The Dovid Fischer saga is the story of Crown Heights. The corrupt community leaders of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council Inc., along with their Rabbonim and allies, dragged the entire community into their communal wars over three decades ago. Since that time, the in-fighting, hatred, and internecine battles, have grown unceasingly. While Dovid Fischer is no longer at the epicenter, the communal wars still rage on. There are new names and faces, and still some of the old ones too but, the same methods of operation have always been used. This includes a corrupt cabal that has maintained control over the mechanisms of local political power and influence. This cabal has been using fear, intimidation, bullying, deceit, bribery, and a myriad of the same underhanded dirty tricks used by tyrants throughout history. These methods have been tested and proven to work over time, as there is nothing new under the sun.
As illustrated in George Orwell’s seminal book Animal Farm, corrupt totalitarians of all kinds gain their power through focusing on and creating an outside enemy or group of enemies. Maligning and slandering this outside enemy, whether it be Dovid Fischer, Aguch/Krinsky the Shomrim/Hershop brothers, is essential if the cabal is to gain the loyalty of the masses. Fanning the flames of fear and hatred among the people arouses their need and desire for the cabal’s leadership and protection. Help us and support us, the cabal will claim, because if not, the enemies, who are far worse than we could ever be, will take over. Classical scapegoat theory comes into to play as the Dovid Fishers and the Hershkops of the world become the ‘Jews’ of Crown Heights- convenient targets upon whom to place all the blame. No money for community programs? The CHJCC is ineffectual, even harmful to the community? Not their fault! If only the Fishers and/or the Hershkops would get out of their way everything would be wonderful. It’s an old con game however, and the good news is that the con is up. The corrupt ones have overplayed their hand.