Lakewood, NJ – Outrage continues to build across the Lakewood community following the arrest and incarceration of R’ Binyomin Kubani, a respected ben Torah and father of eight, after a routine visit to a local car wash led to a baseless and unjustified accusation.
In response, a large protest and tefillah rally has been scheduled for today, 10 Tammuz/July 6, at 2:00 PM outside the Lakewood Police Department headquarters at 231 3rd Street.
The event is expected to draw thousands in a united show of support for R’ Binyomin and condemnation of what is being described as a modern-day alilas dam — a blood libel.
A dramatic flyer circulating in Lakewood and beyond features stark Hebrew and English warnings: “Lo saamod al dam re’acha – Do not stand idly by your brother’s blood!” The flyer accuses the police of perpetrating a modern-day blood libel, slamming the arrest as an unprecedented miscarriage of justice by the Lakewood Police Department.
As previously reported by Matzav.com, the incident began when R’ Binyomin stopped at a Route 88 car wash with his toddler in tow to address a lingering odor caused by spilled meat from Shabbos. Seeking assistance as he had done previously, he asked a 15-year-old Hispanic teen working nearby if he would be available to clean the vehicle carpets at his home at a convenient time.
Rather than responding, the teen abruptly backed away, snapped a photo of R’ Binyomin, and flagged down a passing police car. The police, acting without hearing R’ Binyomin’s side, spoke to the teen for a statement, arrested R’ Binyomin, and transferred him to Ocean County jail, where he remains behind bars.
The police report claimed the teen fled the scene after being “solicited,” but footage reviewed by community members tells a different story: R’ Binyomin’s vehicle left before the teen did, undermining the entire premise of the accusation. Despite legal representation being present, authorities refused to allow R’ Binyomin to provide his account or evidence.
Community members and rabbonim have expressed disbelief at the treatment of a man whose only “crime” appears to have been seeking cleaning help — something entirely common and innocent.
Today’s protest follows a gathering that took place Motzoei Shabbos, where dozens of Lakewood residents stood outside the police station saying Tehillim and demanding justice. Notably, three roshei yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoha — Rav Malkiel Kotler, Rav Yisroel Neuman and Rav Yeruchom Olshin — were in attendance.
As of now, the Lakewood Police Department has not issued any official clarification or update on the case.
VIDEOS AND PHOTOS FROM LAST NIGHT:
{Matzav.com}
Disgusting to call this a blood libel.
People should NOT go to a car wash to hire one of the employees to come to your house to do….the very work they do at the car wash…
You have no idea about the facts in this case. The car wash in question is a SELF-SERVICE car wash on the corner of Park Ave and Main St, with NO EMPLOYEES. The teen in question happened to be standing by the corner, like hundreds of mexican/ latinos in Lakewood. People hire them all the time to do day jobs.
So now, if you ask a worker to work for you, you can get arrested in thrown in jail for a week? No investigation, no statement, nothing. He is clearly innocent, yet they refuse to even investigate it or hear his side of the story. This is a horrific story.
What? The customer was pleased with the work, and wondered whether he could moonlight to do a job for him to earn some extra money. Now there is punishment for that? The fellow could have simply refused the offer. What is the crime? This is a libel. And the police should be sued bigtime.
@ Boruch Shor . you are a idiot that doesnt give him the right to accuse him of luring which is a Libel
The car wash is self serve and does not have employees. They used the car wash as a meeting point, probably because that’s where they met last time.
Get your facts right before you say something, the car wash he was at is a do it yourself carwash. I do not believe there are employees there that offer such services.
R”l