Chapter 13: Failed Promises in Negotiations

“For I have heard the whispering of many, terror al/ around; when they took counsel against me, they planned to take my soul (life).” (Tehillim 31:14)

As has been shown, Rabbi Fischer was more than willing to negotiate for a peaceful settlement to this machloykes while his enemies were only interested in its continuation. An elderly, respected Rabbi, a renowned mashpiah in Yerushalayim came to Rabbi Fischer to find a way to end the dispute. Rabbi Fischer explained to him that he was willing to go to a Zablah in order to make shalom.

The mashpiah flew to N.Y. to meet with Rav W. and Rav L. specifically for the purpose of finding a conclusive end to the machloykes. His was a peace mission.

The mashpiah met with Rav W. and Rav L. and told them that they cannot continue saying that Rabbi Fischer does not want to appear with them before a Din Torah because, on the contrary, Rabbi Fischer wishes to have a Zablah. The mashpiah told these Rabbonim that they should grant Rabbi Fischer the Zablah he desires and put a final end to the dispute.

Rabbi W. told the mashpiah that if Rabbi Fischer agreed to go before three Rabbonim then the Beis Din of Crown Heights will remove the adverse papers against Rabbi Fischer. The mashpiah asked if he could choose the three Rabbonim from Eretz Yisroel, and the Beis Din of Crown Heights agreed that this would be acceptable to them. The mashpiah gave examples of the caliber of Rabbonim he would consider for this Din Torah. Rabbi W. gave the mashpiah a signed paper stating that the Beis Din of Crown Heights would agree to a Din Torah with Rabbi Fischer with three Rabbonim that the mashpiah chooses.

The mashpiah was optimistic about a peaceful settlement. He believed in the agreement he had just made with earnest sincerity and he returned to Eretz Yisroel to contact these three Rabbonim.

The three esteemed, respected Rabbis whom the mashpiah contacted, wrote to Rabbi W. in N.Y. They wrote that Rabbi Fischer was willing to appear before a Beis Din with them and that they would act as the Rabbonim in this case.

The mashpiah brought this letter with him back to N.Y. in the hope of working out the final logistics for this Din Torah. His hopes were soon dashed when he found that Rabbi W. had simply changed his mind. Rabbi W. said that the Vaad and certain private individuals were not yet prepared to have a Din Torah in Eretz Yisroel. The mashpiah exclaimed that they had agreed and Rabbi W. had even signed a paper with his name to this agreement. Rabbi W. said he could do nothing since the other side was unwilling.

The elderly, respected mashpiah from the Holy Land, after having spent time, money and energy in order to make shalom, gave up in despair! He had endured the hardship of traveling back and forth from N.Y., with a signed agreement in hand, only to find that it was not worth the paper it was written on!

This episode vividly illustrates that Rabbi Fischer’s enemies are lying when they claim they want a Din Torah and Rabbi Fischer refuses to have one. Could it be that Rabbi Fischer’s enemies are unwilling to go with him to a Zablah because they fear that if unbiased, neutral Rabbonim hear his case then they will probably judge in Rabbi Fischer’s favor?

Mei heichan dantuni?–From what premise in Torah did the Beis Din of Crown Heights deny Rabbi Fischer a Zablah?