Yaakov Schwei
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Aharon Yaakov Schwei (July 9, 1934 – April 24, 2020)[1] was an Orthodox rabbi and a member of the Chabad Hasidic movement. Rabbi Schwei served on the Bais Din Tzedek (Jewish Rabbinical Court) of the Chabad community in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.[2][3][4][5][6]
Rabbi of Crown Heights
[edit]As a member of the Crown Heights Beth Din (rabbinical court), Rabbi Schwei was considered [by whom?] one of the community's chief rabbis (Aramaic, מרא דאתרא (Marah D'Asra)).[7] The rabbinical court is the spiritual and religious body governing the Crown Heights Chabad community. After his death, three rabbis remained serving on the Beth Din:
- Rabbi Avraham Osdoba, the Av Beth Din (head of court).
- Rabbi Yosef Heller
- Rabbi Yosef Braun
Each hold the title Marah D'Asra.[2][3][4][5][6]
Crown Heights Kashrus
[edit]Rabbi Schwei was involved in supervising and granting kosher certification under the Crown Heights rabbinical court.[8][9] In recent years, Rabbi Osdoba's authority as sole administrator of the CHK was challenged by others in the community, including supporters of Rabbi Schwei and Rabbi Braun arguing that the arbitration panel (Zabl"a) ruled that it should be run by a board of directors "There is a need to create a new Vaad HaKashrus, which shall be the executive body of the Rabbis and the Vaad Hakohol.[10][11] The court however remanded this ruling back to the arbitration panel for clarification[12][13][14] which is yet to reconvene
Statement on local blogs
[edit]Both Rabbis Osdoba and Schwei spoke out against several "hate blogs" created by members of the community.[2][3]
Ordination
[edit]Rabbi Schwei received his rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Aryeh Leib Kramer, the former dean of the Chabad yeshiva in Montreal.[15]
Family
[edit]Yaakov Schwei's brother, Rabbi Isaac Schwei (1932–1988) was a rabbi in the Chabad community of Montreal (also ordained by Rabbi Aryeh Leib Kramer).[15]
Banning of Call of the Shofar
[edit]In December 2013, Rabbis Yaakov Schwei and Yosef Braun issued a letter stating that attending programs run by Call of the Shofar, a Jewish LGAT group based in Baltimore, is forbidden under Jewish law.[16][17] They were later joined by the "Central Committee of Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbis in the United States and Canada," also known as Vaad Rabbonei Lubavitch who also banned COTS.[18][19]
Death
[edit]On April 24, 2020, Rabbi Schwei died in Brooklyn from complications associated with COVID-19.
References
[edit]- ^ Harav Aharon Yaakov Schwei, 85, AH
- ^ a b c Collive Reporter. "Hate Blogs Are Killing Us". Collive.com. Dec 12, 2010.
- ^ a b c Collive Reporter. "Rabbis Fight Hate Blogs". Collive.com. Dec 10, 2010.
- ^ a b "The Shluchim Unite". ChabadWorld.net
- ^ a b Chabad.info. "Beis Din Recommends Eishel Kapparos". Chabad.info. September 23, 2012.
- ^ a b Collive reporter. "Crown Heights Badatz Unites". Collive.com. Feb 1, 2011.
- ^ An Aramaic equivalent of "Chief Rabbi".
- ^ "Braun Hechsher." CrownHeights.info October 2013.
- ^ "Braun Hechsher." Chabad.info Accessed 2013.
- ^ "Psak Din of Rosenberg Zabla." Anash News. Accessed 2013.
- ^ Collive reporter. "CHK Stronghold is Challenged". Collive.com. August 10, 2011.
- ^ "Rosenberg Beis Din Judgements Confirmed." Anash News. October 2013.
- ^ "Court affirms Zablo ruling, leaves CHK with R' Osdoba." CrownHeights.info. Accessed 2013.
- ^ "Amended decision order judgement." CrownHeights.info. October 2013.
- ^ a b "Mangel, Nissan. Interview. Tributes to Rabbi Kramer. rabbikramerslegacy.com". Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
- ^ Letter Released. COLlive.com. Accessed January 4, 2014.
- ^ Letter Released - News Recap. COLlive.com. Accessed January 4, 2014.
- ^ "Chabad Rabbis Ban Call of the Shofar." COLlive. Accessed 2014.
- ^ "Vaad Rabonei Lubavitch prohibit attending COTS." CrownHeights.info. Accessed 2014.
