Reb Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin Back in Solitary, Hasn’t Eaten in Days

19
>>Follow Matzav On Whatsapp!<<

rubashkinThe state trial of former Agriprocessors vice president Reb Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin will move forward, a judge said, despite concerns from defense attorneys about the local jail not meeting their client’s religious needs.

Matzav.com has learned that Reb Sholom Mordechai has actually been placed in solitary confinement.

Black Hawk County District Associate Judge Nathan Callahan also denied a defense motion today to delay Rubashkin’s trial on 83 misdemeanor child labor charges until July because of pre-trial publicity and new evidence presented to the defense.

The state alleges minors worked excessive hours and were exposed to poisonous chemicals and dangerous machinery while working at the slaughterhouse in Postville.

Defense attorney F. Montgomery Brown said Reb Sholom Mordechai  has not eaten since noon on Monday. The Black Hawk County jail had not offered kosher food that met his religious requirements, he said.

The county sheriff agreed to meet with a rabbi provided by Reb Sholom Mordechai’s  family that will detail his religious needs.

When Reb Sholom Mordechai’, 50, arrived at the county jail yesterday, guards initially had to carry him to around because he cannot walk without his yarmulke and tzitzis, Brown said.

“I can’t represent a client that’s not going to eat,” he said.

Reb Sholom Mordechai’walked in to court today wearing his yarmulke.

Judge Callahan said Iowa law does not require Reb Sholom Mordechai’to be present during the trial, so it will proceed without him, if necessary.

“I’m not trying to be disrespectful of anybody’s religious traditions or beliefs,” he said. “But I’m not derailing this proceeding because of his choice.”

Prosecutors said the trial should not be delayed because eight former underage workers flown in from Guatemala to testify are only authorized to remain in the country until early July.

Brown said pre-trial publicity from Reb Sholom Mordechai’sentencing hearing last week on fraud charges, as well as an article in Monday’s Des Moines Register, could prejudice the jury.

Only Reb Sholom Mordechai, who pleaded not guilty to all counts of child labor violations, will face trial on child labor charges.

Prosecutors whittled down the number of charges from the initial 9,201 to ensure the trial is completed in a reasonable amount of time.

Agriprocessors Inc. pleaded guilty to all counts, company attorney Mark Weinhardt said.

Prosecutors have dismissed charges against Aaron Rubashkin, family patriarch and company founder, and Laura Althouse, a human resources employee.

Prosecutors told the judge they are working on an agreement with human resources employee Karina Freund and human resources manager Elizabeth Billmeyer that will be resolved in the next few days.

Aaron Rubashkin was present as a corporate officer of Agriprocessors, the company attorney said.

Jury selection will begin this afternoon.

May Hashem be with Reb Sholom Mordechai’ben Rivkah.

{Dovid Bernstein-Matzav.com, The Des Moines Register}


19 COMMENTS

  1. What is the excuse this time for putting R’ Sholom Mordechai in solitary? I don’t usually over-react, but this has gone beyond all limits of a democratic justice system. He’s allowed to starve? We cannot stop for a minute the Tehillim, tefillos and hishtadlus on the part of Sholom Mordechai HaLevi ben Rivkah.

  2. Why is he in solitary confinment??? That makes no sense. I want to know, if I make the arrangments for a bus who reading this will join me to go there and protest?? Please post if you would be interested.

  3. wHAT LEAPS OFF THE PAGE is why so many charges were dropped? If indeed Shalom Mordechai was responsible for mistreating minors why any compassion from the prosecution? After all why will 8,938 worngs against children go unaddressed? Unless of course the original number was inaccurate and the overcharging was a tactic by prosecution to enflame potential jurors’ passions. Now if the State of Iowa is willing to drop over 8,900 counts against SMR how reliable are the charges actually being brought.
    As to Kashruth and whatever accommidation SMR requires SMR is headline news in Iowa he has been in state and county facilities for several months why in anticipation of his arrival arrangements were not in place. While jail is a denial of liberty and it is important inmates know who is incharge but the continuing ignorance of Jewish practice by Iowa corrections personal both on the state and county level is shocking. Additonally Judaism ins not a Choice. One is born a Jew though not recognized by the State Department Jews are recognized by most governments as a national group. Conversion to Judaism is as formal as becoming a naturalized citizen. The insensitivity by the Prosecutors and Bench in this matter should be worrisome as these folks are charged with preserving citizens’ civil rights even when they are in the Defendent’s table

  4. How accurate is this report that he hasn’t eaten in days and that he is in solitary confinement ? Where is this sourcefrom? It says Matzav has learned, what does that mean? just because you hear a rumor, does that make it accurate? Back up your claims with solid sources. This is irresponsible “jounalsim”.

  5. As we are sitting here with our hands folded, and our mouths hanging open at this latest piece of news, Sholom M. again in solitary confinement, no kosher food; and now they will proceed without him if they feel like it?
    My heart goes out to him, his wife, and children. My heart goes out to all of us in Klall Yisroel. We have called, emailed, signed petitions, and so far we really have gotten almost nowhere. They want 25 years, which to me is life; they want to import Guatemalens to masser on a man that gave them their food; they will believe anyone over Sholom.
    This case is blatant anti-semitism.
    Is it not time to go out and protest?
    Should we sit by and watch in horror?
    What do the gedolim say?

    How about a Pulsa DeNura? It works. Maybe a pulsa denura should be considered on these rotzchim?

  6. It sounds like these people just have no room for compassion on a felow human being. I mean just consider, how much this man has already suffered and how he is willing to starve for his religion, thinking about these facts they might get through their thick head, that he is not a criminal what so ever, and so a trial should be held for these so called people of the law. Where’s the supreme court in all this, and why isnt there buses lining up there on a daily basis showing these inhuman animals that their warped view of justice wont go without a fight, these people should be shown in the most peacefull way that no, jews are not obligated to calmly go to their slaughter, and yes us jews care more for one another then these inhuman beasts will ever be cared for in their whole life. If anybody is willing to check their history they will see how for instance when the blacks were treated in a inhumane way by being put at the back of buses and werent allowed to do business with whites, and they protested by not riding the buses, well their wishes and dreams came true in the end it took a long time but affirmative action came into place in the end, and so if we demonstrate and show that we wont stand for libells we might actually achieve something, its done in eretz yisroel charedim dont cuz from michalelei Shabis and the achieve beautifully, it can be done here too but, I am not das torah and maybe we are supposed to keep a low profile in gulus.

  7. The picture accompanying this article shows R. S.M Rubashkin without a yarmulke…it really hurts the spirit to watch him being photographed as such and I am sure that he would not like being shown this way. Maybe you ought to return his dignity to him by not printing a photo like the one above,and restoring, at least publicly, between us yidden a picture that represents him more accurately…as an ehrlicher yid. It really really hurts me to see him this way….

  8. I don’t think anybody is being anti-Semitic. They have the same rules for everybody. Is there really only meat in jail? Don’t they offer carrots, apples, bananas, salad, etc.? This trial is only supposed to take a few weeks, I’m sure there’s something he could eat. This just distracts from the whole thing. People are getting more frustrated with him, and that won’t help.

  9. Quote: As we are sitting here with our hands folded, and our mouths hanging open at this latest piece of news, Sholom M. again in solitary confinement, no kosher food; and now they will proceed without him if they feel like it?
    My heart goes out to him, his wife, and children. My heart goes out to all of us in Klall Yisroel. We have called, emailed, signed petitions, and so far we really have gotten almost nowhere. They want 25 years, which to me is life; they want to import Guatemalens to masser on a man that gave them their food; they will believe anyone over Sholom.
    This case is blatant anti-semitism.
    Is it not time to go out and protest?
    Should we sit by and watch in horror?
    What do the gedolim say?

    How about a Pulsa DeNura? It works. Maybe a pulsa denura should be considered on these rotzchim?

    Bubby, do you think it’s wise to call for the death of a federal judge and/or prosecutor in a public forum?

    People like you do more harm than good.

  10. never again! we said it after the holocaust, and now we are once again being treated the same way and there is nothing we can do about it. hashem yerachem.

  11. This world is divided into 2 types of people: those who sit and wait for the ghetto to be liquidated, and those who get up and do something. That’s the way it had always been, and that’s the way it will always be — until Moshiach comes. You ask me, the time for a low profile is OVER!!!

Leave a Reply to Anonymous Cancel reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here