Albany, NY – A local rabbi charged with unlawfully dealing with a child after police say an underage UAlbany student drank and was taken to the hospital after a party hosted at the rabbi’s home.
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Rabbi Mendel Rubin, the Director of UAlbany’s Jewish Student Center faces a misdemeanor charge after police say he hosted a party at the center called Shabbos House and a student who attended was taken to the hospital. Police say this happened back on February 5th.
According to the police report at the scene the underage student was unconscious and blew above a .4 into a blood alcohol screening device, but the rabbi’s lawyer says that number isn’t accurate.
Guilderland Police Captain Curtis Cox says, “our emergency services got a call for someone sick almost unconscious on Fuller Road, so our department responded with our EMS department.
Police responded to 320 Fuller Road, Shabbos House, the Jewish Student Center at UAlbany. Cox says, “EMS reported the person to be highly intoxicated and it appeared he had been sick. Thats when officers started their investigation.”
According to the police report, Rabbi Mendel Rubin was hosting a party at the house where alcohol was provided. Police say the sick person, an underage student, had consumed alcohol at the party.
He had to be transported to St. Peter’s Hospital and according to the report the student blew a .459. Cox says, “at that BAC you are highly impaired its even life threatening.”
Rabbi Rubin’s lawyer Peter Gerstenzang says that BAC can’t be accurate. By phone Friday night, Gerstenzang told FOX23 the student was attending the rabbi’s birthday party which was only an hour long. Alcohol was provided for the adults attending. Gerstenzang says the student helped himself to the drinks adding the rabbi and his wife never served the minor.
Gerstenzang said by phone tonight that the Rubins are horrified by the charge. “This was a complete aberration that has shocked the Rubins and has resulted in an advisory committee being formed to supervise the issue. They have also instituted an absolute ban of alcohol at Shabbos House.”
Gerstenzang says the Rubins didn’t know the young man was drinking until he threw up and the ambulance was called. He added the student was back at Shabbos House the next day.
Rabbi Rubin was issued an appearance ticket, he is due back in Guilderland Town Court at a later date.
Rabbi rubin, all the good u do, will protect u from all harm this guys wana do, u have done notin worng, when u have so many students attending ur house for shabbos meals,u r not controlling everyone, just drink another glezala maskah and things will be super good
Your headline caption that a “child” drank to unconsciousness is really misleading and sensationalist to the point of being irresponsible.
This is a problem at many Chabad house on or near college campuses. Kids are attracted to their events because they know alcohol is available, no questions asked. It is a shanda.
“By phone Friday night, Gerstenzang told FOX23 the student was attending the”
this must be a typo.
Since when is a 19 year old a child?
@2
It is not a problem that they supply alcohol at chabad houses near college campuses its actually amazing that they do because if they didn’t no one would show up. Chabad is singlehandedly responsible for being mekarev hundreds of students this way.
To everybody who has a issue with chabad and looking to build of this story “kushen toches “
U # 5, would u care to explain urself, I know this rubin’s well, and don’t remember them as lazy people, therefor I’d say jusr keep ur mouth shut, and if u have not been there ,just stay quite, beisdes that we all very well know, were this kids would end up on a friday night if not at a chabad house, in the best case it would be in a local bar, and be takan away with EMS from there, I know chabad well,and I’m actually satmer, andi know the students just as well, my renting to them
A very timely warning, with Purim coming up!
as someone that is involved with kiruv, i can tell you that aside from the Rubins great work out there in Albany, they are one of the most responsible Chabad Shlichim out there on campus. they are not party animals they are not a twenty three yo couple looking to find some fun. They have been out there for over a decade and have created a name for themselves as being extremely responsible not at all vild and not at all the kind to give drinks to minors. I am not going to just say that they do kiruv work, my point is the responsibility part of it. It may or many not have been a slip but at least for now give them a chance to let them clarify it before coming to conclusions. I myself studied in University and many times would drink before going to any event.
Mendel from your litvish friends
Chazak
As someone who knows R’ Mendel for many years still when he was a bochur in yeshiva, I could attest that he is a true tzadik. I rarely have ever met someone so devoted and out there to help another person!
i go there all the time, as do my friends, and I’ve never seen alchohol there, and that’s certainly not the reason people go there. it’s a very special place, with a great atmosphere that accepts everyone regardless where they’re coming from.
And why does there have to be alcohol in the first case?
Thousands of students go by the Rabbi. Only an idiot would call him irresponsible.
so what do all the chachomin say to defend this chap when he IS sanctioned by Merkos??? bottom line they can’t ever take criticism either way, always with some kind of answer amas loi and NEVER man enough to take responsibility
1. R Rubin is probably a great guy.
2. Chabad does seriously good work.
3. This kid (adult) probably got booze at the Rabbi’s house.
Why can’t #3 remain the exclusive focus?
If you host a party at which there is booze available, it is your responsibility as to what happens between the booze and the people. Even for adults there can be an issue if you served booze and someone leaves drunk and drives does damage.
Bottom line is booze should be a controlled substance – by you the owner and host. And if you don’t own up to this responsibility, you may pay consequences – regardless of whether you are a Rabbi, Car salesman, in a Chabad place or your private home.
My daughter attends University at Albany and my family has been to Chabad on a few occasions. I did not see any alcohol there. There was no drinking. It
was a wonderful experience to be there. The rabbi and his wife are such wonderful people. They give so much of themselves to others. It saddens me that they are going through this ordeal.
it seems from the story that they are taking it seriously, enacting an alcohol-free ban going forward. from people who are there who commented it seems this was a rare isolated incident, and not something that happens there regularly at all.
I am a student at UAlbany and a regular at Shabbos House. The Rubin family is wonderful. I have personally gone through a very tough time recently and the Rabbi has been unbelievably supportive and caring. I come to Shabbos House because of the commradary, love, and inspirational words of Jewish wisdom. I love Shabbos House!
I was very upset to read the story about Rabbi Rubin. I am the parent of a student who attends University at Albany and I have had the pleasure of visiting Shabbos House on several occasions. Shabbos House provides a warm, wholesome environment for the students at UAlbany. At no time have I seen alchol served there. The Rubins are responsible, wonderful people who provide a “home away from home” for my son and others. I feel very comfortable knowing that when I leave my son, he is being nurtured in a loving, warm environment.
he could have been drunk when he showed up, and a small amount at the rubin’s sent him over the edge.
and he is a college student- hardly a child.
My son went to Chabad Albany and never, never was alcohol served to him. The Rubins are responsible community leaders who follow the law to a T.
I know that they will be exonerated, but in the meantime, their names are being dragged into the mud, and that is a great, great shame.
Maybe the Rubin’s at UAlbanyare responsible people but at the major NE university I attend we all have dinner at Hillel the head over to Chabad. Hate to break everyone’s bubble, but the only reason we got to Chabad is for the atmosphere … alcohol.
I’ve known Mendel, well, almost since he was born, and I can tell you that Responsibility is his middle name.
(and I’m sure enough of my opinion to sign my name to it – Nachman Yaakov Ziskind).
The Rubins are uber responsible people and alcohol is certainly NOT the way they mekarev jews. This is a small town that is capitalizing and trying to find a sensational news item. Rabbi Mendel is really an exceptional model and a super caring person. Im praying for you!
The Rubins are warm, selfless people. To say that their decency and caring for students and for the Albany community are exceptional is a vast understatement.
This insinuating story about a drunken student is a sinful smear job.
And do you think there will be headlines when the accusation is shown to have been baseless? Don’t hold your breath.
P.S. You don’t have to be Lubavitch (I’m not) to be bowled over by the immeasurable, purely motivated chessed/kindness that emanates from Shabbos House.
I’ve known Mendy since he was a child (his father, Rav Yisroel Rubin, has been the main Shaliach in Albany for close to – if not more than – 40 years). He is one of the most responsible, level-headed people I know, and would not deliberately serve alcohol to a minor.
an Albany expat
I have been to several chabad campus chabad houses. They often have agreements with the schools not to serve alcohol. They provided lots of free ,great shabbos food and a great environment for Jewish students to be with other Jewish students on a Friday night the biggest party night of the week. They manage to do this without alcohol. Years ago there may hav been alcohol but not in the last few years. Campus rabbis ate quite aware of the responsibility they have. Those who like to gripe and complain especially to chabad may continue to look for the negative first but of course that is truly irresponsible.
As a student attending his Friday night meals,I can tell you the Rabbi is very learned and delivers incredible Dvars to over 100 students every Friday night. He does not encourage drinking at all although there is always some liquor available but never abused or encouraged. I firmly believe the Rabbi will be cleared from this allegation.
if is was not for shabbos house I probably would have transferred after my first semester. They give our school a comfortable Jewish atmosphere and really made my transition into college an easy one. I am very close with them and can not imagine my life without them. They are some the greatest people i know. It saddens me greatly to see the pain they are going through. They do not deserve anything of this nature in the slightest. I LOVE THE RUBINS!!!
chabad rocks if you have a problem with that you can do what coment 9 said to do
A 19 year old is only a child when he kills a cop. When a Rabbi gets arrested for letting him booze it up, then a 19 year old is an adult and fully reponsible for his actions.
Skip the booze and try some Cholent kiruv. Less cops around.
as a chabad rabbi on campus i can attest thatthere is a no tolerance policy as a national norm for the serving of alchol – yes there may be a rarity of some one breaking that yet Chabad House as a whole are very dry..at least in terms of teh Lchaim goes…
Reb Mendel – We have your back
Stop knocking Chabad. You think it doesn’t happen with Chareidi Rabbis??
Purim is coming time to put a ban for underage drinking and legal age. It’s a shanda once a year the orthodox act like the secular or even worse drink & drive & become unconcious and land in the ER room with alcohol poisoning
Enough is enough!! Stop giving minors and iresppnsible men alcohol
I have been to Shabbos House many many times and have never seen any alcohol there at all. I have enjoyed everything from Raisy’s food to Mendel’s insightful thoughts and the unbelievable Shabbos House atmosphere.
Go Mendel and Raizy, we’re praying for you!
At worst there was some alcohol around and this kid took it against the rules. These charges are so minor that it hardly matters if the rabbi is exonerated or not.
All the knee jerk reactionary comments should try to keep your uninformed comments to yourself. It happens to be the Campus Chabad Houses have very strict policies on alcohol and even when alcohol is present they usually keep the bottle close by and only personally give out to people that are regulars and known to be of legal drinking age.
You think it’s the first time around the block for these people? You know how quickly they’d be kicked off campus if they openly served alcohol to minors?
be smart.
For all you Chabad bashers out there: Chabad rocks!!! Dont take one isolated story and try to besmirch an entire devoted group of hundreds of shluchim that RESPONSIBLY, kindly and with great mesiras nefesh, look after the college students of their town.
I know that Rabbi Rubin will be exonerated, but I hope that until then, his name is not besmirched. He, and hundreds of shluchim out there are extraordinarly responsible and good people.
1. I don’t doubt that the kid may have been drunk but the Breathalyzer reading of .459 sounds wrong. Probably a calibration error. .459 should have killed him.
2. This is what you get when you make alcohol forbidden and therefore attractive. People learn to drink responsibly when halcohol has no special allure.
3. The country was in much better shape when the DRINKING age was 18 and the VOTING age was 21.
I am sure that the Rubins are fine people, and major Klal workers in concert with other Chabad shluchim. The issue here clearly involved responsibility, and the easy access to alcohol with the possibility of drinking to dangerous intoxication at a “farbrengen” is recognized easily as consistent with commonly understood Chabad protocol. If this event results in alcohol bans, and the advent of the “sober farbrengen”, it will be a zechus for Chabad, and a kavod for the Rebbes of Lubavitch whose Torah and Chassidus will be spread with the honor and respect that they richly deserve. We all need to learn from such an incident that alcohol must always be used only with the proper moderation, legally, and with 100% awareness of the risks involved.
I know Rabbi Mendel and Raizy Rubin well. They were very helpful to me when I was a student at UAlbany. Rabbi Rubin was a witness at my chupah and had kriyat hasheim at my elder son’s brit milah. These are outstanding responsible shiluchim who do unbelievable kiruv work at the University at Albany. They are also great parents to wonderful children. Raizy prepares a Shabbat meal that brings the Shabbat experience to so many.
While I wasn’t there, but I’m willing to speculate (read; this is completely my opinion and I have no facts to support this) this student got drunk on his own beforehand (very common on college campuses) and, if there was alcohol there, he took a few drinks when no one was looking. I cannot remember alcohol being served at Shabbos House, even though in my day it was a much smaller house than it is today. I know of many stories of Jews and non-Jews, getting drunk before attending events at various organizations on and off campus.
If this kid has any sense, he should take the blame. I would be honored to be character witnesses for the Rubins. They don’t encourage this behavior. This is not them. May the truth come out soon and exonerate the Rubins
all of a sudden you would never believe it Vos iz neias has such a following with the faculty of Albany. VIN should get tenure over there. My guess, All these comments were written by two three members of the same family.
What is so hard to understand? the kid came in drunk!
take a look at the col pictures and the Lchaims. tons of teenagers drinking with Rabbonim looking on and no one says a word.
I agree to #9 and double the motion!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My husband and I BH are zoche to do kiruv in our small community. We often have college kids over and have made a decision that if all our guest are minors, we don’t serve alcohol (other that a little kiddush wine). IF we have guests of mixed ages, we offer a lchaim to those over 21. We generally know their ages but have found that if we ask, the kids are honest and tell us whether or not they are legal. We never have unattended alcolhol in our house. At a simcha, the schnapps is always right in fromnt of my husbands seat so he can monitor that a) no minors are heloing htemselves and b) no one has enough to get seriously drunk.
Living in America means that we follow american law. We need to remember that at all times, whether it’s in business or in serving alcohol to minors.
Not that I blame a Boro Park guy for thinking that Albany faculty are the one’s posting and its therefore a hoax, you probably don’t know what a college campus looks like other than Touro. Unfortunately, You are a ignorant. Albany happens to be a school that has many frum boys like myself that attend(ed) for schooling. Being close to home (flatbush/5 towns etc) is very important and therefore the school’s of choice are UAlbany, Binghamton, etc. Having Shabbos House available for Kosher food whenever the going gets tough, or just a shmooze with Rabbi Mendel when you’re not feeling just right is already a reason to put Albany on the top 10 schools list 🙂
I am sure many would not stay as frum ifwe didnt have them.
i have been to chabad shabbat dinners quiet a lot. the fact the the student was taken drunk does not mean he got drunk
the chabad house.
many a times i have witnessed students arriving drunk from other parties, and then say small lechaim and it puts them over the top.
keep in mind some chabad houses can have 100’s of students and it is being run the the shliach at the table, and his wife in the kitchen serving. with 100’s of kids its not practical to monitor who comes in sober and who comes in drunk. i did not see anywhere at the article written that the student arrived sober and got drunk
chabad.
Lastly, if someone really WANTs to get drunk, they will find a way, also, chabad houses are an awsome atmosphere, and you dont atract students to come becuase of booze, they comes because they want something real, and warm, and a homey place to go to, hence the massive success chabad on campus is having.
Mendle Rubin, sat at my table in Yeshiva he is a tzadik, he is a great leader and a person who has great ahavas yisroel, and the kids coming to his shabbat dinner are coming for what he has to teach and inspire, not for the booze.
Rebbe Reb Elimelech wrote in Sefer Noam Elimelech that drunkeness is Klipah Nogah and must be avoided completely. Matisyahu quit Chabad over his Rebbe’s drunken addiction and his path toward alcoholism. I personally was beaten by a drunken Chabad Rabbi because I answered with my mesorah of “L’Chaim Tovim u’ Shalom” rather than “L’Chaim L’Brucha” to his L’Chaim. It is about time Chabad address its alcohol problem with its Shluchim. Something has got to be done. This is not a one time thing.