N’tzigim of Crown Heights - Meeting Report - 17 Teves, 5766 - January 17, 2006
Netzigim Meeting Report
17 Teves, 5766
January 17, 2006
17 Teves, 5766
January 17, 2006
[Note: It was particularly difficult to write an account of this meeting. The impression of most participants was total outrage – how could such absurdity take place – this cannot be happening! It is not possible to convey this feeling in words. Interested parties should consult their Netzig for a firsthand account of the debacle.)
Yisroel Best, the Chairman, called the regular meeting of the Netzigim to order at 9:00 P.M. on 17 Teves, 5766.
The first item on the agenda was a Dvar Torah by Mendel Schneerson.
Mr. Best began the meeting by first raising a point of order and addressed Vaad HaKohol member Shmuel Plotkin. He asked Rabbi Plotkin if he discussed with Moshe Rubashkin whether or not the Vaad would comply with the Netzigim’s orders to show the books of the JCC to the Audit Committee. R. Plotkin responded that they had and they would be making a financial report to the Netzigim tonight.
Mr. Best than raised another point of order and noted that Mr. Rubashkin was present although it was 9:00. He had been asked to come at 9:45, but he had refused the invitation to speak because he claimed that he did not recognize the Netzigim as a valid group. Mr. Best therefore asked him if his presence indicated that he changed his mind and now recognized the Netzigim; if not why is he here?
Mr. Rubashkin began to speak, but when it became apparent that he was not answering Mr. Best’s question, Mr. Best tried to refocus him and asked him to respond to his original question. This began a back and forth in which Mr. Best asked for a “yes or no” answer and Mr. Rubashkin kept talking about other things.
In the middle of the commotion, the Chair was able to recognize Yankel Weis who objected to the meeting beginning by allowing Mr. Rubashkin to talk. Mr. Best explained that his divergence from protocol was due to the fact that before the meeting he had a conversation with Mr. Rubashkin in which Mr. Rubashkin claimed that the netzigim are not a valid group because they did not pay their mas hakohol, which is a requirement in the Bylaws. Mr. Best pointed out that, in the history of the Netzigim, this rule was never enforced, and if it had been, there would not ever have been a quorum to conduct business. Mr. Schneerson also pointed out that if the Netzigim are not valid because they failed to pay their mas hakohol, then, since the same situation occurred when elections were conducted for the Vaad HaKohol, then the elections are invalid and Mr. Rubashkin is not a Vaad Hakohol member.
Mr. Weis regained the floor and he pointed out that the first order of business of a Netzigim meeting should be to accept the minutes as written. The Chair pointed out that the Executive Board had already approved the minutes as written. He asked if any of the Netzigim had difficulties with that. Mr. Weis and Dr. Spinner seemed to wish to make comments about the minutes. Before they could do so, Mr. Rubashkin once again continued to complain and address the Netzigim.
Mr. Best again asked Mr. Rubashkin to either recognize the current group of netzigim or kindly leave the room so that they could continue conducting their business. Mr. Rubashkin refuse to do either and instead asked to read a letter from one of the Rabbonim.
Mr. Best then asked Rabbi Plotkin if he recognized the Netzigim. Rabbi Plotkin answered that he recognized them “1,000 percent.”
Mr. Rubashkin then insisted on reading a letter that he said was signed by Rav Osdoba. It was difficult to understand the letter, because Mr. Rubashkin continually interjected his own comments, which developed into shouting matches aimed at many of the Netzigim, replete with name-calling, curses and personal insults. Mr. Rubashkin was repeatedly asked to sit down but he did not comply and continued the fracas.
We will here summarize the letter from Rabbi Osdoba,. It was written and signed on his personal stationary (not B’Datz stationary) and addressed to the members of the Vaad HaKohol. The letter objected to the published minutes of the last Netzigim meeting, specifically the “degrading a Talmin Chochom in public.” The letter went on to list accomplishments of the Vaad HaKohol, including distributing financial assistance to widow, orphans, and segments of poor people in the community, and maintaining the mikveh on Kingston Avenue. [This was apparently the financial report that the Vaad wished to give to the Netzigim.]
The letter went on to say that it is inappropriate for Baal HaBatim to mix into matters of the Beis Din, as to the appointment of Dayonim. Given the inappropriateness of the Netzigim’s behavior, “in addition to reports that the elections of the present officers were conducted illegally” [Note: This apparently refers to Mr. Lipkind’s claim that he did not send out notices to all the netzigim for the meeting in which elections were held. It was pointed out in the prior minutes that despite Mr. Lipkind’s claim, the meeting was attended by many more netzigim than usual, 22 of 26 shuls.] “I have instructed the members of the Vaad Hakohol that they have no obligation to participate and work with this administration.”
Chairman Best then asked Mr. Rubashkin once again if he recognizes the body of the Netzigim. Again Mr. Rubashkin aimlessly rambled and did not answer the question. Mr. Best reminded the Netzigim that at the last meeting it was decided that the Executive Committee would ask the Vaad HaKohol for a meeting to discuss the allegation that the Vaad was not complying with the requirements of the ByLaws to have proper meetings. They were also to arrange for the Netzigim’s Audit Committee to examine the financial books of the Vaad HaKohol and the JCC. Mr. Best noted that Mr. Rubashkin refused to meet with the Executive Committee, and also refused to cooperate with the audit of the books.
At this point absolute bedlam resulted. As Netzigim members tried to speak, ask questions, discuss the matter, they were continually interrupted, disrupted, shouted down and called names (‘terrorist’, “Hitler”, “Saadam Husein”, etc.) by Mr. Rubashkin as he spoke in a seeming word salad of abuse.
The Chairman asked all the Vaad members present to leave for half an hour so that the Netzigim could conduct their business. He promised he would allow Mr. Rubashkin to address the group later if he so wished. Although the other Vaad members left the meeting as requested, Mr. Rubashkin continued his tirade and refused to allow the meeting to go on. As one of the other Vaad members was leaving and passed by, Mr. Rubashkin began to criticize him. He responded by pointing out that since Mr. Rubashkin was elected he had caused the machlokes between the Rabbonim to escalate exponentially, created a machlokes in the Vaad HaKohol the likes of which has never been seen, is he now trying to create a machlokes in the Netzigim? At one point, several Netzigim asked Mr. Rubashkin why he is not going to Din Torah / Zabla as he did not respond to three hazmonos, does he have something to hide? Some Netzigim suggested that Shmira or the Police be called to eject Mr. Rubashkin.
After many more attempts to impose order, the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 10:30, with nothing having been properly discussed or accomplished, due to the disruption. Mr. Best announced that an emergency meeting would be held shortly, to which Mr. Rubashkin would not be invited. The Netzigim will be notified as to time and place.
Yisroel Best, the Chairman, called the regular meeting of the Netzigim to order at 9:00 P.M. on 17 Teves, 5766.
The first item on the agenda was a Dvar Torah by Mendel Schneerson.
Mr. Best began the meeting by first raising a point of order and addressed Vaad HaKohol member Shmuel Plotkin. He asked Rabbi Plotkin if he discussed with Moshe Rubashkin whether or not the Vaad would comply with the Netzigim’s orders to show the books of the JCC to the Audit Committee. R. Plotkin responded that they had and they would be making a financial report to the Netzigim tonight.
Mr. Best than raised another point of order and noted that Mr. Rubashkin was present although it was 9:00. He had been asked to come at 9:45, but he had refused the invitation to speak because he claimed that he did not recognize the Netzigim as a valid group. Mr. Best therefore asked him if his presence indicated that he changed his mind and now recognized the Netzigim; if not why is he here?
Mr. Rubashkin began to speak, but when it became apparent that he was not answering Mr. Best’s question, Mr. Best tried to refocus him and asked him to respond to his original question. This began a back and forth in which Mr. Best asked for a “yes or no” answer and Mr. Rubashkin kept talking about other things.
In the middle of the commotion, the Chair was able to recognize Yankel Weis who objected to the meeting beginning by allowing Mr. Rubashkin to talk. Mr. Best explained that his divergence from protocol was due to the fact that before the meeting he had a conversation with Mr. Rubashkin in which Mr. Rubashkin claimed that the netzigim are not a valid group because they did not pay their mas hakohol, which is a requirement in the Bylaws. Mr. Best pointed out that, in the history of the Netzigim, this rule was never enforced, and if it had been, there would not ever have been a quorum to conduct business. Mr. Schneerson also pointed out that if the Netzigim are not valid because they failed to pay their mas hakohol, then, since the same situation occurred when elections were conducted for the Vaad HaKohol, then the elections are invalid and Mr. Rubashkin is not a Vaad Hakohol member.
Mr. Weis regained the floor and he pointed out that the first order of business of a Netzigim meeting should be to accept the minutes as written. The Chair pointed out that the Executive Board had already approved the minutes as written. He asked if any of the Netzigim had difficulties with that. Mr. Weis and Dr. Spinner seemed to wish to make comments about the minutes. Before they could do so, Mr. Rubashkin once again continued to complain and address the Netzigim.
Mr. Best again asked Mr. Rubashkin to either recognize the current group of netzigim or kindly leave the room so that they could continue conducting their business. Mr. Rubashkin refuse to do either and instead asked to read a letter from one of the Rabbonim.
Mr. Best then asked Rabbi Plotkin if he recognized the Netzigim. Rabbi Plotkin answered that he recognized them “1,000 percent.”
Mr. Rubashkin then insisted on reading a letter that he said was signed by Rav Osdoba. It was difficult to understand the letter, because Mr. Rubashkin continually interjected his own comments, which developed into shouting matches aimed at many of the Netzigim, replete with name-calling, curses and personal insults. Mr. Rubashkin was repeatedly asked to sit down but he did not comply and continued the fracas.
We will here summarize the letter from Rabbi Osdoba,. It was written and signed on his personal stationary (not B’Datz stationary) and addressed to the members of the Vaad HaKohol. The letter objected to the published minutes of the last Netzigim meeting, specifically the “degrading a Talmin Chochom in public.” The letter went on to list accomplishments of the Vaad HaKohol, including distributing financial assistance to widow, orphans, and segments of poor people in the community, and maintaining the mikveh on Kingston Avenue. [This was apparently the financial report that the Vaad wished to give to the Netzigim.]
The letter went on to say that it is inappropriate for Baal HaBatim to mix into matters of the Beis Din, as to the appointment of Dayonim. Given the inappropriateness of the Netzigim’s behavior, “in addition to reports that the elections of the present officers were conducted illegally” [Note: This apparently refers to Mr. Lipkind’s claim that he did not send out notices to all the netzigim for the meeting in which elections were held. It was pointed out in the prior minutes that despite Mr. Lipkind’s claim, the meeting was attended by many more netzigim than usual, 22 of 26 shuls.] “I have instructed the members of the Vaad Hakohol that they have no obligation to participate and work with this administration.”
Chairman Best then asked Mr. Rubashkin once again if he recognizes the body of the Netzigim. Again Mr. Rubashkin aimlessly rambled and did not answer the question. Mr. Best reminded the Netzigim that at the last meeting it was decided that the Executive Committee would ask the Vaad HaKohol for a meeting to discuss the allegation that the Vaad was not complying with the requirements of the ByLaws to have proper meetings. They were also to arrange for the Netzigim’s Audit Committee to examine the financial books of the Vaad HaKohol and the JCC. Mr. Best noted that Mr. Rubashkin refused to meet with the Executive Committee, and also refused to cooperate with the audit of the books.
At this point absolute bedlam resulted. As Netzigim members tried to speak, ask questions, discuss the matter, they were continually interrupted, disrupted, shouted down and called names (‘terrorist’, “Hitler”, “Saadam Husein”, etc.) by Mr. Rubashkin as he spoke in a seeming word salad of abuse.
The Chairman asked all the Vaad members present to leave for half an hour so that the Netzigim could conduct their business. He promised he would allow Mr. Rubashkin to address the group later if he so wished. Although the other Vaad members left the meeting as requested, Mr. Rubashkin continued his tirade and refused to allow the meeting to go on. As one of the other Vaad members was leaving and passed by, Mr. Rubashkin began to criticize him. He responded by pointing out that since Mr. Rubashkin was elected he had caused the machlokes between the Rabbonim to escalate exponentially, created a machlokes in the Vaad HaKohol the likes of which has never been seen, is he now trying to create a machlokes in the Netzigim? At one point, several Netzigim asked Mr. Rubashkin why he is not going to Din Torah / Zabla as he did not respond to three hazmonos, does he have something to hide? Some Netzigim suggested that Shmira or the Police be called to eject Mr. Rubashkin.
After many more attempts to impose order, the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 10:30, with nothing having been properly discussed or accomplished, due to the disruption. Mr. Best announced that an emergency meeting would be held shortly, to which Mr. Rubashkin would not be invited. The Netzigim will be notified as to time and place.
posted by DaasHakohol @ 10:55 AM
0 comments
