Rubashkin Joins Music Stars

by COLlive reporter
Photos: Chaim Perl

Seven years ago, 30 Jewish musicians joined a single musical production to raise public awareness for the plight of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin and help fund his legal team.

Rubashkin ran the Iowa-based Agriprocessors kosher meat factory until it was closed down by federal authorities in 2008. Subsequently, Rubashkin was arrested for defrauding a bank in order to maintain a line of credit to keep the family business afloat.

Unlike others charged with similar crimes, he was not granted bail during his trial, was kept in solitary confinement for days and denied kosher food. The banks had no complaint against him, because he made payments on time. His only crime was falsifying business information in order to acquire the loans.

Despite his alleged wrongdoings and clearly not a threat to society, Rubashkin has been treated like a violent criminal. In June 2010, Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin was sentenced to 27 years imprisonment by Judge Linda Reade.

The Rubashkin case has resulted in solidarity evenings, prayer gatherings and generous contributions to the defense team. The injustice has bolstered widespread unity among people from all walks of life.

On the last day of Chanukah this year, Rubashkin was commuted by President Donald Trump. The news was received with widespread joy and celebration in Jewish communities in Brooklyn and around the world.

Monday, Rubashkin came to thank the musicians who played and sang in the “Unity for Justice” song in 2010, and joined them in filming an updated remake of the music video.

VIDEO: Rubashkin sings with Jewish music stars

“Sholom Mordechai told me he watched the Unity video hundreds of times while in prison,” music producer Danny Finkelman, who led the project, told COLlive.com on Monday.

“Such a public display of support gave him so much chizuk during the difficult times,” he said. “The video was instrumental in helping to gain public support for the cause, for the efforts to have him released as well as raising funds.”

Participating in the remake filmed at a hall in Monsey, NY were musicians and entertainers: Yehuda Green, Gad Elbaz, Lipa Schmeltzer, Levi Falkowitz, Mendy Werzberger, Avi and Mendy Piamenta, Beri Weber, Menashe Lustig, Michoel Schnitzler, Yanky Lemmer, Michoel Pruzansky, Yitzik Orlev, Yoely Leibowitz, Uri Davidi, Nachas, Zusha, Shloime Dachs, Mordechai Schapiro, Betzalel Levin, Eli Schwebel, Shloime Daskal, Shloime Kaufman, Eitan Katz, Shimmy Engel, Shmuli Ungar, Shloime Taussig, Mendy Worch, Meir Kalmenson, Mendy Pellin, Morty Silber, C. Lanzbaum, Tzvi Silberstein, Refael, Moshe Kraus, Yoni Z, Avi Benjamin, Yossi Green, Aharon Holder, Yoely Greenfeld, Yossi Goldstein, Mendy Werdyger and Mendy J.

Also participating were Rubashkin’s sons and Rabbi Pinchus Lipschutz, editor of the Yated, who worked to raise awareness and funds for his release.

The remade music video will be ready in 2 weeks.

VIDEO: The original Unity for Justice clip

Read the coverage on COLlive.com: #RubashkinFreed