New York – From Monsey To Brooklyn, Rubashkin Greeted By Thousands On Street In Joyous Celebrations

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    Thousands welcome Rubashkin at his home in Monsey as he boards a bus going to Brooklyn. (Shimon Gifter/VINnews.com)New York – Just hours after word broke that President Donald Trump had commuted his sentence, Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin received a hero’s welcome at his family home in the New Hempstead section of Monsey.

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    Thousands took to the streets in Brooklyn and revelers packed Lubavitch world headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, where cases of Smirnoff were rolled in to celebrate the good news, an unexpected gift from the White House that came in the final moments of Chanukah.

    But the level of joy in Monsey was off the charts as throngs of people packed the two block long South Gate Drive where the Rubashkin family has been living for the last several years in order to be the first to greet the 57 year old after his release from the federal penitentiary in Otisville.

    Police blocked off streets in all directions to accommodate the sudden influx of cars to the area, with some drivers abandoning their vehicles and walking because traffic had come to a complete standstill.

    Photographer Shimon Gifter was the first member of the media to speak with Rubashkin after his release in an exclusive VIN news interview that took place aboard a coach bus as he prepared to leave Monsey for a trip to Brooklyn to visit his parents in Borough Park, Lubavitch world headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway and the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Ohel in Queens.

    Free of Otisville and its orange prison garb and surrounded by family members including some grandchildren that he had never met, Rubashkin was dressed in a black jacket, pants and hat and a white shirt as he spoke about the importance of being “b’simcha” at all times.

    Asked what message he would like to send to President Trump, Rubashkin said that he prays for Trump every day.

    “G-d should bless him and the United States of America,” added Rubashkin.
    Thousands erupt in celebration in Crown Heights after learning of the news. (Shimon Gifter/VINnews.com)
    Rubashkin said that it was just before 4:30 PM when events began to unfold.

    “I was eating seudas Zos Chanukah, that the Aybishter should make a nes and the Aybishter made a nes,” said Rubashkin. “They told me to leave the cell and they didn’t tell me anything. And they took me to a different building and that was when they told me that the president had assigned clemency.”

    Even guards at the prison were taken aback, according to Rubashkin.

    “The guards, some were very surprised,” said Rubashkin. “Others were very, very happy.

    “Thank G-d people like me and I never got into any trouble,” said Rubashkin before bursting into a smile and a heartfelt laugh.

    Rubashkin said that he feels that prayers and the unity displayed as members of every segment of the Jewish community worked together on his behalf played a role in his release.

    “It shows you what ahavas Yisroel can do, that’s what I’m thinking” said Rubashkin. “With ahavas yisroel, we all unite and we find that we are all brothers. We love each other. We ask Hashem, our father, to help us and he helps us.”

    New Hempstead resident Leah Aaron was one of several hundred people crowded onto South Gate Drive when Rubashkin arrived home. Rabbi Meshulem Nussen Spiegel of the nearby Beis Medrash Tefila L’Moshe was standing at the door of the Rubashkin home dressed in his spodek and his yom tov finery.

    “He made a booming Shehechiyanu and everyone said ‘amein’ and the crowd just started singing and dancing,” said Aaron.

    One of the younger Rubashkin children could be seen at an upstairs window looking out at the crowd while Mrs. Leah Rubashkin stood at the front door with her husband.

    “He spoke and said he never let go of the sefer Shaarei Bitachon,” said Aaron. “He always had it with him and when he got out he still managed to hold onto that sefer.”

    Aaron noted that while many who are released from a lengthy prison ordeal appear haggard and defeated, Rubashkin was beaming.

    “He had a glow and was talking to the people there,” said Aaron. “The emotions were incredible. You saw tears in people’s eyes, people just standing there taking it in. It was freezing but no one wanted to move.”

    Another bystander who spoke on condition of anonymity described the atmosphere as euphoric and noted that within just one week, President Trump performed two powerful actions to validate the Jewish people. A statement issued tonight by Agudath Israel of America echoed those sentiments, expressing appreciation to President Trump for today’s action.

    “The president deserves to be thanked and congratulated, not only by Mr. Rubashkin’s family and friends, but all who care about fairness and justice,” read the statement.

    A song written by Yossi Green in honor of Rubashkin and others in prison went viral. Green explained that he had written the song several months ago at the request of the Munkatcher Rov who asked him to use the words ‘motzi asirim u’fode anavim.’

    Green said that this was the 54th song he had written for the Munkatcher Rebbe who usually keeps the songs private.

    “Last night, for some reason, by the eighth lecht of Chanukah he pulled out this song and they sang it for hours,” said Green, who released the song publicly tonight, with the permission of the Munkatcher Rebbe, in honor of Rubashkin’s release.
    Thousands greet Rubashkin on the streets in Borough Park as he exits the Bus. (Eli Wohl/VINnews.com)
    As hundreds gathered in Lakewood to sing and dance in celebration, thousands thronged to 15th Avenue and 55th Street to the brick home where Rubashkin went to greet his parents. It was a sea of black all around, with numerous police cruisers present to control the massive crowds who spilled into the streets and found spots on fire escapes and on porches in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the man whose release they had been praying for for years.

    After singing with the many well wishers, Rubashkin asked those gathered on the street to say “Shema Yisroel” with him before addressing the crowd in Yiddish, offering brachos and emphasizing ahavas yisroel as the key to bringing the ultimate redemption.
    Rubashkin greeting his grandkids in Monsey for the first time after being released from prison. (Shimon Gifter/VINnews.com)
    Inside the house, it was an emotional moment as Rubashkin was reunited with his parents as a free man. There were joyous screams as he hugged and kissed his mother who was seated at a table surrounded by women, with onlookers bursting into spontaneous song, and another tearful exchange as Rubashkin embraced his father Aaron. Visitors jammed into every available square inch to share in the long-awaited moment, where Rubashkin recited Shema out loud for the second time.

    Despite the late hour, Rubashkin appeared energetic as he once again boarded the bus that had been hired for the night, traveling to 770 where he was met by thousands more jubilant and frenzied supporters.

    Live music and dancing echoed throughout Lubavitch world headquarters, as people did their best to get near a beaming Rubashkin, who was carried through the crowd on the shoulders of one man, shaking hands with the many individuals who came to wish him mazel tov.

    Rubashkin spoke enthusiastically in a mix of English and Yiddish, thanking President Trump for commuting his sentence, describing him as a messenger of G-d.

    After leaving 770, Rubashkin and his wife Leah made a pre-dawn visit to the Ohel of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Cambria Heights, leaving kvittlach and davening at the Rebbe’s tzion.
    Solom Rubashkin at the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Ohel in Queens, NY.

    Video below Credit: Shmuel and Dov Lenchevsky


    Photo below in Borough Park credit: Eli Wohl.
    {NewsPhotosEmbed 766584320}

    Photos below in Crown Heights credit: CrownHeights.info
    {NewsPhotosEmbed 181262555}


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    81 Comments
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    kfood
    Member
    kfood
    6 years ago

    I’m pleased that this travesty of a sentence is over however why are we treating him as a hero? He made a massive chillul hashem by perpetrating bank fraud. wouldn’t it be a bigger kiddush Hashem if he thanked the president and reminded the frum yidden to be honest in business? He was not innocent, just got an unfair sentence.

    Yochie
    Yochie
    6 years ago

    He’s a hero, because he suffered for Klal Yisroel. Because he’s a Jew. OK? The dangerous ‘crime’ he committed would have gone unnoticed, he would have been able to pay every last cent, had not the Fed sought his blood – all in the name of ‘Justice’. OK? They (SHE) was after his BLOOD, cause he’s a Jew. Plain and simple. OK? Educate yourself with the facts of the case….

    And now I hope he can sue that ‘judge’ off her pants… she the feds, prosecutors and the state – FOR WILLINGLY AND KNOWINGLY COMMITTING THEIR CRIMES, which are only coming to light now, slowly…. And so much more now will be revealed of those who could have helped…. now that his case is no more in jeopardy. YOUR HAIR WILL STAND AS THESE FACTS COME PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE!!!!

    hashomer
    hashomer
    6 years ago

    A great hero. Found guity on 86 counts of fraud, money laundering, mail fraud, child labor, hiring illegal immigrants, cited for animal cruelty, environmental pollution, etc. A real mensch. Maybe a tickertape parade on 13th Avenue?

    6 years ago

    Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. I guess, #1 , you are perfect. the rest of the entire world is not. I feel sad for you that you cannot partake with a whole heart, the overwhelming joy and gratitude to Hashem that the rest of us are feeling.
    the unity desplayed last night should have brought Moshiach, but sadly, he still hasnt come. We wont let you ruin our moment. Chasdei Hashem

    770LeHoir
    770LeHoir
    6 years ago

    To “hashomer” at the gates of sitra achra I suppose.. – stop spreading vicious lies!! think of your neshama if another Yid and hist family is not a concern for you. The “86” counts of fraud were a complete set-up by the corrupt judge, DA and the feds – colluding and scheming from beginning to the bitter end. His whole giant “crime” amounted to overstating income on some loan applications which the bank new about and was more than happy to oblige. All these other trumped up charges you listed either never happened or he was acquitted and exonerated of them completely. “Found guilty” of … “child labor”?! – a bold-faced lie.

    triumphinwhitehouse
    triumphinwhitehouse
    6 years ago

    hashomer is a just a liberal Soros funded troll still wishing the corrupt Hillary won. Rubashkin is not a saint and yes he DID commit some crimes and yes he should’ve serve SOME time but over a quarter century was given to him ONLY bec. he was a Jew. the Kenyan freed a terrorist who killed a police officer, hundreds of gangsters and drug dealers and a spy that did worse than Snowden all bec. he/she became transgender. Trump is better than any Jew in the Senate like Schumer.

    6 years ago

    To #7 - Idiot! Rubashkin was acquitted of hiring illegal aliens and child labor, during his first trial!

    stamm
    stamm
    6 years ago

    So many details of injustice, banks didn’t care. Judge was part of the raid and persecution, please, so many lies, underage kids were his own kids found helping out,,the prosecutors were inhumane to these mexicans shipping them of in cattle cars
    Well who needs to give proof tnt there was a great injustice done here when u c the simcha of thousands and thousands of yidden, bh bh great achdus

    qazxc
    qazxc
    6 years ago

    BH he was released and back with his family but the public celebrations did is a disservice.

    kopmaidel
    kopmaidel
    6 years ago

    For all you naysayers and those that think that Rubashkin was a criminal, get your facts straight:
    1. He UNKNOWINGLY hired illegal workers. They all presented him with ss numbers etc, if he would have asked to prove they were legal he would have been accused of DISCRIMINATION.
    2. Hence, his plant was raided by ICE and all those illegals who worked for him lying on their applications about their legal status and age, were arrested.
    3. Now he was left scrambling to keep his meat plant afloat and needed to take out more money from the bank than usual. The bank knew what was going on and they didn’t care that he inflated the amounts. They were interested in giving him the loan.
    4. Now the government sees their opportunity and pounces in and accuses him of bank fraud.
    5. Also since some others in the plant ran, fearing arrest, when they did arrest him they kept him in jail and would not release him even though no trial took place as of yet.
    6. Besides all this, the judge who took on his case, was also the judge who arranged the raid on the immigrants and also pre-planned options for all the illegal immigrants on how to plead. Her husband by the way had stock in companies that owned

    stamm
    stamm
    6 years ago

    Nice,educated archy, thanks!
    Maybe its a waste of time reacting to a handful of losers

    kopmaidel
    kopmaidel
    6 years ago

    continues:
    ..her husband owned stock in the companies that owned the prisons that these immigrants were being held.
    there is a lot more, but this is a short timeline to understand what really happened and why he did not deserve to be in jail and definitely not for the rest of his life!!!

    He was also known for being a huge baal chessed, giving tons of tzedakah and helping people. He also brought glatt kosher meat to many far out communities in the USA for affordable prices, making it possible for Jews (not just in big city hubs) to keep kosher.
    Unfortunately between the anti-semites who live in Iowa, the PETA who will go after anyone they could and the Unions who were upset that he didn’t hire union workers, his name was falsely shmeared.

    Buchwalter
    Buchwalter
    6 years ago

    this page reveals the immensity of Hitler ymsh chorbin. Trump is a tzaddik, Rubashkin is a hero, unbelievable and teh issue is conservatives versus liberals. It is erlicher yidden versus not erliche yidden, it is shmutz on tzadikkim, it the depth of ignorance. All this posted by young frum Jews, unbelievable who deep we have fallen.

    stamm
    stamm
    6 years ago

    and there was or is a meatpacking company just down the road who got frightened and wanted to send away their illegals, however they were calmed down and were told , no they arent after you
    there ae so many details staring in the eye, he was paying back his loan on time every single penny was being paid back as long as he was running the plant,

    SandraM
    SandraM
    6 years ago

    The Chillul Hashem is that so many Jews chose to believe total lies about Rubashkin. At the end, it was very clear, that because they could find no evidence of wrong doing, they found a loan on which assets were exaggerated. They prettied it up to make it look worse. 80 counts of repeating the same 1 mistake to make it sound so bad.

    The sad part of it is that how many Jews wont give Rubashkin the benefit of the doubt that they would give themselves, and jump on any lie and exaggeration of wrongdoing with glee. Its quite sick and evil, actually.

    Once that $50 million dollar raid was made, the FBI had to justify it, so they did.

    Who was it that said: If the FBI wants, they can indict a ham sandwich.

    Indeed.

    The fools who dont fight for justice in this case, will find themselves living in a country they can no longer justify living in.

    Anyone who knows the truth of what went down, spoke out against it. 6 attorney generals, hundreds of attorneys and prosecutors, congresspeople and senators. They werent doing it for Rubashkin. They were doing it because what happened to Rubashkin was unAmerican and a danger to the very freedom and rights of every citizen in this country.

    triumphinwhitehouse
    triumphinwhitehouse
    6 years ago

    can all those that same motzi shem ra against our ohev Yisroel finally acknowledge that he is a tzadik?

    6 years ago

    To #41 - Check Wipikedia; Rusbashkin was ACQUITTED of violating child labor laws, at his first trial. Make sure you have your facts correct, before expounding your unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations.

    savtat
    savtat
    6 years ago

    Some have said he messed with the local unions. He brought in outside labor and that set the stage for vengeance. Very glad he can be home with his family.

    6 years ago

    So I’m commenter # 77. To all those who keep saying that Rubashkin is a criminal for doing white collar crimes. Lets say you are right he did a crime for that you get locked up for 27 years? I’ll give you an example In NY it is well known that the police wont usually pull you over for 5- 10 miles over the speed limit. However if you have an accident and someone is hurt they’ll throw the book at you if you went one mile over. Rubashkin did what many others do and the banks turn a blind eye, but if you get caught they will throw the book at you, In this case the punishment did not fit the crime.

    Buchwalter
    Buchwalter
    6 years ago

    i wish i COULD forward this entire page to an antisemitic newspaper they would have a ball how one Jew insults another, Lubavichter ignorance

    yonasonw
    Member
    yonasonw
    6 years ago

    Rubashkin…The Jewish OJ