One of the problems in Orthodoxy now is the holier than thou attitude of the Charedi world. I see it uttered from time to time by people who will try and divert attention from their own problems by pointing out the problems of others. If I see a major Chilul HaShem done by religious Jews and the problem seems to manifest itself mostly in one segment, I will make a public condemnation of it and call upon those in that segment to take steps to fix the problems. I may even suggest some ways in which they might try and do it.
I do sometimes criticize what I see as missteps along the way but it is all done L’Shem Shamyim. I do not want to see anymore public Chilul HaShem. And yes, sometimes I get very emotional and angry about it. The events of the last 10 days certainly warranted it. Those events all took place within that period - and made a Chilul HaShem. And in each of those cases - those involved were Charedim of one sort or another.
Most Charedim I believe realize that there is a problem and they understand that something needs to be done. Agudah also finally realizes that this problem can no longer be swept under the rug.
But there are some who take umbrage when they are given Musser from outside their camp. They see it as an ‘us versus them’ situation. They will say to a Centrist like me ‘Your community is worse’ so shutup about ours’. ‘You have no right to criticize us until you clean up your own house.’ This is the difference between many in the Charedi world who think like this - and me. I see this as our problem. They see it as a ‘your community versus our community’ problem.
Attorney Benjamin Brafman demonstrated this very well in the anecdote he spoke about at the Agudah gathering last Tuesday night. He was denied his right to lead the prayer service as a mourner by a Chasidic fellow in charge of a Minyan - because of the way he looked. He was not wearing a hat and did not have a Gartel - the extra belt that Chasidim use for prayer.
Had the situation been reversed Mr. Brafman would have surely given that right to a Chasid without any hesitation. Mr. Brafman considers him part of the same Klal – the same people as himself. It is the Chasid in his anecdote that made this artificial division – thus denying Mr. Brafman his Halachic right. This is what certain elements in the Charedi world are doing. They want to separate and divide.
It isn't my house versus their house. It is our house. We are all family. When one brother errs it does not do any good to say that another brother is just as bad or worse. One has to deal with the problem at hand. Many in the Charedi world have a problem with receiving Mussar from people outside their own little space – their own Daled Amos. They refuse to take it from those they perceive to be lesser Jews.
They then try and prove others are lesser Jews by finding as much fault in them as possible and then saying 'clean your own house’. Thus they divert attention from their problems. They see us as the enemy - to be put in our proper places - just as guilty in financial or ethical matters - and worse in ritual matters. They think that only their own people - Unzere - can criticize. Others have no right.
Well, guess what? We ARE ALL 'Unzere'. It's called Klal Yisroel.Instead of trying to divert attention from their problems they ought to be doing what Agudah tried to do. And realize as Agudah did that there is a fly in the ointment of Charedi Hashkafos:
From the Forward:
A “wake-up call” is how a number of ultra-Orthodox Jewish leaders are describing the recent arrest of several New York-area rabbis on federal money laundering charges.
The clearest indication of the newly awakened state came at a public symposium on business ethics held in the middle of ultra-Orthodox Brooklyn just a few days after the arrests. Rabbi David Zwiebel, head of the main ultra-Orthodox umbrella organization, Agudath Israel, said that the event had not been on the schedule a week earlier. But the money laundering arrests reminded him and other leaders that the ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi, community was facing problems caused by the community’s famous insularity.
“There are a lot of benefits of insulating oneself from the broader culture around us, as we do,” Zweibel told the Forward. “But one of the costs of insularity is perhaps a lack of appreciation of the importance of compliance with secular law. That is a message that is important for people to hear.”
We can quibble over whether it was right to let the Spinka Rebbe - who is about to serve a sentence for his own money laundering scheme - speak or not. Or whether what he said was appropriate or not. But to automatically say with righteous indignation: 'You cannot criticize us because and you guys are worse' is missing the boat entirely. Those who think like this ought to take some sage advice: ‘Take the Truth from whoever states it!’ That means even if it is from someone who is Modern Orthodox.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
When Will It End?
Here it is Tisha B’Av again. They are coming sooner and sooner it seems as I grow older. This is the day where we mourn the loss of both Temples destroyed on the same day of the year in history – the 9th of Av. We also mourn many other tragedies today, not the least of which is the Holocaust where more Jews were killed than in any other tragedy in history! …Many of them in torturous ways.
One of the most gruesome description of torture is contained in the Kinos of Tisha B'Av. Kinos is a group of Piyutim written mostly in medieval times. This description is also containd in Musaf of Yom Kippur.
The victims of these horrible torture/deaths were some of the greatest Jews who ever lived. None of whom deserved it. But God - for his own reasons- mandated it upon them. They are called the Asarah Harugei Malchus – loosely translated this means - the ten who were executed by the government.
Just to describe a few of them.
The Tanna R’ Yishmael had just witnessed his colleague R’ Shimon’s gruesome death by beheading. R’ Yishmael was to be next. The executioner’s daughter was in attendance and was attracted to his handsome countenance. She begged her father to spare him for her, but he refused. She then asked that his face be skinned while he was yet alive so she could stuff it and continue to gaze upon it. He agreed and skinned R’ Yishmael alive!
Another torturous death was experienced by one of the greatest and perhaps most famous Tannaim of all, Rabbi Akiva. Before he was killed they raked his body with a sharp steel comb.
And another cruel and torturous death was given to Chananya Ben Teradyon. He was dragged out of the Beis Hamedrash and his body burned together with branches. To insure a slow and painful death they saturated some sponges with water and placed them on his chest so he would burn more slowly and his death be delayed.
This story has always perplexed me. My sense of Divine justice and mercy cries out. How can such great people have been so savagely treated by the One whom they served the most? Why did they get this horrible fate? I know that there are rabbinic discussions about this issue. Tzadik V’Ra Lo. But I still cannot understand it.
Nor can I fully understand any of our torturous history. Jews have suffered greatly as a people whether it was at the hands of the Church during the Spanish Inquisition, the Cossack Massacres of the 17th Century, the European pogroms and of course the grand-daddy of them all – the Holocaust.
I think it is safe to say that as a people we have suffered the Tochacha, the curses described in the Torah – promised to the Jewish people for forsaking God. It started with the destruction of the two Temples in Jerusalem and has continued throughout the Diaspora culminating in the holocaust. And as if that weren’t enough many of our brothers and sisters in Israel still suffer at the hands of Islam.
When will it all end? It is my hope and prayer that it will all end soon with the coming of Moshiach Tzidkenu speedily and in our days. May we all celebrate Tisha B’Av - as Chazal tell us will be the case after Moshaich arrives - in joyous celebration next year in Jerusalem rebuilt.
One of the most gruesome description of torture is contained in the Kinos of Tisha B'Av. Kinos is a group of Piyutim written mostly in medieval times. This description is also containd in Musaf of Yom Kippur.
The victims of these horrible torture/deaths were some of the greatest Jews who ever lived. None of whom deserved it. But God - for his own reasons- mandated it upon them. They are called the Asarah Harugei Malchus – loosely translated this means - the ten who were executed by the government.
Just to describe a few of them.
The Tanna R’ Yishmael had just witnessed his colleague R’ Shimon’s gruesome death by beheading. R’ Yishmael was to be next. The executioner’s daughter was in attendance and was attracted to his handsome countenance. She begged her father to spare him for her, but he refused. She then asked that his face be skinned while he was yet alive so she could stuff it and continue to gaze upon it. He agreed and skinned R’ Yishmael alive!
Another torturous death was experienced by one of the greatest and perhaps most famous Tannaim of all, Rabbi Akiva. Before he was killed they raked his body with a sharp steel comb.
And another cruel and torturous death was given to Chananya Ben Teradyon. He was dragged out of the Beis Hamedrash and his body burned together with branches. To insure a slow and painful death they saturated some sponges with water and placed them on his chest so he would burn more slowly and his death be delayed.
This story has always perplexed me. My sense of Divine justice and mercy cries out. How can such great people have been so savagely treated by the One whom they served the most? Why did they get this horrible fate? I know that there are rabbinic discussions about this issue. Tzadik V’Ra Lo. But I still cannot understand it.
Nor can I fully understand any of our torturous history. Jews have suffered greatly as a people whether it was at the hands of the Church during the Spanish Inquisition, the Cossack Massacres of the 17th Century, the European pogroms and of course the grand-daddy of them all – the Holocaust.
I think it is safe to say that as a people we have suffered the Tochacha, the curses described in the Torah – promised to the Jewish people for forsaking God. It started with the destruction of the two Temples in Jerusalem and has continued throughout the Diaspora culminating in the holocaust. And as if that weren’t enough many of our brothers and sisters in Israel still suffer at the hands of Islam.
When will it all end? It is my hope and prayer that it will all end soon with the coming of Moshiach Tzidkenu speedily and in our days. May we all celebrate Tisha B’Av - as Chazal tell us will be the case after Moshaich arrives - in joyous celebration next year in Jerusalem rebuilt.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
A Lesson to be Learned
There is a fascinating article on VIN. I must say that I am both shocked and pleased that these views are becoming more prevalent in the Charedi world. I have been saying these things for years. And I am constantly being rebuffed by those who either don’t value it or disagree with its essential truths.
I am talking about the sorry secular educational standards in the Charedi world. I have long railed against the nonexistent one in Israel. At the same time I assumed that there is a minimum level of decent secular education on the American side. But I have also realized that the pendulum was swinging further and further away from that. It has not entirely vanished. Yet. But based on descriptions in the VIN article, it seems that the push to abolish all secular studies in the Charedi world is way ahead of schedule.
What happened last Thursday is not unrelated to this issue. Not at all. When people can’t get decent jobs they will sometimes turn to crime. They may find illegal businesses to set up and earn money that way. Careers open to college educated people are closed to those without it.
I’m not necessarily saying that’s what happened in the money laundering case. But it is not too much of a stretch to see a connection between a lack of a decent education and job opportunity. And it is not too great a leap from there to what we have seen last week. Yesterday there were two additional fraud cases in the news. Both involved either Chasidic or non Chasidic Charedi Jews.
This is all aside from the fact that there is a serious lack of ethical behavior being taught in these schools. Apparently Agudah realizes that problem now and the call for an emergency meeting last night reflected that. But VIN is right. There is another huge problem and is being ignored. He called it the elephant in the room. It is all about the serious lack of secular education.
I’m not sure whether things are going to change in this department because a few voices that are now beginning to speak up. The Hashakfos taught now have been ingrained in Charedi educators for decades. They consist of - but are not limited to - the following:
*Talmid Torah K’Neged Kulam means full time learning is the highest calling and therefore to be vigorously pursued to the detriment of every other pursuit.
*A thousand people need to be put in the Beis HaMedrash in order to produce one Gadol - even if 999 of them fall through the cracks it’s worth it to get even one Gadol.
*Baalei Batim are second class citizens.
*Secular studies do not have any real value.
*Torah is not just the Ikkar - It is the only!
*Working is at best a B’dieved.
*One should stay in learning as long as possible. Preparing for an eventual job is out of the question while one is involved in learning.
This is a culture that was not built in a day. And it will be very difficult to change the paradigm – if that is even possible anymore. Nor am I convinced that Charedi rabbinic leadership is inclined to do so – even now!
But if they don’t treat the whole ‘paitent’ …if they do not try and remove both diseases… if they try and remove only one and not the other – the ethical problem and not the educational problem – the patient will surely die.
That was about what did not take place last night at the Agudah meeting. Now a word about what did.
I’m not sure how that meeting went last night. I am not going to listen to the available recordings of the entire evening. I simply do not have the time. As of yet I have seen no synopses or reports about it anywhere.
But if what is trickling out so far is true, I am unconvinced that they accomplished much. Having a convicted felon there saying ‘I’m truly sorry’ - no matter how sincere - does not really cut it for me. It may even have undercut whatever good might have come out of that meeting. Bernie Madoff was sorry too. Truly sorry. That really impressed his victims. And the Judge. His sentence: 150 years in prison!
He is going to be spending the rest of his life in jail. How much more askance should we look upon a religious leader who is responsible for a huge Chilul HaShem!
YWN had a relevant post about about Rav Schwab’s thoughts on this subject. Here are quotes by him - all taken from Chazal:
“He who has committed Chillul Hashem, even Teshuvah, Yom Kippur and suffering cannot fully atone for his sin until the day of his death.” (Yoma 86)
“Better to commit a sin in secrecy than to commit Chillul Hashem in public.” (Kiddushin 40)
There is no delay in the Divine punishment for Chillul Hashem, whether committed knowingly or unknowingly.” (Kiddushin 40)
“If one steals from a non-Jew, swears falsely and dies, his death is no atonement for his sin because of Chillul Hashem.” (Tosefta B. Kamma, 10)
“He who desecrates the name of Heaven in secrecy is punished in public.” (Avos 4)
“All sins are forgiven by G-d but Chillul Hashem. He punishes immediately.” (Sifri Haazinu)
Looking at these quotes -I do not see inviting a felon to say I’m sorry as being justified at all.
I feel sorry for the Spinka Rebbe. There are certainly worse felons than he. I do not wish him any more pain than he is currently suffering. And I’m sure he is suffering. I can understand the embarrassment he and his family must be going through.
But Agudah should not have invited him. They did not do themselves a favor. Nor did this help solve the problem. Kiddush HaShem is the only antidote to Chilul HaShem. Kiddush HaShem does not mean saying I’m Sorry.
Let ‘s reflect on everything that happened here over the last few weeks. The fact that there was an uptick in uncovering more crime by religious Jews less than 48 hours before Tisha B’Av should not be lost on us. There is a message in there somewhere.
Perhaps it is that the entire religious world should examine and analyze deeply why this happened and learn from it. We need to combine our efforts in this area. And rid Orthodox Jewry of the terrible scourge of one Chilul HaShem after another. It is time for a new era to dawn. One that turns the tide towards more productive and ethical lives for all of us. And forever eliminates any chance for a Chilul HaShem like this ever happening again.
Update: (7/29/09 5:11 pm cdt) A video of attorney Benjamin Braffman speaking from the podium at last night's Agudah gathering has been made available online. I offer it here (above). I believe he is exactly right. What he experienced is a huge part of the problem with these communities too.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
His name is Dwek!
A word about Solomon Dwek – the so called co-operating witness. He is the Charedi fellow who wore an FBI wire and tricked rabbis into thinking he was a criminal - and needed some criminally tainted money to be laundered. And they supposedly happily complied.I have no love lost for people who become government informants to save their own skins. But was he guilty of Mesirah – the severe sin of informing against a fellow Jew to a non Jewish government?
There are many people saying that he is. But I tend to doubt it
Consider the Gemarah in Bava Metzia. It tells of about the Tanna R’ Elazar Ben Shimon. He was employed by the secular government to not only inform but to capture and turn in fellow Jews guilty of crimes against the government. And he did so zealously. One of his captures ended up with the death penalty. He was rebuked by his fellow rabbis and later regretted it. There is a lengthy discussion there about the Teshuva he did to make up for it.
I could be wrong but I do not recall what he did being called Mesirah in the Gemarah. I would think that in no way could R’ Elazar ever be convinced by a secular authority to capture a fellow Jew and hand him over to the government if by doing that he would be violating the laws of Mesirah. If I understand correctly avoiding Mesirah requires one to choose his own death rather than violating it. It is therefore hard to imagine R’ Elazar doing it.
Consider also the Halacha as stated by Rabbi Hershel Schachter:
If, however, one is guilty of a crime, and according to the law of the land deserves a prison sentence, or will be put to death, even though according to Jewish law his punishment would not be as severe, this is not mesirah (see Ritva to Bava Metsia 83b; Dvar Avraham vol. I pg. 8). One would still not be allowed to hand this individual over to the civil authorities because this is the equivalent of returning aveidas akum, which is usually not allowed. In an instance of avoiding a chilul Hashem, just like we would be obligated to return the aveidas akum, so too we would be obligated to hand over this individual (see Rama, Choshen Mishpat 388:12).
I would certainly think that helping the government stop long term criminal activity does not qualify as Mesirah. An argument can even be made that if one were doing this for altruistic reasons it might even be a Kiddush HaShem.
That said I doubt that Mr. Dwek did any of this for altruistic reasons. He apparently did it to save himself after being caught in his own crime. A Kiddush HaShem it is not. But Mesirah? I don’t think so.
What is troubling to me is the fact that there is an entire mindset among some Jews – mostly Charedim that focus only on this. The condemnations are all about Dwek and little if anything is being said about these criminal rabbis.
In my view these are two separate issues. Talking about Mr. Dwek is a distraction. In my view - what these rabbis supposedly did is such a Chilul HaShem that Mr. Dwek’s co-operation with the authorities is a minor issue by comparison.
Those who continue to complain about him and say nothing about these criminal rabbis once again shows just how pervasive is the idea that what these rabbis did wasn’t all that bad. What WAS too bad is that they were caught.
I hope at the Agudah meeting tonight that Mr. Dwek’s name is not even mentioned. Because I am sure that some people in attendance will hear only that and ignore any Mussar about the criminal acts of these rabbis - which are the source of the Chilul HaShem.
And I certainly hope there is no apologetics! There has to be clear and unequivocal condemnation of what happened. No Limud Zechus. There should be nothing said tonight that could possibly weaken that message.
If the way things are done in this community don’t change then this WILL happen again.
Monday, July 27, 2009
A Wake Up Call?
Is Agudah finally waking up? They were silent when the Spinka Rebbe was arrested. But they are silent no more.
A letter was posted on YWN. It is an invitation to a meeting designed to deal with the recent arrests of several rabbis for money laundering. Two rabbis and two attorneys will be participating. I urge the media to attend and report on exactly what happened.
I just hope this is a beginning and not an end. As Rabbi Zweibel says:
It is (vital) that we hear words of mussar and chizuk, and that we learn to distinguish between conduct that conforms with dina d’malchusa and conduct that does not.
What is sad is that this kind of meeting is even needed! ...that people do not understand what conforms with Dina D'Malchusa.
The culture that produced these rabbi/criminals has to change. I’m glad to see Agudah calling this meeting. I think the letter expresses the right attitude. I will reserve any further comment until I find out what happened there.
Here’s the letter:
I am writing to friends and supporters of Agudath Israel to call your attention to an important gathering for the men of our community tomorrow night, Tuesday, 7 Menachem Av/July 28, in the Ohr Hachayim Viznitz Hall, 1824 53rd Street, in Brooklyn.
The asifa, which is being sponsored by community askonim, will be focusing on the timeless (but also all too timely) theme of “Vi’asisa hayashar vi’hatov.” It will feature two distinguished rabbonim - Harav Avrohom Schorr, shlita, and Harav Dovid Ozieri, shlita; as well as two respected legal experts - Benjamin Brafman, Esq. and Jacob Laufer, Esq. I will be serving as the evening’s chairman. We will start with Mincha at 7:15 and then proceed with the program.
Introspection about how to better live our lives in consonance with Torah ideals is always timely. It is particularly timely during the days leading up to Tisha B’Av, when we mourn the fact that we remain in Golus, and the reasons why.
And in the wake of recent headlines and front-page photographs that made every feeling Jewish heart ache, it is even more timely for us to take a good, hard look at our obligations to our fellows, to our society, to our government.
I don’t think I can adequately convey how compelling this gathering should be to us all. But I am confident that you realize how vital it is that we hear words of mussar and chizuk, and that we learn to distinguish between conduct that conforms with dina d’malchusa and conduct that does not. I am also confident that you understand how important it is to demonstrate to the wider world how heartfelt and determined Jews respond to news like the tragic tidings of recent days. Tomorrow night’s symposium and our attendance are an important part of that response.
Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel
Executive Vice President
Agudath Israel of America
A letter was posted on YWN. It is an invitation to a meeting designed to deal with the recent arrests of several rabbis for money laundering. Two rabbis and two attorneys will be participating. I urge the media to attend and report on exactly what happened.
I just hope this is a beginning and not an end. As Rabbi Zweibel says:
It is (vital) that we hear words of mussar and chizuk, and that we learn to distinguish between conduct that conforms with dina d’malchusa and conduct that does not.
What is sad is that this kind of meeting is even needed! ...that people do not understand what conforms with Dina D'Malchusa.
The culture that produced these rabbi/criminals has to change. I’m glad to see Agudah calling this meeting. I think the letter expresses the right attitude. I will reserve any further comment until I find out what happened there.
Here’s the letter:
I am writing to friends and supporters of Agudath Israel to call your attention to an important gathering for the men of our community tomorrow night, Tuesday, 7 Menachem Av/July 28, in the Ohr Hachayim Viznitz Hall, 1824 53rd Street, in Brooklyn.
The asifa, which is being sponsored by community askonim, will be focusing on the timeless (but also all too timely) theme of “Vi’asisa hayashar vi’hatov.” It will feature two distinguished rabbonim - Harav Avrohom Schorr, shlita, and Harav Dovid Ozieri, shlita; as well as two respected legal experts - Benjamin Brafman, Esq. and Jacob Laufer, Esq. I will be serving as the evening’s chairman. We will start with Mincha at 7:15 and then proceed with the program.
Introspection about how to better live our lives in consonance with Torah ideals is always timely. It is particularly timely during the days leading up to Tisha B’Av, when we mourn the fact that we remain in Golus, and the reasons why.
And in the wake of recent headlines and front-page photographs that made every feeling Jewish heart ache, it is even more timely for us to take a good, hard look at our obligations to our fellows, to our society, to our government.
I don’t think I can adequately convey how compelling this gathering should be to us all. But I am confident that you realize how vital it is that we hear words of mussar and chizuk, and that we learn to distinguish between conduct that conforms with dina d’malchusa and conduct that does not. I am also confident that you understand how important it is to demonstrate to the wider world how heartfelt and determined Jews respond to news like the tragic tidings of recent days. Tomorrow night’s symposium and our attendance are an important part of that response.
Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel
Executive Vice President
Agudath Israel of America
Trafficking in Human Organs
Imagine a loved one who is lying in a hospital with a life threatening illness. She suffers from kidney failure. All attempts to secure a donor for a kidney transplant have thus far failed. Dialysis is no longer affective. In short - she has been given only a few days to live if she does not find a viable donor. God forbid any of us ever experiences this tragic situation.
The question must be asked, what if there are donors who could save this woman’s life by donating one of their two healthy kidneys -but are not inclined to go through the risks of surgery. If I understand the Halacha correctly here, there is no obligation for anyone to too take even a relatively minor surgical risk to save another life. Although it is probably a great Mitzva to do so.
It isn’t only the surgery itself that is a risk. There is another factor to consider. It is the problem of being left with only one kidney. Although a person can live a completely normal, full and healthy life with only one kidney - what if it fails? It does happen. One kidney fails and the other one takes over. A donor with two healthy kidneys need not worry. But for someone who donated a kidney, he is now in a life threatening situation. The donor then becomes the victim of his own generosity.
On the other hand looking at it from the perspective of the person who faces almost certain death without a transplant - this seems to be very unjust. Factoring in all the above considerations - why need they face almost certain death when there are so many people with two healthy kidneys walking around but are unwilling to donate one of them?
Therein lies the question. What is the ethical position here? This is a difficult question for me. I do not have an answer.
Let us look at what is considered to be a very unethical – even disgusting – practice. One that is illegal: That of buying and selling kidneys.
From the perspective of a terminal patient who is willing to spend whatever it costs to save his life – is it even a question? Of course he is entitled to save his life as long as it does not involve endangering another. If one person is willing to sell one of his kidneys – an organ that one can live without and as a result another person will live – as disgusting as that may sound - why shouldn’t this transaction be legal – even ethical?
The answer I often hear to that question is it that will create an unsavory industry of selling vital human organs. And that could lead to things much worse. Once it becomes a commodity then all kinds of unscrupulous people will get in it for the money and all kinds of questionable practices will result.
A good example of that happened last week.
It is illegal to traffic in human organs. But that doesn’t mean a black market doesn’t exist. And an industrious Chasidic slime ball of an entrepreneur has probably made a fortune trafficking in them. The Chilul HaShem this fellow caused by his clear identification as a religious Jew is perhaps the biggest one coming out of last Thursdays money laundering arrests.
A co-operating witness offered him money to get a kidney. He not only agreed and took the money, he bragged about how long he has been doing it and his 100% track record of success in procuring kidneys! This was all recorded via a ‘wire’ placed on the witness by the FBI.
According to reports, he went to poor Israelis and offered them $10,000 dollars for their kidneys. He then turned around and sold them for $160,000 dollars to black market recipients. And there have been reports that when a donor changed his mind after the deal was made, he would force the donor at gunpoint to go through with the surgery.
This is so disgusting, that it is beyond comprehension! That anyone who calls himself a Jew would stoop to such a low level makes me wonder if this fellow is even human. That he is someone who is supposedly religious in his ritual practice seems obvious from the way he looks: long beard, peyos, the long black coat and felt hat – all symbols of the kind of piety associated with Chasidsm.
This is a man who very likely would not dream of using any dairy product that is not Chalav Yisroel. But trafficking in human organs…preying on impoverished Israelis to sell vital organs – sometimes at gun point (if the reports are true)… no biggie! I have been writing about the over focus on ritual and the under focus on ethics in these communities. But I never fail to be surprised at just how low some people parading as religious Jews can sink.
But if one factors out the seedy circumstance of this case, I’m not so sure it is all that unethical to buy a kidney from a healthy donor – especially when the result is that a life is saved.
As long as it is done in an equitable way with all the possible consequences spelled out for the donor - as unsavory as it may sound - why limit the possibility for saving life?
Perhaps a solution would be to make it legal and regulated. It goes on anyway in the black market and is unregulated. That is the worst possible scenario. Why not make it legal, safe, and strictly regulated so as to prevent the kind of abuse perpetrated in this case? That – it seems to me - is the most disgusting thing of all.
All this said, I must admit that the thought of buying and selling organs still seems pretty disgusting. But should that prevent instituting a public policy that could save many lives?
Just asking the question.
The question must be asked, what if there are donors who could save this woman’s life by donating one of their two healthy kidneys -but are not inclined to go through the risks of surgery. If I understand the Halacha correctly here, there is no obligation for anyone to too take even a relatively minor surgical risk to save another life. Although it is probably a great Mitzva to do so.
It isn’t only the surgery itself that is a risk. There is another factor to consider. It is the problem of being left with only one kidney. Although a person can live a completely normal, full and healthy life with only one kidney - what if it fails? It does happen. One kidney fails and the other one takes over. A donor with two healthy kidneys need not worry. But for someone who donated a kidney, he is now in a life threatening situation. The donor then becomes the victim of his own generosity.
On the other hand looking at it from the perspective of the person who faces almost certain death without a transplant - this seems to be very unjust. Factoring in all the above considerations - why need they face almost certain death when there are so many people with two healthy kidneys walking around but are unwilling to donate one of them?
Therein lies the question. What is the ethical position here? This is a difficult question for me. I do not have an answer.
Let us look at what is considered to be a very unethical – even disgusting – practice. One that is illegal: That of buying and selling kidneys.
From the perspective of a terminal patient who is willing to spend whatever it costs to save his life – is it even a question? Of course he is entitled to save his life as long as it does not involve endangering another. If one person is willing to sell one of his kidneys – an organ that one can live without and as a result another person will live – as disgusting as that may sound - why shouldn’t this transaction be legal – even ethical?
The answer I often hear to that question is it that will create an unsavory industry of selling vital human organs. And that could lead to things much worse. Once it becomes a commodity then all kinds of unscrupulous people will get in it for the money and all kinds of questionable practices will result.
A good example of that happened last week.
It is illegal to traffic in human organs. But that doesn’t mean a black market doesn’t exist. And an industrious Chasidic slime ball of an entrepreneur has probably made a fortune trafficking in them. The Chilul HaShem this fellow caused by his clear identification as a religious Jew is perhaps the biggest one coming out of last Thursdays money laundering arrests.
A co-operating witness offered him money to get a kidney. He not only agreed and took the money, he bragged about how long he has been doing it and his 100% track record of success in procuring kidneys! This was all recorded via a ‘wire’ placed on the witness by the FBI.
According to reports, he went to poor Israelis and offered them $10,000 dollars for their kidneys. He then turned around and sold them for $160,000 dollars to black market recipients. And there have been reports that when a donor changed his mind after the deal was made, he would force the donor at gunpoint to go through with the surgery.
This is so disgusting, that it is beyond comprehension! That anyone who calls himself a Jew would stoop to such a low level makes me wonder if this fellow is even human. That he is someone who is supposedly religious in his ritual practice seems obvious from the way he looks: long beard, peyos, the long black coat and felt hat – all symbols of the kind of piety associated with Chasidsm.
This is a man who very likely would not dream of using any dairy product that is not Chalav Yisroel. But trafficking in human organs…preying on impoverished Israelis to sell vital organs – sometimes at gun point (if the reports are true)… no biggie! I have been writing about the over focus on ritual and the under focus on ethics in these communities. But I never fail to be surprised at just how low some people parading as religious Jews can sink.
But if one factors out the seedy circumstance of this case, I’m not so sure it is all that unethical to buy a kidney from a healthy donor – especially when the result is that a life is saved.
As long as it is done in an equitable way with all the possible consequences spelled out for the donor - as unsavory as it may sound - why limit the possibility for saving life?
Perhaps a solution would be to make it legal and regulated. It goes on anyway in the black market and is unregulated. That is the worst possible scenario. Why not make it legal, safe, and strictly regulated so as to prevent the kind of abuse perpetrated in this case? That – it seems to me - is the most disgusting thing of all.
All this said, I must admit that the thought of buying and selling organs still seems pretty disgusting. But should that prevent instituting a public policy that could save many lives?
Just asking the question.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Female Rabbis - Recognizing Achievement in Torah Knowledge
Rabbi Michael Broyde has weighed in on the recent controversy surrounding the ‘ordination’ of a female rabbi by Rabbi Avi Weiss. Although Rabbi Weiss carefully avoided calling her rabbi he makes it very clear that she is to be treated the same as any male rabbi would. The term he chose is ‘Maharat’ a Hebrew acronym for a far more elaborate title than rabbi. It stands for Manhiga, Hilchatit Ruchanit Toranit meaning ‘a leader in Jewish religious law, spiritual matters and Torah’.
I find myself being pretty much in agreement with Rabbi Broyde’s views. I have in past written about the Halachic propriety of ordaining women as rabbis in Judaism. I do not believe there is any problem with formally acknowledging a woman’s achievement in this field. If she fulfils the requisite study and passes the exams, calling her a rabbi would not in my view violate any Halacha.
Especially since the term ‘rabbi’ as used today does not carry the same authority it once did in ancient times. Today it is granted to those who have successfully completed the required material of study. And it gives them permission to be a preacher and teacher in Israel – part of which allows them to disseminate Halacha. I see no reason a woman knowledgeable in Halacha cannot be relied upon to answer a Halachic question in which she is knowledgeable - same as any male rabbi would. So there is no Halachic reason preventing us from calling a woman by the title rabbi if she earns it.
But that does not mean we should.
The problem lies in how a rabbi’s role has been classically defined in our era – that of being a pulpit rabbi. Aside from the issue of Serrara which limits a woman’s role in Judaism in terms of public leadership roles - there are a myriad of other problems with a woman being a pulpit rabbi. I should note that there have been exceptions to the problem of Serrara for women historically - the most famous one of course being the Shofettes, Devorah. But it is the exception – not the rule.
Judaism defines its roles for men and for women. This does not make their value unequal. It just makes them different. A woman’s role is most often a private not a public one. Tehillim (45:14) tells us: ‘Kol Kevudah Bas Melech Penima’ - The glory of the daughter of a King (i.e all Jewish women) is on the inside. That is usually interpreted to mean that her primary role is on the private side – such as in raising a family. She is never mandated by Halacha to do anything in the public square. She should therefore as a genaral principle shy away from public forums. Indeed as Rav Hershel Schachter puts it modesty demands shying away from public roles even for men. Involvement in the public square by men should be seen only as a necessary evil.
But leaving all that aside there is a Halachic impediment to a woman being a Shul rabbi. And that is the traditionally defined role of a rabbi. He is the spiritual head of a synagogue. The idea of a woman being the spiritual head of a Shul where her Halachic participation is at best peripheral is kind of ridiculous. I’m not saying a woman's participation in prayer at a Shul doesn’t have any value. It has great spiritual value. But being in a Minyan of men is not a part of that.
One has to understand what the primary purpose of a Shul is. It is a house of prayer designed to be optimized via a Minyan – ten males. A woman’s presence in a Shul without a Mechitza - praying together with men - is therefore an impediment to prayer and forbidden by Halacha. I should note that this only applies to a Shul. No Mechitza is necessary in other areas. That is why we can see Minaynim popping up all over the place at weddings where women are present and moving about in full view of the men at the Minyan.
Rabbi Weiss figured out ways to avoid this Halachic pitfall. But even if they are Halachicly sound - they are quite strange in their application. Is it worth all this ‘twisting and turning’t so we can say that a woman is a Shul Rabbi? Leaving aside Halachic questions about its propriety - does giving a speech in a Shul have any real vaue here? What exactly is gained except to say that some artificial feminist social barrier has been broken?
That is the primary objection I have. In my view it is simply not worth the questionable Halachic pretzel one has to turn into in order for a woman to become a Shul rabbi.
That said there are plenty of other functions a woman can fulfill as a rabbi without any problems – and indeed as Rabbi Broyde correctly points out - many already do. Such as pastoral counseling or teaching. Or as being Yoatzot – Halachic advisors for women.
I certainly have no problem with the educational component. The term rabbi is just a title with little Halachic meaning in our day. But it does seem a bit strange to me calling a woman by a traditionally male occupational name. On the other hand the name Maharat seems just as strange – even confusing.
Rabbi Broyde uses the term cleric. I think that’s fine but a bit generic. Perhaps the term Rabbanit would satisfy my sense of strangeness about using the term rabbi or Maharat. The term Rabbanit is sort of a Hebraicizng of the term Rebbitzin – a term usually attributed to the wife of a rabbi. I think that would be the best use of the term and see no reason that female teachers, Halachic advisors and pastoral councilors cannot co-opt that term for themselves as a definitive one for achieving the same level of knowledge that a rabbi does. There is no reason in my mind we can’t recognize achievement in female learning in this way.
What we should not do however is push the envelope of change so far out that we end up making a camel out of a horse. That is in essence what we do when install a woman as the rabbi of a Shul – even if you call her Maharat.
I find myself being pretty much in agreement with Rabbi Broyde’s views. I have in past written about the Halachic propriety of ordaining women as rabbis in Judaism. I do not believe there is any problem with formally acknowledging a woman’s achievement in this field. If she fulfils the requisite study and passes the exams, calling her a rabbi would not in my view violate any Halacha.
Especially since the term ‘rabbi’ as used today does not carry the same authority it once did in ancient times. Today it is granted to those who have successfully completed the required material of study. And it gives them permission to be a preacher and teacher in Israel – part of which allows them to disseminate Halacha. I see no reason a woman knowledgeable in Halacha cannot be relied upon to answer a Halachic question in which she is knowledgeable - same as any male rabbi would. So there is no Halachic reason preventing us from calling a woman by the title rabbi if she earns it.
But that does not mean we should.
The problem lies in how a rabbi’s role has been classically defined in our era – that of being a pulpit rabbi. Aside from the issue of Serrara which limits a woman’s role in Judaism in terms of public leadership roles - there are a myriad of other problems with a woman being a pulpit rabbi. I should note that there have been exceptions to the problem of Serrara for women historically - the most famous one of course being the Shofettes, Devorah. But it is the exception – not the rule.
Judaism defines its roles for men and for women. This does not make their value unequal. It just makes them different. A woman’s role is most often a private not a public one. Tehillim (45:14) tells us: ‘Kol Kevudah Bas Melech Penima’ - The glory of the daughter of a King (i.e all Jewish women) is on the inside. That is usually interpreted to mean that her primary role is on the private side – such as in raising a family. She is never mandated by Halacha to do anything in the public square. She should therefore as a genaral principle shy away from public forums. Indeed as Rav Hershel Schachter puts it modesty demands shying away from public roles even for men. Involvement in the public square by men should be seen only as a necessary evil.
But leaving all that aside there is a Halachic impediment to a woman being a Shul rabbi. And that is the traditionally defined role of a rabbi. He is the spiritual head of a synagogue. The idea of a woman being the spiritual head of a Shul where her Halachic participation is at best peripheral is kind of ridiculous. I’m not saying a woman's participation in prayer at a Shul doesn’t have any value. It has great spiritual value. But being in a Minyan of men is not a part of that.
One has to understand what the primary purpose of a Shul is. It is a house of prayer designed to be optimized via a Minyan – ten males. A woman’s presence in a Shul without a Mechitza - praying together with men - is therefore an impediment to prayer and forbidden by Halacha. I should note that this only applies to a Shul. No Mechitza is necessary in other areas. That is why we can see Minaynim popping up all over the place at weddings where women are present and moving about in full view of the men at the Minyan.
Rabbi Weiss figured out ways to avoid this Halachic pitfall. But even if they are Halachicly sound - they are quite strange in their application. Is it worth all this ‘twisting and turning’t so we can say that a woman is a Shul Rabbi? Leaving aside Halachic questions about its propriety - does giving a speech in a Shul have any real vaue here? What exactly is gained except to say that some artificial feminist social barrier has been broken?
That is the primary objection I have. In my view it is simply not worth the questionable Halachic pretzel one has to turn into in order for a woman to become a Shul rabbi.
That said there are plenty of other functions a woman can fulfill as a rabbi without any problems – and indeed as Rabbi Broyde correctly points out - many already do. Such as pastoral counseling or teaching. Or as being Yoatzot – Halachic advisors for women.
I certainly have no problem with the educational component. The term rabbi is just a title with little Halachic meaning in our day. But it does seem a bit strange to me calling a woman by a traditionally male occupational name. On the other hand the name Maharat seems just as strange – even confusing.
Rabbi Broyde uses the term cleric. I think that’s fine but a bit generic. Perhaps the term Rabbanit would satisfy my sense of strangeness about using the term rabbi or Maharat. The term Rabbanit is sort of a Hebraicizng of the term Rebbitzin – a term usually attributed to the wife of a rabbi. I think that would be the best use of the term and see no reason that female teachers, Halachic advisors and pastoral councilors cannot co-opt that term for themselves as a definitive one for achieving the same level of knowledge that a rabbi does. There is no reason in my mind we can’t recognize achievement in female learning in this way.
What we should not do however is push the envelope of change so far out that we end up making a camel out of a horse. That is in essence what we do when install a woman as the rabbi of a Shul – even if you call her Maharat.
Friday, July 24, 2009
The Good News is….
This has been a very rough week - unprecedented in recent times in the amount of negative news affecting the Jewish people.More than one person has asked that in light of all the depressing news that I consider ending off the week on a positive note. It’s kind of hard being positive about anything with all that’s going on. But I will try.
There is one piece of good… uplifting news. At least for me and my family. And hopefully for Klal Yisroel as well.
There is a new addition to Klal Yisroel. Another Kohen has been added to its ranks. Last Monday afternoon my daughter Sari gave birth to a healthy six and a half pound baby boy(about 6 hours old in the picture above). Tonight we are going to be in the Yeshiva in Skokie (HTC) for a Shalom Zachor. The Bris will be - God willing - Monday morning in the Yeshiva.
I have tremendous gratitude to God for the great blessing He has bestowed upon my family. I don’t know what I did to deserve it but God has granted my wife and me: 4 beautiful children, one beautiful daughter-in-law, 3 beautiful sons-in-law, and 22 beautiful grandchildren.
Here are their names in chronological order - per family (I can usually do this B’Nishima Achas):
Yael Avigail
Shimon
Tehila Sara
Nechama
Mordechai
Malka
Chaim Aryeh
Meira Rachelle
Shimon
Mordechai
Noam
Dovid
Yitzchak
Yaffa
Mordechai Simcha
Menucha Rachel
Yaakov Meyer
Elisha
Reuven
Avraham
Shimon
Moshe
And as an added bonus, my Machutanim are all truly beautiful people too. Pillars of the Jewish community – all! Each in their own way contributing to Klal Yisroel in ways that make me quite envious.
This is quite a Bracha, one I never dreamed I would have. And one that I wish upon all of Klal Yisroel.
Good Shabbos
Post Script:
Yaakov Meyer's Bris came off like a charm.
Pictured L - R:
Rabbi Mordechai Tukieltaub - Mohel
Yaakov Meyer Ginsparg
Rabbi Chaim Twerski - Sandek
Looking on:
Rabbi Eliezer Gifter and Rabbi Zev Cohen
Updated: 7/28/09 7:14 PM CDT
A Chasidic Mother – Guilty or Innocent?
There has been much ado about a psychiatric report by a psychologist named Yaakov Weill. This report was the result of a court order that required a psychiatric examination of a Toldos Aharon (a Chasidic sect) mother accused of nearly starving her 3 year old son to death!
The hospital medical staff studied the case and observed her behavior via a security surveillance camera when she thought she wasn’t being watched. The surveillance camera recorded it for review. They determined that this woman suffers the rare disease of Munchausen by proxy whereby an individual as a caregiver makes the person receiving care sick for purposes of getting attention and praise. The police were contacted she was arrested and removed from her children.
That led to some of the most destructive mob violence Jerusalem has seen in recent days. And that’s saying a lot. The violence was perpetrated by the broader community that included not only Toldos Aharon Chasidm but the entire gamut of Chasidim – of the type mostly associated with the Edah HaCharedis - that reside in her Meah Shearim neighborhood.
Protestations of her innocence and accusations of conspiracies against Charedim by Haddasah Hospital and the police have been flying high. Much of the protest included denying she was an unfit mother and testimony by those who knew her that she was a fit - kind and caring mother. They accused the doctors themselves as guilty of starving the child - including giving him unneeded and dangerous chemo-therapy in order to cover up a cancer misdiagnosis - and then blame the mother.
The court ordered a psychiatric evaluation. This is where Dr. Weill comes in. His report was apparently released and it claims that she is not suffering from Munchausen by proxy.
Her lawyer, the protestors, some of their rabbinic leaders and the many sympathizers - are all slapping themselves on the belly and saying, ‘See! I told you so!’ ‘She is innocent and this whole thing is a conspiracy.’
Is it? Is she innocent? Were the protestors right? Case over? The surveillance video – thrown out?
Not so fast.
I have received the following e-mail from Dr. Josh Backon. I have never met him personally. But we have had a relationship via an e-mail list for probably well over a decade. Over the course of this period I have come to know him as a serious and highly principled individual - who speaks his mind freely.
He is an American trained Frum Doctor – very knowledgeable in Halacha and in medicine. He has many years of experience practicing medicine in Israel. He is also on the faculty of medicine at the Hebrew University among many other accomplishments. He has been on top of this case and is very upset - even angry - at this whole thing. Here – in part and with his permission – is what he said.
Guest Post by Dr. Josh Backon
Before (anyone) quotes the psychiatric report of Dr. Yaakov Weill which exonerates the charedi woman accused of severely treating her child here are some facts:
* Dr. Weil who ran the sexology unit at the psychiatry clinic at Hadassah Hospital was fired last year. Hadassah now claims that Weill is getting even at them.
* Weill never spoke to hospital staff, the child himself, schools where the other children went, other members of the family.
* The district psychiatrist, Dr. Kalian, of the government's Ministry of Health, vehemently rejects Weill's diagnosis.
* Professor Zev Klein, who chairs the Israeli board of psychiatry and Israel Association of Psychiatry vehemently rejects Weill's diagnosis. He states that Munchausen by proxy can NOT be diagnosed by 2-3 short interviews.
* The medical literature shows that Munchausen by proxy is diagnosed by pediatricians, not psychiatrists.
* In the past few years, courts have thrown out Weill's psychiatric depositions.
* The district attorney's office is investigating whether Weill had an ulterior motive in his diagnosis.
I will reiterate what I wrote a few days ago:
Since 6 months of age the child had a diagnosis of severe "failure to thrive" (FTT). He had been starved for 2.5 years !! He had been hospitalized since November 2008 and was NOT getting better.
The child was on TPN (total parenteral nutrition). And just as I wrote in email: a huge slew of possible diagnoses had to eliminated and a many diagnostic tests were carried out (I noticed: CT, angiogram, MRI, antinuclear antibodies and other interesting possibilities such as myositis and rheumatoid disorders and very rare inherited metabolic disorders like TRAPS (TNP R mutation associated periodic fever) .
You might want to check it on http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/omim . But the clincher was no bowel movements since February with no stenosis or blockage or bowel obstruction. And bleeding from the oral cavity. That means the kid was STARVED by his mother. Indeed, she was caught in flagrante delicto on camera yanking out the feeding tube.
If you were on prolonged hyperalimentation and had a naso-gastric tube yanked from you forcibly, you'd also be in agonizing pain and couldn't take food per os (by mouth).
The deputy head of social services at Hadassah is a frum American woman whose husband is the gabbay at our shul. I know the chief of pediatrics, head of pediatric hemato-oncology, and head of pediatric intensive care.
The child NEVER had cancer and never ever received any chemotherapy. It's an utter blatant SHEKER.
If you'd see the patient's medical chart you'd see how it is 101% positive that the mother had Munchausen by proxy and had very severely endangered the life of the child.
After the child had 2.5 years of failure to thrive, now when the mother has not been permitted to be with the hospitalized child for the past 2 weeks, the child is "miraculously" [tm] getting so well that he can be released from the hospital.
There's a 50 minute videotape of what the mother did to the child. The security guard was called in, social services as required by law notified the police.
Look in Shulchan Aruch CHOSHEN MISHPAT 424:7 in the nosei keylim. With regard to the slightest CHASHASH of an abused child, doctors are halachically mandated to contact the authorities (see Rav Rabinovitz's article in Sefer Halacha U'Refuah Chelek Alef page 336). The person who is abusing the child has the Din of RODEF !!
Dr. Josh Backon
Hebrew University
Faculty of Medicine
The hospital medical staff studied the case and observed her behavior via a security surveillance camera when she thought she wasn’t being watched. The surveillance camera recorded it for review. They determined that this woman suffers the rare disease of Munchausen by proxy whereby an individual as a caregiver makes the person receiving care sick for purposes of getting attention and praise. The police were contacted she was arrested and removed from her children.
That led to some of the most destructive mob violence Jerusalem has seen in recent days. And that’s saying a lot. The violence was perpetrated by the broader community that included not only Toldos Aharon Chasidm but the entire gamut of Chasidim – of the type mostly associated with the Edah HaCharedis - that reside in her Meah Shearim neighborhood.
Protestations of her innocence and accusations of conspiracies against Charedim by Haddasah Hospital and the police have been flying high. Much of the protest included denying she was an unfit mother and testimony by those who knew her that she was a fit - kind and caring mother. They accused the doctors themselves as guilty of starving the child - including giving him unneeded and dangerous chemo-therapy in order to cover up a cancer misdiagnosis - and then blame the mother.
The court ordered a psychiatric evaluation. This is where Dr. Weill comes in. His report was apparently released and it claims that she is not suffering from Munchausen by proxy.
Her lawyer, the protestors, some of their rabbinic leaders and the many sympathizers - are all slapping themselves on the belly and saying, ‘See! I told you so!’ ‘She is innocent and this whole thing is a conspiracy.’
Is it? Is she innocent? Were the protestors right? Case over? The surveillance video – thrown out?
Not so fast.
I have received the following e-mail from Dr. Josh Backon. I have never met him personally. But we have had a relationship via an e-mail list for probably well over a decade. Over the course of this period I have come to know him as a serious and highly principled individual - who speaks his mind freely.
He is an American trained Frum Doctor – very knowledgeable in Halacha and in medicine. He has many years of experience practicing medicine in Israel. He is also on the faculty of medicine at the Hebrew University among many other accomplishments. He has been on top of this case and is very upset - even angry - at this whole thing. Here – in part and with his permission – is what he said.
Guest Post by Dr. Josh Backon
Before (anyone) quotes the psychiatric report of Dr. Yaakov Weill which exonerates the charedi woman accused of severely treating her child here are some facts:
* Dr. Weil who ran the sexology unit at the psychiatry clinic at Hadassah Hospital was fired last year. Hadassah now claims that Weill is getting even at them.
* Weill never spoke to hospital staff, the child himself, schools where the other children went, other members of the family.
* The district psychiatrist, Dr. Kalian, of the government's Ministry of Health, vehemently rejects Weill's diagnosis.
* Professor Zev Klein, who chairs the Israeli board of psychiatry and Israel Association of Psychiatry vehemently rejects Weill's diagnosis. He states that Munchausen by proxy can NOT be diagnosed by 2-3 short interviews.
* The medical literature shows that Munchausen by proxy is diagnosed by pediatricians, not psychiatrists.
* In the past few years, courts have thrown out Weill's psychiatric depositions.
* The district attorney's office is investigating whether Weill had an ulterior motive in his diagnosis.
I will reiterate what I wrote a few days ago:
Since 6 months of age the child had a diagnosis of severe "failure to thrive" (FTT). He had been starved for 2.5 years !! He had been hospitalized since November 2008 and was NOT getting better.
The child was on TPN (total parenteral nutrition). And just as I wrote in email: a huge slew of possible diagnoses had to eliminated and a many diagnostic tests were carried out (I noticed: CT, angiogram, MRI, antinuclear antibodies and other interesting possibilities such as myositis and rheumatoid disorders and very rare inherited metabolic disorders like TRAPS (TNP R mutation associated periodic fever) .
You might want to check it on http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/omim . But the clincher was no bowel movements since February with no stenosis or blockage or bowel obstruction. And bleeding from the oral cavity. That means the kid was STARVED by his mother. Indeed, she was caught in flagrante delicto on camera yanking out the feeding tube.
If you were on prolonged hyperalimentation and had a naso-gastric tube yanked from you forcibly, you'd also be in agonizing pain and couldn't take food per os (by mouth).
The deputy head of social services at Hadassah is a frum American woman whose husband is the gabbay at our shul. I know the chief of pediatrics, head of pediatric hemato-oncology, and head of pediatric intensive care.
The child NEVER had cancer and never ever received any chemotherapy. It's an utter blatant SHEKER.
If you'd see the patient's medical chart you'd see how it is 101% positive that the mother had Munchausen by proxy and had very severely endangered the life of the child.
After the child had 2.5 years of failure to thrive, now when the mother has not been permitted to be with the hospitalized child for the past 2 weeks, the child is "miraculously" [tm] getting so well that he can be released from the hospital.
There's a 50 minute videotape of what the mother did to the child. The security guard was called in, social services as required by law notified the police.
Look in Shulchan Aruch CHOSHEN MISHPAT 424:7 in the nosei keylim. With regard to the slightest CHASHASH of an abused child, doctors are halachically mandated to contact the authorities (see Rav Rabinovitz's article in Sefer Halacha U'Refuah Chelek Alef page 336). The person who is abusing the child has the Din of RODEF !!
Dr. Josh Backon
Hebrew University
Faculty of Medicine
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Rabbis - A Legacy of Ethics or a Legacy of Crime?
Woe is me! As if we haven’t had enough of this already.
The New York Times and YWN have reported about yet another huge money laundering scheme involving rabbis. The details are not available in these articles. But the Chilul HaShem is available for the entire world to see.
Why are there so many rabbis involved in this kind of thing?
I guess the Spinka Rebbe was not such an anomaly after all. It almost seems as though this kind of thing is standard fare. This time the involvement includes a Yeshiva that caters to Sephardi children in Deal, New Jersey.
I don’t know all the details yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me if this was all about raising funds for operating expenses in those yeshivas. Times are tough. Tuition income is down as is fundraising income. Salaries have to be paid. Underpaid teachers are owed months worth of back pay and are borrowed to the hilt just to keep their families afloat. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
But that is not enough reason to turn to crime as a solution. And added to that is the huge and unforgivable sin of Chilul HaShem.
If you put it all together you have a mindset by certain Jews that can easily make people see the image of Jews as conspirators against non Jews for financial gain. It kind of makes Shylock - Shakespeare’s, title character in The Merchant of Venice look like the prototypical Jew.
Every time a religious Jew is caught doing something like this - the Chilul HaShem increases. As does the anti Semitism that accompanies it. Anti-Semitic websites drool over this kind of stuff whenever it happens. They are all saying ‘I told you so’ about us… and that Hitler was right.
But these criminal rabbis don’t think about that. They need the money. And they are going to do what it takes to get it – as long as they think it does not violate Halacha and they are not going to get caught.
When a Chilul HaShem is involved there can be no excuse for it. No ameliorating circumstances. We are the people of the book, God’s Chosen people, people who are supposed to be a light unto the nations – exemplars of moral and ethical behavior. We cannot be crooks under any circumstances. There is no Teshuva for Chilul HaShem. God does not forgive desecrating His name.
Rabbis are supposed to be our moral and ethical guides. They are supposed to teach us how to act. They are supposed to be our role models. We are supposed to look up to them and see greatness and leadership. We are supposed to see sacrifice and piety. Think of the great rabbis of the past whose lives were the very definition of honesty and ethical behavior. Think of how they viewed the importance of Kiddush HaShem versus Chilul HaShem.
Think of Rav Chaim Brisker, the Chafetz Chaim, Reb Shraga Feival Mendelowitz, Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky, Rav Moshe Feinstein, and my own Rebbe Rav Ahron Soloveichik. Stories about their standard of ethics - and how they treated their fellow man abound.
These are role models. These were a light unto the nations. These were rabbis we could look at and only hope to live up to. The very idea that any behavior that might in the remotest of ways be seen as a Chilul HaShem was anathema to them. The very thought of Chilul HaShem singed them like fire.
Today it seems that such role models are hard to find. It is becoming increasingly difficult to point to anyone whose behaviors are even remotely close to that of these great rabbinic figures. Not because there aren’t any. There probably are. But they do not get the attention because of the preponderance of news stories like this one. The only rabbis who seem to get attention these days are those who are the disappointing criminals among them.
And they keep on coming. I’m bracing myself for the next round of arrests in the next government sting operation. I am embarrassed and ashamed of it. I don’t know where to hide from my fellow citizens. Instead of pointing with pride to a Chafetz Chaim I have to answer in shame for a cheating rabbi.
I have said this before. I believe that the grossly and abhorrently mistaken attitude that it is Halachicly permissible to cheat a non Jewish government that certain Rabbis preach is in large part responsible for this kind of behavior on the part of otherwise religious Jews. Nor can one separate this from another mistaken and abhorrent attitude preached by some rabbis that Jews must hate Goyim. They are as responsible for this current phenomenon as the criminals themselves. They misread or mis-state Halacha. They prolong a Galus which has not been all that kind to us.
Jews are currently widely respected in America. But what will the future hold if our rabbis are increasingly seen as cheaters and criminals? At this rate, it is not too hard to envision an America with an increased level of anti Semitism in the not too distant future. I’ve said this before too and it bears repeating. Because of this kind of behavior by people who are supposed to be our leaders we will be observing Tisha B’Av annually for many years to come.
The New York Times and YWN have reported about yet another huge money laundering scheme involving rabbis. The details are not available in these articles. But the Chilul HaShem is available for the entire world to see.
Why are there so many rabbis involved in this kind of thing?
I guess the Spinka Rebbe was not such an anomaly after all. It almost seems as though this kind of thing is standard fare. This time the involvement includes a Yeshiva that caters to Sephardi children in Deal, New Jersey.
I don’t know all the details yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me if this was all about raising funds for operating expenses in those yeshivas. Times are tough. Tuition income is down as is fundraising income. Salaries have to be paid. Underpaid teachers are owed months worth of back pay and are borrowed to the hilt just to keep their families afloat. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
But that is not enough reason to turn to crime as a solution. And added to that is the huge and unforgivable sin of Chilul HaShem.
If you put it all together you have a mindset by certain Jews that can easily make people see the image of Jews as conspirators against non Jews for financial gain. It kind of makes Shylock - Shakespeare’s, title character in The Merchant of Venice look like the prototypical Jew.
Every time a religious Jew is caught doing something like this - the Chilul HaShem increases. As does the anti Semitism that accompanies it. Anti-Semitic websites drool over this kind of stuff whenever it happens. They are all saying ‘I told you so’ about us… and that Hitler was right.
But these criminal rabbis don’t think about that. They need the money. And they are going to do what it takes to get it – as long as they think it does not violate Halacha and they are not going to get caught.
When a Chilul HaShem is involved there can be no excuse for it. No ameliorating circumstances. We are the people of the book, God’s Chosen people, people who are supposed to be a light unto the nations – exemplars of moral and ethical behavior. We cannot be crooks under any circumstances. There is no Teshuva for Chilul HaShem. God does not forgive desecrating His name.
Rabbis are supposed to be our moral and ethical guides. They are supposed to teach us how to act. They are supposed to be our role models. We are supposed to look up to them and see greatness and leadership. We are supposed to see sacrifice and piety. Think of the great rabbis of the past whose lives were the very definition of honesty and ethical behavior. Think of how they viewed the importance of Kiddush HaShem versus Chilul HaShem.
Think of Rav Chaim Brisker, the Chafetz Chaim, Reb Shraga Feival Mendelowitz, Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky, Rav Moshe Feinstein, and my own Rebbe Rav Ahron Soloveichik. Stories about their standard of ethics - and how they treated their fellow man abound.
These are role models. These were a light unto the nations. These were rabbis we could look at and only hope to live up to. The very idea that any behavior that might in the remotest of ways be seen as a Chilul HaShem was anathema to them. The very thought of Chilul HaShem singed them like fire.
Today it seems that such role models are hard to find. It is becoming increasingly difficult to point to anyone whose behaviors are even remotely close to that of these great rabbinic figures. Not because there aren’t any. There probably are. But they do not get the attention because of the preponderance of news stories like this one. The only rabbis who seem to get attention these days are those who are the disappointing criminals among them.
And they keep on coming. I’m bracing myself for the next round of arrests in the next government sting operation. I am embarrassed and ashamed of it. I don’t know where to hide from my fellow citizens. Instead of pointing with pride to a Chafetz Chaim I have to answer in shame for a cheating rabbi.
I have said this before. I believe that the grossly and abhorrently mistaken attitude that it is Halachicly permissible to cheat a non Jewish government that certain Rabbis preach is in large part responsible for this kind of behavior on the part of otherwise religious Jews. Nor can one separate this from another mistaken and abhorrent attitude preached by some rabbis that Jews must hate Goyim. They are as responsible for this current phenomenon as the criminals themselves. They misread or mis-state Halacha. They prolong a Galus which has not been all that kind to us.
Jews are currently widely respected in America. But what will the future hold if our rabbis are increasingly seen as cheaters and criminals? At this rate, it is not too hard to envision an America with an increased level of anti Semitism in the not too distant future. I’ve said this before too and it bears repeating. Because of this kind of behavior by people who are supposed to be our leaders we will be observing Tisha B’Av annually for many years to come.
Sex Abuse, Rabbis, and Tisha B’Av
Tisha B’Av is only one week away. We observe this day in a state of mourning - fasting and otherwise depriving ourselves of any forms of pleasure. We must sit on the floor (or on a low seat very near it) as do all who mourn the passing of a parent during the week of Shiva. We are not even permitted to learn Torah except for subjects dealing with that day or other tragic subjects. This is all because both the first and second Temples were destroyed on this day about 2000 years ago.
I am reminded of the reasons the two Temples were destroyed. The first Temple was destroyed because of the sin of Arayos – the prevalence of sexual promiscuity among the Jewish people. The second Temple was destroyed because of an apparent failing of the great rabbis of the day. They did not protest a wrong done to a fellow Jew.
The Gemarah in Gittin (56a) relates the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza - two people with a similar name. Kamtza was invited to a feast hosted by wealthy Jew and so were leading Torah personalities of that day. Bar Kamtza was not invited. He was an enemy of the host.
Bar Kamtza however mistakenly thought that it was he who was invited and showed up. When the host spotted him he threw him out - despite much pleading and offers of money by Bar Kamtza. The rabbis saw this and said nothing. He was publicly embarrassed and left.
Long story short this guest ended up ‘getting his revenge’ by going to the Roman government, initiating a series of events that led to the destruction of the second Temple.
I can’t help comparing this seminal event in Jewish history to current events.
The Jewish Star reports of yet another child sex abuse case. This time by a religious Jew to a neighborhood child. This situation of abuse is apparently far more common than abuse found in the schools and youth groups. And we know how common that is. Virtually every story of sex abuse in my memory was about a rabbi who taught children or by a youth counselor. But these situations are a small fraction of the total amount of abuse. From the Jewish Star:
Family members or friends are the perpetrators in 75-80 percent of all sexual abuse cases, according to Marci Hamilton, a Yeshiva University professor and author of Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect its Children.
And
“We’ve been more successful in publicizing cases against rabbis and teachers, but our community is no different from any others,” Rabbi Dratch said. “Sexual abuse is much more common against family members and neighbors than amongst teachers and rabbis. The case that you have here is the tip of the iceberg.”
Tip of the iceberg!!!
In the current case the accused 35 year old divorced father of four is a graduate of Yeshivas Torah Temimah. For those who don’t remember – this is the Yeshiva that for 20 years knowingly employed and protected a Rebbe who abused countless numbers of young boys during his tenure there. Was the currently accused one of his victims? Here is his response to that question:
“My therapist says it’s repressed, right now, but I don’t remember...”
Was he indeed one of the many victims? Did he become an abuser because of it? We know that many sexual abusers were themselves abused as children. The thought of the multiplier effect of a 20 year career of child sexual abuse is frightening. Who knows how many children were abused, have gone untreated - and are now sex abusers themselves cruising the streets of religious neighborhoods?!
The comparison between what is happening now and the reasons for destruction of both Temples is unavoidable.
Twenty years of abuse. And like the rabbis of the second Temple era there was no protest by the rabbis who knew about it. Not only that -it was covered up! Their intentions may have been good, but it is difficult if not impossible to not place at least some of the responsibility for the current level of abuse on them.
If there were a Beis Hamikdash today, I would fear its imminent destruction.
I am reminded of the reasons the two Temples were destroyed. The first Temple was destroyed because of the sin of Arayos – the prevalence of sexual promiscuity among the Jewish people. The second Temple was destroyed because of an apparent failing of the great rabbis of the day. They did not protest a wrong done to a fellow Jew.
The Gemarah in Gittin (56a) relates the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza - two people with a similar name. Kamtza was invited to a feast hosted by wealthy Jew and so were leading Torah personalities of that day. Bar Kamtza was not invited. He was an enemy of the host.
Bar Kamtza however mistakenly thought that it was he who was invited and showed up. When the host spotted him he threw him out - despite much pleading and offers of money by Bar Kamtza. The rabbis saw this and said nothing. He was publicly embarrassed and left.
Long story short this guest ended up ‘getting his revenge’ by going to the Roman government, initiating a series of events that led to the destruction of the second Temple.
I can’t help comparing this seminal event in Jewish history to current events.
The Jewish Star reports of yet another child sex abuse case. This time by a religious Jew to a neighborhood child. This situation of abuse is apparently far more common than abuse found in the schools and youth groups. And we know how common that is. Virtually every story of sex abuse in my memory was about a rabbi who taught children or by a youth counselor. But these situations are a small fraction of the total amount of abuse. From the Jewish Star:
Family members or friends are the perpetrators in 75-80 percent of all sexual abuse cases, according to Marci Hamilton, a Yeshiva University professor and author of Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect its Children.
And
“We’ve been more successful in publicizing cases against rabbis and teachers, but our community is no different from any others,” Rabbi Dratch said. “Sexual abuse is much more common against family members and neighbors than amongst teachers and rabbis. The case that you have here is the tip of the iceberg.”
Tip of the iceberg!!!
In the current case the accused 35 year old divorced father of four is a graduate of Yeshivas Torah Temimah. For those who don’t remember – this is the Yeshiva that for 20 years knowingly employed and protected a Rebbe who abused countless numbers of young boys during his tenure there. Was the currently accused one of his victims? Here is his response to that question:
“My therapist says it’s repressed, right now, but I don’t remember...”
Was he indeed one of the many victims? Did he become an abuser because of it? We know that many sexual abusers were themselves abused as children. The thought of the multiplier effect of a 20 year career of child sexual abuse is frightening. Who knows how many children were abused, have gone untreated - and are now sex abusers themselves cruising the streets of religious neighborhoods?!
The comparison between what is happening now and the reasons for destruction of both Temples is unavoidable.
Twenty years of abuse. And like the rabbis of the second Temple era there was no protest by the rabbis who knew about it. Not only that -it was covered up! Their intentions may have been good, but it is difficult if not impossible to not place at least some of the responsibility for the current level of abuse on them.
If there were a Beis Hamikdash today, I would fear its imminent destruction.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Of Moral Stupidity and Conspiracy Theories
After reading this article in YWN, I am as convinced as ever about the radicalism and moral stupidity of an entire community of Jews. I am talking about the Toldos Aharon and Edah HaCherdis community of Meah Shearim.
They simply are not living in this world. They seem to feel that anyone and anything secular is Treif Passul - and may be treated accordingly.
And yet some Satmar Chasdim from the United States want to buy a hospital in Jerusalem and turn it into a state-of-the-art Charedi hospital:
There are reports which are unconfirmed by Bikur Cholim Hospital officials that some 25 Satmar askanim in the United States are working to purchase the financially ailing hospital, which they plan to convert to a state-of-the-art chareidi medical facility, delivering a final blow to Hadassah.
If it weren’t so sad, this would crack me up! They want to destroy the finest hospital in Israel by creating their own state of the art hospital.
State of the art? How do they propose to do this? By sending their youth to medical school? By only hiring Frum doctors who have tainted their Yiddishkeit by attending secular universities? And even if that were acceptable -are there even enough Frum doctors of every specialty that can fulfill all of their needs? And even if they exist – are they all the best of the best? They will probably have to hire at least some secular doctors.
And what happens when one of those doctors discovers abuse? Will they support him? Or will they say he isn’t trustworthy either?
The idea of boycotting Haddasah hospital is sheer stupidity. This is not just my view. It is also the view of R’ Moshe Sternbuch. But stupid is as stupid does:
Hadassah staff members are reporting the boycott is evident, with less chareidim coming to the hospital, and reports that boggle the mind confirm that some people insist they be taken elsewhere, even at the expense of compromised medical care, all to drive a point home.
But stupidity isn’t all they are guilty of. Some of them – with their Kapotes, long beards, and Shtrimels are closer in spirit to the Mafia than they are to Yiddishkeit:
Senior Hadassah official Dr. Yair Birnbaum has received death threats, as has Ruthie Shapira, who heads the city’s chareidi department of the city’s social services, blamed for calling the mother which led to her arrest. In one threatening phone call she received, the caller stated, “We are going to get you, your husband and your children. We know where you live”
Where did these Meah Shearim-Mafia gangsters get their Chinuch? Who taught them that this cause justifies these kinds of threats?
What about the video evidence? It’s there - available for any involved party to view. How does the Edah leadership deal with it?
Rav Weiss Shlita has refused to see the footage which (hospital officials) are confident will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the child’s mother did indeed sabotage his medical care.
In other words, don’t confuse me with facts!
What about the mother’s fitness as a parent. At the very least she should be psychologically evaluated by professionals. The Chashash of Pikuach Nefesh demands no less. Even if one is sympathetic to the mother’s version of events – common sense should tell you: better to be safe than sorry. What was the Edah’s reaction to this?
The mother, Yenta bas Yocheved, has finally met with the psychiatrist, Dr. Weill, who stated he needs to see her at least another one or two times to formulate a professional opinion as to her mental status. Chareidi officials have indicated it will not happen, that mom has complied with the court, meeting the psychiatrist.
Why will they not allow this to happen? Why are they so certain this woman is innocent? There are none so blind as those whose prejudices prevent them from seeing truth. There are none so damaging as those whose prejudices cause harm to innocent people. In this case potentially a child.
There are some defenders of these people who keep insisting that the mother is telling the truth. This is based on the idea that one must trust religious Jews to be telling the truth when in dispute with those who are not religious. Religious Jews have a Chezkas Kashrus – a presumption of truthfulness - not automatically granted to the non religious. Hence if a religious Jew is in dispute with a non religious Jew - one must believe the religious Jew. And since this dispute is in large part a 'he said - she said' we must believe the mother.
With this kind of thinking one can justify giving the child back to her - God forbid. One must believe that this mother is innocent and return the child. The testimony of irreligious Jews may not be believed in the face of her testimony to the contrary.
Add to that the belief that secular Jews have a supposed history of being anti Charedi. And what you get is conspiracy theories. The government, hospital officials, and the media have conspired to destroy a Charedi family. They have done so even while risking the wrath of that community.
Why? For absolutely no reason other than to cover up the supposed mistakes the mother has accused them of.
We are asked to believe they would rip a child out of the mother’s loving bosom all because they are anti Charedi and need to cover up their mistakes. We are asked to believe they would never cover up an error this way if it was a secular family. We are asked to believe that these medical professionals at Hadasah Hospital are so evil that they willingly conspired to cover up a supposed misdiagnosis in ways that they knew could have killed the child - and then blame the mother!
I am beginning to wonder if the conspiracy theory that the Mossad was behind 9/11 came from this group!
R' Weiss can cry wolf all he wants about the police or the government or the hospitals. I don't trust his judgement. As far as I'm concerned he is as much at fault for this behavior as the rioters themselves. Because it is him, and others like him that teach their young to hate the secular establishment with a religious fervor and venom that they look at them all like Nazis. And once you've identified 'the enemy' as Nazis... well all's fair.
They simply are not living in this world. They seem to feel that anyone and anything secular is Treif Passul - and may be treated accordingly.
And yet some Satmar Chasdim from the United States want to buy a hospital in Jerusalem and turn it into a state-of-the-art Charedi hospital:
There are reports which are unconfirmed by Bikur Cholim Hospital officials that some 25 Satmar askanim in the United States are working to purchase the financially ailing hospital, which they plan to convert to a state-of-the-art chareidi medical facility, delivering a final blow to Hadassah.
If it weren’t so sad, this would crack me up! They want to destroy the finest hospital in Israel by creating their own state of the art hospital.
State of the art? How do they propose to do this? By sending their youth to medical school? By only hiring Frum doctors who have tainted their Yiddishkeit by attending secular universities? And even if that were acceptable -are there even enough Frum doctors of every specialty that can fulfill all of their needs? And even if they exist – are they all the best of the best? They will probably have to hire at least some secular doctors.
And what happens when one of those doctors discovers abuse? Will they support him? Or will they say he isn’t trustworthy either?
The idea of boycotting Haddasah hospital is sheer stupidity. This is not just my view. It is also the view of R’ Moshe Sternbuch. But stupid is as stupid does:
Hadassah staff members are reporting the boycott is evident, with less chareidim coming to the hospital, and reports that boggle the mind confirm that some people insist they be taken elsewhere, even at the expense of compromised medical care, all to drive a point home.
But stupidity isn’t all they are guilty of. Some of them – with their Kapotes, long beards, and Shtrimels are closer in spirit to the Mafia than they are to Yiddishkeit:
Senior Hadassah official Dr. Yair Birnbaum has received death threats, as has Ruthie Shapira, who heads the city’s chareidi department of the city’s social services, blamed for calling the mother which led to her arrest. In one threatening phone call she received, the caller stated, “We are going to get you, your husband and your children. We know where you live”
Where did these Meah Shearim-Mafia gangsters get their Chinuch? Who taught them that this cause justifies these kinds of threats?
What about the video evidence? It’s there - available for any involved party to view. How does the Edah leadership deal with it?
Rav Weiss Shlita has refused to see the footage which (hospital officials) are confident will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the child’s mother did indeed sabotage his medical care.
In other words, don’t confuse me with facts!
What about the mother’s fitness as a parent. At the very least she should be psychologically evaluated by professionals. The Chashash of Pikuach Nefesh demands no less. Even if one is sympathetic to the mother’s version of events – common sense should tell you: better to be safe than sorry. What was the Edah’s reaction to this?
The mother, Yenta bas Yocheved, has finally met with the psychiatrist, Dr. Weill, who stated he needs to see her at least another one or two times to formulate a professional opinion as to her mental status. Chareidi officials have indicated it will not happen, that mom has complied with the court, meeting the psychiatrist.
Why will they not allow this to happen? Why are they so certain this woman is innocent? There are none so blind as those whose prejudices prevent them from seeing truth. There are none so damaging as those whose prejudices cause harm to innocent people. In this case potentially a child.
There are some defenders of these people who keep insisting that the mother is telling the truth. This is based on the idea that one must trust religious Jews to be telling the truth when in dispute with those who are not religious. Religious Jews have a Chezkas Kashrus – a presumption of truthfulness - not automatically granted to the non religious. Hence if a religious Jew is in dispute with a non religious Jew - one must believe the religious Jew. And since this dispute is in large part a 'he said - she said' we must believe the mother.
With this kind of thinking one can justify giving the child back to her - God forbid. One must believe that this mother is innocent and return the child. The testimony of irreligious Jews may not be believed in the face of her testimony to the contrary.
Add to that the belief that secular Jews have a supposed history of being anti Charedi. And what you get is conspiracy theories. The government, hospital officials, and the media have conspired to destroy a Charedi family. They have done so even while risking the wrath of that community.
Why? For absolutely no reason other than to cover up the supposed mistakes the mother has accused them of.
We are asked to believe they would rip a child out of the mother’s loving bosom all because they are anti Charedi and need to cover up their mistakes. We are asked to believe they would never cover up an error this way if it was a secular family. We are asked to believe that these medical professionals at Hadasah Hospital are so evil that they willingly conspired to cover up a supposed misdiagnosis in ways that they knew could have killed the child - and then blame the mother!
I am beginning to wonder if the conspiracy theory that the Mossad was behind 9/11 came from this group!
R' Weiss can cry wolf all he wants about the police or the government or the hospitals. I don't trust his judgement. As far as I'm concerned he is as much at fault for this behavior as the rioters themselves. Because it is him, and others like him that teach their young to hate the secular establishment with a religious fervor and venom that they look at them all like Nazis. And once you've identified 'the enemy' as Nazis... well all's fair.
Settlements – A Post Script
The Jerusalem Post reports of an interview which took place on Israel radio earlier today on this very issue - the contention between Jerusalem and Washington about settlement construction.Thank God we have the clear and cool head of a Michael Oren (pictured) representing Israel in the United States and not some ‘black and white’ hardliner. His position is eminently the right one. He seeks to resolve the issue with the US in a way that will leave us in full agreement. I don’t know what the final outcome of this issue will be. But I like his attitude, which is that it will be resolved to the satisfaction of both parties. That the current relationship with the US will remain as strong as ever and that both Israel and the US intend to keep it that way. Here is in part what he said:
"Here, we are talking about a very specific disagreement. There is a willingness on the part of the administration to resolve this. And I know as ambassador that the spectrum of constant contact is massive. We do not feel tension. There is no breakdown in the relationship," said Oren.
"We are dealing with this on all levels and we will reach an agreement with camaraderie and cooperation. We have no ally like the United States. It is a strong bond and I'm sure it will be resolved."
This is the correct attitude and the correct policy. I am not in favor of willy nilly capitulating to every demand the Obama administration makes. Never was. I am only in favor of doing whatever it takes to keep our relationship as strong as ever – without endangering the Jewish people. That seems to be the goal of the Israeli government too.
If Israel can convince the US to support natural growth construction, than I would be thrilled. But if I had to guess it’s going to work the other way. It might end up being some sort of compromise along the lines I’ve suggested: Whatever projects were started will be allowed to be completed. But no new building permits will be issued. That’s my guess. But we’ll have to wait and see.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Settlements – An Unpopular View
First let me say that I am a big fan of peace. There is nothing that I want more for my people, the people of Israel, than that. So when it comes to the peace process I tend to support efforts in that direction. I am sick and tired of seeing my people die, whether on the battle field, by a rocket attack, or by a suicide bomber.
My view on the peace process is that we must pursue a policy that will end the violence against us even if it means giving up land. To me life is more precious than land. I believe that Israel can exist as a Jewish state in the Middle East and finally be accepted by its Arab neighbors. At least in theory.
What about our rights to all of Eretz Yisroel via God’s promise? It would be my preference to assert that right. But not at the expense of all the blood that would be spilled in that cause – with no guarantee of success. So that will have to wait until messianic times. Right now Halacha dictates that Pikuach Nefesh is the greater consideration.
There has been a lot of discussion of late about President Obama’s position on the Israeli Palestinian conflict. The focus has been on what many see as a more pro Palestinian shift. Not that US policy has changed. But that the President’s emphasis has. In his recent address to the Muslim world in Cairo he strongly condemned Israel’s continued construction policy in West Bank cities – even those that are well established and even if it was only to accommodate natural growth.
This is being criticized because the President has not given equal emphasis to Palestinian responsibilities vis-à-vis its commitments. Fair enough.
But let us analyze the issue more fully. The administration is asking Israel to stop all settlement construction – even in well established border cities, and even for natural growth. For those who do not understand what is meant by natural growth – an example would be families who live there and have children who then get married and want to stay ‘in the neighborhood’. They need a place to live so they build a house. That is natural growth.
Israel maintains that when it agreed to stop settlement activity in its commitment to the peace process that it included exceptions for natural growth construction. Obviously this is an eminently fair position. It does not want to see a thriving city that has normal and natural population growth come to a dead halt.
I would normally agree with this position. But I am going to say something that I know will cause me much grief. I believe that all construction should stop. I can already see the angry rebuttals - even from those who usually support me. Nonetheless as a follower of Emes - I still believe that stopping all settlement activity is in the best interests of Israel at this moment in time.
Don’t get me wrong. I do not in any way support giving up any of these well established cities that are on border areas to the Palestinians in any kind of peace deal. Even Oslo didn’t do that. I firmly believe that unfettered construction in these cities will one day again take place in these cities – one way or the other. If a miracle happens and there would be a peace treaty, we already know that Palestinians would agree to swap those cities for undeveloped land so that Israel could absorb them into a sovereign nation - recognized by its Arab neighbors. Palestinians agreed to such a deal at Oslo. Cities like Maaleh Adumim, Beitar, and Kiryat Sefer would be a sovereign part of Israel in any peace deal.
As much as I realize the remoteness of arriving at any real peace deal between the Arabs and Israel in the foreseeable future I think Israel has no choice but to take that extra step right now and stop all construction. I know it will hurt. But Israel needs to throw down the gauntlet now and put the ball in the Palestinian court.
By stopping all construction the onus will be on the Palestinians to make the next move. The Obama administration has clearly said time and again that it supports Israel’s right exist and that the relationship between our two countries is unbreakable. Stopping all settlement activity would mean that the Palestinians would have no excuse to not fulfill their commitments to end all violence.
No one will be able to say that settlements are an obstacle to peace.
Palestinians will have to put up or - shut up. They will have to stop all violence. If violence continues – after a period of time Israel can say that they went the extra mile and all they got in return was bullets. They can then return to natural growth construction.
I see it as win/win. Because if they somehow do manage to end all hostilities and make peace, then Israel will have all of its border settlements anyway and will be able to build to its heart’s content.
I know I am going to suffer many slings and arrows for taking this position. But this is what I believe. Stopping all construction does not mean giving up a single inch of territory. What it does accomplish is to say, ‘Your turn’ to the Arabs.
Unfortunately, this will not bring peace any time soon - in my view. There are just too many rejectionist fundamentalist fanatic groups like Hamas and Hezbollah s who are willing to kill Jews and even their own people just to sabotage any progress towards peace.
On that note, I would be remiss if I did not mention that I have not heard about any Palestinian violence in quite a while. Not about suicide bombings and not about rocket attacks from Gaza. I think that is attributable to Israeli vigilance and the fact that the Gaza war may have dealt Hamas a bigger blow militarily than previously thought. I hope that media silence is indicative of the lack of violence rather than just a lack of reporting it.
To sum up - stopping all settlement activity will have the effect of throwing down the gauntlet. It will put Israel squarely on the side of administration policy - who will see that Israel is now keeping its part of the bargain completely without any exceptions. I really believe that this is the prudent way to proceed. There is nothing to be gained by being contentious on this one issue with the United States and everything to gain by accepting it.
My view on the peace process is that we must pursue a policy that will end the violence against us even if it means giving up land. To me life is more precious than land. I believe that Israel can exist as a Jewish state in the Middle East and finally be accepted by its Arab neighbors. At least in theory.
What about our rights to all of Eretz Yisroel via God’s promise? It would be my preference to assert that right. But not at the expense of all the blood that would be spilled in that cause – with no guarantee of success. So that will have to wait until messianic times. Right now Halacha dictates that Pikuach Nefesh is the greater consideration.
There has been a lot of discussion of late about President Obama’s position on the Israeli Palestinian conflict. The focus has been on what many see as a more pro Palestinian shift. Not that US policy has changed. But that the President’s emphasis has. In his recent address to the Muslim world in Cairo he strongly condemned Israel’s continued construction policy in West Bank cities – even those that are well established and even if it was only to accommodate natural growth.
This is being criticized because the President has not given equal emphasis to Palestinian responsibilities vis-à-vis its commitments. Fair enough.
But let us analyze the issue more fully. The administration is asking Israel to stop all settlement construction – even in well established border cities, and even for natural growth. For those who do not understand what is meant by natural growth – an example would be families who live there and have children who then get married and want to stay ‘in the neighborhood’. They need a place to live so they build a house. That is natural growth.
Israel maintains that when it agreed to stop settlement activity in its commitment to the peace process that it included exceptions for natural growth construction. Obviously this is an eminently fair position. It does not want to see a thriving city that has normal and natural population growth come to a dead halt.
I would normally agree with this position. But I am going to say something that I know will cause me much grief. I believe that all construction should stop. I can already see the angry rebuttals - even from those who usually support me. Nonetheless as a follower of Emes - I still believe that stopping all settlement activity is in the best interests of Israel at this moment in time.
Don’t get me wrong. I do not in any way support giving up any of these well established cities that are on border areas to the Palestinians in any kind of peace deal. Even Oslo didn’t do that. I firmly believe that unfettered construction in these cities will one day again take place in these cities – one way or the other. If a miracle happens and there would be a peace treaty, we already know that Palestinians would agree to swap those cities for undeveloped land so that Israel could absorb them into a sovereign nation - recognized by its Arab neighbors. Palestinians agreed to such a deal at Oslo. Cities like Maaleh Adumim, Beitar, and Kiryat Sefer would be a sovereign part of Israel in any peace deal.
As much as I realize the remoteness of arriving at any real peace deal between the Arabs and Israel in the foreseeable future I think Israel has no choice but to take that extra step right now and stop all construction. I know it will hurt. But Israel needs to throw down the gauntlet now and put the ball in the Palestinian court.
By stopping all construction the onus will be on the Palestinians to make the next move. The Obama administration has clearly said time and again that it supports Israel’s right exist and that the relationship between our two countries is unbreakable. Stopping all settlement activity would mean that the Palestinians would have no excuse to not fulfill their commitments to end all violence.
No one will be able to say that settlements are an obstacle to peace.
Palestinians will have to put up or - shut up. They will have to stop all violence. If violence continues – after a period of time Israel can say that they went the extra mile and all they got in return was bullets. They can then return to natural growth construction.
I see it as win/win. Because if they somehow do manage to end all hostilities and make peace, then Israel will have all of its border settlements anyway and will be able to build to its heart’s content.
I know I am going to suffer many slings and arrows for taking this position. But this is what I believe. Stopping all construction does not mean giving up a single inch of territory. What it does accomplish is to say, ‘Your turn’ to the Arabs.
Unfortunately, this will not bring peace any time soon - in my view. There are just too many rejectionist fundamentalist fanatic groups like Hamas and Hezbollah s who are willing to kill Jews and even their own people just to sabotage any progress towards peace.
On that note, I would be remiss if I did not mention that I have not heard about any Palestinian violence in quite a while. Not about suicide bombings and not about rocket attacks from Gaza. I think that is attributable to Israeli vigilance and the fact that the Gaza war may have dealt Hamas a bigger blow militarily than previously thought. I hope that media silence is indicative of the lack of violence rather than just a lack of reporting it.
To sum up - stopping all settlement activity will have the effect of throwing down the gauntlet. It will put Israel squarely on the side of administration policy - who will see that Israel is now keeping its part of the bargain completely without any exceptions. I really believe that this is the prudent way to proceed. There is nothing to be gained by being contentious on this one issue with the United States and everything to gain by accepting it.
Monday, July 20, 2009
From One Extreme to Another
I wish I could stick to more intellectually stimulating topics. But yet again I find myself turning to another act of violence perpetrated by so called religious Jews. This time they are wearing a Kipa Seruga. The same type I wear. Just as I am embarrassed by Charedi thugs in Meah Shearim, so too am I embarrassed by these Kipa Seruga wearers.Do they really think they are serving God with these violent tactics? I’m sure they do. But they are not. To use the phrase that R’ Sternbuch used about the Meah Shearim thugs - they are Meshugoyim. They resort to the same kinds of tactics. The only difference is the victims. The Charedi thugs in Meah Shearim hurt innocent members of their own community with mischief and mayhem. These guys hurt innocent Palestinians.
And please let no one start saying there is no such thing as an innocent Palestinian. That is a lie – and an excuse to harass and endanger innocent people.
Before anyone accuses me of being ignorant or naïve about what the average Palestinian really thinks and point to some Jihadist examples of it - please don’t bother. I know quite well what is on their collective minds about Israel, Zionists, and Jews. I know that it isn’t only Hamas who thinks that way. I am well aware that Hamas and other fundamentalist types act on their beliefs with terror and that most Palestinians sympathize with them. I’ve written about it many times. But that does not give anyone a right to indiscriminately destroy Palestinian property or to throw rocks randomly at them. There is no guarantee that any of those individual victims would lift a finger to harm them - even if they could.
The motives of these settler thugs may be different than those of the Charedi thugs in Meah Shearim. They may look different. Their innocent victims may be different. But that does not make them any less culpable for the mischief and mayhem they cause and the bad light in which they put the Jewish people.
They gain nothing with their illegal makeshift settlement outposts except to further the cause of anti-Semitism. All it accomplishes is fueling the Palestinian hatred of us. They hate us enough. We don’t need to add to it! These criminally violent ideologues play right into the hands of those who see any settlement activity as an obstacle to peace - even building for natural growth in well established cities on the border areas of the West Bank.
These people are criminals no less than those in Meah Shearim. They are blinded by their zeal and do not value anything except their own goals regardless of the consequences of their actions.
I have no sympathy for these kinds of settlers. None! They ought to be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law just like the stone throwers in Meah Sheaarim! Religious Zionist rabbinic leaders should be in the forefront of leading the charge against them by supporting the police. These criminals should be apprehended, prosecuted, and if convicted – given the maximum sentence. They think they act in the name of the Torah - as do the Meah Shearim thugs. And they feel the same way about the the police. They have all that in common although they are polar opposite in religious belief. Poetic justice would be to have them share prison cells with their Charedi counterparts.
When it comes to violence in service to their goals they are birds of a feather. When it comes to reckless indifference to life and property of others, they are birds of a feather. When it comes to indifference to the anti Semitism they cause they are birds of a feather. And similarly each environment preaches that their religious goals supersede all others. It is that kind of thinking that leads to this kind of savagery.
But then - how should one be expected to react when there are rabbinic leaders among them who say it is permitted to violate certain prohibitions of Shabbos in order to maintain those settlements!
Just to be clear, while I do not agree with their beliefs, I support their right to believe it. Just as I do the right of Satmar to believe the exact opposite. Elu V’Elu. But what I do not support and absolutely reject is an environment that creates the monsters among both groups. That has to change.
A Second Chance
I just received an e-mail from a divorced man who at age 50 (or perhaps a bit older) is experiencing difficulty in finding a new mate. He is considering doing something radical to change his luck. I do not know him personally and cannot vouch for him in any way except to say that in our on-line exchanges he seems like an honest and honorable man with an awareness of his own flaws. Nor do I categorically endorse or completely reject his idea. My inclination is somewhere in-between those two extremes. (Isn’t it always?)
I thought it an interesting and provocative letter. I present it here as a guest post - anonymously for obvious reasons - as food for thought. In my view there is a lot here to think about – among them Halacha, Hashkafa, older Shidduchim, divorce, remarriage… and the religious community's attitude on this subject - as well as his own.
Guest Post
I've been, more or less, shomer shabbat for the past 30 years or go, but lately I've been giving serious thought to starting to attend some "Torah study" classes and the like at a nearby left wing Conservative synagogue, maybe even attend Saturday services there too. Not because I'm attracted to Conservative ideology - its flaws were obvious to me growing up in a fairly traditional C shul.
Rather, I'm thinking of spending time at Conservative, and maybe even Reform synagogues because I'm divorced, could use some female companionship, and from what I've read, there's a huge gender imbalance in the heterodox synagogues.
With feminists like the Women's League for Conservative Judaism pretty much taking over the heterodox movements a large number of Jewish men stopped being involved in the synagogues. In some congregations, services and events have an 80/20 gender imbalance. Take away the "boys' club" aspect of the morning minyan, and reduce opportunities for men to have leadership roles, add spiritual and emotional aridity, and men have little reason to be involved. Ironically, that has created a situation that does have some attraction to men, four women for every man.
It's analogous to college campuses that are now 60% female. Yes the educational system in the US favors girls and women for a number of reasons, and yes, college campuses with their left-wing orthodoxies can be hostile environments for men, but eventually men will figure out that college campuses are where the girls are.
I never really learned how to learn Gemara so in the frum community I'm never going to be taken seriously, even if I wasn't a non-conformist, but at a Conservative synagogue, chances are good that only the rabbi may, and I repeat may, know more about Judaism than I do, so I'd probably get some respect.
It's not that I crave attention or respect, I actually like to hide in plain sight, but obviously if my goal is to impress a woman, being respected won't hurt.I seem to recall something in some Jewish book or something like that that said that it's not good for a man to be alone. The fact that there is even a term "shidduch crisis" shows just how important marriage is in the frum community. Nobody ever has a crisis about something they don't care about. So frum folks are definitely interested in Jews getting married to other Jews.
Well, perhaps not all Jews. I was divorced about 7 years ago. In that time not a single member of the frum community has even mentioned the subject of me remarrying, let alone suggesting someone, or even less likely, introducing me to someone. Add the fact that I'm over 50 now and there just aren't a whole bunch of age appropriate single women in the orthodox community, at least around here, and the truth is that if I'm only going to consider orthodox women, I'm probably going to be single and celibate for the rest of my life.
At the same time, not only has my ex-wife had numerous inquiries from people in the community to see if she was interested in remarrying, she was actually urged by some members of the community to quickly remarry specifically so that I would be halachically prohibited from reconciling with her. I'm not very big on the whole self-esteem concept, it's highly overrated, but I have to admit that finding out about that urging did kind of sting.
Okay, so I'm a paskudniak with particular baggage, but much of my experience is not completely unique. It's not a large sample but every divorced man that I know has experienced some level of alienation, disaffection, isolation, or the like in the frum community. We're fifth wheels, nobody knows what to do with us. People invite families for meals, not single men.
At least one prominent orthodox pulpit rabbi, whose views are mainstream enough that he is now running one of the largest mainstream Orthodox organizations in the US, out of a desire to "protect" women at his shul made it clear that single adult men are not welcome.
On the other hand, with a preponderance of women at Conservative synagogues, and the higher divorce rate in that community, I'm far more likely to meet a single woman there than I am at any of the events or services at any of the orthodox shuls in town.
So Rabbi Maryles, the question that I pose to you and your readers is, why shouldn't I try to meet Jewish women at Conservative or Reform synagogues?
I thought it an interesting and provocative letter. I present it here as a guest post - anonymously for obvious reasons - as food for thought. In my view there is a lot here to think about – among them Halacha, Hashkafa, older Shidduchim, divorce, remarriage… and the religious community's attitude on this subject - as well as his own.
Guest Post
I've been, more or less, shomer shabbat for the past 30 years or go, but lately I've been giving serious thought to starting to attend some "Torah study" classes and the like at a nearby left wing Conservative synagogue, maybe even attend Saturday services there too. Not because I'm attracted to Conservative ideology - its flaws were obvious to me growing up in a fairly traditional C shul.
Rather, I'm thinking of spending time at Conservative, and maybe even Reform synagogues because I'm divorced, could use some female companionship, and from what I've read, there's a huge gender imbalance in the heterodox synagogues.
With feminists like the Women's League for Conservative Judaism pretty much taking over the heterodox movements a large number of Jewish men stopped being involved in the synagogues. In some congregations, services and events have an 80/20 gender imbalance. Take away the "boys' club" aspect of the morning minyan, and reduce opportunities for men to have leadership roles, add spiritual and emotional aridity, and men have little reason to be involved. Ironically, that has created a situation that does have some attraction to men, four women for every man.
It's analogous to college campuses that are now 60% female. Yes the educational system in the US favors girls and women for a number of reasons, and yes, college campuses with their left-wing orthodoxies can be hostile environments for men, but eventually men will figure out that college campuses are where the girls are.
I never really learned how to learn Gemara so in the frum community I'm never going to be taken seriously, even if I wasn't a non-conformist, but at a Conservative synagogue, chances are good that only the rabbi may, and I repeat may, know more about Judaism than I do, so I'd probably get some respect.
It's not that I crave attention or respect, I actually like to hide in plain sight, but obviously if my goal is to impress a woman, being respected won't hurt.I seem to recall something in some Jewish book or something like that that said that it's not good for a man to be alone. The fact that there is even a term "shidduch crisis" shows just how important marriage is in the frum community. Nobody ever has a crisis about something they don't care about. So frum folks are definitely interested in Jews getting married to other Jews.
Well, perhaps not all Jews. I was divorced about 7 years ago. In that time not a single member of the frum community has even mentioned the subject of me remarrying, let alone suggesting someone, or even less likely, introducing me to someone. Add the fact that I'm over 50 now and there just aren't a whole bunch of age appropriate single women in the orthodox community, at least around here, and the truth is that if I'm only going to consider orthodox women, I'm probably going to be single and celibate for the rest of my life.
At the same time, not only has my ex-wife had numerous inquiries from people in the community to see if she was interested in remarrying, she was actually urged by some members of the community to quickly remarry specifically so that I would be halachically prohibited from reconciling with her. I'm not very big on the whole self-esteem concept, it's highly overrated, but I have to admit that finding out about that urging did kind of sting.
Okay, so I'm a paskudniak with particular baggage, but much of my experience is not completely unique. It's not a large sample but every divorced man that I know has experienced some level of alienation, disaffection, isolation, or the like in the frum community. We're fifth wheels, nobody knows what to do with us. People invite families for meals, not single men.
At least one prominent orthodox pulpit rabbi, whose views are mainstream enough that he is now running one of the largest mainstream Orthodox organizations in the US, out of a desire to "protect" women at his shul made it clear that single adult men are not welcome.
On the other hand, with a preponderance of women at Conservative synagogues, and the higher divorce rate in that community, I'm far more likely to meet a single woman there than I am at any of the events or services at any of the orthodox shuls in town.
So Rabbi Maryles, the question that I pose to you and your readers is, why shouldn't I try to meet Jewish women at Conservative or Reform synagogues?
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Fear!
It seems like the cat is out of the bag. What is preventing rabbinic leaders from speaking out more forcefully is fear. Fear for their own safety.
To be sure there is also the fact that many Charedim simply do not trust the police. They claim to have had bad experiences with them in the past. I am not in a position to know one way or another. But It is foolish in my view to always assume the worst - when that is clearly not the always the case. It is foolish to always take the side of the accused when there is also evidence to the contrary.
If one believes in the innocence of the accused then one should hire the best attorneys available. Even to those who believe the system is corrupt - no democratic system of jurisprudence is is so corrupt that it will ignore evidence and judge someone guilty who is clearly innocent. Prejudice can only take you so far in a democracy. I am in fact aware of many judicial decisions that were decided in favor of Charedi litigants over secular ones.
I think Israeli leaders probably realize this to be more or less the case. In my view it is mostly fear that keeps them relatively silent.
The thugs involved in the kind of violent protests we have seen of late will not only ignore rabbinic injunctions and criticisms. They will apparently resort to the type of violence against them that will actually endanger their lives.
These are not Modern Orthodox thugs. They are not Religious Zionist thugs. These are Charedi thugs who are very scrupulous about ritual observances. They are as careful of Minhagim like clothing styles - such as long frocks and Chasidic style black felt hats - as they are of Mitzvos. They are very strict in such Halachic matters as growing a beard and peyos - not shaving off a hair on their beard or strand in their Peyos. Their wives are so strict in matters of sexual modesty - that they shave their heads - taking to an extreme the Halacha of Sar B’Isha Erva – the hair of a married woman is considered nakedness!
But as religious as they are about ritual and custom – they are at the same time capable of murder! R’ Sternbuch and every other rabbinic leader apparently knows this. This is what in essence is being reported on Rabbi Daniel Eidensohn’s blog – Daas Torah:
Regarding why Rav Sternbuch has not been more direct and forceful in denouncing these riots, the simple answer is that he realizes that he is taking his life into his hands.
This is not the first time I have heard this reason stated. I have heard it from others about Charedi Kannoist thugs right here in America. One Rav who has a very close relationships with members of the Agudah Moetzes told me not long ago that this is the reason they do not speak out here more forcefully! They are mortally afraid of these Charedi thugs!
I don’t know how we have gotten to this point. I am happy to see that Rabbi Eidensohn is now reporting this publicly. He is a man for whom I have much admiration and respect. He is as Ehrlich as they come.
One can debate the level of leadership about those who do not take action out of fear for their lives. I for one do not blame anyone for refusing to endanger his life by making statements that they believe will not have any effect. As Rabbi Eidensohn has indicated - R’ Sternbuch displayed courage by coming out against them even in an indirect manner.
Now I am not accusing every single protester of being capable of murder. But I do believe that many – maybe even most of them are. It isn’t that much of a stretch to say that those who so carelessly burn dumpsters in their own neighborhoods without a care about how the noxious fumes affect the elderly or sick are also capable of murder. It is not such a stretch to say that the people who beat up Miriam Shear on the number 2 bus are capable of murder. It is not a stretch to say that those Ramat Bet Shemesh B who beat up a young Dati girl who entered their neighborhoods on a Friday night are capable of murder - or those who put into the hospital one of their own Charedi residents because he tried to protest the violence by putting up posters against it. Or those who torch clothing stores, or pizza shops… ad infinitum - they are all capable of murder.
So I don’t blame R’ Sternbuch for being afraid. The question is how did we allow this to happen? How did it we let it get to this point? And what do we do to stop it?
To answer the last question - I have already suggested boycotting the Edah HaCharedis Hechsher. One might counter that is is not the Edah leadership that is violent. And that they are even opposed to it. Indeed it is not the Edah leadership that R’Sternbuch is afraid of.
But the Edah is guilty of implanting the kind of hatred into its constituents that creates an environment that produces this kind of thuggery. By infusing their young with such a strong rejection of the Zionist State and their founders and members - their community becomes a crucible for violent response. It is not an unreasonable conclusion by many of them that the government and all its agencies – especially the police - are Reshaim – evil villains responsible for every single incident. Villains that are often compared to Nazis!
As such they are to be fought by any means necessary. They are after all fighting Nazis! This is the kind of indoctrinations they receive which is manifested in its most extreme case by Neturei Karta members hugging the truly Nazi-like Mahmoud Ahmadinajd. This is the kind of hatred they teach. There is no gray. All secular Zionists are the same.
True - the Edah leadership would never themselves burn dumpsters. Or throw rocks. Or spit on reporters. They are probably upset by it and perhaps even somewhat disgusted by it. Nonetheless, I believe that in large part - it is the hatred they teach and preach - and absorbed by the masses - that fuels the mob violence.
The Edah HaCharedis still lives in the past. Living off the memory of every single atrocity they believe the early Zionists perpetrated. They see a secular Zionist conspiracy against Charedim behind every incident. They cite those old atrocities at every opportunity as justification for their hatred. As if the the Yaldei Teheran were still being kidnapped (as they viewed that event). Today’s secular Israeli leaders many of whom weren’t even born yet during that episode are seen just as guilty as if they had done it themselves. The Edah can therefore justify turning a blind eye to the current violence even while tepidly condemning it.
The only way this will end is with a combined strategy of financial pressure via a boycott and a concerted effort to encourage the police do their jobs. The police must apprehend, arrest, and convict every single individual caught setting a fire, throwing a stone or in any the way violating the law. Those found guilty must be punished with maximum sentences applicable in each case. The Edah HaCharedis needs to be convinced that the larger Charedi community cannot take it anymore and will no longer stand passively by.
All religious Jews who care about the deterioration of Yiddshkeit these people are responsible for have an obligation to organize, protest, and petition the police department to get tough on Charedi crime –where ever and whenever it happens.
I see this as a war - a war between the forces of good and the forces of evil – an evil with a ‘Frum Yetzer Hara’. Intimidating the lives of religious figures is the last straw. We need the good guys to win!
To be sure there is also the fact that many Charedim simply do not trust the police. They claim to have had bad experiences with them in the past. I am not in a position to know one way or another. But It is foolish in my view to always assume the worst - when that is clearly not the always the case. It is foolish to always take the side of the accused when there is also evidence to the contrary.
If one believes in the innocence of the accused then one should hire the best attorneys available. Even to those who believe the system is corrupt - no democratic system of jurisprudence is is so corrupt that it will ignore evidence and judge someone guilty who is clearly innocent. Prejudice can only take you so far in a democracy. I am in fact aware of many judicial decisions that were decided in favor of Charedi litigants over secular ones.
I think Israeli leaders probably realize this to be more or less the case. In my view it is mostly fear that keeps them relatively silent.
The thugs involved in the kind of violent protests we have seen of late will not only ignore rabbinic injunctions and criticisms. They will apparently resort to the type of violence against them that will actually endanger their lives.
These are not Modern Orthodox thugs. They are not Religious Zionist thugs. These are Charedi thugs who are very scrupulous about ritual observances. They are as careful of Minhagim like clothing styles - such as long frocks and Chasidic style black felt hats - as they are of Mitzvos. They are very strict in such Halachic matters as growing a beard and peyos - not shaving off a hair on their beard or strand in their Peyos. Their wives are so strict in matters of sexual modesty - that they shave their heads - taking to an extreme the Halacha of Sar B’Isha Erva – the hair of a married woman is considered nakedness!
But as religious as they are about ritual and custom – they are at the same time capable of murder! R’ Sternbuch and every other rabbinic leader apparently knows this. This is what in essence is being reported on Rabbi Daniel Eidensohn’s blog – Daas Torah:
Regarding why Rav Sternbuch has not been more direct and forceful in denouncing these riots, the simple answer is that he realizes that he is taking his life into his hands.
This is not the first time I have heard this reason stated. I have heard it from others about Charedi Kannoist thugs right here in America. One Rav who has a very close relationships with members of the Agudah Moetzes told me not long ago that this is the reason they do not speak out here more forcefully! They are mortally afraid of these Charedi thugs!
I don’t know how we have gotten to this point. I am happy to see that Rabbi Eidensohn is now reporting this publicly. He is a man for whom I have much admiration and respect. He is as Ehrlich as they come.
One can debate the level of leadership about those who do not take action out of fear for their lives. I for one do not blame anyone for refusing to endanger his life by making statements that they believe will not have any effect. As Rabbi Eidensohn has indicated - R’ Sternbuch displayed courage by coming out against them even in an indirect manner.
Now I am not accusing every single protester of being capable of murder. But I do believe that many – maybe even most of them are. It isn’t that much of a stretch to say that those who so carelessly burn dumpsters in their own neighborhoods without a care about how the noxious fumes affect the elderly or sick are also capable of murder. It is not such a stretch to say that the people who beat up Miriam Shear on the number 2 bus are capable of murder. It is not a stretch to say that those Ramat Bet Shemesh B who beat up a young Dati girl who entered their neighborhoods on a Friday night are capable of murder - or those who put into the hospital one of their own Charedi residents because he tried to protest the violence by putting up posters against it. Or those who torch clothing stores, or pizza shops… ad infinitum - they are all capable of murder.
So I don’t blame R’ Sternbuch for being afraid. The question is how did we allow this to happen? How did it we let it get to this point? And what do we do to stop it?
To answer the last question - I have already suggested boycotting the Edah HaCharedis Hechsher. One might counter that is is not the Edah leadership that is violent. And that they are even opposed to it. Indeed it is not the Edah leadership that R’Sternbuch is afraid of.
But the Edah is guilty of implanting the kind of hatred into its constituents that creates an environment that produces this kind of thuggery. By infusing their young with such a strong rejection of the Zionist State and their founders and members - their community becomes a crucible for violent response. It is not an unreasonable conclusion by many of them that the government and all its agencies – especially the police - are Reshaim – evil villains responsible for every single incident. Villains that are often compared to Nazis!
As such they are to be fought by any means necessary. They are after all fighting Nazis! This is the kind of indoctrinations they receive which is manifested in its most extreme case by Neturei Karta members hugging the truly Nazi-like Mahmoud Ahmadinajd. This is the kind of hatred they teach. There is no gray. All secular Zionists are the same.
True - the Edah leadership would never themselves burn dumpsters. Or throw rocks. Or spit on reporters. They are probably upset by it and perhaps even somewhat disgusted by it. Nonetheless, I believe that in large part - it is the hatred they teach and preach - and absorbed by the masses - that fuels the mob violence.
The Edah HaCharedis still lives in the past. Living off the memory of every single atrocity they believe the early Zionists perpetrated. They see a secular Zionist conspiracy against Charedim behind every incident. They cite those old atrocities at every opportunity as justification for their hatred. As if the the Yaldei Teheran were still being kidnapped (as they viewed that event). Today’s secular Israeli leaders many of whom weren’t even born yet during that episode are seen just as guilty as if they had done it themselves. The Edah can therefore justify turning a blind eye to the current violence even while tepidly condemning it.
The only way this will end is with a combined strategy of financial pressure via a boycott and a concerted effort to encourage the police do their jobs. The police must apprehend, arrest, and convict every single individual caught setting a fire, throwing a stone or in any the way violating the law. Those found guilty must be punished with maximum sentences applicable in each case. The Edah HaCharedis needs to be convinced that the larger Charedi community cannot take it anymore and will no longer stand passively by.
All religious Jews who care about the deterioration of Yiddshkeit these people are responsible for have an obligation to organize, protest, and petition the police department to get tough on Charedi crime –where ever and whenever it happens.
I see this as a war - a war between the forces of good and the forces of evil – an evil with a ‘Frum Yetzer Hara’. Intimidating the lives of religious figures is the last straw. We need the good guys to win!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
The Koren-Sacks Siddur
I just received my review copy of the Koren Sacks Siddur from the publisher. When I saw the package arrive I was excited to get started on my review. I opened it up and saw a beautifully designed and bound volume. I opened it up immediately and I must admit I was a bit disappointed - even before I read the first word.The Koren Siddur is about the same size as the ArtScroll Siddur in all three dimensions. But the Koren Siddur is 1244 pages long and yet is a bit narrower than the ArtScroll Hebrew/English Siddur whose pages number 1086. The pages in Koren are therefore almost tissue thin. I guess that is about the only way one can fit that many pages into the same space as ArtScroll. This makes turning the pages a bit more difficult and probably more subject to wear and tear. What made this an even bigger problem for me is the fact that the thinness of these pages actually makes them a bit transparent. One can variously see through to the print on other side.
Those are the negatives.
The normal format of having the Hebrew text on the right and the English text on the left has been reversed. That did not bother me as much as I thought it would when I first heard about it. In fact it doesn’t bother me at all now that I see it.
Now for the positives - which I believe far outweigh those negatives.
There are 46 pages of introductory information including a forward by Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb. The largest section of course is by Rabbi Dr. Lord Jonathan Sacks who goes into great detail into the origins of prayer and an explanation of Jewish prayer as a conversation with God. He starts with the two sources for prayer:
“If you serve the Lord your God with all your heart” (Deut. 11:13)What is the [sacrificial] service of the heart (avoda shebalev)? This is prayer”. The other form – generally known as avoda. “service’ is sacrifice. Sacrifice could not be less like prayer.
He also discusses various other aspects of prayer such as its structure, the historical impression that Jewish prayer contains, its faith aspects, Kavana and Midrashim.
The biggest plus is Rabbi Sacks’ translation. It is worth contrasting the translations of ArtScroll with that of Rabbi Sacks. That is the ultimate test of its value.
One may ask why I choose to make that comparison. The answer is quite simple. The ArtScroll siddur has been a remarkable success story. It has virtually replaced all other forms and styles of Siddurim in Shuls all over America. It has for years been the standard siddur for most Orthodox Shuls and even some Conservative ones. ArtScroll did an excellent job in translating the siddur and making it user friendly.
A Lot of research and time went into that and it shows. First published in 1985 - they are now pretty well entrenched. Deservedly so. And their ‘Hebrew only’ siddur has become standard too - pretty much replacing all previous siddur formats. They monopolize the market now. If the Koren Siddur hopes to make some inroads towards popular acceptance and use – it has to compete with ArtScroll.
It is in the translation where in my view Koren wins that argument. Rabbi Sack’s translation is far more pleasing to the ear of the English speaker. His translations are truly far more elegant - a word used by many who have read it. For example he uses the word ‘Lord’ in translation of the Shem Havayah – the Hebrew four letter name of God. ArtScroll uses the term HaShem meaning ‘the name’. This is how religious Jews commonly translate that name in conversation so as not to utter God’s name in vein. I have always thought that translation to be quite childish when used in translating actual prayer. I have no clue why ArtScroll didn’t use the name ‘Lord’ which to me is a far more reverential translation.
Let us compare some of the translations of prayer between ArtScroll and Koren:
In the blessings of the Shema - Kadosh Kadosh Kadosh…
ArtScroll: Holy Holy Holy is HaShem, Master of Legions, the whole world is filled with His glory.
Koren: Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole world filled with his glory.
Just before the Amidah in Shacharis - Mi Chamocha BaElim HaShem…
ArtScroll: Who is like You among the heavenly powers, HaShem! Who is like you, mighty in holiness, too awesome for praise, doing wonders.
Koren: Who is like You, Lord, among the mighty? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, doing wonders.
From the Shabbos Amidah – Yismach Moshe…
ArtScroll: Moshe rejoiced in the gift of his portion: That You called him a faithful servant. A crown of splendor You placed on his head when he stood before you on Mount Sinai. He brought down two stone tablets in his hand, on which is inscribed the observance of the Sabbath. So it is written in Your Torah.
Koren: Moshe rejoiced at the gift of his portion when You called him “faithful servant”. A crown of glory You placed on his head when he stood before you on Mount Sinai. He brought down in his hand two stone tablets on which is engraved the observance of the Sabbath. So it is written in Your Torah.
From the first paragraph of the Kaddish - Yisgadel V’Yiskadesh…
ArtScroll: May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified (cong. Amen) in the world that He created as He willed. May He give reign to His Kingship, in your lifetimes and in your days, and in the lifetimes of the entire Family of Israel, swiftly and soon. Now respond: Amen.
Koren: Magnified and sanctified may His great name be, in the world He created by His will. May He establish His Kingdom in your lifetime and in your days, and in the lifetime of all the house of Israel swiftly and soon – and say: Amen.
After a while it becomes obvious that the far more flowing, beautiful, eloquent, and even inspirational translation is that of Rabbi Sacks.
Like the ArtScroll Siddur the Koren is complete in that there are no passages that are skipped - where one is asked to turn to another page to find a the appropriate text. And like the ArtScroll it contains all the weekday and Yom Tov Torah readings. It has a Halachic section as well.
The layout and typography are beautiful - very pleasing to the eye. It has a very uncluttered look to it. The text includes much footnoted commentary by Rabbi Sacks. The table of contents is in both Hebrew and English as one would expect.
Unlike the ArtScroll all transliterations are in the Sepharadit dialect rather than Askenazis. It contains the blessings for the State of Israel and sections pertaining to Yom HaZikaron, Yom Ha’Atzmaut, and Yom Yerushalyim.
In short - this siddur has everything. It is designed for use throughout the year - for weekdays, Shabbos, and Yom Tov - including Selichos. Where ever there is an original source used in the liturgy - such as Tehillim - it is cited in the margins of that paragraph or line.
Had this volume hit the market first - it would have been an instant hit. And it is certainly more appropriate for those with a more religious Zionist leaning. I certainly believe it is an excellent educational and inspirational tome to be read and studied. The only question is can it compete with Artscroll in the Shul? As I said at the outset, ArtScroll is pretty entrenched. And that drawback about thin pages seems to be a big one for Shuls looking for Siddurim with durability.
Are the pluses of Koren - of which there are so many - going to win over the public toward significant change? I guess we will have to wait and see.
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