Parting Letter to the Crown Heights Jewish Community
Dear Crown Heights Community,
It is with a profound sense of gratitude and fulfillment that we, Zaki Tamir, Fishel Brownstein, and Yossi Hackner, extend our heartfelt thanks to the most amazing community in the world. Until last Sunday, June 2, 2024, we had the honor and privilege of serving as the board of the Vaad Hakohol & Crown Heights Jewish Community Council.
For the past 14 years, we have witnessed firsthand the strength, resilience, and unity that make Crown Heights so unique. This is the place where the Rebbe chose to live and lead, and it has been our immense fortune to contribute to such a storied and vibrant community.
Serving you has been more than a responsibility—it has been a blessing. The countless experiences, challenges, and triumphs we’ve shared have only deepened our appreciation for the values that underpin our community: faith, kindness, and a commitment to the greater good. These years have taught us the true meaning of public service and have reinforced our belief in the importance of unity and collaboration.
As we step down from our roles, we are filled with optimism for the future. On June 2, six new, exceptionally qualified and trustworthy individuals were elected to the board. We fully support these dedicated individuals and are confident that they will serve our community with the same passion and integrity that we have strived to uphold.
To the new board, we offer our encouragement and support. Embrace this opportunity to make a difference, to uphold the values of our community, and to lead with compassion and dedication. Public service is a noble calling, and we are confident that you will find it as rewarding as we have.
We extend our deepest thanks to each and every member of our community for your trust, support, and partnership over the years. It has been an honor to serve you, and we are grateful to G-d for the blessings and opportunities we have received.
May our community continue to thrive, and may we all go from strength to strength.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Zaki Tamir, Fishel Brownstein, and Yossi Hackner
I dont even know where to begin to list all the things that you did
Was this written by ChatGPT?
And I didn’t even know their names
The answer is clearly written in the article!
Oh wait it actually doesn’t say anything.
those in a position to help that Don’t is tantamount to negligence
וכל מי שעוסקין בצרכי ציבור באמונה הקב”ה ישלם !שכרם
Been in ch for the last 10 years and Did not know there was a vaad
Who are the other 4 people?
Good riddance. Your letter claims you had the pleasure of serving our community for 14 years. Is that a joke? We don’t get your sense of humor. It’s ironic that you couldn’t list a single accomplishment. Instead of uniting us, your tenure was marked by infighting, disrespect for our rabbonim, and a split in kashrus supervision. do you know that Most in our community don’t even know about the Mass HaKohol tax meant to support our rabbonim. You didn’t care for our leadership or our community. The CHJCC has a history of electing people more interested in their own gain… Read more »
Unfortunate and sad truth. We are choking from lack of housing, parking and a lot of basics
Mazal tov to the new members, wishing them much Hatzlacha in this tremendous responsibility, I hope you are able to accomplish great things. I would like to point out a gross injustice. I understand that only men were allowed to vote, but what about us that are almonos (like me) or divorcées that are heads of household? Don’t we get to show our support to the candidates and have a say in our community? Don’t we support our local stores, schools and institutions? On Sunday, I bravely showed up to vote as a head of household (not as a women’s… Read more »
Dear past Vaad Sheyichye,
When you entered 14 years ago there was a lot fighting in the community. Your dedication to bringing Sholom, although was not always possible ( bringing peace is one the hardest things to accomplish) means that today the new vaad can begin in a atmosphere of peace
For just this alone it was worth electing you. All Brochos come through peace, and that is what you worked so hard on. We are therefore so grateful to Hashem that it was through your work on Sholom that brought the many brachos that this community
has!
Good Shabbos!
You are great
No doubt this was a thankless job and much that you did was never acknowledged. But G-d knows and that’s what matters.
Good luck in your future endeavors!
It would be hard for ANYONE to get things done in ch. We have no govt representation. Because of the zoning we can never get a majority. And to keep things that way may very well be why they keep inflicting homeless shelters and migrant centers on our community.
Ouch. The above comments hurt. Thank you to the outgoing board for your 14 years of serving our community. Please ignore the above comments. May you be bentched for all you were able to accomplish!
Please list at least 3 things they did in 14 years we benefit from.
Thank you to the outgoing Vaad. In your first years, the Beis Din was split, with two competing Hechsherim, and court cases galore. When you left: there is one CHK, there is a united Beis Din. In your first Years, the Netzigim were fractured and not functioning. When you left: there is a united Netzigim. Before you entered, there were two teams claiming to be Vaad Hakohol. When you left: one Vaad Hakohol. When you began, there were maybe 20 families living outside the “old” Crown Heights. Today, there is close to 500 families. You worked quietly, you didn’t make… Read more »
This is not the biden administration; we care about the facts and not the fantasies you dream up. Here is the reality: 1. Beis Din Split and Unity: The issues with the Beis Din and competing Hechsherim erupted during your tenure, not before. You failed to provide leadership or resolution. The eventual unification was orchestrated by external forces, not by your administration, which remained largely inactive on these critical matters. 2. Netzigim Functionality: The Netzigim structure collapsed under your watch, resulting in no elections for ten years. The revival was driven by younger community members like Yudi Gruenberg and others… Read more »
Sorry don’t mean to be rude but I personally wasn’t never helped. My phone calls were ignored. And the community as a whole seems to not have gotten any serious help either. And 14 years to pick a new Vaad? Presidents in government get elections every four years, how did it get to 14 years!? Hope the next Vaad will make a Real and Tangible difference in our community with regards to housing, cleaner streets that we can feel like a mentch (maybe a better sanitation system like Israel has? ) since the sanitation has been the same since I… Read more »
So sad that people who don’t have it in them to portray the basic HaKaras HaTov are the most verbal, while others are actually making a difference. Shame on your vile comments.
The previous Vaad HaKahal , with its G-D Fearing and tireless leader, Rabbi Zaki Tamir brought peace to the Rebbe’s Holy Shchuna and supported thousands of Lubavitchers living in Kan Tziva Hashem Es HaBracha. We hope the incoming Vaad follows Rabbi Zaki Tamir’s selfless and noble example. Hashem Bless our Holy Shchuna
what is important is that now the current vaad, should be focused on what is utmost important.
and what is most important, is that the community will function as a united front.
we have many challenges facing us, and it is only through unity that we can plow through them.
if we get our act together, and function as a single force, we will go-d willing be able to achieve whatever we need to.
and bez”h we will merit great blessings, and grow, and thrive beyond proportion.
Thank you for serving the Crown Heights Community for 14 years. It must have been very difficult with people such as those who commented egregiously on this site. The comments are horrific, hurled against a group on people voted by the people, who committed to serve the Crown Heights community, for no monetary compensation. Their work was done with fidelity, integrity, and honesty concurrent to their jobs, family, and life. What were these naysayers doing at that time?!? No one should listen to the Erev Rav, and let’s celebrate 14 wonderful years of success and progress and kindness and support… Read more »
Anyone that takes a public leadership role ends up dealing with people who sit on the sidelines and spit in their face! Look at Moshe Rabbeinu in the desert.
The endless dedication and sacrifice of the previous board in doing their very best in helping the Jewish community is something to applaud.
It seems that any difficulty in accomplishing any of the above mentioned concerns and challenges are community issues that require a much bigger intervention on the part of the community. Ein Melech Blo Am.