As the dust starts to clear and the incredible details of Sholom Rubashkin’s release come into focus, it is important to address some items of business which people should be aware of and take stock.

1- First of all, it should go without saying, that no matter your political persuasion, if you call yourself an Orthodox Jew and actually care about fellow Jews, we can all agree that thanking President Donald Trump for commuting the incredibly harsh prison sentence of Mr Rubashkin was the right thing to do. It would be appropriate and beneficial for people to write letters of thanks to the President or call the White House switch board (202-456-1111) and show Hakoras Hatov for his actions.

2- People should really study the list of elected officials who signed letters of support for Rubashkin and thank them. This includes both Democrats and Republicans. While many people have a difference of political opinion, ultimately those elected officials that stood forward for one of our own (especially Democrats) when it really counted, deserve thanks and public recognition.

‎3- Which leads us to an uncomfortable conversation. While reviewing the list of many electeds and legal luminaries who lent their name and reputation to the Rubashkin effort, we can’t help but wonder aloud, where New York’s senior Senator was on this. The silence of Chuck Schumer was once again deafening. This is the very same Senator who proudly calls himself the “(Schumer) Shomer Yisroel” at every dinner, breakfast and community wide event. [VIDEO BELOW] Not only is he the highest ranking Democrat in the country but he a JEWISH Democrat from our community.

Why was there bi-partisan support from Senator Orrin Hatch [R-Utah] and House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi [D-California], of all people, but not a word from our local “Shomer Yisroel?” This is hardly the first time Mr. Schumer has been missing in action. Not long ago, the community was united in advocating clemency for Jonathan Pollard. Schumer was absent then too. While on this sore topic, Senator Kirsten Gilibrand [D-New York] is equally deserving of public scorn for her complete lack of interest in the growing Orthodox community, both in general and here in the Rubashkin matter. It’s high time our elected politicians are held accountable. Call them and respectfully tell them this is unacceptable.

‎If anything was learned from this saga, it’s that the value of our communal Askonim and Klal organizations play an integral role in advocating and protecting our community at all levels of government. Ultimately though, their strengths and abilities come from us, the people. So make your voice heard loud and clear now and on election day. Thank the President. Thank your local elected officials. And next time you see Mr. Schumer, respectfully let him know how disappointed you are with him. As for Senator Gilibrand, good luck finding her anywhere.

Watch the video below to send the point home.

***Current Members of Congress Who Have Expressed Support For Review of Mr. Rubashkins Case — Click here for their contact info to thank them***

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Representative Mike Coffman (R-CO), Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY), Representative Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Representative Steve King (R-IA), Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Representative Richard Neal (D-MA), Representative Tom McClintock (R-CA), Representative Tom Marino (R-PA), Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Representative Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Representative Ted Poe (R-TX), Representative Jared Polis (D-CO), Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL), Representative Tom Reed (R-NY), Representative Tom Rooney (R-FL), Representative John Sarbanes (D-MD), Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA), Representative Albio Sires (D-NJ), Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), Representative Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Representative John Faso (R-NY).

***See the attached document containing letters from politicians and noted legal authorities regarding the Rubashkin case***

Yaakov Borenstein – Flatbush

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