The case for Rabbi Tropper's defense

I would like to remind everyone that the established facts in this case are few and no way validate the wild accusations - as of yet. While there seems to be alot of creative negative thinking regarding this matter. I would like to turn your collect imaginations, talents and energies to understand the defense of Rabbi Tropper. This is not a pious exercise but rather one that any prosecuting attorney needs to engage in to understand his case.

Let me state the bare bone facts. A series of audio tapes and a fuzzy grainy video of some unidentifiable people have been circulating the Internet. THE RECORDINGS HAVE NOT BEEN VERIFIED AS BEING RABBI TROPPER. No matter how much people want to believe it is - the evidence would not hold up in a court of law - as it stands now. Perhaps there is a way of verifying it electronically but that has not been done. The only other unquestionable fact is at the time these recordings appeared - Rabbi Tropper resigned form EJF. This resignation was publicized on his own website as simply a career change - not a disgraceful firing. His distinguished colleagues expressed regret over his departure. The other fact of importance is that Rabbi Tropper has an opponent - the billionaire Guma Aguiar - whom he claims has threatened his life and he feels is out to destroy him. In fact there is a Florida court order against Guma not to come physically close to Rabbi Tropper.

Given the paucity of evidence - how would you defend Rabbi Tropper from the vile accusations which are circulating the Internet? Or put in a more practical manner, how would a decent attorney hired by Rabbi Tropper word a lawsuit against those who are saying these defamatory accusations?

I would like to remind everyone that the established facts in this case are few and no way validate the wild accusations - as of yet. While there seems to be alot of creative negative thinking regarding this matter. I would like to turn your collect imaginations, talents and energies to understand the defense of Rabbi Tropper. This is not a pious exercise but rather one that any prosecutoring attorney needs to engage in to understand his case.

Let me state the bare bone facts. A series of audio tapes and a fuzzy grainy video of some unidentifiable people have been circulating the Internet. THE RECORDINGS HAVE NOT BEEN VERIFIED AS BEING RABBI TROPPER. No matter how much people want to believe it is - the evidence would not hold up in a court of law - as it stands now. Perhaps there is a way of verifying it electronically but that has not been done. The only other unquestionable fact is at the time these recordings appeared - Rabbi Tropper resigned form EJF. This resignation was publicized on his own website as simply a career change - not a disgraceful firing. His distinguished colleagues expressed regret over his departure. The other fact of importance is that Rabbi Tropper has an opponent -the billionair Guma Aguiar - whom he claims has threatened his life and he feels is out to destroy him. In fact there is a Florida court order against Guma to come physically close to Rabbi Tropper.

Given the paucity of evidence - how would you defend Rabbi Tropper from the vile accusations which are circulating the Internet? Or put in a more practical manner, how would a decent attorney hired by Rabbi Tropper word a lawsuit against those who are saying these defamatory accusations?

Radioactive Disclosure

NYTimes

I must undergo radioactive-iodine therapy to treat thyroid cancer. Because I have children at home, I am considering staying at a hotel for several days after the treatment to avoid having to sanitize the bathrooms, kitchen, etc., in my home every day at a time when I will not be feeling well. My plan would be to refuse housekeeping services, stay in my room for the entire stay and follow the guidelines for limiting contamination. Must I disclose my radioactive status to the hotel? C.M., NEW JERSEY [...]

Tropper scandal reaches the media

Jewish Week

An influential ultra-Orthodox rabbi who supervises conversions has stepped down abruptly from the organization he has led for about five years.

Rabbi Leib Tropper resigned this week as head of Eternal Jewish Family, the Monsey-based conversion group he founded. In an official EJF press release issued late Monday, two days after Rabbi Tropper's resignation took effect, the rabbi cited a desire to pursue "a variety of other interests.[...]

R' Tropper teaches the dangers of lashon horah

NYTimes January 31, 1999

Adding a piquant note is that this project was organized by Susan Blond, a press agent for rock stars and rap artists whose very job is to place items in gossip columns (and who had more than 15 minutes of fame herself as a pal of Andy Warhol).

On her desk in the West 57th Street building is a small white sign that looks like a no-smoking request, but on closer inspection turns out to say, ''Thank you for not speaking loshon hora,'' which is Hebrew for ''evil words'' or ''forbidden speech.''

The sign was a gift from Ms. Blond's brother-in-law, Rabbi Leib Tropper, who is the guiding spirit and teacher of the group. The rabbi runs a lecture program about Jewish values for college students, as well as the Kol Yakov Torah Center, a yeshiva in the Orthodox community of Monsey, N.Y. But much of his time is devoted to studying the Torah with small groups or individuals, most of whom are not strictly observant.

The class that discusses the evils of gossip is the largest of these groups. On a recent Tuesday it drew about a dozen regular participants of various ages, most of them Jewish, including a lawyer, a psychotherapist, a movie producer, an opera singer, a nutrition consultant, a writer and two young women who work at a big advertising agency.[...]

Tropper: Word of the scandal spreads

Haredim

מלחמה אישית המתנהלת נגד הרב לייב טרופר מארגון נצח משפחת ישראל עברה
לפסים מכוערים, וגרמה להתפטרותו המפתיעה מהארגון. אתמול הופצו פשקווילים נגדו בירושלים ובבני ברק

Octopuses carry coconuts for shelters

National Geographic News

Octopuses have been discovered tip-toeing with coconut-shell halves suctioned to their undersides, then reassembling the halves and disappearing inside for protection or deception, a new study says.

Chofetz Chaim: Teaching needed information that might be misunderstood?

Chofetz Chaim(Hilchos Lashon Harah 8:7): Furthermore if someone has been established in the city as a rasha (wicked person) because sins for which it is permitted to degrade him – then it is also permitted to speak lashon harah about him (See the Be’er Mayim Chaim for the conditions that need to be fulfilled). What does it mean that he is established as a rasha? It is someone that the community collectively has no doubt because of the evil rumors that are constantly said about him concerning adultery and other such things which it is quite clear that all Jews understand that they are prohibited. However if there are just vague rumors that he is wicked – it is prohibited to rely on them to degrade him. Even to decide in your heart that he is wicked is prohibited based on vague rumors as I explained in Clall 7. I was very afraid to publish this halacha because of the speakers of lashon harah who will misapply it. They assume that because they heard a disparaging comment about someone that therefore he is a presumptive rasha and they can say degrading things about him and they will blame my sefer for doing it. Nevertheless I did not delete it. This is according to the principle stated in Bava Basra (89b), The ways of G‑d are upright and the righteous go in them but the sinners stumble in them (Hoshea 14:10)

.חפץ חיים (הלכות אסורי לשון הרע – ח:ז): . ודע עוד, דאם מחזק בעיר לרשע (יד) מפני שאר עניני עברות, שמתר עבורם לגנותו, (טו) גם כן דינא הכי (כך), (ועין בבאר מים חיים הפרטים, שצריך לזה), ואיזהו מחזק? כל שהסכם בפני אנשי העיר לרשע, עד שלא יפל להם בו ספק (מחמת שמועות הרעות, שיוצאות עליו תמיד מעניני נאוף וכיוצא בזה, דברים שנתפשט ידיעת אסורן בכל ישראל), אבל אם יצא עליו קול בעלמא בלבד, אסור לסמך על זה לגנותו, חס ושלום, ואפלו להחליט בלב אסור, וכמו שבארנו לעיל בכלל ז'. (ואף שיראתי מאד להעתיק דין הזה מפני בעלי הלשון, שכשישמעו על אחד שמץ דבר מה, תכף יחזיקו את האיש ההוא למחזק ברשע ויגנו אותו ויתלו את ההתר בספר הזה, עם כל זה לא השמטתיו, כמאמרם ז"ל בבבא בתרא (פט:) על רבן יוחנן בן זכאי, אמרה ומהאי קרא אמרה, (הושע יד:י), "כי ישרים דרכי ה' וצדיקים ילכו בם ופושעים יכשלו בם"):

R' Leib Tropper quits Eternal Jewish Family

Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel Assumes EJF Leadership,

Rav Leib Tropper Steps Down - Eternal Jewish Family

December 14, 2009

Statement by the Eternal Jewish Family

The Eternal Jewish Family (EJF) announces today that Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Zichron Moshe in South Fallsburg and one of the leading Gedolei Hatorah internationally, has agreed to assume the position of Chairman of the Rabbinic Committee of the Eternal Jewish Family following an announcement that Rav Leib Tropper has resigned that position effective December 12, 2009. Rav Wachtfogel joins a distinguished board of rabbinic and halachic authorities who oversee the activities of EJF, headed by Rav Reuven Feinstein, Chairman of the Halachic Committee (US), Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu (Europe) and Rav Shmuel Eliezer Stern (Av Bais Din of Rabbi Wosner’s Bais Din – Israel).

EJF also announced that Rabbi Chaim Blum, EJF’s liaison to the network of Botei Din in the Torah community, has agreed to serve as interim director of EJF. The organization operates offices in the US, Europe and Israel with international headquarters in Monsey NY. In accepting the position, Rabbi Blum said: “The recent announcement by Rav Tropper that he is resigning his post at EJF is accepted with sadness and regret but we appreciate the years of dedication and service he brought to the organization. His vision, expertise and leadership significantly contributed to EJF’s success.  The announcement by some of the world’s leading Torah authorities that they will take an increased role in the Eternal Jewish Family is testimony of the organization’s strength and commitment to its core mission. The many people who benefit from EJF’s activities should know that the organization remains fully committed to its important mission, one which has helped thousands of people in their pursuit of a Jewish life.”

Statement by Rabbi Leib Tropper
I have decided to resign my position at the Eternal Jewish Family (EJF) effective December 12, 2009 to pursue a variety of other interests. As a founder of EJF, I am proud of my role of being an architect of a very dynamic and important movement in our community.   I will in the coming months do my utmost to be of service to the Jewish community in any way I can. I am extremely enthusiastic that a distinguished Torah personality of the stature of Rav Ela Ber Wachtfogel has agreed to assume my position of Chairman of the Rabbinic Committee and that Rabbi Chaim Blum has agreed to serve as interim director of EJF. I wish every continued success to EJF, its rabbinic leadership and the extraordinary team of dayanim and dedicated individuals that serve the organization in many parts of the world.

Statement by Rav Reuven Feinstein, President of Halachic Committee on EJF
It is with a deep sense of regret and yet renewal that I note a change in leadership of the Eternal Jewish Family that includes the agreement by Rav Ela Ber Wachtfogel to serve as Chairman of the Rabbinic Committee of the Eternal Jewish Family.  I hope that Rav Leib Tropper’s decision to resign his position at EJF will serve him and his family well.  At the same time, I have also agreed to take on a more active role in overseeing all of the halachic nuances of EJF in assuring that all universally accepted conversions are in compliance with the highest standards of halacha. I wish to reassure the community that EJF will continue to be guided by the highest halachic standards under the leadership of the Gedolei Yisroel, headed by Rav Wachtfogel and myself in the US, Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu in Europe and Rav Shmuel Eliezer Stern in Israel.

For More Information, please contact: Erin Gentry - 917.392.1775

Yashrus: Intuitive human ethics & commonsense

On Wednesday December 16, 2009 Rav Meir Triebitz will be give a presentation on the role in halacha - expecially that governing society - of the innate human understanding called yashrus. This is actually a presentation of the introduction he is writing for my sefer dealing child abuse.

The presentation will be in English in Har Nof and the public is welcome. Please call me to confirm at 054 461 470

מדרש תנאים (דברים פרק יב:כח): כי תעשה הטוב והישר הטוב בעיני שמים והישר בעיני אדם דברי ר' עקיבה: ר' ישמעאל אומ' הישר בעיני שמים והטוב בעיני אדם וה"א (מש' ג ד) ומצא חן ושכל טוב בעיני אלהים ואדם:

Poster from Jerusalem about R Tropper

This poster has been widely disseminated in Jerusalem. I make no assertions about its accuracy or truth - It is purely for your information.

Mekubal's translation

Get out Unclean thing!!!

Eretz Yisrael is shaken for 400 parsangs upon the 400 parsangs in which the lie has been revealed of such a boorish man - it is the very Leib Tropper from America that stands so to speak as the head of the body of giur, who pretends to draw near and convert hearts to our Father in Heaven.

Truly he does the acts of Zimri and seeks a reward like Pinchas. And in this we are alerting that if he does not cease from this filth and from these actions and he will not separate from his work and he will continue upon this way of lying about our holy Rabbis, we will publish his disgrace publicly accompanied by terrifying pictures, photographs and video.

Rabbi Lookstein :Sexual ethics course at Ramaz

NYTimes

Nearing his ninth decade, formal in vested suit and cufflinks, Rabbi Haskel Lookstein strode purposefully into a classroom of Ramaz High School on Manhattan's Upper East Side one recent Monday afternoon. He checked the presence and location of his 18 students against a seating chart. He chided one for arriving moments late.

Then he led off the discussion of the homework assignment. It consisted of an article from the national Jewish newspaper, The Forward, about a married couple who participate avidly in both synagogue and swinging. "Aren't these people just being honest?" Rabbi Lookstein asked. Five or six hands immediately shot up.

So began another day in Jewish Sexual Ethics, the course better known around Ramaz, even to its teacher, as "Sex With the Rabbi." For the last 23 years, since Rabbi Lookstein devised the class, he has taught it to every 10th grader to pass through Ramaz, a Modern Orthodox institution combining rigorous secular and religious curriculums.[...]

Conservative convert buried outside main cemetery

JPost

Chief Sephardi Rabbi Shlomo Amar ruled Sunday that a 13-year-old boy who passed away over the weekend in Madrid had to be buried in a separate burial section demarcated by a row of trees because he had converted to Judaism in a Conservative rabbinical court.

Ben-David was buried Sunday in a special section of Madrid's Jewish cemetery reserved for people whose Jewishness is in question.

Rabbi Moshe Ben-Dahan, the Chief Orthodox Rabbi of Madrid, told The Jerusalem Post that Amar ruled against burying Ben-David in the main part of Madrid's Jewish cemetery.[...]

To adopt a non-Jewish child - must be Orthodox

Haaretz

Nira and Yaron had been trying to have a baby for eight years. They did everything - in-vitro fertilizations, egg donations, treatments in Israel and abroad. Nothing worked. The only way they would be able to have a family was by adoption. The Taf adoption agency found a baby for them after a few weeks of searches, and they were called to Belarus to adopt an abandoned 11-month-old baby boy. Their happiness knew no bounds.

When they returned to Israel, they immediately began the process of having the baby converted to Judaism. They turned to the rabbinic court in Ashkelon, the seat of the head of the conversion administration, Rabbi Yosef Avior. The rabbi told them that if they wanted to have the baby converted, they would have to become observant Jews. The couple told Avior that they live a secular lifestyle but that they observe commandments: Yaron puts on phylacteries every morning and Nira observes the basic commandments for women. Nira and Yaron pledged in writing at the meeting that they would raise little Yair in the same way. It took a while, but at the age of 17 months, Yair underwent circumcision with the approval of the conversion administration.[...]