Kars 4 Kidz

It’s a catchy tune. Anyone who hears this ubiquitous radio ad’s jingle will recognize it immediately as the Kars 4 Kidz jingle: "1 877 kars for kids. K-A-R-S kars for kids. 1 877 kars for kids. Donate your car today." That’s usually followed by "We're a recognized 501(c)(3) charity organization, so you'll receive a maximum tax deduction."

The ad is about donating your used vehicle to a charity in exchange for a huge tax write. Which is perfectly legal assuming the write off is not inflated beyond the car’s reasonable value. The radio jingle and billboard ads imply that the money being donated is going to be used to help out needy children. And lately it has been advertising a bonus to those who donate - a vacation voucher. On the surface - not a bad deal.

The problem is that this ad campaign is grossly misleading. The organization running it is a Kiruv organization by the name of Oorah. It is not targeted at feeding hungry children but at disadvantaged secular Jewish children – trying to get them to become observant.

And once again an Orthodox Jewish institution is in the media making a Chilul HaShem. This time it is in the Star Tribune – a newspaper serving the twin cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul.

When Oorah was created it was very up front about its mission. Its tactics were quite honorable. No pressure. No hype. Just outreach. But over the years it seems to have gone from a devoted Kiruv organization to a power house money making machine. And it is doing so dishonestly – if technically legally.

Gneivas Daas is a serious violation of Halacha. It is a form of Geneiva - stealing. And it applies to everyone. It is Halachicly forbidden to steal from anyone – Jew and Gentile alike. This seems to be what the people at Oorah are doing. They are misleading potential donors into thinking they are helping needy children when in fact funds are being used in religious outreach.

It is true that a lot of people might not care where their car is going or what the proceeds will be used for as long as they get a generous tax write-off. But there are probably also a lot of people who might actually object to donating funds to an organization that will use it for strictly religious purposes. Especially if it is not their own religion. What makes matters worse is that the so called voucher is not exactly as advertised.

I am not the only one who has had issues with the misleading nature of these ads. From the Star Tribune:

Oregon and Pennsylvania who investigated the charity for leading donors to think the charity benefited a broad group of children, not a "narrow religious purpose."

Kars4Kids, they learned, is the primary funder of a New Jersey organization called Oorah Inc. that provides religious-based services to Orthodox Jewish children. Kars4Kids paid $65,000 in fines in each state in 2009.

Oregon also found that Kars4Kids failed to disclose that its "free" vacation vouchers offered at the time recruited people for a timeshare and contained hidden costs. Meanwhile, the New York attorney general investigated Kars4Kids last year as part of a broader probe into solicitation and spending practices of car donation charities.

Imagine if the reverse was true and a Christian Evangelical missionary group aimed at making believers out of non Christian children would have such a campaign – advertising it a charity for kids without even a hint that the organization is a religious one and that the donations were going to be used for missionary work. How would you feel if you found out that you unknowingly donated your car to that because of a slick ad campaign?

Oorah’s revenues are pretty hefty:

Kars4Kids' revenue soared from $5.6 million in 2005 to $24.6 million in 2009, tax returns say.

I have to wonder where all that money goes. 24.6 million dollars is not peanuts. One thing I do know is that a few years ago a prominent supporter of Jewish education was promised funding by Oorah for his Yeshiva’s Kiruv program but - according to his website - never received any.

It pains me greatly every time a story like this hits the news. Unfortunately I have no power over Oorah. But I do have a voice. As an Orthodox Jew all I can do is make a Macha’ah – and protest it publicly when it happens. I do so here in the strongest possible terms. This is not Torah behavior and it ought to be loudly and clearly protested by every Orthodox Jewish rabbi and organization.

One Event – Two Reactions

There has been a lot of righteous outrage about the events that have been taking place in Bet Shemesh. In fact I am not aware of a single Orthodox organization that hasn’t condemned (or wouldn’t condemn if they haven’t done so yet) the behavior of those Charedim who have been terrorizing little children in a Dati elementary school.

But few have done it so powerfully or as eloquently as did Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein on Cross-Currents. What makes this particular response so significant is that the writer is Charedi. He is a Musmach of Yeshivas Chafetz Chaim – a mainstream Charedi Yeshiva.

His attitude on many things can best be described as Moderate Charedism. His views on just about any subject can be found mirrored in what I call Right Wing Modern Orthodoxy. Rabbi Adlerstein should in my view be seen as the prototype for Charedi behavior and attitudes. If all Charedim were like him, there would be a great deal of Achdus among us all even if we did not agree on every single issue.

One must read his essay in its entirety. It is a masterpiece of outrage at what happens to Judaism when practiced in isolation. And what happens - has now been demonstrated to millions of human beings all over the planet. Israel’s Chanel 2 report on the events of Bet Shemesh has indeed gone viral on the internet. Literally the whole world is watching. This is how Orthodox Jewry is now seen.

The angry tone in his article is justified. It matches my own. I am humbled by his eloquence, forthrightness and ‘pull no punches’ approach. He spoke to the core issue in no uncertain terms - directly and to the point. With no equivocation. I only wish the same people who saw the video would read his words. Unfortunately that is unlikely. His words ought to be spread far and wide.

As I said there has been universal outrage and disgust expressed about this event. This includes Agudath Israel. After checking with their Moetzes they released their own statement. And frankly I am very disappointed.

More than half of that statement dealt with other issues including the very matter the Reshaim of Bet Shemesh were protesting - lack of Tznius. After condemning the self appointed (...isn’t the Agudah Moetzes self appointed? – but I digress) …self appointed “guardians” of modesty as reprehensible, and calling the report deeply disturbing; and saying they do not represent us, they immediately change the subject and go into attack mode. Using the same word ‘disturbing’ they saw fit to condemn the reaction of others. They said: some Israeli politicians and secularists have been less responsible, portraying the actions of a very few as indicative of the feelings of the many. Even if that were true, should that be included in this statement?

But what is worse is the fact that they actually wanted to make sure to say that the point of the protest is a valid one... that Tznius is an important subject which should not be abandoned because of this.

For the life of me, I cannot fathom why Agudah felt it necessary to give these people the slightest pretext for what they do. No one will come away from these condemnations thinking that the laws of modesty should somehow be abandoned. Is that what Agudah thinks? There was absolutely no reason to bring this up. To the best of my knowledge there was not a single public pronouncement by any other Orthodox organization or prominent religious figure that had added these comments – Charedi or otherwise. It is almost as if their strongly worded condemnation was secondary to their main message of maintaining Tznius.

Do they not realize that this kind of talk would be seen by those who spit on little girls as a justification? Don’t they realize that these people will grab onto anything that gives even the slightest hint that their cause is just? And that even though their means aren’t appreciated, their results will be?

What possible motivation could Agudah have for doing this? Furthermore the Tznius issue that these Reshaim were protesting was against an 8 year old girl who was completely Tzanua! The Agudah statement did not even mention that – which could easily lead one to believe that Agudah agreed that she wasn’t Tzanua enough - and that the particular grievance in this case was valid - if not the method of protest. Saying they condemn these acts unconditionally and then following it up with the matter of Tznius is in fact a conditional condemnation. Is it not?

One more thing. I disagree with Rabbi Yaakov Menken who in a previous post on Cross-Currents said he was relieved to find this statement in his inbox. It is quite telling that he felt ‘relieved’. It is as though he was afraid that Agudah would ignore or maybe even approve of those events because of the righteousness of the cause. What does this say about the expectations by the Charedi masses of their rabbinic leaders? He was relieved?!

Nor do I agree with his condemnation of the media and government officials for trying to paint all Charedim this way. First of all, who can blame them even if they did. Second of all they didn’t. Not only that, but many Charedim were themselves trying to get that media to keep up the pressure so that the government will act! Here is how Rabbi Adlerstein put it:

Both the Prime Minister and the President spoke about the video. (Netanyahu was particularly gracious. “”We must beware of generalizing an entire population, because the vast majority of the Haredi public combines an adherence to Jewish tradition and a complete respect of the law”). Thousands came to Beit Shemesh and help stand up against the extremists. Groups of Knesset members are scheduling visits. Most remarkably, Haaretz reported that journalists were getting plenty of lip from charedim – but not to complain as usual about unbalanced treatment of their community. Rather, charedim were turning to them in person and by phone to implore them to keep the heat on through their coverage, so that the government will have no choice but to take firm action against the zealots who make life miserable for them as well. Haaretz even had to concede a difference between a minority population of out of control extremists and a “mainstream charedi” population.

I wish Agudah had made the statement Rabbi Adlerstein made. His entire article. Word for word! ...instead of the one they did make. In my view that would have been far more effective. Truly disappointing.

Update:
The following are links to statements by other Orthodox organizations and leaders.

The always amazing Rabbi Yakov Horowitz
Joint RCA/OU statement
IRF statement

A Darkness unto the Nations

Perhaps the tide is finally turning. Two Chardi websites -Matzav and YWN - are now featuring editorials that are finally written with the appropriate degree of anger and disgust. And no wonder. The incident in Bet Shemesh has now made the New York Times. It is no longer just a story of parochial interest. It in fact exposes a terrible truth about the Charedi world. The increasing resort to violence by some in their community to achieve their aims… and the relative silence in speaking out against it.

Even when they did speak out, condemnations were couched in terms of apologetics. There would always be an explanation for the bad behavior – even while condemning the behavior itself. Often the behavior was denied with the media being accused of being anti religious and distorting or exaggerating the story to make them look bad.

No more. This is what one Charedi writer in Matzav said:

With those who hijacked the Neturei Karta name and engage in communication and behavior that clearly places them in the category of rodfim, there has long been dispute as to how much we, the true chareidim, should publically protest their shameful conduct. After all, some argue, why give those fools a platform and free exposure? Why help them spread their misguided messages?

Rodfim. Fools. My kind of language for these people (...although as was pointed out to me after I wrote the piece they are not in a Halachic category of Rodfim which has Halachic ramifications that do not apply here).

On YWN Aryeh Deri the former Charedi head of the Sephardi Shas party and protégé of Rav Ovadia Yosef had similar things to say:

“I am not giving a p’sak Halacha, but I can state my opinion, and it appears to me these people are to be categorized as a ‘rodef’ for their actions, which are simply a major chilul Hashem” Deri adds. “Look what they are doing to the name and image of chareidi Jews around the world. Just look, Hillary Clinton has already compared us to Iran!”

This is not about Halacha, but it is those extremists who simply wish to dictate how we are to live our lives, this small but extremist faction of individuals.They understand one language only, force. They are not controllable and no one can rein them in…

I know one rabbi and one rabbi only, Rav Nitzav (Police Chief) Danino. I do not say this jokingly, but with all seriousness. This is the reality. How can they smash a vehicle because of flag they saw inside? Who gives them the right to act this way, to burn buses and carts? The police must act.

In short the Charedi world is beginning to speak out in the strongest terms about this and perhaps this will finally lead to something more than lip-service condemnation and apologetics.

I realize I have been spending a lot of time on this issue. But it is time well spent. It is an issue of great import that demands being given a very high priority. Aside from the pain it has given to the people of Bet Shemesh - the damage it does to all of Orthodoxy is immeasurable. This isn’t only about Charedim. It is about all of observant Jewry. We are all tainted by this.

Just this past Tuesday night, as I was watching the NBC nightly News, I was shocked to see that the issue of gender segregation in Israel being featured in one of its segments. The reporter - Martin Fletcher is a secular Jew who lives in Israel. The NBC news segment featured the story about Tanya Rosenblit, the woman who refused to move to the back of a gender segregated bus, and was harassed for hours by the Charedi men on it who prevented the bus from leaving. The report also featured a Charedi women on another gender segregated bus sounding almost exactly the way a Muslim woman in Iran might sound – defending their modesty customs and not caring about the secular law of ther land.

Mr. Fletcher used only the term Orthodox. Not Charedi or ultra-Orthodox. And the report suggested that Orthodox Jews are trying to hijack the country and establish ‘tyrannical’ religious rule over all of Israel.

Some might blame this secular Jewish reporter for purposely painting religious Jews in a bad light because he is anti religious. But I would have to disagree. I blame the mentality of the people who insist on this lifestyle at the expense of others. The Charedi woman interviewed on that bus is of the same mentality as the people who approve of the goals of those who spit on 7 year old girl in Bet Shemesh. The angry response by that Charedi woman was not a fabrication by Martin Fletcher. He did not put words in her mouths.

The truth is that all Orthodox Jews are in the same boat. We can’t just write an observant segment of our people out of Orthodoxy because of the foolishness or even the criminal intent of some of its people. It isn’t right. There are good people and bad people in all segments.

The right thing to do is to act in unison to not only condemn them in the strongest possible terms. But to follow it up by action of the type proposed in some of my previous posts on the subject.

I would add that the condemnations without apologetics we are beginning to see ought to be spread. I call upon all Orthodox communal organizations to do this including - and perhaps especially - the Agudah Moetzes. They should come out with the strongest of condemnations without the slightest reference to their supposed ‘noble goals’. I would hope that all the moderate Charedi Rabbanim in Bet Shemesh would do the same.

It may not be enough – but it would be a start if the condemnations came out fast and furious. Hopefully that will also spur action.

Make no mistake about it. Only something like a massive Charedi protest against these Reshaim will even have half a chance at working. If these people see just how much people who look just like them oppose them, they may think twice about doing it again. And if the police see that Charedim are actually on their side, perhaps Aryeh Deri’s words will take affect… and the police and the Israel justice system will throw all of these Rodfim in jail where they belong. For a long time!

The Torah tells us that we must be a light unto the nations. Devarim (4:6) says, Chachmasam, U’Vinaschem L’Enaei Ha’Amim – Asher Yishmiun Es Kol HaChukim HaEleh V’Ameru: Am Chacham V’ Navon HaGoy HaGadol Hazeh. Loosely translated that means: Your wisdom and understanding is in the sight of the nations – when they hear all of all your statutes and say: A wise and understanding people this great (Jewish) nation is!

Rav Ahron Soloveichik tells us that the Rambam opens up his Sefer HaMada with the Pasuk which says ‘Show your kindness to those who know You and Your righteousness to the straight of heart’. Why, asks Rav Ahron. Why does the Rambam open up his Book of Knowledge with words dealing with charity and goodness? Because all the knowledge in the world will not get the nations to say what a wise people we are. Only if our knowledge leads to ethical behavior, kindness, and charity in the way that God shows these characteristics - will we be able to inspire the world.

The Reshaim who parade around in clothing that identifies them (correctly or not) as the most religious among us fail to understand the importance of being an Or LaGoyim – a light unto the nations. With all their supposed religiosity, this D’Oraisa is lost on them. They are not a light unto the nations. They are a darkness to them that - like it or not - reflects poorly on all of us.

Judging Human Garbage Favorably

I have been castigated by an anonymous individual who is apparently involved in Chinuch in some way. I am sure he has good intentions about being Dan L’Kaf Zechus for fellow Jews. He sees my language with respect to certain Jews in Bet Shemesh Jews as wrong. The Jews in this case are the human garbage standing outside a Dati school in Bet Shemesh creating a massive Chilul HaShem.

His latest comment in this effort is as follows:

No need to look inwards; not an ounce? pshh. What tsadikkim we have on the internet these days.

Harry - I do think I understand your disgust. But you're going way overboard. I remember once giving a lecture to teachers in a very chareidi cheider that also had a number of anglo parents.

As an educational counselor I was asked to organize a little conference to give them chizuk in their capacity to genuinely educate. So I spoke and spoke and only once I pointed out something about the way our use of language influences our subconscious ethical orientation did they final "get' the message. I had zoomed in on the expression to "throw out" a talmid that was misbehaving.

Why such physically agressive imagery? Why not speak about their need to have private time, or be deprived of a privaledged recess or something of that nature instead of immediately activating in their young psyches the need to defend themselves from a big adult "throwing" them outside?!

You're language is of the same genre. I realize you're not against chareidim, per se. Only those "extremists" who cross your version of extremism! Keep up the dehumanizing rhetoric of these characters and somebody, somehow, is going to seek to burn that "garbage" off the face of the earth! JEWS indeed. BNEI Yisroel. Kulanu acheem m'av echad. V'ahavta l'ray'ekha. It's more than saying be nice up to a point. It means that DAVKA those who are in the Mitzvah system but appear to you as RA (RAy'eikha) are worthy of your love......

Leaving the insult about What tsadikkim we have on the internet these days aside - here is my response:

1) Your comparison to a student at risk is grossly inept. These people are way beyond any help. They are hard core OTD.

2) Calling for non violent protests (which is what you said I should do in an earlier comment) is exactly what I did call for. Read the original post on this matter.

3) I do look inward. It helps when one is trying to do Teshuva. But staring evil in the face does not require looking inward. It has to be labeled for what it is. If someone comes up to you and spits in your face... do you look inward? This is what you are asking for and that's ridiculous.

4) This is not Lashon Hara. The whole world is watching.If there was ever an Api Tlasa, this is it. But even leaving that aside - there is a Toeles here. Even the saintly Chafetz Chaim would certainly agree that exposing these Rodfim for what they are and using harsh language to motivate people toward action in order to effect change - is a Toeles.

If I had the slightest Hava Mina that these wretched souls had an ounce of Teshuva in their hearts - I would certainly be Dan L'Kaf Zechus, soften the rhetoric, and urge that they be convinced to stop. But they have proven time and again, by word and by deed, that they could not care less about someone else’s Tochacha. They think that this massive Chilul HaShem is a Kiddush HaShem!

And talking to the Toldos Aharon Rebbe (who I'm sure opposes their behavior and has actually condemned them) is like spitting in the wind. He can condemn them all day long and they will continue their evil ways.

What he needs to do - he won't do, because he supports their goals and benefits when they succeed. If he was truly opposed to them he would be out there leading counter protests with at least a 10 to 1 ratio of his own people. He has the power and influence to do it. But he has not done it - and he will never do it!

I wish I could be proven wrong!

What makes these Mushchasim in Bet Shemesh deserve any compassion or understanding? Is it because they look Charedi and are Medakdek in certain Mitzvos? Do you feel the same way about Rabbi Avi Weiss?

Does Avreimal Mondrowitz deserve my compassion because he puts on Rabbenu Tam's Teffilin as well as Rashi's Teffilin, has a long beard, Peyos, wears a Kapote everyday and a Spodek on Shabbos?

He too is a Jew, a Ben Yisroel, and a brother descended from the same patriarch (to use your list). But loving your fellow man as yourself does not mean you have to love a Rasha! They are not in the ‘Mitzvah system’. They are only partially in it by design.

Your compassion is misdirected, my friend.

Their Mitzvos are worthless! In my opinion they have lost their Olam HaBa by the massive and constant Chilul HaShem they do... and the harm they cause to all of Klal Yisroel.

Yes they are misguided. But so is Avreimal Mondrowitz.

I know you mean well but your apologetics (which is so common in certain religious circles) is why this problem festers. Condemning their behavior with a ‘but’ provides just enough cover for them to say they are fighting for a just cause of the a Torah - believing that all that ‘lip-service condemnation and no action’ by their Charedi brothers is just rhetoric for public consumption. By saying that all they really want is to live their lives Al Taharas HaKodesh - you are in effect giving them permission to proceed. (Not that they even care about what you say one way or another).

One more thing. You say I am drawing from the Nazi rule books. That crosses a line. And intentional or not it is also a huge lie! I have not said they are an inferior race. I have not herded them into shuls, locked the doors, and burned the shul down. I have not raped their women. I have not forced them to wear yellow Mogen Dovid armbands under penalty of death; or called for herding them into impoverished ghettos and then concentration camps - starving them to death. I did not tell doctors to perform torturous medical experiments on them; I did not call for their extermination or set up gas chambers and crematoria.

I have not even asked them to change a single Minhag. All I ask is to do whatever it takes to stop them short of violence. And anyone who does try to do violence to them in any way is just as guilty as they are and ought to receive the same treatment.

Update:
As a public service I am linking to a column entitled Occupy Beit Shemesh by Rabbi Yakov Horowitz. He asks that you sign on to the thread in the comments section in a show of solidarity with his message. I have already done so. If you have the time and inclination please write letter to the editor of the listed newspapers along the lines of his message. If nothing else, it will at least demonstrate our opposition to these people.

Jewish Islamists

Lest anyone think the events occurring in Bet Shemesh are of purely parochial interest, I would beg to differ. The Bet Shemesh story reported on by the Israeli news media has now reached American soil. And probably the rest of the world too. Perhaps that is what spurred the Israeli government to do something about it. I am happy to see that they are beginning to take the extremism of its own people seriously. From the Chicago Tribune:

Netanyahu said he had ordered law enforcement authorities to crack down on "whoever spits, whoever lifts a hand (in violence), whoever harasses" and to remove street signs segregating men from women in some ultra-Orthodox districts.The statement appeared to have been prompted by an expose on Israel's top-rated weekend news about intra-Jewish friction in Beit Shemesh, a town of about 87,000 people near Jerusalem.

Netanyahu is joined in this battle by the Charedi mayor of Bet Shemesh. I guess he has finally seen the light (or perhaps his political poll numbers). He is ‘sending in the troops’. From Ynet:

Police forces accompanied by Beit Shemesh municipal inspectors removed public signs calling for segregation between men and women in the city on Sunday. This prompted dozens of haredim to crowd around the officers. They hurled stones and cursed the officers. Some haredim called police "Nazis." There were no reports of injury.

Earlier on Sunday, Beit Shemesh Mayor Moshe Abutbul held a meeting on the matter in his chambers. His order to remove the signs was carried out at 5 pm when the streets were meant to be empty of people due to the lighting of Hanukkah candles. Nevertheless, several haredim rioted and hurled stones in protest.

Extremism is not the exclusive domain of the Charedim. Daatim have their share of it in the incarnation of the ‘price taggers’. These are the ultra-nationalist extremists who have retaliated against the government’s policy of freezing settlement construction. When an illegal settlement built in defiance of the law is dismantled by the government, these settlers take it out on innocent Arabs by destroying their homes, mosques or other property. Lately they have even attacked military ouposts. They see this as the price for government interference in the religious imperative of settling the land of Israel. Which they believe over-rides what they see as the government’s anti religious Zionist policy inhibiting settlement expansion.

I am happy to see these people get their due. From the San Fransisco Chronicle:

Netanyahu is giving the army new powers to arrest these malefactors and send them to administrative detention - imprisonment without charge, usually reserved for Palestinians. Why suddenly now? "Whoever lays a hand on (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers or Israeli policemen will be severely punished," Netanyahu vowed.

The villain here is not Religious Zionism any more than is ultra-Orthodoxy. It is the extremism that is perpetrated in their cause that is.

To turn a phrase cited by Barry Goldwater when he ran for President in 1964: Extremism in the defense of one’s narrow religious perspective is a vice. No one should be made to pay a price for the beliefs of others.

Putting your own beliefs before the welfare of others is not only a vice but an abuse of the Torah. And yet in the case of both Charedi and religious Zionist extremists that is exactly what they are doing. They are following in the footsteps of Islam where violence is no object to the goals of their religion. For these ‘true believers’ there is no other option. These extremist religious Jews - whether their beliefs are sourced in Charedi ideals or Religious Zionist ideals - are the Islamists of Judaism. They are hijacking Judaism. And they need to be stopped.

Will the current effort on the Charedi side spurred by the young eight year old victim of violence be enough? Will it sustain the governmental effort until the job gets done? And on the Religious Zionist side will the resolve of Netanyahu to rid the Jewish people of those who perpetrate violence against the IDF and innocent Arabs be enough to get the job done there?

I hope so. But it remains to be seen. This is going to be a major battle between right and wrong; moderation and extremism. These Jewish Islamists of either stripe will not give up without a fight. That is the nature of zealots. My hope is that the government has the political will and determination to continue the battle until victory for moderation and tolerance prevails. Because if extremism is allowed to continue unabated it will destroy Judaism as we know it.

Human Pieces of Garbage and their Enablers

My anger was once again stoked this morning. I watched the above video (in its original Hebrew version) sent to me by a member of the greater Bet Shemesh area. He lives in Sheinfield – an established Dati community just outside Bet Shemesh proper. It borders on ‘Bet’ (the nickname for Ramat Bet Shemesh Bet). Bet is a huge and fast growing ultra Charedi community that consists in large part of Meah Shearim transplants. They have grown to the point where they are contiguous with Sheinfiled. And they are still growing. They also border ‘Aleph’ (the nickname for Ramat Bet Shemesh Alef) that consists mostly of moderate Charedim and Datim.

This video made my blood boil. It is a 13 minute news report about a group of extremist Charedim that on a constant basis terrorizes very young religious girls as they enter and exit their religious all-girls elementray school. These Charedim are a relatively small group of extremist zealots that can only be called human pieces of garbage. Their values and actions are not all that different from Islamist extremists. Only their tactics differ. But not by that much.

These people haven’t killed anyone. Yet. But they have come close a couple of times. But for the grace of God they could have killed more than a few people by now.

They have no use for other Jews, religious or otherwise. They view their version of Judaism as the only legitimate expression of the Torah. What their rabbis tell them to do, they do. They do not distinguish between Halacha and Chumra. It is all the same to them. So if a 7 year old Dati girl who is modest by virtually all Halachic standards does not comply with their version of modesty, she is considered immodest. And worthy of being called a whore. At age 7!

Imagine standing in front of a religious school and yelling ‘whores’ and many other epithets on a constant basis at these little girls. Imagine the fear they instill in them …and the hatred these little girls must learn - hating anyone with a long full beard, Peyos, and Kapote. All while the rest of their community stands idly by - shrugging their collective shoulders and saying, “We don’t like it but there is nothing we can do.”

Meanwhile the human pieces of garbage continue to operate freely without any rabbinic sanction - even though they have even been condemned recently by some of their own rabbinic leaders. No matter. That had no impact on them.

If there is strong condemnation by rabbinic leaders is it fair to place any blame on them? What about the rest of Bet? They too condemn this behavior. Do they share any blame here? For me the answer is very clear. Yes - absolutely they do! Saying there is nothing they can do makes them all enablers.

It is clear to me that the people of Bet who completely reject this behavior - support their goals. They completely agree with them about what they are protesting. They agree with the characterization that young Dati girls do not dress modestly enough. That was made clear by a passersby interviewed in their cars - which very likely reflects the views of most of the people of Bet. They side with them. They just do not approve of their tactics.

There is no interest in a peaceful resolution here. This is a turf war. The building being used by Datim was contested for use by Bet. The government ruled against them and gave it to Datim. That has moved the human garbage into action. These are the kind of people who have moved into Bet. And they are taking over. They want complete control of their environment. And it is a population that keeps on growing.

The word Achdus does not exist in their dictionary. They want a world that consists only of their own customs. They do not want outside influences anywhere near where they live. It matters not a whit that there are other religious Jew living nearby that do not share their values. So what if their neighbors were there first! They are there now and want those other Jews ‘Out of their land!’

Sound familiar?

I am sick of the lot of them. Including the passive ones. All their protestations are worthless without action. The entire community shares culpability with these human pieces of garbage. Rabbis and citizens alike. Words alone are meaningless.

If the vast majority really disapproves of what’s going on there they ought to go and counter-protest. For every one person found harassing those young Dati girls, there ought to be at least 10 of their own counter-protesting. And their rabbinic leaders ought to be there right along with them leading the counter protests.

The good citizens of Sheinfield who are the parents of the young Dati girls are a lot more patient than I am. Those I have spoken with about this are actually Dan L’Kav Zechus to the vast majority of these people. Indeed many citizens of Bet have been quoted as saying they wish that they would just go away.

Maybe so. But that is not good enough. They have to do more than ‘wish’. They have to act. There is no being ‘Dan L’Kaf Zechus when innocent little girls are being called whores just for being Dati.

Until the people of Bet do this and it stops the entire city of Bet should be boycotted. And picketed. Massively! If Bet doesn’t do anything, Aleph should picket their businesses; their Shuls; everything! Nor do I let the Charedi ‘do nothing’ mayor off the hook. He ought to be picketed too by his own Charedi constituency.

The good people of Aleph should be joined and even led by their own Rabbanim - Charedi and Dati alike. The people of Bet need to be isolated and brought to their knees. Of course there can be no violence. No hand should be raised against anyone. But short of that - whatever it takes.

The video is in Hebrew with english subtitles and was first posted in A Mother in Israel. If it doesn’t make you angry - you are not human! And if this isn’t a call for action nothing is.

If one Jew cries out for help and others stand idly by, harm will befall all of us. This is the time for unity against evil.

Hat tip: IH

It Was Worth it!

If anyone is still upset by the exchange of terrorists and assorted other Palestinian criminals for the release of Gilad Shalit from captivity, I can certainly understand it. But I defy anyone with a Jewish heart to look at this picture and feel anything but great joy and gratitude to God and the Israeli government for making it happen.

Happy Chanukah!

Jim and Tammy …and Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto

Ahhh… the good life! Jet-setting First Class around the world; living in luxurious homes - in the finest neighborhoods; buying the finest clothing… Who wouldn’t want to live a lifestyle like that? And getting a lot of respect in the process both as a religious figure and an investment genius! What could be better?

For most of us this is a dream. Only the rich and famous get to do that. But what about the Chief Rabbi of Israel? Should he live a lifestyle like that? Maybe. If he can afford it. There is nothing inherently wrong with anyone living the good life including great rabbinic figures.

But that is certainly not the image an aspiring Chief Rabbi should project. It sends the wrong message. It promotes as a value the seeking of riches instead of God. I have no problem with being rich. I wish I was. But I do have a problem with a religious leader who lives an opulent lifestyle by ripping off his own charity to do it.

That seems to be what Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, who announced his intention to run for the position of Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, seems to be doing according to many media reports like the one in the Forward:

Documents obtained by the Forward reveal extensive spending by Mosdot Shuva Israel, Pinto’s New York-based educational and charitable organization, on luxury travel and expensive jewelry. Some of these documents have also been obtained and published by the Israeli press.

Among the expenses covered by the not-for-profit organization:

• $75,000 bill for a month long stay at a luxury hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina;
• $65,000 ring;
• $28,000 for fine men’s clothing.

A representative for Pinto’s organization has declined to comment on the Forward’s findings. But on December 20, The New York Times, citing unnamed officials, reported that federal law enforcement is investigating two former Pinto associates. Meanwhile, in an interview aired December 18 on Israel’s Channel 2, Pinto defended some of his organization’s spending. Asked why his organization had rented the Hamptons home, Pinto responded: “Because that’s where the people of the yeshiva live. That’s where the Hasidim of the yeshiva live during Passover.” The Marker, an Israeli business newspaper, reported on December 20 that Pinto told followers that a former volunteer had made the decision to rent the home even though Pinto had been offered free accommodations elsewhere.

Shades of Jim Bakker. For those not old enough to remember, Bakker was a televangelist in the eighties who preached making lots of money as the one of the highest of Christian virtues. He made no secret of the opulent lifestyle that he and his wife Tammy Faye lived using money raised through his minstry, PTL (Praise the Lord). With luxurious mansions and homes all over the world. He led a lifestyle that rival those of the richest people on earth. He would probably still be doing it if not for the fact that a sex scandal brought him down.

Is this what Rabbi Pinto is doing? One can argue and say that this is not the case. That he preaches the same values other Torah leaders preach. That his expenditures for a lavish lifestyle is not a reflection of his values… but a necessary component of his fundraising success.

If you believe that, then the words “buy”, “bridge” and “Brooklyn” have no meaning to you. For a man who claims to have little interest in material wealth, he has a funny way of showing it. Spending lavishly on oneself with money raised for charitable purposes is anything but ethical – even if it is legal Which I am not entirely convinced it is.

Authorities within Pinto’s network told the Forward at the time that Mosdot Shuva Israel had an annual budget of $5.5 million while the entire network spends $50 to $60 million per year.

What kind of charity has that kind of financial equation? And then there is this:

The New York Times story cited unnamed federal officials who said that law enforcement was carrying out an inquiry into a former Pinto aide named Ofer Biton and public relations executive Ronn Torossian over money allegedly missing from Mosdot Shuva Israel’s coffers.

It is unclear whether Rabbi Pinto was somehow invloved or given some or all of these funds for personal use. Rabbi Pinto has alleged in media reports that he has been the target of blackmail and that funds have been embezzled from his organization.

Blackmail? What did the blackmailers have on this guy? And yet he is still being defended by his admirers including some of the rich and famous:

To those who have met with Pinto, including basketball superstar LeBron James, right-wing commentator Glenn Beck and former New York congressman Anthony Weiner, he is a deeply spiritual man with business savvy and powerful connections. And though the rabbi hobnobs with the rich and famous and lives in an elegant Manhattan townhouse, his associates claim he has little interest in material wealth.

“The rabbi is a holy man, does not touch money and does not deal with money. He has no possessions,” Pinto’s wife, Deborah Rivka Pinto, told the Israeli daily Haaretz in a rare interview in July.

I’m not buying it. His actions speak much louder than his words. Halacha says nothing about wearing a Kapote and a Hamburg… or having a long full growth beard. But it does have something to say about using money designated for charity for a luxurious lifestyle. And this guy wants to be Chief Rabbi?!

Public Displays of Faith

OK. I hear you, Mrs. Braverman. But I don’t entirely agree with you.

Mrs. Emuna Braverman has written an eloquent defense of Tim Tebow’s public displays of faith in God on Aish.com. For those unfamiliar with that name, Tim Tebow is the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos. He is not however most notable for his football skills. He is notable for something he does outside of actual play, his somewhat relentless public displays of faith.

I had not personally been aware of this until I saw an actual ‘miracle win’ over the Chicago Bears take place under his leadership a couple of weeks ago. With minutes left to play and down by 10 points they managed to score a touchdown and with seconds to play - tie the game with an improbably long field goal. And then win in overtime with a Bears fumble followed by a similarly improbably long field goal.

At that moment Tebow went into his routine of kneeling on one leg, bowing his head, and offering a prayer of thanks to Jesus. He apparently does this all the time. This has brought him much ridicule, most notably on a SNL sketch last weekend that parodied his religious excesses.

But as Mrs. Braverman correctly notes, giving thanks to God for one’s good fortune is nothing to ridicule. Judaism is replete with just this type of activity:

We, as Jews, don’t limit our thanks to the Almighty to once a day. We say thank you for every morsel of food we eat. We say thank you every time we use the rest room (yes, it’s true! And it’s very powerful; think about it). We say “Thank God” when asked how we feel, what’s new, what’s happenin’ bro. It’s a good habit. It’s appropriate. It’s the right thing. We can learn from Tim Tebow.

Was SNL right in noting his excess? Or is Mrs. Braverman right to be a fan of Tim Tebow’s behavior in this regard? I’d have to say that the answer to these questions is they are both right. Thanking God is nothing to ridicule. But excessively wearing your religion on your sleeve is nothing to praise.

Indeed - in some ways we can learn from Tebow. As Mrs. Braverman points out, both on and off the field Tebow’s behavior is infinitely more praiseworthy than what you usually hear about NFL quarterbacks. And perhaps we should all be more mindful and thankful of God’s good graces. But wearing religion on your sleeve is not something to praise. It does not promote good will among men when one’s own personal beliefs are flaunted and in your face all the time. It is almost as if such people are saying: My religion negates your false beliefs. I get no inspiration at all when I see someone thanking Jesus.

Carrying this thought further - among our own I find it excessive when people thank God at every personal greeting by saying Baruch HaShem (or some variant of that) .

Some might say that it is downright blasphemous to say such a thing. After all - can there be too much praise of God? Well... yes in the following sense. When it becomes a rote response I don’t really see it as anything more than advertising one’s Frumkeit.

That is why one of my pet peeves is hearing Baruch HaShem every time someone asks you how you are.

I must admit that I hear that response so much that I occasionally respond that way myself. It’s almost reflexive. But it does not answer the question asked. It instead telegraphs a message about one’s religiosity. I think it cheapens the very concept of thanking God when it is over-used in such a rote manner.

Which is why I try to avoid making that response. I usually just answer the question by saying “I’m fine. How are you?” I frankly do not believe that God wants us to be so obsessed with praise that we end up saying it in such a rote manner all the time.

Of course that response is so entrenched in certain circles that if you don’t answer that way you are seen as insufficiently religious. My answer to that is - I don’t care. I have gratitude to God for all He has given me. I say so daily in prayer and additionally when the occasion calls for it. But to constantly display your faith on your sleeve can indeed be a turn-off and a source of unnecessary ridicule.

This is why my admiration of Tebow’s faith falls short of Mrs. Braverman’s. Yes, he is a fine individual and his faith is an admirable quality. But I also agree with former Bronco’s quarterback Jake Plummer who said that he wishes Tebow would just shut up after a game” and not praise the Almighty every time he makes a good play.

He can be as religious as he wants. But I don’t appreciate having it flaunted at me constantly. Do I have to see a New Testament reference to Philippians 4:13 on his face paint every time he plays?! Is that supposed to make me a more religious Jew? I don’t think so.

The Future of Reform and Conservative Judaism

It may not be the end of the world for Reform and Conservative Judaism, but you can see it from here.

Patrilineal descent; defining as Jewish anyone who basically thinks of himself as a Jew regardless of his parental lineage; and similar innovations have not really helped the Reform Movement in its goal to revitalize itself. Although it now touts itself as the largest movement in Judaism, at a recent meeting of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) - that was made abundantly clear.

Despite its numbers, attendance at their Temples by members post Bar Mitzvah seems to be almost nonexistent which makes membership in their movement meaningless. (The attendance numbers begin to increase when their members reach their thirties. But my guess is that this is the result of a rudimentary attachment to Judaism which they want to transmit to their children through their Temples - which have in essence become Bar Mitzvah factories and not much else.)

The JTA reports that Reform rabbinic leaders are struggling with this issue. They are trying to figure out ways to get their people back into their Temples. And even with all the efforts expended by some of its leaders they seem to be failing without a clue as to how to proceed.

I recently wrote about outgoing URJ president Rabbi Eric Yoffie’s efforts in this regard. He recognized the bankruptcy of eliminating all Halacha from the movement. He correctly realized that Judaism without Halacha can hardly be labeled as such. There is no need to be Jewish to fulfill their primary mandate of Tikun Olam. One can ‘build up the world’ without being Jewish. Why bother with the burdensome label of being a Jew?

Rabbi Yoffie tried his level best to reintroduce Halachic observance into Reform. Realizing that one of the essential defining features of Reform requires that Halacha be non-binding, he nevertheless tried to get members to do as much as they could to voluntarily. This included studying Torah. He has had some success. There are Reform Jews that follow selected Halachos, But he has had failures too as in his Kosher dining initiative.

So they are now scrambling for ideas about how to hold on to their flock. I saw no ideas expressed by Reform leaders in this article. Only an acknowledgment that they have a problem.

The Conservative movement that once boasted the largest membership is in a similar bind. They are hemorrhaging members. Their Shuls are shrinking – many closing down or combining with others. JTS Chancellor Arnold Eisen has admitted struggling with issue. He has expressed regret at the movement’s allowing driving to Shul on Shabbos. He views it as a major mistake since that undermined the sense of community created by Jews living in the same neighborhood. He has encouraged the creation of neighborhoods similar to Orthodox ones where everyone lives with walking distance of a Shul.

We Orthodox are by far the smallest segment of American Jewry. And yet the leaders of both movements look to us for solutions. Why does that make any sense? We are participatory rather than passive. And as small as we are, we are growing rather than shrinking. (Although that statistic has been challenged by recent census numbers, I attribute that to a segment of Jews who are Orthodox in name only and not really practicing Jews. Their children often get little if any religious instruction. Certainly not in any formal way.)

The solution to the common problems of these movements is not where they are looking. They are looking at the fringe benefits of observance. It is not the fringe benefits that enhance our growth… although that helps. It is our commitment to Halacha.

Volunteering to do Mitzvos is not the same as doing them because God requires it of us. Gadol HaMetzuveh V’Oseh… There is greater merit in doing a Mitzvah because God requires it of us rather than doing a Mitzvah we don’t really have to do. Keeping Kosher may be an interesting experiment for a Reform Jew. But since he doesn’t have to, he can just as easily dispense with it whenever it is convenient to do so. The ability to opt out at will without any guilt makes Mitzvah observance relatively unimportant or at least less important than the reason for opting out. There is no sense of commitment. No sense of doing what God requires of us.

Leaving aside questionable theology, the Conservative movement has always claimed to be a Halachic movement – although there is some debate about that now within their own circles. The majority of its members observe Halacha more in the breach. I would posit that the typical Reform Jew and Conservative Jew have about an equal measure of Halachic observances in their lives.

So what is the answer for Heterodoxy? I am the last one to make suggestions for their survival. But I honestly do not believe they have a future. Not in the long run. Not as long as they do not emphasize the Torah’s requirement to follow Halacha and make sure their children get educated that way.

The Conservative Solomon Schechter schools are trying to do this. But I’m not convinced they are successful at it. My gut feeling now is that although they have had some successes, the majority of their students are not observant once they leave the school and enter university life – as most of them do. Reform day schools are in their infancy but the same goes for them. When Halachic observance is voluntary or not sufficiently emphasized, people will choose what to observe – and not to observe.

The truth of the matter is that education is the answer for continuity of Judaism. That was realized many decades ago by visionaries like Rav Sharga Feival Mendlowitz. If one is taught that God mandates observance and one sees that in the home, the chances are that they will live their lives accordingly when they become adults. That is the real secret of our future.

This is the lesson that heterodox movements should take from us. The problem for them is that their horse is out of the barn. For the most part there is little if any role modeling by Reform or Conservative parents who mostly live secular lives. A Reform education that does not teach Halacha as a requirement leaves little incentive to forgo the easily life of eating Treif or violating Shabbos. And a Conservative education that does emphasize observance and contradicted by what their student see in their homes cannot survive.

So in a few generations if not sooner, I predict that heterodoxy will see its own demise. Jews who belong to these movements now will eventually either intermarry, or simply abandon the unnecessary ‘baggage’ of being identified as Jewish – or in the other extreme become Orthodox as outreach organizations continue reach out to them.

So if the heterodox rabbis are serious about retaining Jews it would probably be best if instead of banging their collective heads against the wall about what to do -they worked with these outreach organizations to reach out to as many of their own members as they can.

If there is any doubt about that… well here is an excerpt from that JTA article that really says it all:

One need look no further than Yoffie’s own children, whom he talked about in his Shabbat sermon at the Reform biennial conference held Dec. 14-18 at a hotel just outside Washington. His daughter, Adina, attends a Modern Orthodox shul, and his son Adam, 28, finds temple boring and doesn’t go much at all, according to Yoffie.

Judging Judaism by its Jews

‘Don’t judge Judaism by its Jews’ is one of the most controversial statements one can make about Judaism and its members. And it is an erroneous one. The fact is that one can and should judge Judaism by its practitioners. When Orthodox Jews misbehave it casts a shadow not only on our people but on our beliefs.

That’s why I rail against all the Orthodox Jewish miscreants that seem to constantly be in the news. Unfortunately there has been a lot of them in recent times. I need not name them. They are all too well known and a frequent subject of many of my blog posts. Some of them even prominent rabbinic figures.

It is these Jews people mean when they say do not judge Judaism by its Jews. But it is unfair to judge a people and their beliefs by the actions of a few. Even when they are prominent people who claim to be living the values we proclaim.

Does this mean that most of the rest of us live exemplary lives? No. I can safely say that I don’t – much as I’d like to. The Talmud tells us that with little exception, there has not lived a man on this earth who hasn’t sinned. Even though God expects us to live by His laws, in His infinite wisdom He knows that it is practically impossible to do. That’s why God is also known as Rachum V’Chanun. He is slow to anger, and forgives those who sincerely repent. Repentance is God’s gift to man. All God wants us to do – is our best.

So if a man sins and repents it is unfair to say Judaism is flawed. It is people who are flawed. Even though in theory we should be able to live by God’s laws - the Torah was given to people. Not angels. And people are human and sometimes prone to error.

But a fair minded person would not look to the sin of one individual and judge the entire religion. Nor should he say that there are so many prominent Jews who have sinned and judge Judaism that way. Because there are people who are exemplary individuals. They are not only careful in Mitzvos Bein Adam L’Makom – man and God… they are equally careful with Mitzvos Bein Adam L’Chavero - man and man. Perhaps even more so. One of the most revered Rabbinic figures of the last century by Charedim is Rav Chaim Soloveichik. He is of course the grandfather of my Rebbe, Rav Aharon who followed in his footsteps.

But R’ Chaim’s greatness is not only in Torah learning – although that too is one of his great achievements. He is perhaps the most influential Torah giant since the Vilna Goan. That is in fact why the Torah world reveres him so greatly. And with good reason. He is the progenitor of the Brisker Derech - the premium method of Torah study in the Yeshiva world today and it crosses all boundaries, from left to right.

But his reputation for greatness is not limited to the Torah world. He was renowned as a moral giant even by atheists of his time. Unfortunately there are not too many people alive today that can carry that mantel.

If one wants to judge Judaism by its Jews, then one should look at R’ Chaim, or his children. Or his grandchildren, most notably the Rav and Rav Ahron. Here is what the Forward wrote about R’ Chaim 100 years ago:

Haym Soloveitchik, otherwise known as the Brisker Rov, is one of the best-known scholars among contemporary rabbis. Considered one of Jewish law’s top authorities, people turn to him from all over the world with their legal queries. For the young generation, Soloveitchik is regarded as a fanatic who is unwilling to recognize that we have entered a new, modern era. But if you talk to young people in his hometown of Brisk, Belarus, even the apikorsim, or secular Jews, don’t see it that way. To the locals, who know the rabbi, he is, quite simply, a moral giant. In Brisk, young atheists and old religious Jews share the same view of Soloveitchik. He is talked about as if he is a living legend. Soloveitchik’s breadth as a thinker and moralist is known to all in his hometown, no matter what religious affiliation they may or may not have.

It behooves us all to follow in his moral footsteps even if we are not brilliant enough to follow in his Torah knowledge. If we are going to be a light unto the nations we need more leaders like that. Perhaps someday we can say with pride: One can judge Judaism by its Jews.

The State Does Not Belong to Charedim

Segregation of the sexes in Israel has become a more contentious issue than ever. The increased size of a religious minority has enabled them to flex their muscles and seek religious accommodation from public enterprises unlike any other time in Israel’s history.

The current fight has come to a head in the Mehadrin bus lines. Several of Israel’s public bus routes have been granted gender segregation. This means that women must enter and sit at the back of any bus designated as Mehadrin.

The phenomenon of gender segregation is not limited to buses. With their new found numerical and political strength, there have been numerous other areas where gender segregation has been attempted. Like alternate side of the street segregation in highly traveled areas... with men on one side and women on the other.

The motivation behind this relatively new phenomenon is the Halacha which prohibits actual physical contact between the sexes. Except for their wives men are Halachicly forbidden from touching women. There are Halachic differences of opinion about whether the nature of the touch is a factor… or about certain exceptional circumstances. But in Chasidic and many other Charedi cirlces there is no such debate. Touching women is completely forbidden by men under any circumstances.

They therefore go to great lengths to avoid even incidental contact of the type one might encounter on a crowded bus. As their population increased buses in places like Meah Shearim got to be overcrowded. Contact under these conditions is nearly impossible to avoid. To alleviate this problem, Mehadrin buses were created. Other Charedim outside of the Chasidic community who say that such unavoidable incidental contact is not really a problem will tell you that it is still preferable to take a Mehadrin bus if possible.

They further argue that since it is but a minor inconvenience to those who are not religious, and to them it is of such vital importance, the public ought to let them have their buses. After all it is only in their own neighborhoods where they have asked for it.

But how minor is it? One man’s Chumra can easily be a another man’s burden. We are essentially speaking here about the tyranny of the minority. In particular this minority a self centered one that refuses to see the other side of the issue.

Although I have heard that many women who are not Chasidic actually prefer this arrangement, based on the current outcry my gut feeling is that they are in the minority too. Why? Let us examine the downside - and there are many.

First there is the inconvenience of being separated from one’s spouse and children. It is not uncommon to decide to change one’s mind about which stop to get off. How does one communicate this to a spouse separated by throngs of people on a crowded bus?

Then there are the tourists. Often one spouse relies on the other to know when and where to get off, it is very possible that a miscommunication will cause them to get off at different stops… and not knowing their way around - be lost.

And what about an elderly couple where one spouse depends on the other for help getting on and off buses?

And then there are those women who rightfully refuse to sit at the back of the bus.

These are just some of the problems that come to mind. But what makes this situation completely intolerable is the occasional reaction by zealots. Far too often there are zealots on board who take matters into their own hands. Intimidation and even violence can - and has resulted. As recently as last week, a woman got on a bus, sat down in an empty seat in the front of the bus and was immediately intimidated by some of the passengers. The bus was halted and the driver prevented from proceeding until she moved. She stood her ground. Police were called. It was ugly!

Need I remind anyone of similar incidents or even worse ones in the not too distant past?

I understand why they may want to have separate seating on a crowded bus. I even understand why they feel that women must sit in the back. They believe it is forbidden to look at a woman who sits in front of them because it may lead to lustful thoughts. By women sitting in back this is avoided. (How convenient!)

But common sense should tell them that when a bus is empty (or even when it’s not) and a woman ‘violates’ the norm, they should avoid conflict and leave her her alone. Most people - like it or not - will abide by the rules they have set. But these constant episodes of harassment and violence are cause to terminate the entire enterprise of Mehadrin buses once and for all.

One has to weigh the cost versus benefits of such Chumros. Actions like this projected to the world bring ridicule and contempt upon the Jewish people. Judaism is not a primitive religion. But the more episodes we have like this, the more we are seen that way. It is one thing to stand up for Halacha and withstand the test of scorn and ridicule that may follow. That would be a Kiddush HaShem. It is another to implement a Chumra observed by a minority that leads to inconveniencing other religious Jews who do not abide by such Chumros; is the source of violent behavior by zealots; and the source of ridicule of observant Judaism by world leaders.

We are not required as a people to abide by the stringency of the most extreme elements among us. Certainly not under these conditions. When that happens the Chumra turns into a Chilul HaShem.

The latest incident has brought this to a climax with condemnations coming from all circles. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rightly condemned it. As has opposition leader Tzipi Livni… as has an onlooking American Secretary of State. But they are not the only ones.

Israel’s Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger has expressed his opposition to Mehadrin buses too. The State does not belong to Charedim, he said - even as he considers himself Charedi. As a protégé of Rav Elyashiv, I think that’s a good call.

I don’t know what is going to happen with the Mehadrin buses. But I think the entire enterprise has to end. The zealots have assured that they will continue to intimidate unwilling or reluctant female passengers who defy them. Common sense does not exist for them. Rav Metzger is right. Let the public transportation system be restored to a policy of free access of either gender to any seat available.

I would go one step further. There ought to be hidden surveillance cameras placed on every bus to assure that anyone harassing anyone else on a bus will be prosecuted. And the penalty ought to be stiff – including jail time for violence.

Those who want Mehadrin buses are entitled to have it. But I agree with Rav Metzger. Not at the expense of the public. If they want Mehadrin buses let them set up their own private system.

A Nice Kiddush HaShem

This video was telecast Friday night on NBC5 during its late night (10:00 PM CST) newscast. It is refreshing to see something like this broadcast in a major media market like Chicago. Unfortunately I could not watch it live since it was Shabbos. But it has been uploaded to YouTube. Two schools are featured, Arie Crown Hebrew Day School and JRC/Solomon Schechter Day School… although 13 schools are involved.

It is a sort of Chanukah ‘Toys for Tots’ organized by the Chai Lifeline branch here in Chicago. Chai Lifeline is a national Orthodox Jewish service agency dedicated to making the lives of seriously ill Jewish children better. They are currently involved in a project to collect and distribute toys for Chanukah to the children they serve. It is truly a Kiddush HaShem to watch. You may recognize the name of one of the Arie Crown children who volunteered for the project. He is interviewed near the end video. Elisha Kirshner is my grandson and Reuven’s older brother.

A bit of an update about Reuven:

I am pleased to report that Reuven’s tumors are shrinking. And there have been no new tumors detected.

If there is any doubt as to whether prayer combined with Hishtadlus is of any value, this should help dispel it. Reuven’s disease, Ewing’s Sarcoma, is a very aggressive cancer. It grows very quickly. And although it responds to chemotherapy – it has not been able thus far to eliminate the tumors permanently. We have been very disappointed that even after very aggressive chemotherapy his tumors have not been eradicated and have in the past even increased in size and in number. Thankfully Reuven was never in any immediate mortal danger from those tumors but if they had continued to grow, he easily could have been.

Reuven has been receiving a steady regimen of oral chemotherapy along with a restricted diet consuming only food specially prepared and designed to choke off cancer cells. Perhaps most importantly he has been receiving a steady diet of prayer from around the world from literally thousands upon thousands of people who are praying for his complete recovery.

The bottom line is that it all seems to be working. In two successive x-rays, his tumors he have been reduced slightly in size and no new tumors have been detected. And Reuven feels good to boot. Thank God. Ken Yirbu.

As the doctors at Children’s Memorial Hospital have told my daughter Tovi, Reuven’s mother, whatever it is you are doing - keep doing it! I agree and I ask that people continue to keep Reuven ben Tova Chaya in their prayers.

Nazis?! What Were They Thinking?!

I think it is fair to say that all segments of Orthodoxy, indeed all of humanity sees the Third Reich as evil incarnate. If there was ever an ‘Evil Empire’ that was it!.

I don’t think there is an ethical human being on the face of the earth that would disagree with that characterization. We know what they did to the Jewish people. The picture accompanying this post is but a small sampling of it.

Nazis were so evil that the very mention of the word ‘Nazi’ in any context is considered highly inappropriate - especially when one is comparing a fellow Jew to them. Even when there is strenuous objection to the views and rhetoric of that fellow Jew - it is unacceptable to compare them to Nazis.

Nor is it acceptable to use behavior by them as something to emulate – even in those instances where it might seem to be the case. For example - to say that Hitler was kind to dogs and use that as an example of how we should act towards animals is nauseating!

And yet it appears that there is a new obsession in certain Orthodox circles to do just that. Last week in two separate instances Nazi behavior was brought up in exactly these contexts. In one case comparing anti Agudah rhetoric to Nazi Germany’s propaganda against the Jews, and in another to demonstrate the Jewish ethic of Tznius. I wrote about the former last week.

The latter case is a shocking article in the Israeli version of the Yated. It was about gender segregation in the Charedi world in response to critiques – most notably by our Secretary of State - of this practice in Israel. He used Nazi gender segregation in the death camps to show just how widely accepted that idea is.

How can any Jew - no matter how right wing - continue to buy that newspaper? It is an insult to the memory of six million holy Jews that died Al Kiddush HaShem and to every single holy survivor of the Holocaust, religious or not. Those words should have never seen the light of day.

The Yated can extol the virtues of gender segregation all they want. They do not have to agree with me that such practices do more harm than good.

They can place extremes in the service of Tznius on the highest pedestal – even though these attitudes have led to the advent of Burka ladies; women getting beat up on buses; or for simply walking through their neighborhood dressed in the style of Bnei Akiva; or spilling acid on clothing they don’t like worn by women as they pass through Meah Shearim; or as in one case, a woman wearing a jumpsuit as she was jogging having had acid thrown in her face; or burning down a store that they think is selling immodest clothing; or in their latest enterprise calling little Mizrachi girls Shiksas and Prutzos as they enter or leave their religious school!

They can ignore all of those things if they want and continue to preach that segregation of the sexes is the greater good. They can explain all the problems away by saying these are exceptions; that they do not preach violence - that they condemn it; that people taking Chumros to extremes is not their fault. But once they use Nazi practices to justify their Chumros, they have lost the argument. And perhaps their minds!

Do they really think that the Nazi segregation of men from women in the camps was done because of any moral or even societal consideration? Can anyone at the Yated possibly even believe that? The Nazis were just using that tactic as a ruse to prevent chaos. The Nazis wanted their Jewish inmates to believe they were going to live in order to keep them calm before the slaughter. Men and women were segregated in their walk to the gas chambers. They were segregated as they entered the ‘showers’, and they were segregated as they were gassed to death.

But even if I were to grant that ‘even the Nazis understood the morality of gender segregation’ would that in any way get me praise the virtues of gender segregation? Think about it. Jews were being taken to the slaughter and were gender segregated before doing so. And this is an argument for Tznius?! How dare the Yated come anywhere near this argument?! And what are they saying about our Secretary of State? ...That even the Nazis understood gender segregation better than her?!

I do not believe the editor of the Yated was thinking too clearly on this one. It is a condemnable comparison that destroys the entire point he tried to make.

The Yated editor owes every decent human being an apology for allowing this odious article to appear in his paper. No matter what his intention was. As I said, he is entitled to his opinion. But if he wants to be credible to even his own constituency - he cannot be allowed to get away with using Nazi behavior to justify it!

The Influence of Chasidim on Orthodox Jewry

Guest Post by Bray of the Fundie

The following guest post was submitted by an anonymous blogger who - using the above pseudonym comments frequently on various J-blogs. It was originally posted yesterday on his blog, HaMavdil. The views and opinions expressed are solely his and do not necessarily reflect my own.

Today is the 19th of Kislev. It is a day celebrated by Chasidim in general as the Yuhrzeit of the Mezritcher Magid and by Chabad Chasidim in particular as the day that the Alter Rebbe (AKA the Rav and the Ba'al HaTanya) was liberated from his first incarceration in Czarist Prison and referred to as ראש השנה לחסידות . As such it got me, a non-Khusid, thinking about how Chasidish we have all become.

In pre-war Eastern Europe the various Jewish regions were basically culturally secluded from others. The Litvaks, Byelorussians and Latvians were, by and large, Misnagdim. The Germans, mostly Reform and, if observant, Hirschian. While great swaths of Poland, Galitzia, Hungary, Rumania and Ruthenia were Chasidish each region had it's own flavor of Chasidus and idiom of Yiddish.

Not so in the post war era. In almost every large Jewish population center around the world Holo-survivors of all of the aforementioned groups and their descendants began living cheek-by-jowl with one another along with indigenous frum populations that were there before the war and, at least in the immediate post-war years, attending the same schools and "intermarrying".

And so, cultural osmosis was inevitable. Yet it's clear that the Chasidim have had the far greater influence on the rest of us, in particular on the Yeshivisha velt than vice versa. Below I present a partial list of ways and mores that were once associated exclusively with Chasidim that have made great inroads among "the rest of us" (in no particular order).

Chumras in Kashrus: Cholov Yisroel and Glatt Flaisch although TBF if memory serves, Yoshon and heightened bug/ cychapod/ Toloim awareness began in Yeshivisha Kraizen.

Taareevos / Qedusha /Tznius: Mekhitzas Mekhitzas everywhere, weddings, simchas, dinners, kiddushim, buses, and they keep getting higher and more opaque. No pictures of even Tzanua women in print. No sitting in the same sections of buses. No mention of kallahs names in engagement announcements. Shortened courtship in shidduchim. Greater pre-first date screening / vetting in shiduchim. Fewer kallahs coming to the mens side during כיצד מרקדים . A shaitel being an anathema in certain quarters (primarily Chardal and Chavakuks. Although TBF I don't know f this is sourced in Chasidisha or Sfardisha influences). Suffice it to say that a generation or two ago none of this existed in Yeshivish, Yekkish and MO circles.

Levush/ Grooming: No color, lots of black and white even among the females. The doffing of ties and cuff-links. Long gatkes and no cuff shirts. Near universal peyos and many a pre-wedding beard. Khalakas-Upsherins for the three year olds. Near universal Shaitels / hair covering (yes Virginia, a generation or two ago very few MO women covered their hair at all, not to mention some other coverables, and even quite a few prominent Litvisha Rebitzens went bareheaded and smoked to boot!). RAK forbade Shtreimels in BMG. RMF allowed the use of certain electric razors. RYYR ejected bokhrim who grew beards from NIRC משום יוהרא (IINM this obtained in Telshe as well). There was nary a gartel to be seen in any Yeshiva or Young Israel. Straw hats in the summer were the norm, even among Roshei Yeshiva including some Panama Hats.

Tekheiles used to unheard of outside Radzyner survivors and a few pockets of Breslovers. While the Tekheiles that is all the rage in MO circles today is Rav Herzogs and not Rav Gershon Henikhs, it is an undeniable historical fact that it was he who began the Renaissance of this long forgotten mitzvah, and in a certain sense the whole, let's-do-mitzvos-we-haven't-done-in-decades/centuries/ millenia movement so popular today (Shiluach hakan, Yoshon, Pidyon peter khamor, Zroya V'lkhoayim wearing Tefilin the live-long day and donning them at home then walking to Shul...to name a few)

Anti-Zionism: Munkatcher/ Satmar ideology on the topic is triumphant and near universal in the Yeshivisha velt. Even among Khardals there has been some serious re-examination of the cornerstones of their Religious-Zionist ideology in the wake of the Gush Qatif evacuation. This is apocryphal but I've heard tell that in 1949 in Chevron Yeshiva they said Hallel on Yom HaAtzmaut. That Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach said that going to IDF military cemeteries is visiting kivrei Tzadikim and that Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz opined that the IDF casualties were like famous martyrs in the time of the Khurban. Let's see them try and get away with that now.

Hostility to Secular Education: A generation ago at least in American Yeshiva High Schools, students received a quality secular education and more than 40-50% went on to receive University degrees. Today in boys Yeshivas secular studies are an open joke, Hanholos compete for Khashivus at least in part by how successfully they can marginalize the secular studies. Today Litvisha High School graduates are mostly functional illiterates and speak a pidgin English like their Chasidisha counterparts. Albeit with less of an accent .

Kiruv and Missionary-like desire to spread the faith: אימתי קאתי מר was once an exclusively Chasidic anthem and ethos. While it's true that Novardhok did have a missionary proselytizing zeal even before the war they have melted away into history. Any fair historian must connect the dots of all Litvisha Kiruv Yeshivas and organizations back to Chabad. The fact that young khinukh couples will occasionally move to the boonies and that "Kiruv rabbi" has now joined the list of respected Qlei Qodesh, joining Mohalim, Shokhtim, Sofrim, Rabonim, Melamdim and Roshei Yeshiva represents a sea-change in mainstream Judaisms thinking compared to 40 years ago.

Segulos: Chai Rotel Mashkeh, Amuka, Pigeons-to-cure-hepatitis, Kupat HaIr and Vaad HaRabonim marketing. Enough said.

Hagiographies: as was always the norm among Khasidim non-kasidisha Gedolim must now also be Qedoshim M'Rekhem Eemom. If they had pasts...best to hide it. If they had growing pains... best to dissemble about it.

Kivrei Tzadikim: Always a big inyan by Chasidim it has gained much cache among the rest of us in the past few decades. From Carlebach fans flocking to Shlomos kever on Har Hamenukhos, to Chasidim rediscovering RJJ as a Tzadik, to invading Arab territory for Yosef Hatzadik, to Rav Pesach Krone led Heritage tours of Eastern Europe, to all the non-Chasidim on the Charter flights to Berditcehv and Lizhensk, Kever hopping has gone mainstream.

Especially universal is the Uman experience. You could roll all the mainstream and Looney-Tune sub-sects of Breslov into one, triple it and there would still be no accounting for the enormous RH crowds in Uman. It seems as though everyone is entitled to love their own stripe of Judaism....and Breslov too!

Leadership: the kind of sense of infallibility, un-challenge-ability, ability to intercede in prayer, efficacy of granting brachos, expertise in fields that they were not trained in once attributed only to Chasidic Masters is now the norm in relating to Litvisha gedolim. Ironically IMO todays Yeshivaleit have out-chasidished the Chasidim in these departments and whereas many contemporary Chasidim, especially in those Hoifen that have been riven by internal infighting and schisms, display a "healthy" skepticism towards their own leaders the average Yeshivaman is totally mevatel himself and independent thought to Daas Torah. Are their more sought after Brakhos granters or eitzeh gaibers in the world today than Rav Chaim Kaniefski ZGZ and his shver?

Ancillary to this is another originally Chasidish dimension of leadership. Goyim have celebrities who are otherwise talent free but "famous for being famous", Chasidim have almost always had some Masters who were "Leader because they led". They were not famous for Geonos or even necessarily tzidkus or for their ability to work miracles. This is especially true since dynasties became almost exclusively hereditary rather than moving from Master to Disciple. This brings me to a current event that really sparked this post. But as this post is too long for anyone to read already I'll save it for a part two. Stay tuned.

The only serious question left is: With this much הפצת המעינות why does Moshiach continue to tarry?

בא המבדיל והעמידן על אחת - "Those who cannot tolerate Havdala cannot appreciate Qedusha"

Out of Control Passion and Rhetoric

Every once in a while I get an e-mail from someone who was sexually abused as a child. I recently received such a letter from someone who described in great detail what one particular pedophile did to him as a young preteen. I can’t even begin to describe the visceral anger I felt as I read it, literally frozen to my computer screen. Fortunately the writer who is an adult now has remained observant. Although I would not have blamed him in the slightest if he had rejected not only Orthodoxy but Judaism itself.

That e-mail is why I cannot condemn the harsh criticism by advocates of rabbinic leaders like those who serve on the Agudah Moetzes. But I cannot condone it either because I completely disagree with the way they do it. They often use hateful invectives against them because of their perception that they do not seem to care about the victims. Or at least care more about the survival of the system at the expense of the victims. If God forbid it were me or one of my own children that were molested, I’m not sure I wouldn’t feel the same way.

That said, I am going to do something that may upset victims and their advocates. I base my views on my ability as a non victim to see things more objectively. I do not see these rabbinic leaders as evil. Quite the contrary. I see them as sincere. I do not think for a moment that they wish to see any harm come to victims. I instead see much sympathy from them for the plight of the victim. Although I have publicly disagreed or questioned their positions on this issue, I do not believe for a minute that they do so out of any sense of harming them - or for personal gain.

There are those who say that many of Agudah’s pronouncements and attitudes are generated by money. In one sense that is true. Money is needed to fuel the system. Without it, the entire system would crash. It is not personal gain or loss that concerns them. It is the very existence of the system itself.

Let us take the Markey Bill as an example. That bill would have extended the statute of limitations on lawsuits that could be brought against abusers and their enablers. The Agudah Moetzes wanted to protect their schools from financial decimation from lawsuits brought decades after the original statute of limitations ran out. They feel that a school that decades ago allowed an abuser to do his thing but is now a different school with a new faculty and administration - and that had no connection to the past - ought not be penalized for the sins of there forebearers. They believed that these kinds of lawsuits would irreparably and unfairly harm the system. Passing the Markey bill was too high a price to pay.

I disagreed with them on this issue and sincerely believe that justice would be better served if we allow the victims their day in court. And I further believe that the system would survive. Just as it did in other states who extended their statute of limitations.

The point is that Agudah’s position was not really an unreasonable one. To accuse them of being anti-victim because they were anti Markey is therefore untrue and unfair.

The same thing is true about the most recent controversy - their requirement to report abuse first to rabbis for the purpose of determining the veracity of an accusation. Here too I disagreed with them. I do not think rabbis are the ones best trained to determine which accusations are valid and which are not. But again, to say that they are anti victim because of this is unfair.

They are concerned that someone accused arbitrarily of abuse will be ruined for life. A legitimate concern. My view is that we ought to let the experts decide and not rabbis. If one suspects abuse, report it to the police immediately! But I do not fault the Agudah Moetzes motives here. They believe that with proper training their rabbis will do a good job in vetting legitimate accusations from the illegitimate. And thus spare an innocent man from a lifetime of suspicion – even after he is exonerated.

There are those cynics who will accuse some rabbis of trying to protect an accused abuser because they simply cannot believe it about him. I suppose there is some truth to that. Which is another reason to go straight to the police. But a predilection to believe the accused in some cases does not stem from any nefarious motives. It is simply a bias of trust built up over the years of knowing the accused as an honorable man and disbelieving such things about him.

But the critics are relentless in their antagonism towards – and even hatred of - Agudah. To be fair some of that antagonism comes from the way things were handled in the past. Victims were badly treated then. And abusers were thus enabled to continue with their abuse. As was the case with one of the more notorious abusers who was a Rebbe in an elementary school. 20 years of uninterrupted abuse happened there. Or the cases where a school or community simply kicked an abuser out of their neighborhood or city – allowing him to go elsewhere and set up shop.

Their inexperience in dealing with pedophiles led them further down the wrong path often believing they could prevent further abuse internally without police involvement. That has proven to be a huge mistake - one in which I think they realize they had grievously erred.

And of course this stokes the anger of victims and advocates.

The bottom line is that I do not believe for a minute that the Agudah Moetzes is anything but well intentioned. Certainly their sea change about reporting abusers to the police at least after being vetted by rabbis is a welcome change in the right direction from the time they thought they could handle things ‘in house’.

Which brings me to an op-ed by Rabbi Avi Shafran in Ami Magazine and the reaction to it by victim’s advocates. Rabbi Shafran expresses indignation (correctly so in my view) to the way some advocates treated a closed session of rabbis at the last Agudah convention. The session dealt with sex abuse. Although I too questioned the closed door nature of the meeting, I do not for a moment believe there was anything nefarious going on there. I take Rabbi Shafran at his word that this session was designed to deal precisely with the issue of rabbinic participation in the process of vetting accusers. From their perspective of requiring rabbinic approval, they were only trying to forward that goal properly.

Those who were so vehement in their condemnation of the Agudah were wrong in how they protested it. There is no evil intent here. There is only disagreement in how to do it right. To bash the Agudah as if they were doing something sinister is completely wrong and unfair.

I understand the passion. Certainly after reading that e-mail I was talking about. But one has to be fair and not go overboard to bash people who have dedicated their lives to serving the Klal. Yes, I have pretty much the same disagreements with them that advocates do. But to turn that into a venomous attack is outrageous and in my view counter-productive. Hard though it may be for victims and their advocates, there is a right way and a wrong way to disagree. Venomous attacks against well intentioned people is the wrong way.

But there is one thing I do agree with them on about this article. Using an illustration and title (in the above picture) that is reminiscent of the propaganda used by Nazi Germany against the Jewish people. The purpose was to compare the attacks by the advocates against Agudah to the Nazi propagandists of the Holocaust. That crosses a line. It too is an outrageous and venomous attack.

These advocates are not evil. They too are good people. They spend a good deal of their time working on behalf of victims. That some of them get carried away with angry rhetoric may be because of their frustration with what they see as impediments to their goals. Right or wrong about their rhetoric it is not OK to cast them as Nazi propagandists.

I think we would all be a lot better off if we look at the good that each side is doing, appreciate each other’s efforts, and respect our differences even while criticizing them in the hopes of changing some minds and hearts. I truly believe that both sides are working towards the same goal of eradicating the scourge of sex abuse form our world forever! But as always, the devil is in the details.