Dubuque, IA – Some members of Postville’s Jewish community say a recent federal court ruling involving a former Agriprocessors CEO is religious discrimination.
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Sholom Rubashkin continues to sit in the Dubuque County Jail as he awaits trial on federal charges related to the May immigration raid. Last week, a judge denied bail, calling Rubashkin a flight risk. Some say Rubashkin was denied bail because he is Jewish.
On Sunday, dozens of Jews from around eastern Iowa and mostly the Postville area came outside of the jail to say they want to see equal rights for Jews.
The demonstrators set-up a menorah outside of the Dubuque Law Enforcement Center where the jail is housed Sunday afternoon ,on the last night of Hanukah.
“Today is the 8th day of Hanukah. Hanukah is a festival of freedom, of lights, and it’s supposed to celebrate freedom from oppression,” organizer Amy Dickel said.
The demonstrators say Sholom Rubashkin is being oppressed, held because he is Jewish.
“The Bill of Rights is being totally violated here. To be held, not given bail simply because you’re Jewish is wrong. Simply,” Dickel said.
Prosecutors say part of Rubashkin’s flight risk is Israel’s “law of return”, which says all Jews can be granted Israeli citizenship if they aren’t a public threat. But demonstrators here say Rubashkin has no more direct connection to Israel than any other Jew and is not a flight risk.
“He’s no more of a flight risk than you or I. Over 30 families offered to put up their houses as collateral in addition to an entire bail package up to ten million dollars,” Dickel said.
Organizers say this demonstration is not about Agriprocessors or just about Rubashkin; it’s about equal rights for all Jews.
“If one U.S. Attorney in one state in one town can say, ‘all Jews are a flight risk simply because they’re Jewish”, because we have the Right of Return to become a citizen in iIsrael, then what does that mean for Jews everywhere?” Dickel said.
Organizers of the demonstration say they hope this raises awareness of people around the country about what is happening here Iowa.
In explaining Rubashkin’s flight risk, the judge said when Rubashkin was out on bail for other charges two months ago, agents found travel bags of cash and passports packed in Rubashkin’s home.
Rubashkin’s lawyers maintain he would stay in Postville and say they plan to appeal the decision.
Kol hakovod to the yidden of Iowa. May this demonstration be a wake up call to all yidden across the country and the world.
I would think it would be better for the Jews to keep a low profile on this one.
Bernie Madoff smirks for the cameras & is sitting pretty in his $7m mansion. Sholom Rubashkin sits in jail. That’s justice????
how come we are all silent? i said from the begining that this are bogus charges by antisemites, and don’t tell me we are wrong, he’s a easy target with big enemies like the unions. if he’s Jewish is automatically guilty! nothing has to be proven in the court of law any more. anyone can see the court is bias.
the problem is with us! no one cares to do anything about this. real criminals are let go, as long as they are not Jewish, if they are, all the prosecution has to do, is fabricate charges, like “etil Rosenberg” the famous so called spy, does anyone still recall the story of “Dreyfus”?
Yesterday on this site it mentioned a jew who jumped bail and went to Israel. he ruined it for Rubashkin.
the israeli goverment is returning to the us, anyone guilty of any crime,
so it doesn’t make sense.
Why can’t Reb Shalom Mortcha enjoy at least the same house arrest as Bernie Madoff? Perhaps have him be Madoff’s guest! Then the authorities will have the ability to cut down in the manpower needed to watch them both! What a miscarriage of justice! Where are the voices of those who always cry, “He’s committed a crime ~ he must do the time!”
Is this justice served? What a disgrace! Is this the American legal system? Why can’t Nat Lewin, Ben Brafman etc., The greatest Jewish American lawyers be contacted and have them do what they do best? Klal Yisrael deserves better in this country! Can somebody out there try to reach out to them? We are ALL suffering!
I know Reb Shalom Mortcha as a kid. He was a tzaddik then and is so now too! Shameful and disgraceful treatment! Shame on our judicial system!
Today, Zois Chanukka, let’s all daven for him!
Does anyone know his mother’s name? Please post it!
where is the ACLU – arent jews entitled to equal rights
Don’t Get me wrong we live in a malchus shel chesed, and by no way should commit any crime whatsoever, but we know that we have enemies in this country, just to name a few: neonazis, Muslim extremies, chamas infiltrated in 40 states and countless cities, and all of the sympathizers like the parking enforcements, last friday i was driving on the left side of 13th ave. i notice this meter mate with a scanner going over to the driver on my right and giving him a ticket while he was waiting in heavy traffic for the red light to change. he was only following 2 cars in front of him, a clear case of wrong intent, one can say the driver was planing to double park, but he wasn’t! he was not even thinking of double parking.
Madoof is 70 yrs, where is he going? Look at the rest of the thugs, and their ages? They all seem to be skipping town!
Madoff couldn’t skip if he wanted to. His face is so well known. How about letting SMR take the heat and be responsible for his own actions.
i urge all the lawyers that have a little of menshlichkeit to stand up to this type of wich hunt against jewish owned business.
Does anyone know of an email address where I can email a letter of protest? Preferable the judge.
Where are his lawyers?
First they should demand a “change in venue”
Second they should call for a new bail hearing in front of another judge.
Third they should file suit against the State of Iowa for religious discrimination.
And where is the ADL?, OU, Aguda??
You can see form the Photo that the “Big Demonstration” consisted of a whole lot of only 5 adults (and few small children).
Are these 5 adults 1/2 of Postvile’s population or did the hundreds of others specifically not come to show that these hundreds of others agree that he should stay in Jail?
You can see for the photos that this demonstration is composed mostly by small children and the 5 adults who are present don’t have any more sechel than the children who lead them.
How much brains does it take to figure out that the Judge made it very clear that there were a large variety of reasons why bail was denied and that the “Israel” issue was a VERY MINOR point and issue.
Unless these big (pee sized brain) children are so stupid and illiterate to read the Judge’s ruling, why are they making fools out of themselves to argue a non-issue.
Israel is not “the issue” here, PERIOD – end of stroy!
The issue is he had all the families passports and cash in a FLIGHT READY bag and his prior violation (while on bail) of evidence tampering.
Evey idiot can understand that but these few ladies / babies, don’t get it yet.
to #23
is it possible or not, that all or most of the accusations are fabricated, even the liberals who are advocating and justice for all, ignore the cry’s from orthodox Jews, it’s for the same reason, that they wanted to keep a low profile during the Holocaust, and the pogroms. so not to anger more soney yisroel than necessary and for these they where willing to sacrifice almost everyone, except themselves of course, it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee.
#25
if the government is causing him all his troubles, how in the world do you expect them not to go chapter 11
The so called “demonstrators” were orchestrated by Amy Dickel a relative of Shalom Rubashkin’s, and from the looks of things consisted for the most part of children, nieces and nephews of the accused.
Post #23 is correct. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, its probably a duck. The Judge would be irresponsible to ignore the possibility that SMR is a flight risk given the evidence found in his home.
Chvrah
Using the “anti-semitic” argument is not the way to go.It dosen’t hold “vodka”
He needs a good lawyer, who can prove, with a large bail that he is not going anywhere.I’m sure that if needed a bail, even of millions could be raised.
Let’s not repeat all the “chochmas” with all the p.r spin machines that got Rubashkin there to beging with.
There was a village, about ten years ago that under an eitzo from a groiseh chuchem got 5 people in jail and a ten million fine.Using the anti-semitic argument
Wow.
Amy Dickel is not a relative of Rubashkin. Not by far. She doesnt even work for them. She is just someone who unlike the past couple posters, lives in Postvile and has seen the real facts firsthand, and therefore cares about Sholom Rubashkin.
She knows he always went out of the way to help the very people he is accused of “abusing”.
She knows its the government (and all the others, the media included who didnt let Agri get back up off its feet) who is responsible for hurting all those who lost money in this bankruptcy.
Rubashkin paid every employee on the books (unlike most families pay their cleaning ladies).
She knows Rubashkin is in jail right now because he is a “dual citizen” with Israel, and because the judge’s mind has been poisoned just as yours are.
The issue here is bail anyway, and the prosecution did NOT show he had the intent to flee, all they proved was that the man keeps his valuables in one place.
Im sure Mr Meatloaf is coming over from his buddy failedmessiah. Im sure we know the bias and self-hate that goes on there…
I can not believe that some so called “Jews” are still defending the prosecutor and prosecuting the defender (a.k.a. Reb Sholom Mordechai Rubaskin may G-d protect him and set him free with open and revealed good.)
A soul comes to this world for seventy or eighty years + just to do a favor for another – not to prosecute another!
Come on Yiden enough! either be a part of the solution or don’t say/do anything at all!
G-d is testing us to see how we will respond to this.
Have you ever heard of…
don’t Judge your fellow until you are in his/her shoes?
one of the greatest mitzvos pidyon shvuim?
not to rejoice when you enemy falls?
love you fellow as you self?
and many more than go above and beyond the screams”dina dimalchusa dina” etc. of the so called G-d fearing people.
I can only bet that if we where to rip apart your (the one who screams”dina dimalchusa dina” etc.) life,home, business… etc. it would not be to pretty.
So take in to account all that I have said and start treating your brother as you are supposed to treat a brother!
Hopefully with the proper response we will merit the coming of Moshiach Now!
Considering someone a Flight Risk because of the “The Law of Return” has nothing to do with being really Jewish and so if a Judge uses it as a Flight Risk criteria, it is is not at all discriminatory.
The Law in Israel as it is written now does not require anyone to really be Jewish to be able to take advantage of the Law of Return.
According to Israeli law, any full fledged Goy who give a piece of “toilet paper” to another Goy as a so called “document” to say he is a Jew or a so called “convert” makes that Goy eligible to take advantage of the Law of Return.
Israel does not require Giyur Kehalacha and in fact has no criteria as to what type of Giyur is acceptable and which Giyur is not acceptable.
Any Italian, for example, can give another Italian a scrap piece of paper that says “he proclaims him to be a Jewish Convert” (no authority of any kind is required by law) and this new (“convert”) Goy can now legaly (by Israeli Law) claim he is Jewish.
So the Israeli Law of return “protects” all true Goyim of any nationality the same as a true yid.
To those who are bashing women and children who traveled a few hours and braved the cold to hold a demonstration: shame on you. You have the nerve to attack good people, people who are the victims of your smear, for standing up for their fellow Jew.
Why is there no questioning of the Dubuque Police Department’s harassment of the protesters? The Dubuque paper, the Telegraph Herald, which has the first amendment in its masthead, did not object that a “peaceable assembly” was interrupted by Lt. Steve Radloff.
In the same paper, a day before, Asst. Police Chief Terry Tobin didn’t object to similar tactics and behavior in front of Planned Parenthood.
Why didn’t Andy Piper ask about the First Amendment rights of the Jewish protesters?
What a disgrace to all you judgmental, cowardly, self righteous individuals who never tire to put down someone who has never had his day in court.
We are B”H successfully winning a battle against Hamas because of unity and nissim. 81% of Israelis are in favor of the action being taken. You would probably consist of the other 19%.
Before you type your next remarks: remember Sholom is someone’s son, husband, father,brother, uncle,and cousin. Perhaps we should all rot as well, and deserve it.
I do recite tehillim daily and have kappitul Kuf Tes in mind for all of you. Go read it and see for yourselves what I wish for you.
This is not the first time Federal prosecutors pulled this “law of return” schtick. They only pull it on frum jews. They have done it in New York. I have never seen it used on a secular jew not matter what his crime was. It is in their book of games to break the defendant before trial