Rabbinic delegation meets with Rubashkin

By Ben Harris · January 14, 2009

NEW YORK (JTA) -- A delegation of Orthodox rabbis met with jailed Agriprocessors official Sholom Rubashkin.

The delegation -- which included representatives of the Orthodox Union, the Rabbinical Council of America, the National Council of Young Israel, Agudath Israel of America and Chabad-Lubavitch -- met Rubashkin on Monday at the Dubuque County Jail in Iowa, where he is being held until trial.

A federal magistrate judge declined to release Rubashkin on bail after ruling last month that he posed a flight risk. The decision has prompted protest letters from several national Jewish groups concerned that prosecutors had based their argument against bail in part on Israel's Law of Return, which guarantees Israeli citizenship to all Jews.

Rubashkin is facing a range of charges related to his management of the Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking plant in Postville.

Rabbi David Zwiebel, Agudah's executive vice president for government and public affairs, told JTA the purpose of the visit was to offer Rubashkin support and to generate some publicity for the organization's effort to persuade the Department of Justice to institute a policy against U.S. attorneys invoking the Law of Return in bail hearings for Jewish defendants.

Agudah, along with the Anti-Defamation League and the Orthodox Union, have sent letters to outgoing U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey claiming that the prosecution's argument is a danger to American Jews. The groups have not adopted a position on Rubashkin's guilt or innocence. The Department of Justice has not yet responded to the letters.

Participants in the meeting said Rubashkin, who was dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, was in high spirits but was upset about the lack of access to his family, particularly his autistic son. Rubashkin expressed confidence that he would be exonerated when the case finally comes to trial in September.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Rubashkin led the group in prayer.

“I have to tell you, it was one of the most moving experiences I've had in some time,” Zwiebel said of the prayer service.
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Maskil

01/27/09 04:21 AM

I should be used to it, but I still find myself shocked by the actions of these august bodies, one of which recently condemned Rabbi Haskel Lookstein’s participation in the interfaith service with President Barack Obama.

So, on the one hand, it’s not OK to take part in something that enhances the reputation of Judaism.

On the other hand, however, it’s OK for an entire delegation of Orthodox rabbis to meet with jailed Agriprocessors’ CEO Sholom Rubashkin. A delegation that “included representatives of the Orthodox Union, the Rabbinical Council of America, the National Council of Young Israel, Agudath Israel of America and Chabad-Lubavitch”.

To observers out there, Rubashkin and Bernard Madoff appear to be vying with one another for the prize of “who has done the most damage to Jews and Judaism in 2008”. Despite this, however, we are treated to the unseemly sight of the entire pecking order of ultra-Orthodoxy in America prostrating themselves before Rubashkin. Surely he should be entitled to chaplaincy visits and nothing more?

According to the JTA article, however, the delegation was there “to offer Rubashkin support”. Is it the normal practice of these organisations to “offer support” to Jews within the prison system? Or does this only apply to so-called observant Jews? Perhaps only moneyed observant Jews?

The article goes on to say that “At the conclusion of the meeting, Rubashkin led the group in prayer.” It also quoted Rabbi David Zwiebel as saying “I have to tell you, it was one of the most moving experiences I’ve had in some time,” referring to the prayer service. A moving experience? Don’t make me puke, please. Taking gifts to an orphanage would be a moving experience, not this.

I don’t really care anymore that they bring Orthodoxy into disrepute by their actions; I doubt that they could bring its name any lower than it already is.

I do care, however, that their words and deeds reflect on Jews everywhere and Judaism as a whole in the eyes of the world. I do care that this fawning behaviour towards someone accused of offences that mock the very meaning and essence of Judaism affects us all. It tells both Jews and non-Jews all they need to know about the moral and ethical standards of Judaism in this age.

This is the answer they give to the questions “Why be Jewish?”, and “What is Judaism all about?” Do they really believe that the world, and those in search of answers within our own tradition haven’t noticed, and drawn their own conclusions?

My digital stream here: http://stream.maskil.info/

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