Jews Who Commit Crimes Should Not Go To Prison -

Rally for Eliyahu Ezagui, convicted of a mortgage fraud that scammed fellow Chabadniks, led by leading member of Sholom Rubashkin's legal defense fund. Donations to help Ezagui, said Rabbi Shea Hecht, are tax deductible. No anti-crime statements were made.

Rabbi Schwei, a judge on the Crown Heights beit din (Jewish religious court), noted that the (late) Rebbe was opposed to Jews serving prison time even if rightfully convicted of crimes. (The Crown Heights Beis din was implicated in witness tampering last year.)

Rabbis also condemned mesira – informing secular authorities like the police of crimes committed by other Jews.

A representative of Chabad's prison missionary arm, the Aleph Institute, also argued that prison is not a place where a Jew should be, even if convicted of a crime.

All speakers called money donated to Ezagui's legal defense fund pidyon shevuyim, redeeming captives. This is a special category of Jewish law that is more important than simple charity.

No one made an anti-crime statement or called for anti-crime education in Chaabd schools, and Ezagui – and Rubashkin, who was mentioned often – were not in any way reprimanded for the crimes they committed and were convicted of.

Contributions to convicted felon Ezagui's legal defense fund made to the Crown Heights Community Council – a Chabad-controlled, government funded agency – are tax deductible, Rabbi Shea Hecht said, as he urged Lubavitchers to donate at a gathering where it was very clear Lubavitchers believe they are above American law.

The best (and, I thought, least offensive) speech was given by Getzel Rubashkin, the oldest son of Sholom Rubashkin. Getzel focused primarily on the human cost to families when a parent goes to prison.

Watch the entire rally.

Download the entire video. (WARNING! This is a very large file, over 200 mgs.)

Courtosy of Failedmessiah.com