The recent arrest of R’ Binyomin Kubani — a father of seven, accused without evidence while simply trying to hire help at a car wash — has deeply shaken the Lakewood community. While his release is a relief, the incident raises troubling questions with implications far beyond one man’s story.
What’s most concerning isn’t just the false accusation, but how quickly and unquestioningly the system responded. A 15-year-old made a claim with no evidence, and within minutes, a visibly Orthodox man was in handcuffs. No real investigation. No due process. Just a quick arrest — one that seemed all too easy.
Now, those watching — including some in immigrant communities — are taking note. I’ve heard it directly: “Say a Jew tried to take you — they’ll arrest him right away.” “That’s how you get a U visa.”
The risk is real. U visas are granted to individuals who claim to be victims of serious crimes — and an arrest, not a conviction, is often enough to get the process started. It creates a dangerous incentive: just say the right thing to the right person, and the system will do the rest.
This is not paranoia. It’s a conversation already happening on the ground — people sharing what to say, who to accuse, and how to benefit. And in today’s climate, with heightened sensitivity and fear of backlash, a visibly Orthodox man makes an easy target.This is not just about one man. It’s about safeguarding the integrity of our justice system and ensuring that no group — especially a religious minority — becomes vulnerable to exploitation.
We owe it to our community, and to the truth, to speak up before these troubling whispers become a dangerous norm.
Sincerely,
Worried Sick
Lakewood, NJ
The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.
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13 Responses
Take it easy. Don’t deal with minors outside of our community, you’ll be fine.
We are in Golus and in Golus it is the nature of things for Jews to suffer. While it is true that in Golus Israel the Jews are suffering more, in Golus America the Jews are also suffering.
Some unpleasant truths:
1) This type of visa isn’t new. Claiming it invites scrutiny of the extended family, employer, and wider immigrant community, not all of which would appreciate a visit from the police, ICE, or gang enforcement. It isn’t the golden ticket people seem to think it is
2) The protests resulted in the Rabbi being allowed to post a bond a day earlier than expected He’ll have his day in court. At that point all of the details of the incident will become public. I’d encourage everyone to exercise discretion in making assumptions about an incident that can easily be handled quietly and away from the media spotlight
3) There is a mitzvah to hire a Jewish person, even if it’s more expensive. There are enough needy Yidden in Lakewood for the entire community to be reliant on cheep immigrant labor.
Some organization should put out some basic information for the public what to do and say if stopped by the police. Also, situational awareness when dealing with immigrants.
Next time he will wash his own car. It’s not rocket science.
Surely you can’t really believe all the hogwash that was fitted to you about this case. It seems highly unlikely that Mr cubani was set up by this youth to obtain a u visa. Mr cubani approached him. Are you saying he made a split second decision to dream up this whole story for a visa? You don’t even know for a fact that the boy is here illegally. I bet you it turns out that he was born here to a Mexican mother. As far as saying that Mr cabani was arrested within minutes without any evidence, The circumstances belie that fact. Mr kobani was not even picked up at his home like most other perps. He was given the honorable courtesy of showing up to the police station with his lawyer. from the facts that have leaked out it appears that Mr cubani was given an opportunity to explain his whereabouts and circumstances. It appears that he wolf a fantastic tale of having spoiled meat in his car and some story about its normal to hire 15-year-olds to clean. The police could not substantiate the meat claim, nor do they accept that it was normal to hire 15-year-old boys to do work for you. Is more normal to hire adult men to do heavy work and females to do cleaning work. To any reasonable outside observer this was a perfectly legitimate arrest. I am not saying that Mr Cabani is guilty. I am saying that the police had reasonable grounds to arrest him and now they will need to prove his guilt otherwise he will be assumed to be innocent. It is us in the community who have pressured the police to take luring cases seriously. To now screen for the opposite is hypocritical and stupid.
Once a claim has been made the police have to respond. What is the alternative.
Several people have been commenting that a lawsuit against the department would be the way to stop this. I would add that naming the accuser in the lawsuit would be another good idea.
Simple solution – don’t hire illegals. And if one of them tries to target you so they can play the victim, call ICE and turn the tables on them.
This tragic incident is clearly a message to us in the Lakewood community from Hashem, as are all incidents always. We have to contemplate what we must learn from this. I am far from any level of da’as Torah, and probably far from even da’as ba’al habayis. But each yid has to be “misbonen” what lesson is to be learned. So I want to share my “theory”, and hear what others have to say (I trust to hear only intelligent, sincere, mature, and civil responses).
During the recent months of threats of rocket attacks from Iran, and before that from Gaza, Hezbollah, Houtties, etc. there was a heartfelt outpouring of Tehillim following every tefilah, whether it be in the yeshivos or the shuls, followed by the outcry of “Acheinu kol bais Yisrael…”. In the recent weeks since the threat has diminished, there has been a noticeable laxity. Many minyanim have reverted to 1 Kapitel instead of 2, many have stopped altogether. In those shuls where there are many minyanim for Mincha and Maariv, and even occasionally in BMG maariv minyanim, it now seems to be left to the whim of the particular baal tefilah. If he doesn’t say Tehillim, nobody says Tehillim. I’ve even noticed several times where someone in the tzibur calls out to the baal tefilah to please say Tehillim, and he is ignored.
So I ask: have we forgotten about the precious yiddishe neshomos who are still captive and tortured in Gaza? Are we not aware of the hundreds of precious yidden arrested and fearing for their lives in Iran? (Perhaps there should be an Atzeres Tefilah for them also,….I’m not aware that there was one). Are the Houttie missiles no longer a threat?
Following the dictum of “midah k’neged midah”, perhaps this is one “wake up call” lesson that Hashem is giving us. We must continue to feel the pain of all the yidden still in captivity, and we must continue to storm the Heavens with heartfelt Tehillim and tefilos as we’ve done till now. The Koach of even some minimal Tehillim said by a tzibbur is beyond comprehension. Hashem has tremendous nachas kaviyochol from our display of nosei b’ol with the captured Yidden. It’s in our hands to bring their yeshua. Let’s feel for them as we feel for our beloved victim in this local incident. Let’s not ease up in the intensity.
Do I have a point? Or am I totally off the mark?
Time to stop hiring illegal immigrants and illegal aliens tob prevent this situation from happening. And they’ll all be sorry they have no jobs to live for trying to accuse innocent jews
This situation is a strong reminder to us that, all ALL times, in ALL situations, we are to present ourselves and behave as proper children of HKBH. Our actions should never even hint at the possibility of misbehavior or breaking the law. It can easily turn into a chillul Hashem even if accusations are false.
The risk of a false allegation is constant. ANYONE, legal or illegal can make a criminal complaint against anyone. The cleaning lady can say there was an uninvited touch, the neighbor can say you made a threat, the child down the block can say you offered him or her something, and the student can say you hit him or her. There is NO WAY to protect yourself from false allegations! Most accusers won’t make up a story about you for no reason, but some might. Their reason? (a) An overactive imagination; (b) Malice; (c) Extortion/blackmail; (d) Misunderstanding; (e) Revenge; (f) any other reason! We trust the Criminal Justice System that the police will properly investigate and charge when they have reasonable and probable grounds, and then the DA will decide if there is enough evidence for a prospect of conviction, and then the court’s judge will decide guilt beyong a reasonable doubt, or acquit. No one can protect themself 100% from being falsely accused, just as one cannot 100% protect themself from being a victim of a car accident (pedestrian or driver/passenger). Being careful can improve our odds. Acting safely helps but no guarantee. ANYONE can be dragged into the nightmare of a false allegation. Yes, most allegations are true, even if difficult to prove, but for those falsely accused, life becomes a living hell: the stress, legal costs, whispers, stigma on the accused AND FAMILY. And anyone can accuse you, me or anyone else of anything!