On May 6, 1997, the plaintiffs, a not-for-profit Corporation and Yaakov Spritzer, filed a complaint against seven named defendants consisting of 167 paragraphs extending over 50 pages and asserting eleven claims as follows:
Yaakov Spritzer – First Amended Verified Complaint a.k.a. Mesira
This went on for several years until the judge dismissed the suit and had this to say in the verdict:
“To characterize the complaint as prolix, replete with hearsay and irrelevancies, would be charitable”.
(Judge Glasser- Final Ruling Against Yankel Spritzer)
History Repeats- Fast Forward 2009:
The Shomrim Lawsuit- Verified Complaint- by Paul Huebner – Hundred forty four million dollars (?)
(Have in mind, the above is not even getting in to the criminal Case, that’s a different story, perhaps for another day). Some Background:
Following the incident at 749 Eastern Parkway where Shomrim members were ambushed and gang assaulted, the Tzfatim went to the police and filed false and trumped up charges against 6 members of Shomrim and had them arrested by the police.
Hours after the incident at 749 Eastern Parkway members of Shmira (1) converged on the scene in search of Tzfatim who would be willing to press the trumped up charges against the Shomrim members. Armed with notepad Yossi Stern took the names of those willing to press the charges then had the Shmira car come over and ferry the Tzfatim to the hospital and then to the precinct.
Two weeks later (2) Shomrim began receiving calls from the detective squad at the 77th precinct informing them that they are to turn themselves in for an arrest based on those charges. Tuesday morning, January 22, ט”ו שבט 6 Shomrim members were arrested.
While under arrest Police Officer Brian Duffy, who was the detective investigating the case, told Shomrim that this was a political arrest and that he would have not seen this as a case in which any arrests would have been made, but due to pressure from various sources within the community they were forced to make the arrests (3).
We have learned that Levi (Paul) Huebner, an individual that lives in the community, and claims to be a lawyer and is an affiliate with Shmira, acted as the attorney, translator and witness for the Tzfatim and was the driving force behind these false charges. When confronted he simply stated that he was hired by the Tzfatim and they each had paid him $500 (3).
A very deep running hatred reared it head in this case when members of Shmira got involved and instigated these Bochurim to go press charges against Shomrim members, the community’s volunteer patrol.
From accounts on the scene, Leib Skoblo (4) who claims to be an auxiliary police office and a coordinator of Shmira walked into 749 and after pulling out a badge he told the sergeant on scene “why don’t you arrest these guys” pointing at Shomrim members.
A coordinator in Shomrim told us “What is really sad here is that we have a group of reckless individuals who’s entire cause of existence is that of hatred and who’s one goal is to attempt and destroy Shomrim” he further added that “these tactics are not new to us or to the police department, last year they had their hand in a botched attempt to have 3 members locked up”
(1) Who were not there when this whole episode happened, they showed up after the whole thing.
(2) That is to say that for two weeks they were using all there כוחות to lock up fellow Jews.
Also to note: that night reports were made only against 4 Shomrim Members , in the course of these two weeks they added more false and trumped up charges.
(3) Who are the various sources within the community that’s putting pressure to get our people locked up? Whos giving the Mishichstim money to pay this so called “Lawyer”?
Answer: The same people that have been מוסרים and destroying this community all these years, they are: Yankel Spritzer, Yankee Herzog, Sandhaus and Chanina Sperlin, and anybody who gives money and sympathizes with these individuals, are also taking part in the מסירה!
(4) Leib Skoblo is a convicted racist.
To make note: Every Shmira “Leader” (Yanki Prager and Yossi Stern) has a criminal record (anybody can get this information).
“Podo Beshalom Nafshi… Anshei Domim Umirma Lo Yechtzu Yemaihem”
Day 20: Final Day of the Shomrim Six Trial
Rabbi Osdoba: “I Never Gave Permission for Messira C”V!”
CH Beis Din Takes Initiative, Calls Bochurim to Din Torah and Issues Psak
Op-Ed: I Was There… Then and Now
Post, Daily News Report on Yesterdays Court Proceedings
Day 3: Opening Arguments, Witness Testifies in Shomrim Trial
Call for Pidyon Shevuyim as Criminal Case against Shomrim Goes to Trial
Day 1: Jury Selection for the Shomrim Trial
VICIOUS MESIRA: Blood Libel Lands Shomrim Member 12 Hours in Prison
Shomrim Members were Gang Assaulted while Settling a Dispute
Machane Menachem 
Please take a moment and say a Kapitel Tehillim for a Yeshua.
Nechemia Shaul Yosef ben Miriam
Schneur Zalman ben Esther Leah
Binyomin ben Dvorah Tzirl
Schneur Gedalia ben Shterna Sara
Chaim Dov ben Shterna Sara
Yehuda Aryeh ben Shterna Sara
Six members of our community who are standing trial today and are facing real jail time.
This is a small part of a big life that the Grandfather of Shnaur, Chaim and Yehuda Hershkop, some of the defendant in this Viscous Blood liable-Mesira.
This the story of Reb Yitzchok Menachem Mendle Lis
A message for all those Mossrim coming after my family again and again, with Mesira after Mesira…
THIS IS WHAT YOUR UP AGAINST!
– 6 –
Years of Imprisonment & Forced Labor
I came to the Yeshiva in Vilna during a good and thriving period. I hoped to quickly become adjusted and get back into my learning. Clearly the Yeshiva had been in a dreadful state for a period of time. However, we tried to continue to carry on with the סדר of the Yeshiva as much as possible. To uplift the situation, one of the older תמימים asked me if my father, HaRav HaChassid Reb Chaim Meir Lis, would come to Vilna as ראש ישיבה.
As I explained in the first chapter, according to the instructions of the Frierdiker Rebbe, my father served as the משפיע in the Yeshiva in Warsaw and the influence he had on the students was well known. His chassidic image was dignified and also well recognized. Since the students knew that my parents were moving about in different places, they suggested that my father come to Vilna. He would serve as ראש ישיבה, and, thus, come by a safe place for himself and his family from the horrors of war.
After considerable thought, I realized that the Yeshiva was, in fact, appropriate for our family and my father would also have an honorable position appropriate for one of his stature. The proposal so captivated me that I decided to fulfill their request and steal back across the border into Russia to bring my father and family to Vilna. I had to go in person since there were no phones or mail. I received a sum of money for the voyage from the faculty of the Yeshiva and only a few days after my arrival at the Yeshiva, I was on my way back to Russia.
I knew that my parents had a plan to leave Matzuv and go toward L’vov. I headed towards that vicinity hoping to find them. Thus, I found myself, once again, trying to cross the border, but this time exactly in the opposite direction. However, the Russian soldiers spotted me and, yet again, I was arrested.
The Russian soldiers put me together with a group of detainees who were being guarded under the watchful eyes of many soldiers. Since this was in no-man’s-land, without a proper prison, they held us somewhere in a bathhouse “אושמנקה מורובנקו”.
We remained here for a few days awaiting a trial. I remember that every night, in the middle of the night, a warden would enter the room and would announce – in other words, he wouldn’t say the name of the prisoner whom he was looking for, he just announced – who is here whose last name begins with “ל’” (for instance). All those with their family name beginning with that letter said their name and when the warden heard the correct name, he would say: “Oh yes. סאביערייש איז וויעשצאמו (gather your stuff and follow me)”. And then he was taken to be interrogated. Obviously this was intended to disturb the other prisoners.
Sunlight did not reach this place. We figured out the time according to the schedule of the food distributions. Breakfast and supper was each at a specific time. When the warden would announce that we had to sleep, we knew what time it was. Besides this, we were obligated to go on an “outing” every day in the yard. Each one of us went out separately with a guard. It was during this time that I managed to daven; that the davening should be done in a clean place.
During one of these excursions, I needed to go to the bathroom. I asked the soldier where to go since there weren’t any bathrooms. He didn’t know what to answer me at first, but then he told me to go into the field and return. I did as he suggested and went out to the open field. Suddenly, I realized that no one was paying attention to me and, in reality, I was free. I was able to go anywhere. I didn’t hesitate more than necessary, and, quickly began to run, trying to distance myself from the ‘prison’ as much as possible.
I covered approximately 2 km when I suddenly remembered that I left my תפילין in the hands of the Russian soldiers. I said to myself: “רבונו של עולם, I don’t have תפילין. How can I continue without תפילין? If I manage to escape, how will I put on תפילין tomorrow?” I felt that I could not continue without my תפילין in my possession and I decided to turn back… what will be, will be.
I had an additional reason for returning: When I had escaped across the border, a frum Jew, with the name Karp, was with me and we were arrested together. I was afraid that after my escape was discovered, the Russians would find Karp guilty of being a collaborator in my disappearance.
I turned back and sat down near the group of detainees. No one noticed that I was gone and no one noticed that I had returned. After some time we were brought to trial and accused of attempting to smuggle ourselves across the border. When I stood on trial, I was declared guilty of being a Polish spy, trying to discover the strength of the Russian army. This was the main charge against me. The Russian judge ruled that I had to sit five years in prison in accordance to paragraph 58 in Russian Law; that was the most severe sentence.
Once again, I returned to my cell and, for eight months, alternated among various Russian prisons. During this entire period I was not given any respite. Every few weeks I would be transferred from one prison to another, mainly by foot, so I would not become comfortable with any one place.
These eight months in the prisons passed with great hardships, mainly because of the idleness and lack of activity. What was there to do? Nothing! I remember that one of the wardens once asked me what I did in the cell from morning to evening. When I was silent and didn’t answer, he declared in contempt: “Yes. You eat breakfast and wait for lunch and from lunch wait for supper; that’s your whole occupation”.
The cells in the prison weren’t small. They were big rooms containing sixty beds to a room and as many prisoners. It is self understood that the relationship amongst the detained was very important. I made a strong effort to become friendly with as many of the prisoners as possible. I, thus, had their respect. They called me “Rebbe’le”.
I will describe an event where I earned the protection of the prisoners.
When the soldiers began to discuss the labor camps where we were expected to be sent, and about the hard labor that we would be “זוכה” to, one of the prisoners (a Jew from Vilna who wasn’t frum) stood next to me and laughed at me: “דאס רעבלע וועט קענען ארבעטן?” (“This Rebbe’le will be able to work?”) Then he proceeded to curse and swear, ר”ל. I was able to withstand myself being humiliated, however, the cursing of הקב”ה hurt me very much. I just couldn’t restrain myself. I approached this prisoner, pulled him to his bed, and I climbed onto the bed after him (since he was much taller than me). I “honored” him with a ringing slap and I warned him that he shouldn’t dare continue to speak like that. Obviously he wanted to take revenge on me, but the גוי’שע prisoners separated us and warned him that if he would touch me, they would kill him.
Throughout the time in prison, I was wary of the smelly soup and the other “provisions” we received, so I ate only bread and sugar.
After eight months, I was part of a large group of prisoners who boarded prisoner trains heading towards a labor camp in Siberia. The difficult voyage took more than two months; I remember the suffering to this very day. The carts were tightly closed and we weren’t able to leave them even once during the entire two months. The food was given in measuring utensils; approximately 300g of bread a day, and sometimes a small box of smelly, salty fish. There was barely anything to drink. The prisoners did their private business in the corner of the cart, without even a pail.
Despite all these horrors, I tried hard to keep my head above water and keep track of the days. Every day I made a note to myself of what day it was so that, as much as possible, I could try to honor and enjoy the Shabbos; obviously there weren’t any means with which to do this appropriately.
We waited for the day when we would finally reach the camp, mainly just to be able to leave the train. Finally the day arrived, but life didn’t become easier for us. We came to a camp in Siberia called “וורקוט לאגר” (Varkut Lagger) – an area where the sun doesn’t shine for many months during the year. The frost in this area was unbelievable – with temperatures dropping sometimes to 50 degrees below zero. However, the cold did not prevent our supervisors from sending us out to work; unless the temperature dropped to minus 40.
The day after we arrived, we were already sent out to work. The primary work done at this remote and far out place, during the years I spent in the camp, was building a line of railroad tracks. This area could not be reached by train and the Russians were interested in developing it.
If there were no trains, how did we manage to come to this forsaken place? We traveled with prison carts until Kotlas, the closest city to this area, where we continued by ship for 4 days and then went by foot for another few days. The trek went on for hundreds of kilometers in the frost; an arid and really dark, dreadful frost. The city of Kotlas had big food warehouses from which we equipped ourselves with food – mainly toast. A specific brigade carried the food sacks on their backs until we arrived at the labor camp.
When we reached our destination, we first built a temporary camp. As I mentioned earlier, the following day we already started to work. Each brigade received an area of 2 – 3 km to build and continue the tracks. When the work was completed in one part, the camp was moved to the next area to continue the tracks. Each similar camp had about 100 to 500 prisoners.
This track was designated for a train line between Kotlas, a city of prisoners, and Varkota, a city with a gold mine, since the Russians hoped to promote the production of gold.
Food was a severe problem because supply vehicles weren’t able to reach this area. Only once in a while would a supply truck succeed in bringing food or mail. We were cutting trees in the forest and using the logs to build a roadway wide enough to accommodate only one vehicle. Every 10 km we doubled the width for a short stretch to enable an oncoming vehicle to pass; otherwise it would not have been possible because of the mud.
Since the ground was muddy, many of the trees in the forest couldn’t withstand the winds and from time to time collapsed on top of the prisoners, killing them instantly. The danger was stronger for those who made their way walking between the trees.
Although this work was hard and extremely risky, ב”ה, I was able to keep up, even though I wasn’t from one of the stronger prisoners. The גויים used to say: “This little one can uphold himself better than the rest of us”.
Building a train track in this area was much harder than any other place – not only because the temperatures were tough, but also because the ground was saturated with water. There were surfaces that did not have any earth, only mud. What were we to do? We would dig in the ground about 4 meters deep until we removed the mud and finally found solid earth. We would then fill the ditch with regular sand that we chiseled off the mountains in the area. We leveled the ground and only then were we able to begin building the actual tracks.
The work also entailed bringing dry sand from the mountains which were at least 2 km away. We transported the sand in wheelbarrows, pushing them across wooden tracks which we previously prepared. In the winter, when the ground was covered with hard ice, we were forced to break through the ice with pick axes and remove the top portion of the frozen ground in order to reach suitable dry earth.
I explained in a “dry” fashion the hard work that we did, but the physical and spiritual hardships were really very brutal. During this entire period I didn’t put on תפילין because the soldiers took them away from me. I often thought of the irony… I ended up here because I didn’t want to escape without my תפילין and, here I am, living many long months without תפילין…
Of course, I often thought about my parents – how were they faring? Were they spared the sufferings of war? Where were they at this time? I also thought a lot about the Frierdiker Rebbe. Where was the Rebbe now? What was he doing? During real challenging moments, I would envision his holy image.
Being cut off from the world brought about an unrelenting worry. I knew a really big war was taking place, but I did not know that millions of Jews were being killed. From time to time, it would enter my mind that maybe the whole world had ended and I was amongst the few remaining – not a very positive thought for the state of mind. Amongst us were גויים who prayed constantly that the Nazis would defeat the Russians, hoping they would reach us and free us from this difficult work.
Today it is clear that this exile in the depths of Russia saved me and thousands of other Jews from the claws of the cursed Nazis, ימ”ש, but since we were unaware of it at that time, our morale was very low and embittered.
…”Suddenly the Germans appeared to take the Rav to work. The Rav told us: “Since all of you came to me and the Germans don’t know that we have a מנין here, go into the interior room and I will go out to them to go to work”. And so, the Rav went out of the house and we hid in silence in the interior room.
The house of the Rav was surrounded by a fence with a gate exiting to the street. When the Rav approached the gate, he didn’t know if he should turn right or left, and so stopped for a moment waiting for guidance from the German. The soldier found an original way to “explain” to him in which direction to go. He took out a knife and stabbed the Rav. When he had to go to the right, he jabbed him on the left, and vice versa, jabbing him with the knife the entire time. After a few stabbings the Rav collapsed and fell, but he strengthened himself and continued on walking, mainly so that they shouldn’t return to his home and possibly find us there. These incidents I witnessed with my own eyes from a window of the Rav’s house.
This is how the German “led” him until the marketplace where the Rav was told to clean the adjacent city square. The Rav managed to work for another half a day until he collapsed completely and was taken to the hospital. Immediately after יום כיפור, I went to visit him in the hospital and on ערב חג הסוכות he passed away, הי”ד.”
…
The Hershkops never took anything from anybody, in fact its the other way around. Why are they being treated like this g-d knows.
They don’t have any political power!
They can’t force anybody to do anything etc…
They do their thing and thats that!
Whats all the hating, Court after court, mesira after mesira, when will the mossrim learn?
What is the goal?
the only thing the hershkops do is have a voice.
they see something wrong, they say something.
that pisses of a lot of bad people.
to bad on them!
Back in the days in Ocean Pkwy the Hershkop brothers from older to younger always made sure the smaller kids had a seat. they would also protect these kids from the school bullies.
so its no surprise that the bullies didn’t and until today don’t like them.
But whose trying to get the bully to like them?
The bully must be defeated, thats the only way to make him Bitul, by giving him some humble pie.
So thank you Gadi, Leli, chaim and Yehuda for caring and protecting us from the bullies, back then and today.
The mossrim wont stop till Crown Heights burns to the ground!
The whole arrest from the beginning and the way the DA if pushing this, is all as a result of political presser.
How many people in our Community can pull that off?
I know of two?
Chanina Spelin and yankle Spritzer.
The day of the arrest the arresting officer stated that it was only because of presser from the chief that hes making arrest.
Spritzer and friends are just trying to finish the job they started. They wont be finished with the Hershkops.
ANYBODY WHOM TRULY CARE FOR THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, MUST COME TO THE COURT ROOM (320 JAY ST.) TO WITNESS FOR HIMSELF.
HEARING IS NOT LIKE SEEING.
IF YOU DON’T HAVE TIME TO GO DOWN TO COURT, AT LEAST SEND IN A DONATION.
IF YOU DON’T GO DOWN OR DON’T SEND A DONATION, YOU DON’T HAVE A RIGHT TO GIVE YOUR OPINION (YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT, ITS A FREE COUNTRY, BUT IT WONT MEAN ANYTHING).
THIS IS HISTORY IN THE MAKING, BE A PART OF IT AND HELP FELLOW JEWS ON THE WAY.
I have been going to court to watch this case unfold for the last week.
Sorry to say what has been written above is Not true.
These are not my words, this is what I concluded after hearing the actual testimony from the “alleged victims”.
Will chabad.info give A written apology to each of the Victims of this Mesira when the truth comes out?.
Has Chabad.info made an effort to go to the court room? Has chabad.info made an effort to investigate the matter?
[P.S. I’m taking a snap shot of this screen, to prove I wrote this comment, if its not approved I will send it to other sites to prove your bias, if its not apparent already].
Rabbi Osdoba: “I Never Gave Permission for Messira C”V!”
After speaking to both Rabbis Osdoba and Schwei they told us how they were hurting not only from the false statements in their name in this matter, but many others that have come out over the years. Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba released yesterday this letter in his defense, and that of the Shomrim Six. “Since it has been said in my name as if I heaven forbid gave permission to give over [Masser] and to inform [Malshin] on the members of Shomrim. I am here to clarify that this is a complete and total lie, and it is entirely not in my hands, since this sort of act is prohibited by Halacha in every way possible.”
Rabbi Osdoba goes on in his letter to clarify how according to Halacha, in Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat, Siman Shin Pey Ches Seiif Tes, and in the Alter Rebbes Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat Dinei Nizkei Mamon Seiif Vov: “it is prohibited to give over a Jew in to the hands of a non-jew both physically and both financially… both to do so in speech to inform on him or to reveal his intentions… and that who does so has no part in the world to come.”
[free translation]
This letter comes in direct contrast to that of these ‘alleged victims’ that has been circulating on certain agenda filled websites, and in Pashkvillen on the doorsteps of homes in Crown Heights, claim that they had the permission of Rabbonim to go to court, and that Rabbi Osdoba dismissed the Din Torah.
As we have reported these vicious individuals used the Hazmana to the Din Torah in court attempting to have the six defendants remanded and locked up for the duration of this long, tedious and expensive trial. And these are the same people that so callously twisted and used the names of Rabbonim to further their own agenda, with blatant disregard for the respect of the Rabbonim of this community.
The expenses for such a criminal defense trial amount in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and this is a matter of Pidyon Shuvim. You can make your donations to the Shomrim Defense Fund by credit card at ShomrimDefense.com or call the Shomrim hotline (718) 774-3333 after 6:00pm to arrange someone to come and pick up your contribution. Additionally you can mail in your contribution to: Shomrim Defense Fund 537 East New York Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11225.
http://www.crownheights.info/index.php?itemid=22472
[…] Yanky Herzog: First line of defense. Yanky is great at sniffing out the enemy. If you have evil thoughts about Fishel (or anything that he represents, or anyone that he represents) Yanky will smell it a mile away (regardless of whether it’s true or just imaginative) and he will make sure that you know that he knows and that now you both know. Yanky will make sure to alert all the necessary powers to be, of your evil thoughts. […]
[…] What your about to see… is a tactic these Mosrim, thugs and gangsters have been using for years. First thing they do is try to paint their opponent at the evil aggressor, beating on poor little them, the “victims”. Yankle Spritzer did this with the Hershkops years ago. […]
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