EJF story of conversion of intermarried couple

Five Towns Jewish Times - Rochel Weinstein Director of Communications for Eternal Jewish Family International.

Sitting in a church as a young girl, Linda felt distant to the environment and rituals. The other congregants had come to express faith in their religion; she was there to please her grandmother. Young Linda grew up without much spiritual satisfaction, yet deep within was an inherent belief in the existence of G-d. Linda never imagined that one day it would manifest itself within every corner of her life.

It all started with her Jewish fiancé, David. Based on similar interests in classical music, a mutual friend introduced them and the professional orchestra players formed an immediate bond. Religious barriers were non-existent: Linda considered herself on a spiritual quest that had nothing to do with her religion of origin; David's intrinsic disinterest in Judaism meant that they would date for months before Linda would casually discover that he was Jewish. While this detail shocked Linda, it simultaneously planted within her the desire to learn all she could about the mysterious religion of her future husband.

A visit to the library was the first step. But the only information available lacked the meaningful spiritual dimension she desperately sought. Intrigued by the family dynamics of Jewish intermarriage, Linda was startled to discover that many children raised with two religions eventually keep neither, since the choice of a religion is often equated with the choice of a parent. Based on her research, there was no question that she would want to raise their children with one consistent religion—Judaism. Now all she had to do was convince not only her future husband but also her Lutheran family that this was, indeed, the right thing to do.[...]

Rav Sternbuch - Searching for Hashem

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Why is it o.k. to discriminate against Jews?

JPost Michael Freund

The Left, once again, is in an uproar. Along with its international comrades, it is bristling at the recent court-approved move by Jewish families into homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem.

This is in addition to the fury it expressed previously over plans to build apartments for Jews at the site of the privately owned Shepherd Hotel in the eastern part of the capital.

Mustering all the righteous anger at its disposal, the Left has now launched into a heated round of pious pontification, hurling invective and frenzied rhetoric as if the world itself were coming to an end. The Ir Amim organization, for example, recently warned that if the Shepherd Hotel plan moves forward, it might "deal a fatal blow not only to [US President Barack] Obama's efforts but to the two-state solution."

No less hysterical was the reaction of Robert Serry, the UN's special envoy to the Middle East, who released a harshly worded statement saying: "I deplore the totally unacceptable actions by Israel in which Israeli security forces evicted Palestinian refugee families... to allow settlers to take possession of their properties." Calling the move "provocative," Serry asserted that it will "heighten tensions" and "undermine international efforts" to bring about peace.

Have these people fallen on their heads? The Left and its supporters repeatedly stress the need to end "settlement activity," as though it is Jewish housing construction rather than Arab intolerance which lies at the root of the Middle East conflict.

But even more perplexing is the fact that they are willing to embrace an openly discriminatory stance - prejudiced against Jews - to advance their political agenda. [...]

Homeless Holocaust survive wills $100k to Hebrew University

JPost

A homeless, anonymous Holocaust survivor from New York who passed away recently at the age of 92 left $100,000 to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, even though she had no known connection to the institution.

She left another $100,000 to her last employer.

According to a Hebrew University spokesman, the Jewish woman, who had been living out of a shopping cart in Manhattan, apparently had no surviving relatives. [..]

Modern Democracy:Halacha vs Islamic Law

JPost Daniel PIpes

Those of us who argue against Shari'a are sometimes asked why Islamic law poses a problem when modern Western societies long ago accommodated Halacha, Jewish law.

The answer is easy: Islam is a missionizing religion, Judaism is not. Islamists aspire to apply Islamic law to everyone, while observant Jews seek only to live by Jewish law themselves.

Two very recent examples from the United Kingdom demonstrate the innate imperialism of Islamic law. The first concerns Queens Care Centre, an old-age home in the coal town of Maltby, 40 miles east of Manchester. At present, according to the Daily Telegraph, not one of its 37 staff or 40 residents is Muslim. Although the home's management asserts a respect for its residents' "religious and cultural beliefs," QCC's owner since 1994, Zulfikar Ali Khan, on his own decided this year to switch the home's meat purchases to a halal butcher.

His stealthy decision meant pensioners at QCC could no longer eat bacon and eggs, bangers and mash, ham sandwiches, bacon sandwiches, pork pies, bacon butties or sausage rolls. The switch prompted widespread anger. The relative of one resident called it "a disgrace. The old people who are in the home and in their final years deserve better... it's shocking that they should be deprived of the food they like on the whim of this man."[...]

Deporting illegal immigrants

Arutz Sheva

(Israelnationalnews.com) Col. (res.) Yitzhak 'Tziki' Sela, Commander of the Interior Ministry's 'Oz' Unit which arrests illegal immigrants and deports them, gave an interview to Ma'ariv Wednesday in which he slammed the organizations that have been protesting against the government's intention to crack down on illegal foreign labor.

"These groups, those who protest against us, the ones that call me 'Goebbels' and a Nazi, are anarchists who want the destruction of the state of Israel, with three exclamation marks," Sela said. "They should be condemned. This is criminal behavior, pure and simple."[...]

46% of Israelis thinks gays are deviants

Haaretz

Almost half of the Israeli population believes that homosexuality is a perversion. A Haaretz-Dialog poll, conducted under Prof. Camil Fuchs finds that 46 percent of the people surveyed answered the question "Do you see homosexuality as a perversion?" in the affirmative, while 42 percent answered that it was not a perversion. Twelve percent said they did not know.

The survey also finds that 71 percent of the ultra-Orthodox population believe homosexuality is a perversion. So do 67 percent of the religious (Orthodox), 64 percent of the Arabs, 57 percent of the Russian-speaking immigrants, 44 percent of the observant (traditional) Jews and 24 percent of the secular population. [...]

American Psychological Assoc. rejects Gay Therapy

NYTimes Wall Street Journal

The American Psychological Association declared Wednesday that mental health professionals should not tell gay clients they can become straight through therapy or other treatments.

In a resolution adopted by the association’s governing council, and in an accompanying report, the association issued its most comprehensive repudiation of so-called reparative therapy, a concept espoused by a small but persistent group of therapists, often allied with religious conservatives, who maintain that gay men and lesbians can change.

No solid evidence exists that such change is likely, says the resolution, adopted by a 125-to-4 vote. The association said some research suggested that efforts to produce change could be harmful, inducing depression and suicidal tendencies.

Instead of seeking such change, the association urged therapists to consider multiple options, which could include celibacy and switching churches, for helping clients live spiritually rewarding lives in instances where their sexual orientation and religious faith conflict. [...]

Sheikh Jarrah Jews are restoring Jewish character to neighborhood

JPost

As condemnations over the eviction of two Arab families from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah continued to pour in from around the world this week, renovations at a second disputed home on the other side of the east Jerusalem neighborhood were humming along unabated.

The home, which was the scene of multiple protests last week, is another tender nerve in east Jerusalem, as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's statements that Jews may build anywhere in the capital have increasingly rubbed up against statements to the contrary from the United Nations, the United States and others in the international community.

While Palestinians view the increasing Jewish presence in east Jerusalem as a process of "Judaization" intended to jeopardize Palestinian claims, Jewish activists said that they see their work as a "re-Judaization" of an area that was once home to a vibrant Jewish community and has extensive Jewish roots.

"This used to be a Jewish neighborhood and this house belonged to Jews," right-wing activist Aryeh King said, as he sat outside the work site. King heads the Israel Land Fund (ILF), an organization that purchases land for Jews in east Jerusalem and is overseeing the renovations at the property.

"Before 1948, there was a Jewish community living in this section of Sheikh Jarrah, and we want to restore that," King said. "The Arabs that live here know the truth."

But Sheikh Jarrah residents last week told The Jerusalem Post that the home in question had belonged to an elderly woman, Mrs. Hijazi, who had recently passed away, and that the Jewish claimants had falsified ownership papers for the house.[...]

France asks clemency for Palestinian who plotted assassination of Rav O Yosef

Haaretz

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner appealed to Israel for clemency for a French-Palestinian who was jailed for his role in plotting the assassination of Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.

Sarkozy's letter was delivered to the prime minister's bureau in Jerusalem on July 30 by way of the Israeli embassy in Paris just a few days after a similar letter was sent by Kouchner to Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

The unusual request was made after pro-Palestinian groups in France lobbied for the release of the Palestinian, whose imprisonment has been likened there to the captivity of Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit. [...]

See Middle East Post a Palestinian blog that explains their position

Abuse: Questions to ask your rabbi 2

Rav Pinchos Yehoshua HaCohain wrote in answer to: Questions to ask your Rabbi

1. In a case where a father finds out that his son is being molested by a teacher and this is corroborated by several of his classmates. The abuse has been going on for a number of months. Thus there is absolutely no question that the abuser is active and the danger is present for the foreseeable future. Since in my opinion I have clear and unequivocal evidence that the molesting is taking place - can I go directly to the police. Or do I need rabbinic approval first?

In item #1 of my first teshuva to the Moetzes, which you posted on your Blog, I addressed this. The Maharam m'Rizburk is quoted as the definitive Halacha that it is a Mitzva to Go directly to "Arkuos" eg the police. Please refer there for the sources-

--- Is there a difference whether the likelihood of another incident is clearcut and urgent or whether there is clearly time to consult rav?

The only time that one needs to consult a Rav first, is if it is absolutely clear that it will not occur again. Also mentioned in the above source material.

2. A person reported Reuben as an abuser or attacked Reuven because he reasonable thought Reuven was a rodef and needed to save Reuven's apparent victim from harm and he hurt Reuven in the process. It was discovered that the Reuven not in fact an abuser or rodef – is the person liable for damages? For example I see a man and woman fighting and the woman is screaming. I go over and warn to guy to stop but he tells me to mind my own business. the women seems to be in danger and the ownly way I can stop the attacker is by taking a baseball bat and knocking him out. It turns out they are married and the wife sues me for hurting her husband.

According to all poskim, he is definitely Potur. because he reasonable thought Reuven was a rodef") There is no dispute. see CM 380:3 from BK 117B and Sanhedrin 74a. It is Gemoros Mefuroshos. A Takonas Chazal that suspends Odom Muod L'Olam!

3. In a case where a rav said not to report a case of abuse and as a result the child suffered severe physical and psychological damage – is there any liability for either the rav or the person who listened to the rav?

Much to my chagrin, in the eyes of Halocho there would seem to be no fiscal culpability. I guess Hashem wants to deal with this Himself. The Rav is in violation of at least 2 Mitzvos Aseh and at least 2 Lo Saaseh. He may also incur upon himself an "Orur" - a Klolo. The Rav was guilty of a Hora'ah b'To'os. From the Shach CM #9 it would appear that this is a To'oh b'Dvar Mishna. His proof from Sanhedrin 32a concerning Rabi Tarfon would seem to be an even closer fit to our present discussion - after all Rabi Tarfon also was just unaware of some medical information. Even so it is of little consequence in regards to financial liability. The operative Psak, whether it be To'oh b'Dvar Mishna or To'oh b'Shikul HaDaas is that a 1) "Mumche" that 2) has Kobilu Olayhu or has Reshus, is not Chayov to pay any damages. The operative Halocho, in spite of many dissenting opinions is that he is NOT considered even a Garmi because he did not intend to be Mazik. Most Rabonim who pasken on these Shaalos today, fall under the rubric of Mumchoim (see Oruch Hashulchon CM 25 # 1) and Kobilu Olayhu (see Oruch Hashulchon CM 25 # 7) and therefore would escape financial liability. (Even if you could bring proof against the Aruch HaShulchon, the rav could patur himself with "Kim Li")Even though the Chazon Ish (Igros #31) and the Gro (Mishlei 6,4 & 22,12) are very critical of Dayonim/Poskim who are not well-informed in regards to the "Metzius" and are not up to date on the current scientific/ medical info, and as a result hand down erroneous Piskei Din; we would, nevertheless, be very hard-pressed to thereby demote the status of contemporary Rabonium to that of non-Mumche. Even if we could muster a cogent case to do so, they, nevertheless would, in all likelyhood, still be Potur, since in it is very unlikely that he will actually have personally handed the child directly to the molestor - ie only Noso v'Nosan b'Yad is Chayuv in this case (as per Aruch HaShulchon CM 25 # 9).he party who listened to the Rav likewise has no financial liability. He is an "Oness" having been misled by someone whom he thought was knowledgeable However, The Rav is in violation of at least 2 Mitzvos Aseh and at least 2 Lo Saaseh. (Hashovas Aveida and b'Tzedek Tishpot; Lo Saamod Al Dam Re'acho and Lo Saasu Ovel BaMishpot.) He may also incur upon himself an "Orur" - a Klolo. If he is opposed to becoming educated and informed (his attitude is contrary to the Gro and Chazon Ish above), then the reasoning in the Pesicha to Chofetz Chaim concerning the Arur's on Loshon Horo would equally apply here to "Oror Mateh Mishpot Ger Yosom v'Almono"

4. In a case where a person reasonable concluded that a child is being molested and a rav told him not to report it – should the person report it anyway?

Of course, he should ignore the rav and report it! The Rav's directive is a To'oh b'Dvar Mishna which is Chozar Dino-a non-hora'ah.

Israeli government skeptical about Bnei Anusim

Haaretz

The authorities would probably call the 30 U.S. citizens who scoured the Negev last week Christian tourists. But the members of the group think of themselves as American Marranos, and they are determined to return to the faith they say their ancestors were forced to renounce and strike root in Israel. Like Del and Helen Sanchez, who headed the group, most of the tourists grew up going to church on Sunday. Only recently did most of them discover what they call their "Jewish roots."And the trip to the Negev was the first step in a quest to realize the prophecy in Obadiah 1:20, stating that "the captives of Jerusalem, who are in Sepharad [Spain], will possess the cities of the Negev." The group was looking at places to settle as Jews in Israel. Like all the other members of the group, the Sanchezes believe that their ancestors were in fact Spanish and Portuguese Jews who escaped the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th century to flee the Spanish Inquisition. Soon after arriving, some of these Jews found themselves once again under the rule of the Spanish conquistadors, who set up colonies in the Americas. [...]

Michael Freund encouraging descendants of anusim

Michael Freund helping descendants of Anusim