Crown Heights Beis Din: Difference between revisions
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The '''Beis Din Tzedek of Crown Heights''' (known as the Crown Heights Badatz) is the official and permanent beis din of the [[Crown Heights]] neighborhood. The beis din was established in 5746, whereas previously there was a single rav who, when needing a beis din, would add two non-permanent rabbonim. | The '''Beis Din Tzedek of Crown Heights''' (known as the Crown Heights Badatz) is the official and permanent beis din of the [[Crown Heights]] neighborhood. The beis din was established in 5746, whereas previously there was a single rav who, when needing a beis din, would add two non-permanent rabbonim. | ||
The beis din maintains a kashrus system known as "CHK" (Crown Heights Kosher), operated by two members of the Badatz: [[ | The beis din maintains a kashrus system known as "CHK" (Crown Heights Kosher), operated by two members of the Badatz: Rabbi [[Avrohom Osdoba]] and Rabbi [[Yosef Yeshaya Braun]]. The kashrus system manager is Rabbi DovBer Levertov. | ||
The beis din offices are located in the center of the neighborhood on Kingston Avenue, between Crown and Montgomery Streets. | The beis din offices are located in the center of the neighborhood on Kingston Avenue, between Crown and Montgomery Streets. | ||
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In the early years of the formation of the Chabad community in Crown Heights, the number of community members did not justify establishing a beis din tzedek, and the unofficial rav of Chabad chassidim to whom they turned with halachic questions was Rabbi Shmuel Levitin. During the twenty years that passed since [[The Rebbe Rayatz|the Frierdiker Rebbe]] settled in the neighborhood, many Chabad chassidim settled there and it developed rapidly until in 5724 the community numbered several hundred families, and the need for rabbonim moreh horaah grew increasingly. | In the early years of the formation of the Chabad community in Crown Heights, the number of community members did not justify establishing a beis din tzedek, and the unofficial rav of Chabad chassidim to whom they turned with halachic questions was Rabbi Shmuel Levitin. During the twenty years that passed since [[The Rebbe Rayatz|the Frierdiker Rebbe]] settled in the neighborhood, many Chabad chassidim settled there and it developed rapidly until in 5724 the community numbered several hundred families, and the need for rabbonim moreh horaah grew increasingly. | ||
At this stage, [[ | At this stage, Rabbi [[Zalman Shimon Dvorkin]] was invited to serve as moreh tzedek alongside Rabbi Levitin and Rabbi [[Eliyahu Yeichil-Simpson|Rabbi Eliyahu Yeichil Simpson]], and with the passing of the latter two, his status was established as Mara D'asra of the Crown Heights neighborhood. | ||
== Elections of 5745 == | == Elections of 5745 == | ||
About a year after the passing of Rabbi Zalman Shimon Dvorkin on 19th of Adar 5745, the members of the Va'ad Hakahal in Crown Heights requested from the Rebbe to appoint a new rav. The Rebbe's response was "This naturally belongs to the decision of the Jewish residents of the neighborhood, may they live." Following this, they established in the neighborhood an election committee called the "Representatives Organization," to which one representative from each shul in the neighborhood was sent to the committee, and Rabbi Eliezer Zirkind was appointed as its head. | About a year after the passing of Rabbi Zalman Shimon Dvorkin on 19th of Adar 5745, the members of the Va'ad Hakahal in Crown Heights requested from the Rebbe to appoint a new rav. The Rebbe's response was "This naturally belongs to the decision of the Jewish residents of the neighborhood, may they live." Following this, they established in the neighborhood an election committee called the "Representatives Organization," to which one representative from each shul in the neighborhood was sent to the committee, and Rabbi Eliezer Zirkind was appointed as its head. | ||
While the Representatives Committee was preparing for elections, members of Agudas Chassidei Chabad decided to appoint a rav chosen by them and wrote about this to [[the Rebbe]]. The response was: "There were many meetings about this - with representatives of many shuls of the neighborhood and its institutions, and what is this sudden Agudas Chassidei Chabad world organization??" After such a clear response from the Rebbe and another sharp response, this interference attempt was dropped, and indeed on 1st of Nissan 5746 the Representatives Committee published the election details with the candidates being: Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba, [[ | While the Representatives Committee was preparing for elections, members of Agudas Chassidei Chabad decided to appoint a rav chosen by them and wrote about this to [[the Rebbe]]. The response was: "There were many meetings about this - with representatives of many shuls of the neighborhood and its institutions, and what is this sudden Agudas Chassidei Chabad world organization??" After such a clear response from the Rebbe and another sharp response, this interference attempt was dropped, and indeed on 1st of Nissan 5746 the Representatives Committee published the election details with the candidates being: Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba, Rabbi [[Mordechai Dovid Altein|Rabbi Mordechai Dov Altein]], Rabbi Dovid Chanzin, Rabbi Sholom Marozov, and Rabbi [[Yehuda Kalman Marlow]]. | ||
On 4th of Nissan the elections were held in the women's section of 770 and 90% of the neighborhood residents came and chose three rabbonim: Rabbi Dovid Chanzin, Rabbi Yehuda Kalman Marlow and Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba. | On 4th of Nissan the elections were held in the women's section of 770 and 90% of the neighborhood residents came and chose three rabbonim: Rabbi Dovid Chanzin, Rabbi Yehuda Kalman Marlow and Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba. | ||
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== The Elections of 5763 and 5770 == | == The Elections of 5763 and 5770 == | ||
In 5760, Rabbi Marlow passed away, and that year [[ | In 5760, Rabbi Marlow passed away, and that year Rabbi [[Aaron Yaakov Shwei|Rabbi Aharon Yaakov Schwei]] (who served as a Rosh Mesivta in the Lubavitcher Yeshiva) was appointed as Moreh Tzedek by the Beis Din. Three years later in 5763, a democratic election was held for the position of third rav in the Beis Din in which Rabbi Schwei ran unopposed and won a technical victory. | ||
== Approach to the Rebbe's Titles == | == Approach to the Rebbe's Titles == | ||
On Motzei Shavuos 5755, the members of the Beis Din held an official reception for rabbonim from around the world who came to the Rebbe for Shavuos. Due to the sensitive situation that developed after Gimmel Tammuz 5754 and the confusion among some chassidim about how to refer to the Rebbe's titles, the Av Beis Din Rabbi Marlow, together with the visiting rabbonim, issued a call to all Chabad chassidim establishing that one should not write the abbreviations "zatsal," etc. about the Rebbe and also not the title "shlita," only "Melech HaMoshiach."[[File:פסק דין מוצאי שבועות תשנ"ה.png|thumb|Decision Regarding the Appropriate Titles for the Rebbe Decoding of the handwritten text: "B"H Motzaei Chag HaShavuos 1995 At a reception organized by the Beis Din Tzedek of Crown Heights for the visiting Rabbanim who came to our holy courts for Shavuos 1995, it was decided that on the title page of Likkutei Sichos and similar publications, one should not write the abbreviations "Zatzukal"lah Navg"m Zy"a", and similarly for all publications of the Torah of K"K Admor Melech HaMoshiach. Signed by: [[ | On Motzei Shavuos 5755, the members of the Beis Din held an official reception for rabbonim from around the world who came to the Rebbe for Shavuos. Due to the sensitive situation that developed after Gimmel Tammuz 5754 and the confusion among some chassidim about how to refer to the Rebbe's titles, the Av Beis Din Rabbi Marlow, together with the visiting rabbonim, issued a call to all Chabad chassidim establishing that one should not write the abbreviations "zatsal," etc. about the Rebbe and also not the title "shlita," only "Melech HaMoshiach."[[File:פסק דין מוצאי שבועות תשנ"ה.png|thumb|Decision Regarding the Appropriate Titles for the Rebbe Decoding of the handwritten text: "B"H Motzaei Chag HaShavuos 1995 At a reception organized by the Beis Din Tzedek of Crown Heights for the visiting Rabbanim who came to our holy courts for Shavuos 1995, it was decided that on the title page of Likkutei Sichos and similar publications, one should not write the abbreviations "Zatzukal"lah Navg"m Zy"a", and similarly for all publications of the Torah of K"K Admor Melech HaMoshiach. Signed by: Rabbi [[Yitzchak HaKohen Hendel|Harav Yitzchak HaKohen Hendel]] Harav Yehuda Kalman Marlow Harav Mordechai Shmuel Ashkenazi Harav Yosef Hecht Harav Shneur Zalman Gurary Harav Yeshayahu Hertzel Harav Hertzel Cohen [[Harav Yisroel Yosef HaKohen Hendel]]]] | ||
== Conduct of Chabad Internet Sites == | == Conduct of Chabad Internet Sites == | ||
On 13th of Teves 5770, the Beis Din issued a call to Chabad internet sites, with detailed instructions about how a Chabad website should be conducted, and a direct instruction to prohibit publishing articles that arouse disputes and articles that violate the rules of tznius, and an announcement about closing the comments systems on the sites. | On 13th of Teves 5770, the Beis Din issued a call to Chabad internet sites, with detailed instructions about how a Chabad website should be conducted, and a direct instruction to prohibit publishing articles that arouse disputes and articles that violate the rules of tznius, and an announcement about closing the comments systems on the sites. | ||
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==== Former Members of the Beis Din ==== | ==== Former Members of the Beis Din ==== | ||
* [[ | * Rabbi [[Aaron Yaakov Shwei|Rabbi Aharon Yaakov Schwei]] | ||
* Rabbi Yosef Avrohom Heller | * Rabbi Yosef Avrohom Heller | ||
* Rabbi Yehuda Kalman Marlow | * Rabbi Yehuda Kalman Marlow | ||