A Time to Act

It’s the three weeks - Bein Ha’Metzarim m- and Jerusalem is aflame. In about two weeks we will be observibg Tishah B’Av which commemorates the destruction of both Holy Temples. Jerusalem burned then too.

Of course one cannot compare the burning then by Babylonia and Rome - to the burning now by wayward Jews. But the irony of having smoldering flames of destruction in the streets of Jerusalem should not be lost upon any of us during this period.

The people who are responsible for this are criminals. But they are not independent of the Hashkafos that bring them there. They are in large part members of a group of Charedim closely associated with the Edah HaCharedis who are listed below.

Recently Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch who is one of the leaders of the Edah condemned these people in no uncertain terms. But that is as far as he would go claiming that any further public effort by him would be futile. He said he is trying to work behind the scenes. If he has, his efforts have been thus far unsuccessful. It is time for action.

Last Sunday I called for a boycott of the Edah HaCharedis Hechsher. I repeat that again here. It will not be easy. The Edah Hechsher is so wide-spread that it would mean hardships to many people. It might prove impossible to find products with reliable Hechsherim to substitute for those of the Edah.

But the only way to get them to stop is to hit them in the pocket-book via a wide-spread boycott of their products. I would convince all Israelis - including Chilonim - to look for the Edah Hechsher before they buy anything and if it’s there - to boycott the product. I would urge sending letters to all the major companies like that use the Edah Hechsher and tell them what you are doing. And to inform the media.

Those philanthropists who give freely to any of the organizations listed below should stop supporting them until things change.

I received the following signed letter for someone who cares deeply about what is happening to our holy city of peace. I post here in its entirety. And I suggest we all do what we can to follow it. His name is being withheld for obvious reasons. He does not want to end up in the hospital.

In light of the growing terrorism being perpetrated against the citizens of Israel by member groups of the Eda Chareidit I think it's time for a concerted effort by all decent people, including Chareidim & others, to boycott products and establishments that bear the Eda Chareidit Kashrut certification.

The Eda Chareidit has many "branches". They provide services for their members, probably even help fund some Gemachim, but they also fund the incitement to terror that we've been witnessing lately. Some of this funding comes from their highly profitable Kashrut certification business. In the broader world it is well known that cutting off funding sources is one of the best tactics for curtailing terrorism. We must apply that lesson here.

Not every member group of the Eda Chareidit is necessarily wedded to this anti-social behavior, but that is all the more reason to put pressure on the group as a whole. This will hopefully encourage the more moderate constituents to reign in their terroristic brethren.

I know this will be difficult for many of us. For better or worse, the Eda Chareidit Kashrut organization is regarded as having a very high standard and their certification is found everywhere. Sometimes we just don't have a choice, but when we do, we should opt for the alternative. We should let the proprietors of the stores we shop in know about our preference. (Remember, many of them have been extorted to put up "Tznious" signs by these groups and would probably be happy to participate if it didn't hurt their business.)

This is just one of those cases where we might have to compromise a little on our super-Machmer Kashrut adherence (Bein Adom L'Makom) in favor of being more Machmir in "helping" our brethren behave more like human beings (Bein Adom L'Chaveiro). We know that's what HE would want.

In addition, and this is an area where like-minded people in the Diaspora can help, we should refrain from giving Tzedaka to any of the member groups of the Eda Chareidit: their institutions, individuals, and organizations. A list the Eda Chareidit groups is provided below.

I write this with a heavy heart, especially during the "3 weeks", but something must be done. We simply cannot stand by and let our beautiful religion be hijacked by those who would destroy it and it the process make a mockery of G-d and His Torah.

Thank you.

=============

The Eda Chareidit Groups

Satmarer chasidim
Dushinsky chasidim
Toldos Aharon chasidim
Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok chasidim
Spinker chasidim
Brisk community of Jerusalem
Sanz-Tshokave chasidim
Perushim (faction of Lithuanian and Hungarian non-Hasidic Haredim, including descendants of the students of the Vilna Gaon)
Faction of Breslover chassidim (led by Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter)
Mishkenos HoRoim chasidim

Post Script:

I just received the following from Rabbi Daniel Eidensohn. These are the exact words of Rav Moshe Sternbuch on his official stationary signed and stamped with his official seal. I humbly suggest that it changes nothing!

With regards to the lady from Yerushlayim being accused of mistreating her child; What we have to strongly protest here, in a peaceful manner, are the barbaric actions of the police force in arresting a women who is allegedly sick according to their claims, and chaining her, putting
her in a cell with dangerous criminals. If their allegations are true, then this women deserves the appropriate medical treatment, but not to sit in a prison cell, with such subhuman treatment.

We condemn any types of violence, I have stressed this many times before. Anyone who commits acts of violence declares that he doesn’t belong to our community. Any talk of boycotting the hospital is against the Halacha and "very self-damaging." We have nothing
against the Hadassa hospital, and many in our community receive their services in the Hadassa hospital with great care.

Updated: 7/18/09 10:00 AM CDT

England and the Jews – Postcript

The following excerpt from an article by Miriam Shaviv, who is Orthodox. It was written about a year ago. Ms. Shaviv is a journalist and currently the Acting Foreign Editor of The Jewish Chronicle. She is also a resident of England. I think it kind of illustrates my point about how Jews are seen there. Jewish life in England as she describes it - is apparently pretty much the way I perceive it to be. The article can be read in its entirety on the JC.COM website:

The Americans, meanwhile, are comparing British Jewish life to American Jewish life. By those standards, things here are uncomfortable. The levels of anti-Zionism (and occasionally antisemitism) with which we put up in our media, and often in public discourse, are inconceivable to an American audience. Jews are far more dominant there in popular culture, the media is far more sympathetic to Israel and casual antisemitism in far more politically incorrect than it is here.

Lord Jonathan Sacks

Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Sacks has been given a high honor by the House of Lords in merry old England. According to an articles in the Jerusalem Post and Cross-Currents he has been given the status of life peer in that institution. Sir Jonathan Sacks is now Lord Jonathan Sacks - as was Lord Immanuel Jacobowitz - Rabbi Sacks predecessor as Chief Rabbi of England.

Rabbi Sacks is a star in the Jewish world. Anyone who has read any of his writings can plainly see both his brilliance and ease in conveying his ideas. He is a man who does not ‘talk down’ to people and yet a giant intellect in the shrinking world of Jewish thought. A world brought to its current status by a sort of unofficial anti-intellectualism. A view that focuses less on independent thinking and more on unquestioning fealty to a dogmatic and narrow view of the Orthodoxy. A view that has resulted in an almost robotic move to the right by almost all of the segments of it.

Rabbi Sacks is a refreshing island of independent thinking in the middle of what is becoming a desert of intellectual thought.

I would be remiss if I would not add that this honor comes at a time where anti- Semitic sentiment disguised as anti Zionism is on the increase on the European continent. That makes his appointment to the House of Lords even more remarkable. As was the warm and welcoming statement by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams – a man who I believe is not particularly known for his closeness to the Jewish people. Here is what he had to say:

"There are few intellectuals in this country with a firmer grasp of the moral and social challenges facing our nation or a greater capacity to articulate how we should be meeting them," he said. "The House of Lords will be greatly strengthened by his appointment."

Bearing all this in mind I should mention that a few weeks ago I had occasion to have a Shabbos meal together with an Orthodox Jew who was a British citizen. He was originally from Chicago and was visiting his elderly mother. He told me the following story.

When he first moved to England in the late 50s, he had occasion to be in a British court as a litigant in a dispute with a non Jew. I don’t recall the nature of the dispute. But during the course of the appearance before the British judge it came out that the Jewish litigant was mistreated by the non Jew. At some point in the litigation the Judge turned to the non Jewish litigant and said, “Is this the way we treat our guests?” I’m sure he thought he was the picture of propriety and fairness. But it did not escape the Jewish litigant – nor me - that Jews were not thought of as equals among their peers in England. They were not members of the group. They were merely guests – temporary visitors who would eventually leave.

I would suggest this attitude might be this traceable to the year 1290 when British anti-Semitism was so strong that the Jewish people were expelled. In was via a decree by Edward I. England in fact had no Jews - other than some who hid their Jewish identity - for a period of nearly 400 years. In 1656 Menashe Ben Israel petitioned Oliver Cromwell for their re-admittance. Needing Jewish financial assistance - he unofficially allowed us back in.

I believe that each of the European nations - England among them - see immigrants as outsiders – and apparently are never fully accepting of them – especially religious Jews who are least likely to completely assimilate.

All this might help explains a bit about why there is more anti-Semitism among Europeans than there is in the US. When taken to an extreme - it can also explain why Nazi Germany was so successful in promoting racial purity to its citizens. They took their ancestral heritage to a completely racial extent and valued it so much that they wanted destroy any possible tainting of their gene pool.

Contrast that with America. We pride ourselves as a nation of immigrants. This completely counters any national notion of racial superiority. Jews in America are not guests. We are considered equals among peers here and guaranteed freedom and equality by the constitution.

Today, Jews in England seem to be fully integrated into society. I am happy to see an honor bestowed upon a more than deserving individual. But I can't help wondering if the attitude expressed by that British judge is still a part of their mindset about their fellow Jewish citizens.

Updated: 7/16/09 1:02 PM CDT

What Does ‘Daas Torah’ Say?

Did hospital officials act properly in reporting the abuse they suspect took place by a mother to her infant son? Were they in fact obligated to do so? Or should the hospital be boycotted? Are the protesting rioters right? Or should they be condemned?

What about the way the suspected abuser was she treated? Did the police overreach and treat her more harshly than necessary? And what about the protesters? If one agrees that the protesters are ‘insane’ (in the colloquial usage of that word) should rabbinic leaders come out with public condemnations? Why or why not? If yes - how public should they be? And what should they do about it?

Most people who read this blog know what my answers would be. But what about someone who many see as a Gadol? And from whom many seek what they call Daas Torah?

These and other questions were answered by one such individual – one of the leaders of the Edah HaCharedis, Rav Moshe Sternbuch. Courtesy of Rabbi Daniel Eidensohn’s Daas Torah blog and without any further comment from me - here are Rav Sternbuch’s thoughts:

He agrees that the rioting is wrong and he condemned the demonstrators are "mushugoyim". He said that it was in fact the duty of the hospital to report their findings to the authorities and thus they acted appropriately. He criticized the talk about boycotting the hospital in retaliation - as making no sense and and in fact being "very self-damaging." He asserted that the real point of contention is not whether this woman is guilty or innocent - but rather the way the police have dealt with her - chaining her hands and feet. If in fact it is true - as the police have claimed - that this woman is mentally ill, she should not have been placed in a cell together with dirty and dangerous criminals.

The reason that he hasn't issued a statement for the street or put up wall posters is simply that he knows he has very little influence on the people that are rioting - since they don't accept his authority. There are other people who in fact wield more influence - but they have yet to be convinced that the police have justification for what they have done. He is doing what he can behind the scenes to end the confrontation.

Excommunication - Put Them in Cherem!

I tried. I really tried to avoid writing about yet another atrocity coming out of Meah Shearim. I don't want to become a one note Samba here. But how can I be quiet about these people? By their actions they are destroying Judaism – all the while thinking how wonderful they are in service to God. This time it is a woman who is a member of Neturei Karta - the same sect that produced the Ahmadinejad huggers.

A very sick woman from those quarters was arrested for severely abusing her son over the past two years. She was in essence slowly murdering him - via starvation and other methods. The story is available in both Ynet and the Jerusalem Post. Hospital staff apparently determined that this mother very likely suffers from the extremely rare psychological disorder known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy. This is when a person seeks to draw attention and sympathy for themselves by secretly making someone in their care sick.

My issue is not with this mother. She is obviously very ill. And she needs help. Hopefully she will get it. In the meantime she has been removed from her four children and the case is currently being investigated.

My issue is with the response of her community. From the Jerusalem Post:

Scores of haredi protesters took to the streets Tuesday night, setting garbage bins on fire on Rehov Bar-Ilan and in the Mea She'arim neighborhood, snarling traffic in the area, Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said.

A man who tried to move a burning garbage bin from the street was lightly injured when he was hit in the head by a stone.

The news of the woman's arrest sparked renewed rioting Tuesday night by members of the extremist haredi organization, which has been leading violent, month-old protests against the opening of a parking lot in the city on Saturdays.

On Sunday, haredim torched the neighborhood welfare office to protest the fact that the suspect was arrested there.

True - this woman has not yet been convicted in a court of law. But the evidence seems pretty strong that in spite of the rarity of the disease, she does suffer from it. The descriptions of events all point in that direction. Especially surveillance video of this woman undermining the medical treatment. From Ynet:

The suspecting medical staff at Hadassah Ein Kerem installed security cameras in the child's room. To their horror, the footage showed the woman disconnecting her son from his feeding tube. In other cases, she poured unknown substances into the tube.

But to the protesting mob none of this is relevant. To them she is innocent and the evil Israel government is once aging unfairly targeting the hated Charedim – in this case a young innocent mother from Neturei Karta. They have a right to believe what they want. But how do they make their feelings known? With the typical violence that has become their trademark.

These people have no redeeming value in my mind. None! And anyone who attempts to defend them in any way isn’t much better. Labeling the media and the Israeli government authorities as anti Charedi is not what made this child almost deathly ill. Nor would achieving her release via these protests and returning to her custody of her son make him any better. It may instead lead to the child's death! Any apologetics in the direction of the protesters merely contributes to that possibility!

The best thing that could happen for Klal Yisroel vis-a-vis this crowd would be to put the entire sect in literal Cherem via an act of Beis Din! The Beis Din Should be comprised of the leading rabbinic figures of our time - and signed onto by as many segments of the Torah world one can find. Those from that sect who do not want to be in Cherem would have to sever all ties with it and join the rest of the civilized world. Those who remain should be Halachicly shunned -by the entirety of Klal Yisroel. I would even add stiff fines to those caught knowingly having anything to do with them.

Answering to a Higher Authority

Has anyone ever wondered why certain Hechsherim are trusted more than others? I certainly have. There has been a relitively recent explosion of Kashrus agencies who certify various food products as kosher. It wasn’t always that way.

Once upon a time there was only the OU. But a few decades ago new Kashrus agencies started sprouting up. Among them: The OK, Star-K, Kaf-K , and the cRc. These all are trustworthy. And there are many more like hem – far too many to mention. But along with the trustworthy ones there are some that have not enjoyed such trustworthiness. Like that of the Traingle K Hechsher of Rabbi Jehoseph H. Ralbag (pictured above - taken from BJT website).

Triangle K has been around a long time. It is one of the older Hechsherim. I believe it pre-dates all those mentioned above accept for the OU. It used to be just the letter K but since a letter from the alphabet cannot get copyright protection, the triangle was added to it. Rabbi Ralbag is a God fearing Jew and a huge Talmid Chacham. He has incredible Semichos and has published Seforim on Halacha. Nonetheless his Hechsher has always been a controversial one. I have never heard of any Orthodox Rabbi who endorses it.

Mega hot dog giant - Hebrew National - now has the Triangle K Hechsher. That happened a few years ago when they switched from an in-house Hechsher to a national one. But the same thing is true for Hebrew National that is true for the Triangle K. Outside of Rabbi Ralbag - I don’t know of a single Orthodox Rabbi who endorses it.

But in what turned out to be a fascinating article in the Baltimore Jewish Times - I was surprised to learn that not all Orthodox authorities are untrusting of Triangle K and Hebrew National products. From the article:

Rabbi Yitzchak Abadi, who studied in Lakewood, N.J., under the famed Rabbi Aaron Kotler and was once the exclusive halachic authority in the Haredi (fervently observant) stronghold of Lakewood, N.J., founded a popular Web site called kashrut.org . Rabbi Abadi’s son, Aharon, who now runs the Web site, declared that Hebrew National’s meat “is certainly kosher for all who do not eat only glatt.”

Although it is preferable to eat glatt when available, says Rabbi Abadi, it is a chumrah, a voluntarily accepted restriction. Those who don’t limit themselves to glatt are still keeping kosher.

I should point out that the word Glatt is misused. In its common usage it means that the product is more carefully supervised. It is done by more knowledgeable and more God fearing people who are more trustworthy than non Glatt supervisors. But that is not what Glatt means. That is what Mehadrin means. Glatt mean smooth. And it refers to the surface area of a lung.

A bit of explanation would be helpful here. The following is a very basic outline and is not meant to be comprehensive review of the laws of Kashrus.

First only meat from an animal that chews its cud and has split hooves may be eaten. But that is not enough. Of these animals the Torah tells us in Shemos (22:30) Basar BaSadeh Treifa Lo SoChelu – meat (one finds) in a field that is ‘torn’ you may not eat! This means that natural or any death to an animal that is not ritually slaughtered renders it not Kosher.

Ritual slaughter is outlined in the Shulchan Aruch. If done properly it is a very humane method of slaughter. Any misstep in this procedure renders the animal ‘torn’ and completely unkosher.

Once slaughtered properly all internal organs must be intact. Even a small puncture renders it a Treifa - not Kosher. Adhesions will sometimes grow on and around that hole. The Gemarah tells us that in the vast majority of cases most internal organs are intact and may be assumed to be so without checking.

The lung is an exception. It is almost always the first organ to be damaged in this way. So Chazal instituted it be checked. If the lung passes inspection we may assume the other organs are intact and the animal is rendered Kosher without any further checking. Within three days it must be soaked and salted for a predetermined period of time in order to remove all blood. Blood is biblically forbidden by the Torah for consumption. If this is not done - that too renders it unkosher.

The issue of Glatt comes into play during the lung inspection. If the lung has no lesions at all then it is smooth or Glatt Kosher. This is the standard of Rabbi Joseph Karo the author of the Shulchan Aruch. Only Glatt Kosher is acceptable according to Rabbi Karo. Middle Eastern Jews or Sepahrdim follow Rabbi Karo and retain this standard. But European Jews or Ashkenazim follow Rabbi Moses Isserles – who is known by his Hebrew acronym ‘Rama’. His Halachic Glosses dot the entirety of the Shuchan Aruch. The Rama is lenient.

The Rama says that although Glatt is preferable, certain types of easily removable adhesions may in fact be removed if the membrane on the lung is not broken upon removal. If that is done the animal remains Kosher. This is not Glatt Kosher meat. But it is completely Kosher meat. That is still the Halacha today even though it has been virtually abandoned by all the Hechsher agencies who now only accept Glatt Kosher. Except for mega companies like Hebrew National who do not require it. It would be virtually impossible to produce Glatt Kosher meat in the quantities they produce.

In my view if being Glatt is the only issue, then Hebrew National is as Kosher as could be and can be eaten by any Ashkenazi Jew. It is just not Glatt Kosher.

Just to be clear I am not now advocating buying Hebrew National products. I am not a Hechsher agency. I have no expertise or direct knowledge about Hebrew National or about the way any of the Hechsher agencies operate. Like most Orthodox Jews I rely on the good reputations of Hechsher agencies I trust.

But if not being Glatt is the only issue – and I don’t know that it is - I would eat it. Being Glatt Kosher is not a requirement of Halacha. The article in the Baltimore Jewish Times quotes Rabbi Abadi as endorsing Hebrew National as Kosher but not Glatt. I am certainly not in any position to approve or disapprove. I leave that for others to debate. But it does make it interesting. Maybe Hebrew National does answer to a higher authority...

The Purpose of Public Condemnations

There is one comment by a person who identifies himself as ClooJew that really irked me this morning when I saw it. I started writing a response and it turned out to be lengthier than I intended. But I believe an important point is to be made and deserves to be highlighted as an independent post.

Here is ClooJew’s comment in significant part. The entire comment is available in the comments section of my last post.

This awful statement (Embarrassed to Be a Religious Jew) is the result, lulei demistafina, of the constant attention and amplification that you give these scandals - you become "embarrassed to be a religious Jew." You have proved with this sentiment, more clearly than I ever could, the utter disaster that these sorts of blogs have become. Rather than a source of inspiration and introspection...

My Response

You call yourself ClooJew. I’m not so sure you have a clue.

I don't know whether you are Charedi or not but this typical Charedi reflexive/defensive attitude contributes mightily to the problem. By telling me not to focus on the problem and instead to write inspirational pieces you in essence advocate ignorance and complacency. We must first recognize that there is a problem if we are going to effectively deal with it. There are plenty of others who are currently very good at ignoring the problem and telling themselves and their 'flock' how ‘goodly are our tents’! According to them we are just fine in the Bein Adam L’Chavero or in the Or LaGoyim department.

They must believe this since it is rarely if ever mentioned publicly as a reason for these problems. These problems - they will suggest - stem from an underachievement in Ruchnius. Everything will be just fine if our women only dress more Tznius …or Daven harder …or say more Tehilim …or we check our Mezuzos …or give more Tzedaka to Kupat Ha’ir …or to make sure never to Daven without a black hat!

As for introspection, what do you think I am advocating here?! It is precisely that! …introspection by all of Orthodox Jewry and its rabbinic leaders - suggesting what is wrong and suggesting how to fix it!

Chazal is full of inspirational people - as are many Gedolim of the past. There is a multitude of examples of it – many of which I have described in previous posts. But I am not a Mechanech. It is the Mechanech's job to focus on these stories for their Talmidim. In this they have as a group failed - as these continual stories keep suggesting.

You seem to think if I ignore the problem nobody will notice it. Guess what?! My readership is a small fraction of the Jerusalem Post's readership or Fox News viewers. People are noticing it quite well, thank you! My ignoring it will thus tacitly seem like an endorsement of it. I choose to face it head on and condemn it.

I want anyone who reads this blog to know that there is at least one Orthodox Jew who sees what’s going on and is going to condemn it again and again. And that such behavior is not the Torah’s way.

And the louder and more often I do it, the better chance there will be that someone in a position to do something about it will wake up! Instead of telling me to shut up I would suggest that you write your own public condemnation of it. Are you satisfied with how Orthodox Jewry is looked upon now? And do you really think it’s my fault? I would argue that just the opposite is the case. My constant condemnations are the antidote to the constant Chilul HaShem!

You claim that there is no statistical evidence that the behavior of Chareidi Jews is worse than that of secular society, or, in fact, of Modern Orthodox Jews. Perhaps. But if secular society is the same or worse than religious Jews - it does not create a Chilul HaShem. And that is my issue here.

Are the percentages of non Jews and Modern Orthodox Jews who are guilty of these kinds of things the same as Charedim? I don’t know. What difference does that make? Besides - one story in one paper about a Modern Orthodox woman (which I was not aware of) compared to the dozens of stories in recent times about wayward Charedim would suggest that the numbers of Charedim are far greater.

To claim the media focuses more on Charedim is at best questionable. They focus on the Yarmulke. If someone is wearing one - that’s good enough to make it newsworthy. They don’t distinguish between Hashkafos. They focus on the moral disconnect between the supposed religiosity on the exterior and bad behavior.

But even if you are right and the media focuses more on Charedim because they look more religious - that is in fact the Charedi claim. Equating Modern Orthodox Jewry and Charedim as equally culpable in these crimes by definition proclaims the falsity of that claim.

I have no way of knowing which group is better or worse. But it doesn’t matter. If there are equal numbers - that just means the problem is far worse than I could have ever imagined. And there ought to be a unified effort by the leadership of all segments of Jewry to stand up and do something about it - that will work. Starting with the implementation of a curriculum that focuses on the Bein Adam L’Chavero more than it does on the Bein Adam L’Makom! This is what is needed now. One thing seems to be sure. It is not happening in many a home. That’s probably because many of today’s parents were victims of the same type of faulty education as are their children.

Embarrassed to Be a Religious Jew

I am really getting tired of this. One Chilul HaShem after another keeps coming out of this community. And it seems to be doing so with increasing frequency.

Last week there was yet another expose by Fox News of a Charedi business man with the ethics of an alley cat - a man who made a career out of cheating his clients. This news segment was broadcast to millions of people who watch the news on this channel in New York.

And once again, we have the Edah HaCharedis calling for a ‘peaceful’ protest against Chilul Shabbos. Of course it was anything but peaceful. Protesters threw rocks at the police. As if the Edah didn’t know that was going to happen.

The media is having a love affair with this kind of news. They thrive on religious people doing things like this. Not because they hate religion or God. That is often the refrain one hears from defensive Charedim who are in a state of denial about their problems. The minute they see a media piece that is critical of Charedim they cry bias!

The reason the media focuses on it is because it is news when a religious person upon whom we should look to as a model of Godly behavior does things that is a model of the devil’s behavior. It is a contrast between expectations and reality that makes it news worthy. Of course after a while the public perception of devout Jews as people whose entire purpose is to serve God changes to one of primitive savages - along the lines of the Taliban.

This is not the media’s fault. It is the fault of a community that has created these people. That news like this is reported so often lately shows that it is not a tiny minority but a fairly sizable minority.

I am at a point where I am embarrassed to wear a Kipa in the street. Most non Jews and secular Jews don’t distinguish between Charedim and Modern Orthodox Jews. To all but the most sophisticated among them we are all either religious Jews or secular Jews. It reflects on all of us even if it only one segment that is predominantly involved in this kind of Chilul HaShem.

Certainly Modern Orthodox Jews have their own problems and they are not entirely guilt free of this kind of behavior. But the predominance of Charedim cannot be denied. Nor can this predominance be blamed on a Charedi bashing media attitude. Certainly not a TV station whose secular producers hardly know the significance of a black hat. I do not recall a single news report about a Modern Orthodox Jew doing anything remotely resembling what that Charedi businessman did.

What is the cause of this problem? I have stated my theories in the past most of them having to do with Chinuch that is overly focused upon on ritual law rather than the civil law - Bein Adam L’Makom versus Bein Adam L’Chavero.

But there are obviously other factors – all of which I believe I have touched upon in the past. Consider the following:

(The) Netziv (says) that man can become so enamored of engaging in the service of God that he becomes swept away and convinces himself that his God service is so important that it supersedes his obligation to perform other, more mundane mitzvot…

Perhaps the most obvious of the UO (ultra-Orthodox) deviates are the famed Burkha ladies of Ramat Beit Shemesh. In the name of tznist, they have adapted a lifestyle that is the embodiment of what the Netziv meant when he said that over obsession with one mitzvah inevitably leads to under performance in other areas. Do we need any further proof than the repeated reports of abuse and neglect emanating from this community?

Or take the stone throwers and garbage burners of Jerusalem. You can dismiss them as a fringe element, but I fear that they are a growing gang of young men who have discovered that force is an effective means of acquiring one’s ends. Can any of us be sure that the violence that they employ against the police will not translate itself into violence within their families and communities? Is it possible that the apparent increase in reports of abuse within the UO community are the result of the increased levels of violence that this community uses to accomplish their goals? Is there not a co-relation between the Va’adei ha-Tznist and the tactics that they use and the ever increasing numbers of kids who are off the derech inside these communities?...

It is important to remember that when I am prepared to be moser nefesh myself, I have created a Kiddush Hashem. However, when I demand that someone else be moser nefesh, I am a rotzeach!

Increased radicalization is a dangerous strategy, for it can lead to an equivalent reaction on the side of those who perceive themselves as victims. Of this I am confident that the rabbinical leadership is well aware without my two cents of advice. I am less confident, however, that the internal consequences of radicalization are being considered and therefore raise the flag in the hope that it will be noticed…

Rarely have I agreed with an article in Cross-Currents more than I do now. I urge that it be read in its entirety. Rabbi Dovid Landesman has written what I consider to be a landmark piece on an issue that is plaguing the Charedi world. He has even suggested that OTD kids and family dysfunction is part of that equation. This is a Charedi blog - approved of by no less a Charedi leader than Rabbi Yaakov Perlow who sits at the head of the Agudah Moetzes.

If Charedi leaders now approve of these words - words I have myself penned in the past - that is a big step in the right direction. But it is not enough to just allow critiques on a blog. We need that leadership to be writing these words themselves. While I consider Rabbi Landesman to be a great writer and thinker - he is not considered a Gadol. It is those who are considered Gedolim that need to act – as Rabbi Landesman suggests.

In America it would be a huge step forward if for example at the next Agudah convention the theme could be the one Rabbi Landesman writes about. Condemnations should come without the usual apologetics. There is no room for apologetics because that just opens up the door for more of the same.

In Israel the kinds of problems created by the Edah will not be altered by condemnations of other Israeli Gedolim. The Edah HaCharedis has no truck with anyone but themselves when it comes to these issues. They do whatever they want irrespective of what other rabbinic leaders say.

The right way to deal with them is to call for a boycott of products that carry the Edah Hechsher. Not by me. That would be meaningless. It would have to be people like R’ Elyashiv and all the major Poskim and Roshei Yeshiva. And they should do it in unison as a group. If that happens - it will hurt Edah in the pocket book. They are not going to ignore that! If there was ever a reason to have a boycott, this is it!

I want to be able to wear my Kipah proudly again!

Is This Video Erotic?

There is an interesting video floating around the Internet. It is a typical instruction video that one sees on virtually any flight. It was produced by Air New Zealand as a means of getting their passengers to pay attention to its important messages.

You have members of the flight crew - both male and female - discussing emergency procedures. I’m sure anyone who has ever taken a flight knows what I’m talking about. What makes this video a bit different is that all the people on it are completely naked. But… they have body paint on their skin that makes it look like they are wearing uniforms. (See image above.) All the visuals also have very clever ways of covering up the actual genitalia.

The question is - is there anything wrong with viewing this? Is body paint Halachicly clothing?

Some might say that it is Assur to look at it because it somehow intended to evoke Hirhurim Assurim - erotic thoughts. Anything which can produce erotic images or thoughts is the basis for of the Halachos of Erva and Tznius.

But I would disagree that this video does that. I do not see it in any way as erotic.

For one thing I don't even think the intent was meant to provoke erotic thoughts. It was meant as a gimmick to spur attention to an important message.

Secondly if the paint on a 2 dimensional screen looks like clothing and there is no hint of any erotica (by cleverly covering up actual genitalia) I see no problem with viewing it. If one looks at such a picture without knowing that the people are actually naked they may not even realize they are naked. It might actually take awhile to realize it. The painted clothing looks cartoonish - not erotic.

The only reason there is even any question is because those who view it already know (via promotion by the airline) that these people were naked with paint substituted for clothing. But knowing that is not by itself erotic. So I would conclude that it is not Assur to view it, especially if the message is important.

Would I advocate making this video L'chatchila? No - because it is was produced in an immoral way. These people were filmed naked. But certainly B'dieved in order to learn important potentially lifesaving information, I would think it is OK.

Can This Be True?

I hope it isn’t true. If it is, it is a disaster of unprecedented proportion. Future generations of religious Jews in Israel are going to pay a very heavy price for the slumber of their leadership.

From the Jerusalem Post:

Nearly a third of junior high and high school-aged haredi youths are "hidden dropouts," who are registered in an educational framework but are dysfunctional students, according to a study released Wednesday by the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute.

This is an incredibly high number as compared to the secular side.

According to Brookdale's data, a total of 17% of elementary school-aged haredim are hidden dropouts, as are 30% of junior high and high school students. This is sharply higher than the national average of 10% and 15%, respectively.

Unbelievable. If one accepts these figures then almost a third of all Charedi children are hidden dropouts:

According to data provided by the Central Bureau of Statistics and the Education Ministry, there are presently 225,000 haredi children ages 5 to 17 in the nation's schools, 21% of the total. Assuming that between 17% and 30% of these children are hidden dropouts, the total number is at least 38,000.

38,000! I don’t know how they measured dropouts. I don’t know how accurate that number is. But even if the number of hidden dropouts is half of that number - it is an almost impossibly high number! Hard to fathom! Hard to believe. This is beyond epidemic proportion. And far beyond anyone‘s predictions. And this doesn’t even address the fact that even those who succeed are ill prepared for the job market.

These dropouts are ‘kids at risk’. This is a subject that has been acknowledged and talked about for some time now by Charedi leaders. But instead of the situation getting better, it seems to have gotten exponentially worse – at least in Israel.

Experts say that acknowledging the problem is half the battle. The problem is that in Israel it seems this is as far as they went. They have ignored the other half of the battle – solving the problem and reducing the numbers. Inaction it seems has increased the problem in massively unprecedented terms.

What makes it even worse is that they are hidden. They are apparently tolerated in the system without being dealt with. They are pushed through the grades without meriting it - accomplishing nothing year after year. They become more and more frustrated until they are so disillusioned and so depressed that who knows if they are even salvageable!

Left untreated - when 'kids at risk' are done with school they often end up out on the street. They have no knowledge, no self esteem, an extreme sense of frustration and in many cases they suffer from clinical depression. People like this are the ones who become alcoholics, drug addicts, and eventually criminals. They often engage in all kinds of sexual depravity of the street. They have a ‘nothing to lose’ mentality – many having totally given up on Yiddishkeit. They have reached rock bottom and have no place to go. So a life of depravity means nothing to them. They are so hurt by societal rejection by this point that they no longer care what happens to them and certainly don’t care anymore what people think of them.

The article suggests that part of the problem is that there is no professional counseling available to teachers and students. Teachers are therefore ill equipped to handle these problems. But that is only part of the problem. The larger problem in my view is a Hashkafa that refuses to recognize any value in studies other than Torah. Any other studies are seen at best as a waste of time.

Forget about enrichment programs like music and art or physical education. No time for that in these Yeshivos where students are expected to spend the entire day in intensive Torah study. If a student can’t hack that – well they apparently get ignored. That is what I think is meant here by ‘hidden dropout’.

There is also a certain amount of dysfunction in the families of some of these children. And a certain degree of rigidity in the learning expectations by even the best of parents from their children. I think that contributes to the problem.

I know that this essay will be read as yet another bash of Charedim by me. Something I am often accused of. I can already see the howls of protest by my detractors denying those statistics and accusing me, the Jerusalem Post, and all those involved in this study as having an anti Charedi agenda. I can’t really help that. I will only say once again that it is not my intention to bash Charedim. It is only my intention to inform - and to spur action.

I wish it weren’t true. I wish it was just a big lie perpetrated by the enemies of Torah to make religious Jews look bad. If I thought that... I would kick back – hard! I have no joy in knowing that so many of our young people are falling through the cracks. That’s right. I said ‘our’. Charedim are my brothers. Same as Chilonim. I care what happens to all Jewry. It gives me no pleasure at all to see what’s happening. It only gives me pain. But insuring public awareness is not bashing. My entire goal here is that public awareness by the Frum world will militate for the change that is needed.

Meanwhile help is on the way:

In response to the findings, the Joint Distribution Committee's Ashelim program for youth at risk this week launched a NIS 5 million project designed to help the haredi community cope with the high level of hidden dropouts, which is double the national average.

"Rabbis and leaders in the haredi community who realize they have a serious problem are beginning to open up to outside intervention," said Dr. Rami Sulimani, director-general of Ashelim-JDC.

I’m glad that these ‘Rabbis and leaders’ didn’t have the same reaction I expect to get here from my detractors. That gives me some hope for change. The only question is will it be enough? Will they change the entire educational mindset and dynamic? I believe that - at a minimum – this is what’s necessary if the change is to be permanently for the better.