Failed Messiah published a letter asking everyone to write and mail to the Rockland County DA. We must all write the letter below to ensure the safety of the communities.
Mr. Ettlinger has been selling drugs to adults and teens in our communities and has adversely affected these individuals and their families.
To:
Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe
DA Thomas Zugibe
Justice Alan Simon/ Court Clerk Helen Travers
Ramapo Chief of Police Peter Brower
Ramapo Police, Lt. Mark Emma
Steve Lieberman, Rockland Journal News
Catherine McBride, Editor of the Rockland Journal News
We, the undersigned, unite our voices in grave concern for the safety of our communities, and specifically the future for our teenagers, urging that drug-dealers be strictly prosecuted.
It was recently reported (Rockland Journal News, April 12, 2013) that a man from Monsey, NY, Rabbi Shlomo Ettlinger, was arrested for multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including drug possession of over two pounds of marijuana and 370 grams of hash oil, a .357-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver with ammunition. The successful arrest, conducted by the proficient and skilled Ramapo Police Officers, followed numerous complaints from concerned citizens who were aware of his repeated drug sales to vulnerable teenagers.
We urge that Rabbi Ettlinger be prosecuted to the fullest extent afforded by the law and demanded by public safety. He has endangered the emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual wellbeing of our youngsters and is a threat to our communities.
He must be punished severely, not only for the past, but for the future; his prison sentence must serve as an effective deterrent to protect our communities from criminals who harm others for their own selfish gain.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
“We urge that Rabbi Ettlinger be prosecuted to the fullest extent afforded by the law and demanded by public safety. He has endangered the emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual wellbeing of our youngsters and is a threat to our communities”
ReplyDeleteREALLY??? are you serious???
if anything,
Marijuana helps numb the pain that these hurt teens have to deal with. The pain that has been caused by inadequate teachers, principals and by the pedophiles that freely roam our neighborhoods. The real perpetrators that don't just endanger the wellbeing of our teens, but ruin them emotionally, psychologically, physically and spiritually.
So if u want to help make our community safer, GO AFTER THE REAL CRIMINALS!
This is so wrong. In so many ways...
ReplyDeleteThis guy is a tzaddik
ReplyDeleteAnd whoever signs any petition against him will suffer
I have known Shlomo Ettlinger for over ten years. I have shared apartments with him and spent hours talking to him. Shlomo was the person who first introduced me to Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, whose teachings have since changed every part of my life for the better. I know of numerous other friends who were either directly or indirectly led to Rebbe Nachman of Breslov thorough Shlomo Ettlinger. I can personally attest that he has many fine character traits. It is quite clear that Rebbe Nachman himself and Rabbi Yisroel Ber Odesser frowned very strongly on the use of drugs and most members of the Nanach movement distance themselves greatly from any drug use. I remember Shlomo being very anti drugs throughout the time that I spent with him and he would always degrade any person that tried to permit its use. It is clear that Shlomo has fallen here. Those that know him well, know that in the last few years he has undergone much personal suffering from individuals that I will not openly mention on this post. Although this is no excuse for drug use, it is forbidden to judge a person until you have reached his place, which none of us can claim we did. Despite the fact that is seems Shlomo has fallen; I do not see a reason that he should be treated as a ‘dangerous criminal’. Rather I think his accomplishments and the dozens of people he has brought close to Rebbe Nachman should be looked at as well, aside from what is considered a minor misdemeanor in the USA.
ReplyDeleteHowever all this is the side issue, the main issue at hand is that Shlomo Ettlinger is being used as a scapegoat to let out the Westernized Jewish Community’s agitation at the Nanach movement. For years people have seen the Nanach dancing joyously in the streets and assumed that they are all under the use of substance. Almost every conversation and reference about Nanach by Westernized Jews contains snarky comments about drug use. This however is a large misconception and as stated above almost all Nanachs frown strongly on the use of drugs and completely avoid it in their personal lives, as it completely opposes the group’s entire ideology. Although this is clear to anyone who properly researches this subject, it seems our Westernized Jews have finally found a case that supposedly strengthens their accusations. They have swooped down on poor Shlomo Ettlinger like vultures, flaunting their prey all over new-sources and internet blogs who happily jumped and joined the opportunity. We have to ask ourselves is this reaction normal? The American Jewish communities are filled with drug users, especially the city of Monsey, NY. Is there anyone who even blinks an eye when the average community member is caught with Marijuana? It is clear that poor Shlomo Ettlinger is being used as a scapegoat and is being showcased as the ‘Nanach they have finally caught using drugs’. Considering this, it is only fair that he be judged as a suffering man who has fallen from his previous level and committed a minor offence. The entire inflation brought into the case by biased individuals and parties should be ignored.
Here is a new petition created by people that actually know Shlomo
http://www.change.org/petitions/justice-system-give-leniency-to-shlomo-ettleniger
Tzfat Nanach. I agree with you but if it's true that he was selling to people in the community including youth then it was not just a minor offence. If he wasn't selling to people including youth, then I would also feel the way you do. I hope he wasn't selling especially not to youth.
ReplyDelete