Lakewood, NJ – Thousands of people attended the rally to protest the conviction of Sholom Rubashkin, the former manager of a kosher slaughterhouse in Iowa who was sentenced to 27 years in prison last month in a fraud case that drew national attention.
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The crowd at the Lake Terrace Hall on Oak Street in the industrial park spilled into the parking lot of where video monitors and speakers were set up.
The protest came about three weeks after lawyers for Rubashkin appealed his conviction. Similar rallies have been held in Brooklyn.
Asked why he cared about meat-packing manager from Iowa, Dovid Amsel, 18, of Lakewood said “He is a fellow Jew. I feel for him.”
Top rabbis from Beth Medrash Govoha here attended, including Rabbi Aryeh Kotler, who addressed the rally.
Supporters have decried the prosecution of Rubashkin as overzealous, and that the sentence was far too harsh for a first-time offender.
Video credit: Thelakewoodscoop.com
oh lakewood just woke up i forgot its bitul torah >>>
what is the point of a rally in some hall in Lakewood when the episode is going down in Iowa? Who is Aryeh Kotler?
what exactly is the point in these rallies. When Rav Aaron Kotler and Rav Eliezer Silver zichronim levrocho had an issue with the Federal Govt. (WWII), they took it straight to the Federal Govt- – – – -on the steps of the US Capital. They did not sit in Brooklyn, Lakewood and Cincinnati. These rallies in BP and Lakewood are ineffective and just sets up a forum for publicity hounds.
finnlay we are starting to come to our senses lets protest like we did in isreal lets come up to washington ot to iawa with 200,000 people it will be an outcry like never before why are we sleeping we are all ready to go
is rabbi aryeh the same name as rav malkiel, the rosh hayeshiva??
As I am personally involved with the whole case, I just want to let everyone know that it is extremely important for everyone to attend tonight, there hopefully will be some sort of media coverage, and it could be a very big lift of momentum for the rubashkin family and appeals team, so please do what ever you can to come out and attend tonight’s asifa!
There are so many bigger tzaros in the velt than a criminal getting a more than deserved punishment. Let’s focus our tfilos on yidden who need a refuah or parnasah instead of yidden who want a shorter jail term.
I’m on the board of this rally, it’s not a demonstration, it’s soley a fundraiser. where does steps of citi hall come in here.
Ben Brafman- what does Ben say to do? who is in touch with Ben? he certainly knows the legal system. let’s ask the law “gedolim” what to do!! tehillim rallies plus………
Hope this helps.
BG to a batlon #1
By the way that’s where all the real battles are won (when iden learn Torah)
And not when some clauns who don’t believe in koach of Torah make fun of those who do learn
make no mistake . this rally and the pa t rallies are making things worse for the future of smr and all of us yiddin. this rally is nothing more then a terrible chillul shym shamayim befarhesia
Go menashe go
to # 7 you should be ashamed of yorself to even think like that you need to do lots of Teshuvah
I hope they be davening for other shvuyim, such as Jonathan Pollard and Gilad Shalit, as well
is tonight’s rally for women also?
(reply to #7 ) i wanna inform you…There is a גמרא saying that ALL צרות is coming because מחלקות ,so TRULY unfortunately there is bigger problems jews have ליידער ,but if we’ll show once and 4all real אחדות ,hopefully all other צרות will disappear.so Mr. 7 make all the efforts to come TONIGHT…מי שאמר לעולמו די יאמר לצרתינו די אמן
B”h, aside from Shaul, whose response is predictable, klal yisroel as a whole has come in great numbers to support this worthy cause. Six former attorney generals, who have read the guidelines, have publicly declared judge Reade’s verdict as harsh, and so I will make it my business to join tonights rally and support this worthy cause.
I know what I’m talking about when I say that this is a great event. Say what you want about me ot anyone else who supports SMR, this is very critical, notwithstanding all the criticisms being heaped upon anyone who dares to disagree. That’s my story, and I’m sticking with it, even at the expense of sounding like I haven’t a clue!
There should be a rally to protest the existence of Lakewood.
Reply to # 7. U look over smart but torah what we follow says that even he is criminal (not talking on dangerous people) its the biggest mitzvah to help him pidyan shviyim and of course here that he is totally innocent just our great government pushed him in this problem. I believe if they need you they will get you. Don’t be such a wise guy
I am a Chabad chossid and all i have to say is thank you Lakewood!
where is chabad all this time why are they not making any asifos and lakewood already made 2 asifos?
Why has there not been a rally of this magnitude in Crown Heights?? Shouldn’t they be taking the lead on saving Mr. Rubashkin?
It is encouraging to see how many thousands of people in monsey, boro park, new square and lakewood are able to think on their own and are not tainted by the shauls of monsey and their likes.
I was just at the event. There were over 5,000 people there. It took me an hour to arrive because of traffic! AND THIS IS IN LAKEWOOD THE BIGGEST “HATERS” OF LUBAVITCH! 5000 people spent hours of time for the sake of another yid, solely because he is another yid in need! We should always have such aches!
There was no evidence that SMR knew they were illegals, and a jury never addressed it (in SMRs case)
Did you ever learn the halachos of pidyon shvuyin. Please learn, than talk!
Firstly Alan Dershowitz (who is not an AG) mentioned that the guidelines (which he hekped developed with the legislature) were misapplied.
Judge reade released a document noting how she applied the guidelines. All that is not the issue. The issue is that she is not impartial as she was involved with the planning of the raid and other preparations which in hebrew we call Nogeah Bedavar.
Number 2 the method in which she calculated the banks loss is very questionable. Firstly the bank profited 21 million dollars on the loan and that is no where is her claculations. Many legal experts say it ought to be. Secondly, there were buyers that wanted to buy it for way over 20 million, and the trustee refused, as they (potential buyer) wanted to be able to consult with a Rubashkin family member (others that were totally innocent) and were told that they would not be able to. Most legal minds that I have consulted mentioned that there is no legal precedence for that guideline. Another questionable piece is that she also stuck on a number of years for perjury, lying under oath.
With all the above concidered, maybe she stuck to the guidelines, but her numbers were very fudged.
Need I say more.
The issue is not SMR harsh sentence; by all measures it is unjust to incarcerate a person for 27 years because he committed fraud. But instated of just crying now, because SMR is the defendant and he is Jewish, that is what is wrong with our community. What would it take to instill a dose of common sense, to the leadership, and the community at large? Every month hundreds, if not thousands of people, are given the same draconian sentences, for economic crimes, and where is the Jewish community, in bed with the law and order types. How many of you even know the story of a young man in CA, who got convicted for stealing a *slice of Pizza* under the 3 strike and you are out law, and he received life without parole. The fact is that the judge gave SMR what was legal under the current guidelines; we need to fight to change the guidelines. Protesting not only will not help but if SMR had ever a prospect to get a pardon, will be harder to accomplish, the same is what happens with any high profile case. Finally, if you don’t know the facts of the case stop making up facts. Most of you write incoherently, and expose yourself as an idiot.
what a evening of kidush Hashem I have never in my life seen such a turn out traffic was backed up evrey where pine steet New Hampshire was backed up till route 88
Why was defense of Rubaskhin so stupid and did they have his best interest at heart? Why was he advised to reject the 7-8 years deal? Why no one, except may be Shaul, points out that it is much easier and much more likely to succeed, to challenge guidelines and laws? Why no one has a problem with the USA “inmate industry” do you know what is their business volume? You may say that most victims are not jewish, but we are supposed to care for everyone. Who were and are the people who want the blood of SMR? Yes i know about the peta nazi, i curse them every day (i am a vegetarian BTW) but there are not very many people interested in the kosher meat marketing niche, especially now that Muslims have their own halal slaughterhouses and given the choice they will avoid jewish meat. Is it very far-fetched to say that there have been jews that wanted the blood of SMR and then it got out of control? #7 you think those people are more respectable than SMR?
To be honest, if Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin needs to be sacrificed to preserve sentencing laws that keep our streets safe and Ponzi scammers behind bars, then I am sorry, but such is life.
All of you, who have hatred in your hearts! when a yid is in trouble wheather guilty or not hashem wants every jew to be mispalel. By the way, Monroe N.Y. (satmar??) yes satmar! was one of the first communities to come up with a huge fund raising event for Mr. Rubashkin!!!
if these residents of Lakewood were allowed to watch T.v., there would have been maybe 5 people at the demonstration. In other words it was a nite out with the boys.. I noted that the speech included that the he S.R. was jailed as he was mean to animals, the truth is that he was jailed because he was convicted of being a thief. Y cant our leaders tell the truth instead of these lies. Is this what we want to teach our kids.
can someone explain where the money is that he made all these years? he must be a very wealthy man. can you honestly say that all! his money from this huge business is gone? you don’t think he has anything stowed away? that would be really stupid.
This was a tremendous kiddush hashem as we have come together with much achdus to support a yid that has been wronged. However,
I am just wondering if we are giving our kids the wrong message by supporting a criminal. I know his term should not be 27 years but lemaysa he commited a crime. Why not the same outcry for others who are in tzar?
27 years in jail for not being poitically correct. SEIU the obama union is behind the raid. They want to unionize his factory yet eric holder lets the black panther off even with creating voter fraud. Why is he sitting and they got the case CLOSED. Not even a judgement case close. obama is done more in his short term then even the peanut farmer did in 4 years. We must change congress and the senate and get some justice again in America. This was a show trial with an out of control “Judge”
I was there it was a precious maamad. I also donated money, but some things bother me very much I will vent here.
1) Gilad Shalit is in far worse shape than SMR, he also isn’t guilty of the slightest crime. Why have the chareidi community ignored his plight, his captivity, is on a hair of life & death daily, his prison denies him contact with anyone he knows. He is a political pawn of the Israeli Government. If we raised big money & made rallies we could get the French Government, or even Palistinian mafia to buy his freedom. Where are our tefilos, money & rallies?
2) The ralley was made like a Government institution of an outdated regime who has no regard for human dignity. There were no buses put on, and traffic control was almost non exsistent, until right B4 the hall.It started very late the speakers went on forever, as if everyone wanted to hear them, The main speaker[ BTW, an aino Yehudi] was on after 12.00, it finished after 1.00 with another traffic jam. How many people missed Shachris this morning, and are not functioning today, do they really think no one in Lakewood has a life & routine that you keep them up all night? The damage will only be knowen by next event.
I mean seriously if Mr. Rubashkinwould have heeded your admonishen prior to his foul up with the law most likely he would have never been cited for a court appearance.
I know many Bochurim over 50, an unmarried person is refered to as a prisoner [Osir, as the famous Midrash says Moitzi Asirim Bakoishorois, referring to the unmarried]. Those bochurim have laready been imprisoned for more than 27 years, they have no nachas from a family, & no sympathy from the Oilam, people do take advantage of them as much as they allow.
You all claim it is their own fault, even if it would be true, it would be with a shev veal taaseh, not a kum vaaseh. Although SMR, has already served the sentance that fits his crime, [ In my opinion, at least], there was a little kum veaseh over there, we must not send a false message, and learn that we as the Am Segulah are law binding citizens.
That said: I am Chas Veshalom not against & all for this campeign. However we must recognize a double standard what have we done & what are we doing, for our so many other prisoners,the singles who we meet and are ignored, and abused on a daily basis.
What about Pollard and Shalit – not one word of support from Lakewood.
Clearly the Moshiach is not ready to arrive with all of this sinas chinum.
I would like to know if Mr Barr and Mr. Lewin are doing pro bono work and if not what the legal fees are?
please lets push for federal parole and guidlines sentencing that makes sense, that will go a long way helping all jewish federal prisioers
The reduction of sentence for a convicted felon has precedence over a cancer stricken family. New torah, new ahavas yisroel and erlichkeit, sad and especially in a Yeshiva. What yosher does this represent?