The following is a public letter written by the members of the Vaad Hakohol of Crown Heights:
In the past few days, an invitation has been circulated for shuls to appoint representatives (“Netzigim”) as the first step towards arranging elections for new directors of Crown Heights Jewish Community Council and Vaad Hakohol.
We are writing herein to express our full support for this effort and to pledge full cooperation with the plan to organize elections. Our current Board has been in office for over ten years and the time has come for the community to express its vision for its own future.
Recent events have shown the power and potential of this community to come together to strengthen Crown Heights and to show leadership to the entire City of New York and beyond.
We call on all interested members of the community to get involved – in choosing appropriate people to represent your shuls as Netzigim, to assist in organizing the elections, and to be willing to run as candidates for office to help guide the community forward.
We hope and pray that all of this can take place in an atmosphere of peace and Ahavas Yisrael. With blessings for a Kesiva Vachasima Tova Leshana Tova Umesuka,
Sincerely,
Zaki Tamir, Chairman
Yossi Hackner, Secretary
Fishel Brownstein, Treasurer
Do the netzigim take care of the rov elections?
Anyone know what they do?
(I’ve seen Zacki backing some things like the past mayoral election… but I’m really not sure what they do. Hoping someone lets me know in the comments
To me, it seems obvious that the crown heights community cannot, under any circumstances, work in cohesion. Even after an election, the losing party/side would say that the election was rigged.
Therefore, I recommend that we have two sets of Rabbanim in crown heights, as well as two sets of netzigim, each of which will represent their shul to the leaders and rav of their tribe.
BH most don’t agree with that negativity
Last time the elections were a mess and every rule was broken.
Big money was being spent by parties that had whatever interest and personal feuds.
Your suggestion however is already in the works. Crown heights does have unaffiliated rabonim who pasken and and answer shaailos.
Al that remains is to take away the beis din’s monopoly on siddur kiddushin. People should be allowed to choose and pay a rov of their liking.
Article by Shraga Crombie, Beis Moshiach Magazine There are very few chapters in the history of the Seventh Generation of Chabad, in which the Rebbe involved himself to the point of issuing instructions regarding every minor detail, guiding every step behind the scenes and publicly addressing the issue in his sichos to the entire community. One such example would be the famous court case involving the library, and perhaps another one or two. However, while the court case involved a struggle against opposition from the outside, the episode of the election and appointment of the rabbis of the Crown Heights… Read more »
Maybe we can get Lefferts Park fixed!
just go to the community board parks committee meetings. Wingate park and brower park both have friends of non profits… someone could do that for leffers.
Contact the local representative and go to town hall meetings.
Yeah the playground is really unsafe I’ve seen kids fall from it all the time
netzigim represent The shuls individually They help organize teh elections address issues to The Vaad Hakahal etc on behalf of teh shul members etc.
If any of these people can have some control of our mayor and not allow him to shut our shuls/touch our religious rights, like what happened Last year that would be great otherwise its pointless. To have people represent our community and when it comes to the mayor he’s in control, and they become like sheep, that’s a laughing stock.
1. I think Zaki has done and continues to do tremendous for the שכונה
2. Trying to understand, why do we need נציגים to vote for a new וועד?
This was all set up in the 80s under the direct instruction of the Rebbe; it’s a shame people don’t take it seriously because it is really a great democratic/representative process that gets everybody involved in the community.
I get that the Rebbe was בעד everything happening, I still don’t understand the נציגים role in this.
Women vote?
If he runs again, you are welcome to vote for him. Having an election doesn’t mean the current Vad is bad. It was just never meant to be a life time position.
I’d love someone of the current council to clarify:
What is the legal structure of the Council?
Is there a membership? (If yes, how is one a member)?
A Board? (If yes, how is one a board member)?
What are the boundaries of “Crown Heights” in relation to this Council?
Who may vote?
What is the role and authority of a netzig?
For any rules based answer in this, who wrote or decided the rules and can they be changed, and how?
For about 2,000 years we have not been an autonomous people, self governing in a meaningful way, or at least in the ultimate ways, instead we are on the sidelines criticizing the host nations that are autonomous, or in the last 70 years or so also criticizing Israel.
When Geula happens, will we have to be autonomous ? And if so, why is Crown Heights so apathetic to autonomy, which this article is seemingly reflective of ?