Thank you Moshe.

I see here an apology for mistakes that may have happened and inadvertant “slips of the tongue” that may have taken place. If this was all that had occurred, I would have no problem forgiving and forgetting. However, blatant attacks and conscious acts of hurting and insulting innocent people are not so easily forgotten.
Btw, what “higher goal” do these acts of intimidation achieve?

“I publicly ask Mechila from all those who feel that they were hurt by me or by my comments, the campaign is over and you won’t hear from me again”

Yosef Katzman, remember your promise!

You falsely take credit for the Din Torah and for the elections. The credit is due to a young and promising member of our community Eli Poltoraq Seyihiye. If not for his efforts there would be no Din Torah, no elections, and the Community would still be held at gunpoint by Rubish'kin and Co.

I hope all those who were against any election, supported the old Regime, will follow suit, and we will not hear from them anymore.

go destroy peoples reputation,go and kill somebody and than apologize for it, that is what you r doing by sending out this letter.... you could take this letter and you know where you could put it...

VERY VERY Well done!

Thank you BUT i must say that your comment that “young leaders who turned Lubavitch unto the mainstream” is the Problem in Lubavitch today! It is the Rebbe who “turned Lubavitch into main stream” NOT a 30, 40 or 70 year old. But I guess it's expected from someone who tried to “tumel” before, during and after the elections and then gives out an apology

What a magnanimous gesture.

Halevai that others will follow his example.
And that people will have the good sense to refrain from commenting on their individual gripes with Rabbi Katzman or anyone else in these comments. If you have a bone to pick go straight to the person it is with. Please spare us all by not airing your dirty laundry on this site.

Sisu bnei mei'ay. (yesh ma lesame'ach b"h).

Yosef,

A select few know of your efforts - but the entire community will benefit.
Thank you for your leadership, and as the previous commenter noted, your magnanimity.

Excuse me?, held at gunpoint? Rubashkin and Co. as you call them were the ONLY people who fundraised for the poor in this community, who gave clothes in Top Fashion Erev Pesach AND Erev Tishrei to the really downtrodden and ignored members of our community, who made sure we have a beatifull pool with a dignified dressing room in Oholei Torah to send our kids three times a week, who raised SIGNIFICANT money towards Camp Scholarships, who sent widows to Israel, who organized Chanukah trips including gelt for everyone, so poor kids could also get gelt on Chanuka!! I could go on and on, show me ONE elected member who has done anything NEAR this? I want them back!!

Thank you for setting the record straight.

Its a used tactic for them to repeat lies enough times and change history.

When no-one stands up to them it just seeps into the communal imagination as fact.
The problem is that people in the know don't want to go into the dirt and dignify the propaganda with a response.
Anyway, thanks

I am not overly involved in the going ons in crown heights, however, i found the apology more self promotion then an actual apology.

Just my opinion (take it or leave it, most people leave it :-) )

10 “Excuse me?”,

Well, maybe it's true, that he gave out money.

Of course, the money was taken from our pockets, from the poor, as the unaffordable prices for kosher meat have made it impossible for the poor to enjoy a Shabbos meal.

There is Zedaqa that is distributed according to Halacha. If Zedaqa is NOT distributed in a just way, it may become bribery. It's true that Rub'askin got elected because he didtributed food to on Simchas Torah and other occasions, but it became an asset for hom to run for Vaad Haqohol. That could possibly mean that his former charities were outright bribes.

Ruba'skin with his money divided the Rabbonim (and one Rov called him openly “corrupt”!). He divided the community. It was a return of Fisherism. However, I remember the Rebbe saying, that:

This Schuno will be built NOT ON MONEY, BUT ON ACHDUS (UNITY)!

To Rubshkin when one Rov disagreed with him he publicly declared in a signed letter, that we need new Rabbonim and with our money organized elections!

I personally said Mazaltov when he was elected, and reminded him that he was elected to make peace! When he intensified the Machlokes to his advantage, I personally warned him that he will have a deep downfall. He did tshuvo since, but a little bit too late.

The Rebbe said in a sicho that he speaks only as a resident of this schuno. The Rebbe is with us, still a resident, and the King makes decisions. It is our duty to follow the Rebbe's Sichois, of course in a democratic way: Umalchusoi BROTZON qiblu aleihem.

We voluntarily VOTE for the King! For the Rebbe!

Good Shabbos, “Excuse me?”

Berl,
Either your smoking your cholent or your cholent is smoking.
But I am beginning to think that you're not only crazy, but also dangerous.
Just saying.

Bribes? to the poor? and after he was elected? you make absolutely no sense.

let's see this new Vaad match or be superior to Moshe Rubashkins vaad and let's see this community flourish and be well taken care of, specially at this critical time of recession. Go New Vaad!