It has been convincingly argued that the only way to resolve this crisis is through a lawsuit. In this post I will present the need for a multimillion dollar suit for defamation against Rav Shmuel Kaminetsky and his son Shalom , Rav Nota Greeenblatt, Tamar and her family, ORA and their halachic advisor Rav Schachter, the Goldfein's, the beis din that issued a phony seruv against Aharon, the Silver Spring community, the anonymous therapist who wrote the report against Aharon and a number of other individuals. There are no lack of lawyers who would like the job and would take it on a contingency basis and who feel that it won't be difficult to win. It is not a problem finding a beis din that will permit the lawsuit.
Probably the only reason that it hasn't happened so far is Aharon Friedman's lack of vindictiveness and optimism that people will finally understand the injustice that has been done to him. He hopes that he will soon get back his reputation and the greater access to his daughter that he has requested and he will reciprocate by giving Tamar a Get. In short he is a mensch and has no desire for revenge. He also still hasn't lost his faith in the case being resolved in Beis Din.
However unless the entire Agudah gets involved - it is not going to happen. I will argue that he will not get his repuation back without a lawsuit to motivate people to change. This post also serves as a wakeup call to those who feel if they stonewall - that the storm will pass eventually. Simply put - time is running out for an alternative solution.
[to be continued]
now you are advocating arka'ot?
ReplyDeleteAn interesting idea...But Aharon will not go to ARKOS without a Heter. Remember he is the legitimate one in this whole mess. Aharon probably has an Achrayos to Klal Yisroel to prevent other men from facing this situation. And that would mean closing down most Batai Dinim (Bais Din of America for one)
ReplyDeleteA secular lawsuit might cause Aharon to lose some of the high ground he currently has in this mess.
ReplyDeleteQuote - " It is not a problem finding a beis din that will permit the lawsuit." Try reading before commenting.
ReplyDeleteThere are many who do not view that Aharon is on the high ground e.g., the Silver Springs community which refuses to let him enter a shul. These people view that Tamar is justified using any means to be free of her marriage.
ReplyDeleteIt is possible that only the pressure from a lawsuit will change Aharon's status in the world.
you can always find a heter somewhere..
ReplyDeleteHello all: It is Silver Spring, not Silver Springs. [There is an actual spring there, too.]
ReplyDeleteIsn't is assur to go to arkoyos?
ReplyDeleteEddie said: "you can always find a heter somewhere.."
ReplyDeleteApparently, that's also what Tamar's enablers also thought...
Not if he got permission from a beis din - which should not be difficult in this case
ReplyDeleteDaas Torah says: “It is possible that only the
ReplyDeletepressure from a lawsuit will change Aharon's status in the world”.
My hope is that after the Mendel Epstein et al
sentencing, the radical feminists and their supporters, will admit that
beatings, kidnappings, shooting bullets, fraudulent heters, ostracizing, etc
are not good ideas to force a get from a recalcitrant husband. Not only because if one gets caught, Heaven
forbid, one ends up in jail, Heaven forbid.
It’s important and it’s the Torah way to allow the recalcitrant husband
his say in court. Let the angry wives, with their supporters, try to argue with
the recalcitrant husband in court. Let
the court rule. This is what courts are for.
I quote:
I charged your magistrates at that time as follows,
“Hear out your fellow men, and decide justly between any man and a fellow Israelite
or a stranger. You shall not be partial in judgment: hear out low and high
alike. Fear no man, for judgment is God’s. And any matter that is too difficult
for you, you shall bring to me and I will hear it.” (Deuteronomy 1:16-17)
No lawyer will take this on contingency. While the factual aspects of the case is good, the damages are 'religious' in nature, thus not admissible in court.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the defendants must defend themselves, using all their (and donated) assets. They have too much to lose. A lawyer on contingency has to put up with excessive legal maneuvering. And multiple defendants with multiple defenses.
Some minimal damages from the therapists, but their is no proof they disclosed confidential information. And their damages are minimal. Same for goldfein beatings. Minimal damages.
However, the lawsuit will draw proper attention to improper actions by certain rabbonim. A good 'kiddush haShem'. But AF is not the attention seeker. Is it really in his personal interest? Will he get proper visitation?
There is nothing religious in character assassination. Starting from the head of the fish, let him sing bossor vedogim vechol mata'amim like a Papagoya, suck in the whole kipcaboodle, until the truth come out. Whether they said it or not, either way it is a WIN WIN situation. Outside of the courts, this thing hit the fan and burst the bubble shpritzing it all over the place, and from now on be only marbitz Gellolim, no more Torah.
ReplyDeleteA common mistake. They are confusing the town and the song.
ReplyDeleteI hope he sues, very soon. If this is what it takes to finally stop the insanity that has been going on for so long, then so be it.
ReplyDeleteA lawsuit will only make Aharon look like he is being portrayed. Also, why are you suggesting a secular court if one of the issues against Tamar is that she went to a secular court. How will this solve anything? I would think it would make the chillul Hash-m wayyy worse.
ReplyDeleteActually, it will make him look worse. What should happen here is that the whole story will be settled as fast as possible for the sake of the child.Personally, even if the Beis din did not require him to give the get, he should have for the sake of closure for the child. To me, both Tamar and Aharon have not acted in a responsible manner in this whole ordeal.
ReplyDeleteSo you are saying he has nothing to lose by a lawsuit
ReplyDeleteGoing to a secular court with the permission of beis din is fine.
In case you are not aware of the Chillul HaShem is being caused by Tamar and the Kaminetskys. A lawsuite will allow him to clear his name from the smears and slander
What you mean to say is that your opinion is that it will make him worse. The majority of experts he has consulted disagree with your opinion
ReplyDeleteIt might be fine if he has permission from the Beis Din .. but even if his name is cleared it will not take away the chillul Hash-m in the slightest. It's basically looking like Rabbis are no good etc. It's better to settle this whole deal quietly and fast. If you ask me, settling this quickly is in the best interest of the child as well.
ReplyDeleteWhy would the beis din necessarily give him permission to sue in non-Jewish court, when non-Jewish court is generally forbidden in Jewish law. Beis Din would presumably tell him to sue for damages in Beis Din not in secular court. How could you be sure otherwise when this would be the most logical course of action would be to utilize beis din itself.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Aharon did have a part in the Chillul Hash-m by not giving the get. Technically, eventhough Tamar was wrong for taking the child to PA, he could have made arrangements to spend shabbos in PA with his daughter by renting an apartment and the like. There could have been ways to work it out but he also let his anger get the best of him. I also think that the Baltimore Beis Din should have done more to make things finish for the sake of the kid. Two wrongs don't make a right. People have to think about the long term affect of things not just what the halacha states.
ReplyDeleteyou obviously have not been reading the material I have posted.
ReplyDeleteI have skimmed it. I got the gist of it that he was doing everything according to the rulings of the Beis Din and that even the judge said that Tamar was not doing enough to foster a relationship between the child and Aharon. However, I question whether the long term has actually been thought out here with respect to all these proceedings to the well being of the child. Eventhough technically halacha says one thing but does the Beis Din have the foresight to see how all the circus could be affecting the child?
ReplyDeleteWhat experts are those?How many of those experts have actually lived through a messy divorce?
ReplyDeleteAharon had no obligation to give her a Get. Not a moral obligation, not a halachic obligation and not a legal obligation.
ReplyDeleteI don't know who you are but you are definitely not a lawyer. If they caused him to get beat up then you have a point (which maybe should be the direction he can focus on) but just on defamation of character you don't stand a chance of winning. If anything he looks worse for not giving a religious document and making this into a huge mess. And again, keep an eye on the ball. The issue of the made up Heter goes way beyond Friedman and Epstien getting divorced or not. Don't be distracted by other side issues, even if they are a big deal for you.
ReplyDeleteDOES she agree to go to Bais Din? ?? Ah, there's your answer.
ReplyDeleteSeems to be only two explanations why Shaloam is not backing off first he is still very comfortable in this cocoon this case like to Finkel meat scandal was very slow in breaking for the simple reason Facts were scarce at least till this blog got onto it second of all there's a shock factor people just refuse to believe and it takes a while till reality sinks in there is nobody standing by him not even his family but the way he might look at it is that only half the world is upset the other half which is quiet agrees with him which is a terrible mistake on his part since when it finally sinks in his name and the name of his family is ruined for eternity
ReplyDeletethe second reason might be far more terrible Hashem yirachem might be post Facto vegan hurah leznunim I shudder to think so
Rather strange for an anonymous commenter claiming superior knowledge. What are your credentials?
ReplyDeleteDo you?
ReplyDeleteCan i 'tovel' my dishes in the spring? Otherwise, it doesn't count. (Joke)
ReplyDeleteClosure for the child. So she'll never see him again. Good result.
ReplyDeletebut just on defamation of character you don't stand a chance of winning.
ReplyDeleteReally? And, what exactly, is your knowledge?
I can confidently state the following about you: I don't know who you are but you are definitely not a lawyer!!
You say: Aharon did part in the Chilul HaShem by not giving a get.
ReplyDeleteAnswer: Tamar didn't either give Aharon a get. It is called 'get off my back'. She interferes with his parenting time and keeps the legal issues in court when they belong in Bais Din.
You are sure that visitation can be worked out? Again, how do you know? ...... Well, she needs to cooperate. His job makes him work late on Fridays and the drive to Philly would conflict with him getting there in time for Shabbos, at least in the winter.
Obviously, she isn't going to Bais Din. The Baltimore Bais Din is the only ones that retain jurisdiction. They made a statement that they are willing to continue the litigation process to finish, but she has avoided them. ....Especially with all the help she has been getting.
ReplyDeleteHave you?
ReplyDeleteHe tried being nice by postponing a motion in court for his parenting time in order to work on reconciliation. She walked out on him. She came through unreliable. The party that does 'grab, grab' must be stopped.