Sholom Across America

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State Trial Audio – Yesinia Cordero

After Ronny, next up is Yusinia Cordero. She tells us how she came to postville with her family (her father was already there) and dropped out of school to get a job after she got pregnant. She describes lying about her age and status in the country in order to get a job (she also reveals that she was enrolled in public school and on WIC, seems the government also thought she was legal) and how the ICE agents didn’t believe her when she told them she was under 18 (but the state seems to think the HR dpt and Sholom should have).

Please check back for a section of all the audio files in their “raw”, unedited form (see last post for more details).

State of Iowa part 1 (aprox 10 min) click here

State of Iowa part 2 (aprox 8 min) click here

Editors Note:

For the most part this testimony is in line with the other minors who testify (namely, they lied to get work, no one knew their real age, they wanted the work and would say whatever was needed to keep it plus they are hoping to be allowed to stay in the country with a U-Visa) with the exception that the State in this case does not even attempt to tie her to Sholom Rubashkin. Unlike by Ronny where they ask if he saw Sholom in his work area and if Sholom saw him (and hence could argue that he knew about the minors), they don’t even ask Yesinia about him. How does her testimony support the charges that Sholom hired minors? Your guess is as good as mine.

Its also incredible how they didn’t (and if my memory serves me correctly, they don’t through out the entire trial) stop with the “did they ask you for a drivers license” nonsense. As I pointed out earlier Agriprocessors was not allowed to do that and had they asked for extra ID they could have been sued. Know I under stand that the state is trying to win the case but when that is the best evidence you have against someone… Need I say more?

Monty Brown for the defense part 1 (aprox 11 min) click here

Monty Brown for the defense part 2 (aprox 9 min) click here

Editors Note:

Please forgive the poorer quality of these recordings, the defense table was further from the recording device then the others. The connection of the church and this case will be made very clear in future audio.

Perhaps 3 of the most telling parts of her testimony are the following.

1. On “recross” (when the state gets to question her again, after the defense) and really throughout the trial the state tries to tell the jury a lot of rumors and stories of things that happened at the plant but where in no way connected to Sholom despite the judges clear instructions not to. In this case the state keeps trying to talk about workers needing to purchase cars from a plant manager in order to keep their job.  In a refreshing (we where coming from Judge Linda Reede and the federal trial) show of unbiased and fair ruling the judge hears out both sides and rules that since this is in no way connected to Sholom (or the crimes he was charged with) he will not allow it.
2. Monty takes her to task for telling a reporter (was front page story at the time) that her husband/boyfriend was forced to work after no training with a dangerous knife with chickens whizzing by his head. In reality he worked for the most part in “quality control” and the sharpest thing he carried all way was a thermostat.
3. Perhaps the most emotional moment of that day came when she was asked (by the state oddly enough) about the raid, she broke down in tears and had a hard time finishing, saying she “never wants to think of that day”. Which makes one wonder who did more “abuse” and caused the most damage to these minors, the plant (that was providing a paying job) or the US government.

To listen to all three parts (in that order) click here.

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World Wide Melavah Malkas- North London

As we continue to receive them, we will post the pictures from the world wide Melavah Malkas in Zechus of Sholom Mordachai Ha’lavi Ben Rivkah. May all the Zechusim be Poel the Yeshua Bekarov!

These are from Rabbi Levi Raskin of North London

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Min Hamitzar Parshas Vayechi

To dowload this weeks Min Mamaitzar click here.

We have fallen behind on our stated goals of posting state trial audio and for that we are sorry. IYH we will get back on track as soon as possible.

Good Shabbos.

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Melavah Malka In Melbourne

This past Motzai Shabbos Melavah Malka’s where held around the world Be’Zechus Sholom Mordachai Halavei Ben Rivkah. Kicking off in the first time zone to hit Motzai Shabbos in Australia (I guess technically New Zealand is first, but…) all the way to Hawaii. We have not yet received pictures from all the events but here are a few from Melbourne Australia. If you have photos of your Melavah Malka please send them to use at SholomAcrossAmerica@gmail.com

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A Gute Voch: Melave Malkas to be Held in Sholom Rubashkin’s Merit

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Min Hamitzar Vayigash

We are back (sorry about last week) with the popular “Min Hamaitzar” publication (this weeks is extra “Hartzig” if I may say so myself).

Click Here for this weeks.

As you must have seen we are back to posting audio of the child labor violation court case. These recordings give a fascinating and not often seen window into our justice system. Our goal is to post 4-5 updates of testimony a week so check back often.

If you missed the most recent post click here.

Have a great Shabbose.

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State Trial Audio – Rony Ordoniez

After much (maybe to much) delay we are going to be resuming posting audio of the state trial. One of the challenges we faced was/is the length of each clip, due to the interpreter things get repeated and dragged on for some time. The other problem is the addition of matters that dont pertain to the charges that the state kept trying to sneak in.

The solution to both those problems will be to present both edited pieces (just the essentials ) as well as the entire “uncut version” for those who are interested. We will dedicating a entire section to the “uncut” files so please check back soon for details.

We begin with Rony Ordoniez, as with all the other “minors” you will hear him describe lying his way into a job and reassure the court that he would have told any lie he had to in order to keep that job. You will also hear how he worked along his family members (including his father, who was never charged for allowing his minor son to work in the plant) who brought him from his home town in Guatemala. Interestingly all this information is offered by the state before the defense even begins to present their case.

Have a listen (both clips are around 15 minutes and the one describing the raid is about 5).

“Edited”  Testimony For The State  Of Iowa Click Here 

“Edited” Testimony For The Defense Click Here

To Hear Rony Describe The Raid (and Its Aftermath) On Agriprocessors (interestingly enough it was the state who brought this up and not the defense) Click Here

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Aleph Bais Gimmel

Anyone who has heard Mrs. Rubashkin speak, knows what Aleph, Bais, and Gimmel stands for. For those who have not heard her I will clue you in.

Aleph, Bais, Gimmel stands for Emunah, Bitachon and Geulah. If you have Emunah and Bitachon that will bring to Geulah.

As Mrs Rubashkin says this short 3 letter phrase has helped the family through the hell of the last 3 years.  The trick is, she explains to keep a lookout for the “winks and smiles” (patent pending) that Hashem sends us. When we open our eyes to these everyday miracles we can truly have the “Aleph Bais” that will lead to the “Geulah”.

Last night going through old pictures  I came across a picture of a dear old friend (albeit a short lived friendship) who was a main player in a amazing story of a “wink and smile” in the midst of great darkness. I also had to Zechus to play a part in this great story. Thought I would share the picture.

Here is the story in case you haven’t heard it from her.

After a full day of trial testimony in South Dakota we were walking the few blocks back to the Hotel/Shul/Yeshiva/Chabad House that we has set up (thank you best western putting up with all the noise). My wife and and I with our 2 month old baby were walking behind most of the group talking about the days events. From afar we noticed 2 people approaching us, it seemed  clear that they where coming to talk to us. They both appeared  to be homeless and not in the best health or hygiene. One of them was a tall white fellow with long un kept hair and the other was a stocky African american fellow. We tried walking a bit faster but they kept closing the gap. When they where within talking distance the tall white fellow says a very loud and proud “Shalom”!

Not what I was expecting I assure you.

Turns out he is a Jewish fellow who through a long series of unfortunate events ended up in Siux Falls South Dakota with no home and no job.

We invited him to our hotel/Shul/Yeshiva etc and offered him and his friend a early supper. When Sholom heard him say that he had never put on tefilin he jumped at the opportunity and we had a “Bar Mitzvah” right then and there, complete with singing and dancing.

After the “celebration” was finished he mentioned how much it all meant to him and he started speaking about his past Jewish experiences. His education he said was very limited and the only thing he remembers from his childhood lessons is “Aleph Bais Gimmel”!  :)

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Min Hamitzar Parshas Vayishlach

To download this weeks Min Hamitzar click here.

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3 Judges Who Uncovered The Sham

Close to a month ago the 8th Circuit issued a ruling on a process called “En Banc” (French for “on a bench”). The process refers to the hearing of a legal case where all judges of a court will hear the case (an entire “bench”), rather than a panel of them. In our case, after receiving what amounted to a “Rubber Stamp” ruling in favor of Linda Reade and the US Government the defense team asked for a En Banc in order that the other judge in the 8th Circuit  could give a ruling.

When the ruling on the En Banc came down reafiriming the decision made by the 3 judge panel (2 of  the 3 had sat on a case that same day with Judge Reade herself) it seemed like bad news, but on closer examination the ruling actually proves that  in order for justice to be served a new trial must be had.

Keep in mind the crux of the appeal was that Linda Reade had to recuse herself (remove herself) from the case because she was partial and biased due to, among other things, her (at least) 12+ meetings with the government prior to the raid. Having a fair, unbiased judge, and judicial system is the corner stone of any just legal system and the lack of such a judge is the quickest and surest way to a morally and ethically bankrupt system.

If you examine the En Banc (here) you will see at the top of page 2 that “Judges Melloy, Colloton, and Gruender were disqualified from the consideration and decision in this matter.” 

Huh? 3 Judges (out of ?) were disqualified from the case, why?

The answer to that question illustrates a bizarre contradiction that demonstrates how pitiful our legal system can be and all the proof you need that a new trial is a absolute must.

Turns out that it was decided that each of the 3 Judges had a conflict of interest or bias with regards to this case. What were these terrible biases that would not allow these 3 judges to participate in such a obvious brutal miscarriage of justice?

While we don’t have concrete answers (the court is not obligated to give explanation for such actions) based on information gathered from people familiar with the parties it seems that (and I won’t name names since nothing is confirmed);

• Judge #1 was a ex law partner “back in the day” with a member of the defense team.
• Judge #2 lives close to Postville and it was felt that all the post raid media would make him biased
• Judge #3 is from S. Louis and while there is no direct link to Judge Reade it is not a stretch that some contact between the two of them would have occurred.