A Brooklyn rabbinical court has a new commandment for the thousands of religious Jews under its jurisdiction: Thou shall not snitch.
The Beth Din of Crown Heights has ordered an estimated 10,000 members of the Lubavitch Hasidic sect not to gripe about cops or blab about crimes to outsiders.
"No one shall bring to any media outlet information about any resident that could, if publicized, lead to an investigation or intensified prosecution by any law enforcement agency," reads an edict issued last week.
The five-point order also bans talking to reporters about police or posting on websites critical of cops.
The court ruled that only the nonprofit Crown Heights Jewish Community Council can conduct "police relations" on behalf of Lubavitchers.
The rules appear to be so broadly written that they could be interpreted as ordering victims of police abuse not to talk to other investigators or federal authorities.
Zaky Tamir, chairman of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, insisted yesterday the edict is meant only to stop people from going around leaders on issues that affect the entire neighborhood.
"No one should represent themselves as speaking on behalf of Crown Heights as a whole," said Tamir, a criminal defense lawyer.
Tamir said the edict arose after an ongoing beef between rival civilian patrol groups in the neighborhood spilled into the public arena.
Last month, a Daily News story that evolved from the battle revealed that a Hasidic man fled to Israel after he was accused of beating the son of a cop.
The ruling said relations between the community and cops have been damaged "by people who have pursued a personal agenda."
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said the department doesn't have a position on rabbinical court opinions, but there are a number of ways to report police conduct.
"The Police Department encourages the public to use any one of various vehicles to available to it to file complaints against police, including the independent Civilian Complain Review Board," he said.
The ultra-Orthodox Lubavitchers live under strict rules governing almost every facet of their lives. Some said the new edict goes too far. Anyone in the insular community who runs afoul of the rules faces intense pressure to conform.
"We have rights as a U.S. citizen to complain about the police," said Brooklyn college student Yosef Bergovoy, 23.
Bergovoy groused to a television station last month after cops gave him a ticket for standing on the sidewalk.
One of the foremost charities in the neighborhood, the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council offers helps with everything from food stamps to housing to passports.
It is under the umbrella of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, one of New York's largest social service agencies.
this is not a beth din its a bunch of criminals
ReplyDeleteMr Zakaki think that we are in the 1920's
ReplyDeletebut the rabbi's are just criminals and the cop who gut the letter sign by rabbi's are the biggest crooks
Zaki Tamir are you afraid of something?????
ReplyDeleteEveryone had the right to voice their opinion directly. Just ignore this mindless directive.
ReplyDeletethis psak is actually bull made up if it was real they would publicize in crown heights not on vosizneias first
ReplyDeleteThe CHJCC has to earn its stripes. Once they prove that they serve the community, Jews and blacks alike, then people will respect them and listen to them.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the Beit Din needs to be arrested for obstruction of justice
ReplyDeleteObstruction of justice. Conspiracy to commit same. If this Bet Din has any national authority make that "Interstate Conspiracy".
ReplyDeleteAnd they don't even pretend to be ashamed of their evil.
I think it has to do with the 3 boys who got a ticket for standing on the side walk at 11 pm and are going after the police and the police want to hold everyone by the
ReplyDeleteThis may constitute criminal obstruction of justice.
ReplyDeleteTo Mr Tamir :
ReplyDeleteZaky Tamir, chairman of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, insisted yesterday the edict is meant only to stop people from going around leaders on issues that affect the entire neighborhood.
“No one should represent themselves as speaking on behalf of Crown Heights as a whole,” said Tamir, a criminal defense lawyer.
IF THIS IS SO how will your Rabbi's lern pshat in Rambam Sanhedrin 21 Halacha 7 ?????
Halacha 7
It is forbidden for a judge to hear the words of one of the litigants before the other comes or outside the other's presence. Even hearing one word is forbidden, as implied by Deuteronomy 1:16: "Listen among your brethren." A judge who listens to only one litigant violates a negative commandment, as Exodus 23:1 states: "Do not bear a false report." Included in this prohibition is a warning to a person who listens to malicious gossip, one who speaks malicious gossip, and one who bears false testimony.
Similarly, each litigant is warned not to tell his arguments to a judge before the other litigant comes. With regard to this and similar matters, Exodus 23:7 states: "Keep distant from words of falsehood."
It's important to note: This Beth Din represents the Crown Heights community which comprises mostly of Lubavitchers, however not Lubavitch International, nor Lubavitchers living elsewhere. As the Rebbe himself noted, (Paraphrasing) it would be obvious that the Boro Park Community Council would have no place to dictate/speak on behalf of Belz, or Viznitz etc.. Same thing in CH. The CH community council and they're Rabbonim are for the local community and have no say or place with anything beyond...
ReplyDeleteWow. They are acting like gangbangers
ReplyDeleteZaki Tamir, Chairman of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, told the New York Daily News the letter arose after an ongoing beef between rival civilian patrol groups in the neighborhood spilled into the public arena.
ReplyDeleteShmira works with the 71st Commanding Officer Peter Simonetti, while the Shomrim only enjoyed the same status under the former Commanding Officer Frank Vega.
Tamir told the Daily News that the rabbis' letter was meant to stop people from going around leaders on issues that affect the entire neighborhood.
"No one should represent themselves as speaking on behalf of Crown Heights as a whole," said Tamir, a criminal defense lawyer.
in that case, what will happen to eliyahu hecht if the chabad rabbi in costa rica or
ReplyDeletethe chabadnik drug dealer who gave eliyahu hecht the 4 pounds of coke do not speak ?
then, eliyahu hecht will stay in jail.
since eliyahu hecht is in jail and did not hear the crown heights bet din order , he is going to speak , because he does not want to stay in jail.
E hecht will give names , locations and more.......