Two weeks ago when the Sholom Across America campaign began in Crown Heights many people chuckled. They did not think that the stated goal of raising $90,000 from small donations of $36 or more (or less) was attainable. Sure a few will give, but how are you going to reach the vast majority of Crown Heights? Do you really think people will look up from their busy schedules and donate to this cause -no matter how great the cause is?
Well now, $76,114 later and still counting, we can all look around and answer yes. From the moment our signs went up and our bags spread out across the community, Crown Heights residents responded overwhelmingly. They approached our volunteers to ask how they could get involved, and waited in their homes with checks and cash in the ready. Some people gave $1,000, others gave $10; but everyone wanted to take part in this great mitzvah of Pidyan Shvuyim. One man gave four rolls of one dollar coins totaling $100. He decided that whatever it was that he was going to use those coins for could wait a little bit. If you are reading this now, thank you.
Even more importantly than the money raised in Crown Heights, was the example that was set for the rest of the country. Communities throughout America turned their eyes towards Crown Heights to see if such an initiative could work. “If it works there,” said one noted Askan in New York, “then we will throw our weight behind Sholom Across America to make it work in our community.” There is no doubt that the campaign here in Crown Heights has worked, and plans are now being finalized to move Sholom Across America to its next location in the coming week.
But in the end it really is all about those people who dug into their pockets and happily contributed their hard earned $36. One father on Montgomery Street called his entire family to the door and gave them a small lecture on the great importance of helping out another Yid and another Chossid, especially one who has done so much for others, and how they should remember this moment forever.
At the end of the day, that is what it’s really all about.
To help us reach our ultimate goal of $90,000 in Crown Heights, please click on the donate button near the top of this page.
It was a wet and windy day in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and we had all finished a long day in the Federal Court House watching Sholom Rubashkin’s court case unfold. At exactly 5 PM, the time that the court adjourned, Sholom and a handful of bochurim drove to a nearby Staples and printed the first ever Tanya in Sioux Falls.
Printing Tanyas throughout the world was a special directive of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and Sholom was very proud that he had the opportunity to fulfill this directive in Sioux Falls.
While most of these Tanyas have been handed out, including a few left in South Dakota, a small number of Tanyas do still remain. This week these remaining special Tanyas will be presented to special supporters of the Sholom Across America campaign. They, together with all of the supporters of the campaign, have brought the total collected in Crown Heights to more than $60,000.
May the Tanyas bring blessings to those that will receive them, and a special blessing to Sholom Rubashkin.
When asked for his thoughts on the Sholom Rubashkin case and the reaction from the overall Jewish community, this Crown Heights resident had the following to say.
We would like to welcome and thank our newest volunteer, Benny Friedman!!!
When Benny called us and asked how he can help we figured he was referring to making a video, sing a song and other such things. But he insisted on going door to door with the other volunteers. Yesterday he gave up over 2 hours of his time to go out in the heat and reach to people to educate them and give them the opportunity to contribute to the legal defense fund.
We sent a video camera along to capture what was about to unfold. Heres a bit of the action.
Again a special thank to Aaron Holder for all his help and the wonderful song, please support this incredible artist .
Each day that passes brings a rising awareness to the case of Sholom Rubashkin in the Crown Heights community. The response has been more doors opened, and more money raised for his cause. Between the hours of 5-7 PM on Thursday evening, Sholom Across America volunteers raised almost $12,000, bringing the Crown Heights total to more than $30,000 since Lag Baomer, all from small donations.
Additionally, for the second straight week, Sholom Across America will be printing the Min Hameitzar publication, a weekly Dvar Torah written by Sholom Rubashkin focused on strengthening bitachon and achdus through the prism of the weeks Parsha. PDF file will also be accessible on SholomAcrossAmerica.com, making the publication available for download and distribution in Shuls across America.
Sholom Across America will be out on the streets again on Sunday evening between the hours of 5-7 PM, and will all be carrying proper Sholom Across America identification cards. Residents are urged to donate generously.
Sholom Across America would like to thank Rabbi Yitzchak Shmukler of Houston, Texas for of his assistance in preparing Min Hameitzar for publication. Download Min Hameitzar for your home and shul.
Last night our dedicated volunteers, who are all bochurim of Oholei Torah Eighth Grade (OTEG), were greeted with enthusiasm.
They are distributing a DVD entitled “Sholom’s Story” which tells the story of Sholom’s unjust arrest, prosecution, conviction and sentence as well as updating the viewer on where the legal process is holding. They are also asking for your help in covering the legal fees with a suggested donation of $36.
Our Goal is to reach out to every household in Crown Heights and educate people on the details of how this travesty unfolded. If we can collect a average of $36 per household we can raise over One Hunderd Thousand Dollars!!!
Proudly wearing their Sholom Across America ID badges, they distributed an informational video and, despite many people not being home, collected close to $7,000.
Tonight, Thursday May 26th, as well as for the next week the volunteers will again be making their rounds through Crown Heights between 5 PM – 7 PM. Please consider this your personal “phone call” urging you to open their doors, contribute, and participate in this community-wide event in support of Sholom Rubashkin.
From the minute that our van plastered with Sholom Across America posters drove up Kingston Ave, people have been stopping us to find out what’s going on, and how they can get involved.
What’s clear is that people really want to know how they can help, and are genuinely excited to see this campaign take off the ground.
With all of the enthusiasm that we’ve encountered in Crown Heights, undoubtedly we’re off to a fabulous start.
Our volunteers are ready to hit the streets and homes of Crown Heights and make a difference. The volunteers, who are made up of the Oholei Torah Eighth Grade (OTEG), had a stupendous meeting today in which they discussed the great importance of Pidyon Shvuyim and Ahavas Yisroel.
G-d willing the boys will try to reach every family in Crown Heights, so when you hear that knock on your door we hope you respond generously.
Keep checking back here for more info as the campaign unfolds.
Welcome to SholomAcrossAmerica.com. We’re glad that you took the time to log on, and hope that you’ll use this opportunity to find out how you can get involved to help Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin. Over the next week here in Crown Heights, and in the weeks ahead in Jewish communities across the country, SholomAcrossAmerica.com will constantly be updating you on the success and general goings-on of the campaign. From pictures and videos taken by our volunteers on the ground, to tallying how much we have raised, SholomAcrossAmerica.com will be the place to get all of the info.
If you would like to read in greater detail about the case, please visit JusticeforSholom.org
Advocates for the release of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin will be ramping up their efforts in the coming week. Harnessing the grassroots support for the imprisoned father of ten, organizers will be unrolling the Sholom Across America campaign, beginning on Monday May 23rd. The campaign to raise awareness will start in Crown Heights, and aims to eventually visit 16 major Jewish communities across the United States and Canada.
On June 15th, lawyers for Rubashkin will present oral arguments in front of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. Rubashkin has been jailed for the last year and a half while awaiting appeal. The unusual circumstance—those convicted of white-collar crimes are not commonly imprisoned while awaiting appeal—has been called into question by numerous members of Congress. Most recently, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee questioned US Attorney General Eric Holder at a hearing on Capitol Hill.
The need for funding has grown immensely. Beginning Monday, organizers of Sholom Across America hope to solicit small donations from across the spectrum of the community. The initiative has received initial funding from many Crown Heights businesses, who now prominently display Sholom Across America placards. If 2500 families in Crown Heights can contribute an average of $36, some $90,000 will be raised from that neighborhood alone.
Over the next week volunteers for Sholom Across America will be knocking on doors and distributing educational CDs explaining the details of the case, and asking people to get involved. Community members will also have the opportunity to follow the campaign on SholomAcrossAmerica.com, as it winds its way through Crown Heights, viewing pictures and videos posted by the volunteers. The Crown Heights community campaign is particularly important, as it will serve as an example and test model for other Jewish communities.
Meir Simcha Rubashkin, who is organizing the campaign together with many friends and classmates, stressed the power of any donation, however large or small.
“The response until now has been amazing,” explained Rubashkin. “Volunteers will be knocking on your door, and we are really hoping that you continue to open your hearts and wallets generously, and make Sholom Across America a huge success.”
The true story of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin has shaken the Jewish world to its core, while simultaneously uniting
every segment of Klal Yisroel.
In the spirit of Achdus that has characterized the Pidyon Shvuyim campaign for Sholom Mordechai,
Sholom Across America will be coming to your door in the coming days.
Your contribution of only $36 per family will help pay the legal fees needed to obtain Justice for Sholom.
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