By Mordy Kaplinsky

As a general rule, I prefer to remain out of the spotlight. However, recent events have compelled me to step forward. Since my name is already out there, I felt it was important to share my perspective on community service in the Shchuna.

Growing up in Crown Heights, many of us looked with envy at other Brooklyn Jewish communities. They seemed able to secure meaningful resources and benefits from the city, while Crown Heights often struggled to gain access to anything of comparable significance. There are many reasons for this, but I’ll leave that discussion to the historians among us.

As our community grew, so did its needs. Many dedicated and selfless individuals stepped forward as independent Askanim to address the gaps that became increasingly apparent. Yet despite their efforts, the need for a more unified and representative communal structure still remained. Eventually, a crisis emerged that disgraced our community, and our community through the Netzigim responded by finally creating new elections for a renewed, fresh-blooded, and unified Vaad HaKohol through the CHJCC.

While many spoke passionately about the glaring need for change, few were prepared to actually put themselves forward for this position and be willing to do the difficult work required. It seemed that the status quo would continue until a group of younger community members decided to step up and volunteer to take on this great communal responsibility, and begin rebuilding our communal infrastructure.

The hope then—as it remains today—was that new leadership with new thinking and capabilities would enter the arena and begin the work of representing, rebuilding, and integrating our diverse and growing community.

I happened to know one of those individuals, and we began discussing the community’s needs and how best to address them. As our conversations continued, I was asked whether I would be willing to help. Thus began an eye-opening journey.

Since then, I have worked to bring together the various organizations and stakeholders within our community, encouraging them to speak with one unified voice so that our collective strength translates into tangible benefits for all residents. Unfortunately, those efforts have not achieved the success I had hoped for, and that has brought us to the crossroads we face today.

Throughout this process, I have been deeply disappointed by the lack of respect shown to this elected body by various official channels, and in some instances, it has been actively undermined; in others, simply ignored. In my view, this is not merely disrespectful to the Vaad HaKohol—it is disrespectful to the community that elected them. Moreover, by constantly having to move cautiously – so as not to offend anyone, they are inevitably forced to temper their actions. There is no justifiable reason to disregard or undermine decisions made by the only body elected directly by the members of our community.

The Vaad HaKohol is not perfect. No institution is. But it is rapidly becoming and has the potential to become something truly meaningful and amazing if we give it the opportunity and support it in reaching its full potential. There is already a framework for local representation through the Netzigim and the various shuls and communities they represent. While that framework must continue to evolve and expand to reflect the full breadth of our ever-growing community, it provides an important foundation upon which to build.

I continue to urge all elements of leadership within Crown Heights to unite and work together. Anyone who finds themselves in a position of communal leadership must be willing to place the interests of the broader community above personal preferences or institutional interests. For better or worse, elections create legitimacy and confer a communal mandate. Those who seek a different direction are welcome to run, campaign, and make their case to the voters during the next election cycle.

If organizations or leaders choose to ignore the will of the community and continue acting independently of the body elected to represent it, residents of the Kehilla will ultimately vote with their actions—and those leaders will have no one to blame but themselves.

Most importantly, I urge each and every one of you to go out and vote the full slate of candidates recommended by CH PAC, participate, and be counted. Show the world the power of unity for which our community is known and of which we are so proud.

Together, we can continue building a Crown Heights that reflects our combined values, serves its residents, and is a source of pride for the Rebbe and for generations to come.

We voted for this unified Vaad Hakohol, and now it’s our responsibility as the Kehilla to empower them. You don’t have to agree wholeheartedly with all their decisions, but we do need to follow them. A united voice is what gives them the power and opportunity to serve our great community!

Help us make Crown Heights a community the Rebbe would be proud of!