone did something for the sake of the mitzvah itself for G-d almighty sake, with no strings attached? Haven’t seen that in years……! Good luck!
My theory is that the establishment doesn’t care to have a headache of elections, and the young members of Anash would need the establishments assistants in having elections.
Are not a yiddishe thing. There is no need for these secular ideas to make there way into our community.
You clearly never learned the Rebbes sichos.
If you know a little history than you’ll see very clearly that Jewish communities have been have election for over 100 years
Lets make it happen
Especially about women getting a vote.
“Why do families and yungerleit need to shlep to Boro Park and Williamsburg to seek financial and governmental aid from their community council?”
Key
1. The vaad hakahol has tried several times to make elections- (do a collive search) the way its set up is that each shul needs to elect representatives and the shuls did not want to do so (to say nothing of the massive amount of shuls) Are you volunteering to canvass each shul and sit on top of them to elect two representatives? 2. Women arent allowed to vote (as per halacha and as per the system the Rebbe set up that it goes thru the shuls) and its one vote per household. 3. You cant get help at the… Read more »
There should be an amendment to the bylaws (written so many years ago) with regards to the Netzigim. (There was already issues with the Netzigim in 2009) A suggested edit could be that Shuls with a certain number of members can have a netzig. Secondly, women voting is NOT a halchic issue (https://staging.collive.com/women-here-can-vote-too/) Third. Not wanting to work at the CHJCC is not an excuse for the council to not have the ability to assist community members. Pay employees more, find different employees etc. Fourth. Unfortunately yes, there is no kavod in this position. But if the leaders who urged… Read more »
The Rebbe Said One per Household
I stand with you on 1,2 & 4
#3 is an insult to the Rebbe’s hard work sending shluchim all around the globe.
Some of this is harsh, but it’s all true.
Now Mendy Reitport can be again in the running:
Run for Rov
Run for Gabbei
Or
Run for CHJCC
Oh almost forgot, can run in 2024 for president.
an election would cause a machlokes and the rebbe would oppose
How exactly would it cause a machlokes ?
That’s what elections are for.
Someone said it, you can imagine the fights and division it will cause. Elections are not a Jewish idea, but a Roman one. There is no place for such goyishe ideas come into the shchunah.
You’re just starting a machlokes over something that shouldn’t be a machlokes
The Rebbe supported Election
Isn’t our district large enough? I am sure there should be some re-zoning done to allow the most concentrated areas where we love to have representation. We built up this entire area. Enough is enough.
While it sounds nice, the reality is that we don’t have the votes.
I’m not sure about that
Just a common sense heads up, This article sounds nice etc. but nobody should take more responsibility than that they can handle, it’s not always smart to clean shop & start from fresh. CH will wish they had some of the previous stuff. Let me explain, the current 3 members of Vaad Hakol, who are all great people, and in the earlier years of being elected they tirelessly & beautifully worked to help CH. Currently they have moved past this volunteer position, they have families, they are busy, they have zero involvement with the CHJCC, infact they probably want new… Read more »
No one is suggesting a gut renovation. Simply having elections as they are supposed to be. Every three years.
אין דבר חדש תחת השמש
Community “activists”
Whats their role in community’s life ?
What do we gain when we’ll re-elect them? We won’t go to shop to Kollel or bingo? We can apply for benefits on Kingston? Or we still will have to visit met council in boro park ?
Our Rosh Hakol of the Community Council, who was elected with a large majority Mr. Zaki Tamir.
He has done INCREDIBLE work in improving our community. This does not negate the necessity for elections, and if he were to run for reelection I am sure he will see a large amount of the community support him.
But we must have elections
The Rebbe was clearly against elections of Gabboim in 770
B”H
Can you please provide a source for that? The most recent gabaim forcibly changed all of the locks in 770 around 10 years ago, did the Rebbe say to do that?
Many of our customs, dress, lifestyle, and values were fixed in the 1950s at the beginning of the Rebbe’s nissius. Many of the things that we consider “Chassidish” were simply 1950s values that were completely secular and unrelated to Yiddishkeit. However, we decided to remain fixed in that time. So too, the people who run our community decided that what was formed at the last election in 2010 is where we should be forever. We need to move on and change with the times. Enough is enough. Please elect normal people to run our community and mosdos once and for… Read more »
But many values were taken from other frum Brooklyn communities and not chabad values
The Rebbe instituted a clear and detailed system for elections way back in the 80s, it’s a shame that people just won’t pull together. Shuls need to elect representatives, yes, only married men are supposed to vote, and elections should be held regularly. It’s so unfortunate that these things don’t get done.
The system was approved by the Rebbe. It has not be followed for more than ten years. It is doable and should be put back in place. If reinstituted the community will greatly benefit. You need to organize leaders who will unite to make it happen. Don’t look for excuses because they are limitless. List the reasons for how the community will benefit and make it happen. Remember the Rebbe wanted this for the community.
So you wrote an article on COL, now what?
Experienced person
Awaiting approval
Reply to
Rebbe’s system
November 10, 2022 12:16 pm
The system was approved by the Rebbe. It has not be followed for more than ten years. It is doable and should be put back in place. If reinstituted the community will greatly benefit. You need to organize leaders who will unite to make it happen. Don’t look for excuses because they are limitless. List the reasons for how the community will benefit and make it happen. Remember the Rebbe wanted this for the community.
What are we waiting for?! Why hasn’t this happened yet?!
After Rav Dworkin, a”h passed away, the community council at the time decided they should be the ones to appoint a new rav (a year later). There was an uprising on the part of the community who were opposed to such a small minority making such a big decision. The Rebbe sided with us, netzigim were appointed, elections were held and a Beis Din was created. Those of us who were present at the beginning, have long lamented the fact that there have been no elections for Vaad Hakahal for over ten years, and now there is a need for… Read more »
i guess we can do fake election also
B”H Wow, this is a literal miracle that this article was published 3 days ago. Just this Thursday something happened which inspired me to demand of Hashem to make a change to the current way 770 is run, and I took out a white piece of paper and black pen and wrote a long letter to the Rebbe to do anything he can (since only Hashem can answer prayers, but a tzadik can at least daven to Hashem in one’s behalf, and perhaps give other blessings etc) to bring back the elections to crown heights for the rabonim and gabaim… Read more »