In national abuse probe, leading Australian rabbi decries Orthodox community’s ‘cover-up culture’

JPOST

A senior Australian rabbi told a government commission of inquiry on Wednesday that the Jewish-Australian Orthodox community was guilty of covering up sex crimes against its members, going so far as to use intimidation to prevent people from coming forward.

In testimony before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Rabbi Moshe Gutnick, a senior Chabad leader in Sydney and the head of the Organization of Rabbis of Australasia, said that “a culture of cover-up, often couched in religious terms, pervaded our thinking and our actions.”

Gutnick asserted that those who reported abuse were labeled mosers (“informers”), and subjected to social ostracism, according to The Guardian.

Such actions are a “gross misuse of rabbinic power,” he said, adding that those who push for victims to go to their rabbis rather than the authorities are trying to “hush it up, to cover it up, to prevent the victim from finding redress. There is no doubt at all: Mesira [‘informing’] has no application whatsoever to instances of child sexual abuse. To use mesira in this way is an abomination.”[...]

Victim’s rights advocate Manny Waks, who was himself sexually abused as a student in a Chabad school, took to Facebook to praise Gutnick for his statement, which included an admission that he had been informed about allegations of abuse 20 years ago and had not followed up properly. [...]

Martin Wolmark's Plea Agreement in the Wolmark-Epstein Get torture case

 Wolmark Plea Details 
 

Mitochondrial Disease: Britain allows repairing embryo with DNA from 3rd party

BBC

MPs have voted in favour of the creation of babies with DNA from two women and one man, in a historic move.

The UK is now set to become the first country to introduce laws to allow the creation of babies from three people. 

In a free vote in the Commons, 382 MPs were in favour and 128 against the technique that stops genetic diseases being passed from mother to child. 

During the debate, ministers said the technique was "light at the end of a dark tunnel" for families.

A further vote is required in the House of Lords. It everything goes ahead then the first such baby could be born next year. 

Proponents said the backing was "good news for progressive medicine" but critics say they will continue to fight against the technique that they say raises too many ethical and safety concerns.

Estimates suggest 150 three-person babies could be born each year. 

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "We're not playing god here, we're just making sure that two parents who want a healthy baby can have one."

Life-saving The method, which was developed in Newcastle, should help women like Sharon Bernardi, from Sunderland, who lost all seven of her children to mitochondrial disease.

If wife went to secular court - husband does not need to deposit Get with beis din - unless he wants a Heter Meah Rabbonim

Rav Menashe Klein has a long teshuva (Misheh Halachos vol 14  1-11) where he states very clearly that a husband does not have to give his wife a get if she goes to secular court without the permission of beis din. He says this is the view of the majority of achronim - including the Maharsham (7:159) and Rav Moshe Feinstein. He also says that the husband does not need a heter meah rabbonim if his wife goes to secular court without permission - but that it is best for her sake to deposit a get with beis din because she might eventually withdraw from the secular court. None the less he notes it is the custom today to deposit a get with beis din when receiving a heter meah rabbonim [This is also the view of Rav Moshe Sternbuch (4:301)] Thus he claims the majority of achronim permit a man to remarry with a heter meah rabbonim if they deposit a get with beis din - to be given when the wife renounces the rulings of the secular court. If there is no heter meah rabbonim then there is no need to give a get. Thus there is no difference between the view of Rav Moshe Feinstein and Rav Moshe Sternbuch in this matter.  See the discussion in the comments to the post about Yoel Weiss

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

שו"ת משנה הלכות חלק יד סימן ז

עוד להנ"ל
אשה שהלכה לערכאות אי בעלה זקוק להיתר מאה רבנים, ולהשליש גט

ט) ולכן פשוט דאשה שהלכה בערכאות ועדיין עומדת במרדה בערכאות כל זמן שהיא עומדת בערכאות כתבו רבותינו האחרונים דאין צריך כלל להיתר מאה רבנים דעל כה"ג לא גזר מעולם רגמ"ה שלא יוכל הבעל לישא אשה ועם אשה זו אינו יכול לדור וגם אסור לו לדור עמה, שהרי כתב הרמב"ם (הנ"ל) שהיא גרוע מהעכו"ם ולכן ההיתר שנותנין לו הוא רק ליתר שאת ולהיות לו לכסות עינים בפני בנ"א שלא יראה כנושא שתי נשים, אבל מעצם דינא לא בעי היתר כלל וכ"כ הגאון הגדול המהרש"ם ז"ל (ח"ז סי' קנ"ט) שהאריך הרבה באשה שהלכה לערכאות כמה פעמים ומסרה את בעלה וכמה צרות והיתה מסרבת לבוא לב"ד ומסיק להתיר לבעלה לישא אשה בלי היתר מאה רבנים אלא שיעץ אותו הבעל שישא אעפ"כ רק בהיתר מאה רבנים ע"ש, וכ"כ האחרונים הלכה למעשה.

י) וכיון דלא צריך הבעל היתר מאה רבנים כ"ש דלא בעי להשליש גט בב"ד כיון דמעיקר דינא השלשת גט כמעט לא נזכר בראשונים אלא שהנוב"י (א"ע קמא סי' ג') כתב לא רצינו לבטל מנהג ראשונים כי אולי רגמ"ה התנה כך שלא יתירו רק בהשלשת הגט היכא דמתירין לגרש בע"כ (ועיין בי"ש וקצ"ע) ולא תקנו אלא היכא שהיא מסרבת לקבל גט שנמצא כמגרש בע"כ או שהיא חולה, אבל היכא דלא בעי היתר מאה רבנים לא בעי להשליש גט נמי לפי רוב האחרונים ז"ל וכמו שכתבנו לעיל בשם הגאון מהרש"ם זצ"ל וכ"כ הגרמ"פ זצ"ל.

ומ"מ לעצם הענין כיון דנוהגין כהיום ליתן היתר מאה רבנים מאן יקל ראשו להתיר בלי מאה רבנים וגם בלי להשליש גט יהיה מאיזה טעם שיהי', וכ"כ האחרונים הנ"ל דלכתחילה יש לקבל היתר של מאה רבנים אפי' בכה"ג. ולפענ"ד הוספתי דאפשר דכאן יש להשליש גט אפי' היכא דנושא בלי היתר מאה רבנים דהני תרי מילי נינהו ההיתר הוא שיוכל לישא וכיון שהוא מותר לישא בלי היתר א"כ ההיתר לא מעכב, ומיהו הגט שהיא לטובתה ואפשר שתתחרט ותחזור מהערכאות ותתרצה בדיני תורה ובגט ותקבל על עצמה דיני תורה, לכן יש לסדר גט בכל אופן ולהשליש.

Weiss files motion to dismiss Rivky's remaining claims because they are lies

Uziel Frankel

Update - see Weiss supplement to motion to dismiss Feb 11 2015

At this point Rivky has failed to produce evidence for any of her claims against her husband or his family. Most of the claims have beenr rejected by the courts. It has clearly been shown that her beis din is not an actual beis din and the seruv and the psak that were issued are not authentic.

 This document asserts bluntly that her claims are lies and provides evidence to support this claim. Furthermore it alleges that Uziel Frankel is the mastermind behind Rivky's campaign against Yoel Weiss and his family. 

Rivky's Face Book Picture

It is now up to the judge to decide whether to throw out Rivky Stein's case and thus vindicate Yoel or to accept the possiblity that the charges are valid and proceed with a trial.

This is the 6 page filing. It does not include the supporting documents which will be published later.



==========update Feb 3 ==
SEE Rav Menashe Klein's teshuva  that states the majority of achronim(including the Maharsham and  Rav Moshe Feinstein] pasken that if the wife goes to secular court without the permission of beis din - the husband does not need to deposit a get with beis din - unless he wants a heter meah rabbonim [as stated by Rav Moshe Sternbuch]. She only receives the get when she renounces all rulings of the secular court

 Weiss filing 

Tzohar Conference: What Happens to Sexually Active Orthodox Singles?

Forward    When it comes to singles and sex in the Jewish community, Orthodox spiritual leaders have a dilemma. They can pretend it’s not happening, or they can open a difficult dialogue with their constituents.

Last week, the Israeli rabbinic organization Tzohar attempted to address this issue in a groundbreaking conference, “In the First Person: Sexuality within the Family and Religious Society.” Tzohar trains rabbis to perform participant-friendly wedding ceremonies at no charge. Its female volunteers teach Jewish and secular brides the Jewish laws surrounding immersion in the mikveh (ritual bath) before and after marriage. The event was attended by the female volunteers, and the wives of Tzohar rabbis.

“Many singles today feel that it’s their right to express their sexuality,” said panelist Rabbanit Chana Henkin, director of the Nishmat seminary for women, calling sexuality among Orthodox singles the elephant in the room. “Despite our discomfort with the topic, educators and community leaders must be prepared to discuss these issues openly.”[...]

“The problem is only going to become more acute,” says Dr. Naomi Grumet of Jerusalem’s Eden Center, an initiative that hopes to “transform” the mikveh. “People have higher expectations and want to accomplish things, like travel and education, before they settle down. Also, when they have done these pursuits, they aren’t necessarily willing to come back and marry the boy or girl next door. It is likely to take more time to find someone.”

Like Henkin, Grumet doesn’t want to see sexually active singles ostracized. “Singles who are sexually active may feel they don’t have a place in the community. Yes, it’s happening, and it’s forbidden by Jewish law. But a lot of people transgress in other areas of religious practice, yet still feel welcome within the community.” [...]

Dozens arrested as Haredi protest arrest of yeshiva students who refused to enlist

YNET

Dozens were arrested Monday morning when hundreds of Haredi men protested across Israel, blocking roads in protest against the arrest of yeshiva students who had been classed as deserters after deliberately missing their IDF enlistment.

Demonstrations were held in Jerusalem, Ashdod, Hadera, on the outskirts of Bnei Brak, at the entrance to the religious community of El'ad and at Shiloh junction. [...]

The demonstration in the capital was attended by the Jerusalem branch, an extremist Lithuanian Haredi group, who held up signs reading, "Going to recruitment offices is entering enemy territory". A text message was sent to thousands of yeshiva students Monday morning saying, "those who have not yet been arrested must continue protesting – we cannot remain silent about the arrest of the yeshiva members".

Jury Selection Process Begins in Mendel Epstein Kidnap and Divorce Conspiracy Trial

Shore News Network    TRENTON-Today, the jury selection process began in the trial of  U.S. v. Epstein – Mendel Epstein, 68, of Lakewood, New Jersey, an orthodox Jewish rabbi charged with conspiring to kidnap and force Jewish men to grant their wives religious divorces; trial scheduled to start Feb. 17, 2015.

The hearing will be presided over by the honorable Judge Wolfson.

On May 22, 2014, A federal grand jury  indicted four Orthodox Jewish Rabbis and one of their sons for allegedly conspiring to kidnap and force Jewish men to grant their wives religious divorces, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

The indictment charges all five men with kidnapping conspiracy and variously charges the defendants with specific instances of kidnapping and attempted kidnapping. Rabbis Mendel Epstein, Martin Wolmark, Jay Goldstein, a/k/a “Yaakov” and Binyamin Stimler had previously been charged, along with others, with conspiracy to commit kidnapping in a complaint unsealed Oct.10, 2013. Four of the others charged, including Jay Goldstein’s sons, Avrohom Goldstein, 34, and Moshe Goldstein, 31, both of Brooklyn, N.Y., have since pleaded guilty to extortion charges in connection with the case. The rest of the charges are pending.

David Epstein was previously charged with a 2009 kidnapping to compel a religious divorce, or get, in a complaint filed on May 15, 2014.

Rav Sternbuch's letter in response to the demonstration of the Sikrikim

לאחר תקופה ארוכה שגורמים ידועים משמיצים את ה"עדה החרדית" ואת מרן הראב"ד שליט"א העומד בראשה, בפרשיית פרויקט רמת אברהם במתחם שנלר, עד כדי הפגנת קומץ סיקריקים מתחת ביתו של מרן הראב"ד, וזאת בשל רצונם להעביר לרשות אתר"ק פיקוח מלא במתחם שנלר, כותב מרן הראב"ד שליט"א מכתב ברור בעניין.

"אודות האסיפה בענין מתחם שנלר, ישבנו בבית דין אור ליום ד' והחלטנו שצריך השגחה ומנינו הרב ליפשיץ נ"י כמשגיח לבד כשליח בית דין".

מרן הראב"ד מדגיש: "ויסכר פי דוברי שקר שמוציאים לעז שאני מתיר ח"ו לפגוע במקום".

מרן הראב"ד ממשיך בדבריו הנחרצים נגד מפיצי השמועות כי דעתו להתיר את המשך החפירות במתחם: "אני לא מוחל להם לעולם".

ומה שעשו למחרת בבוקר בלעדי לא נוגע לי כלל ונעשה שלא בנוכחתי.

והקב"ה יסיר כל לזות שפתיים וימהרו לחזור בתשובה"

Violent clash in Ponevezh Monday morning

Arutz 7   Student arrested for assaulting yeshiva dean, leading to all out clash between rival factions vying to control flagship Lithuanian yeshiva.

A violent clash occurred on Monday morning at the flagship Lithuanian-haredi Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, the largely haredi suburb of Tel Aviv, after the yeshiva's dean Rabbi Shmuel Markovich was assaulted by a member of an opposing faction who was later arrested.

The attack was reported by yeshiva students who witnessed it on Sunday night, and on Monday morning the student suspected of hitting the rabbi was arrested. He denied the charges, claiming that instead he was attacked by followers of Rabbi Markovich.

Following the incident, several other students were wounded as violence flared up between the two opposing factions, with witnesses saying that tear gas was even used in the confrontation. [...]

BHOL

פוניבז' בוערת: עשרות התפרעו, ראש ישיבה הוכה

הגר"ש מרקוביץ, ראש ישיבת פוניבז' מפלג 'המחבלים', הותקף • תלמידיו פרצו לפנימיית 'נווה שלום' של הפלג היריב

אלימות חסרת תקדים בישיבת פוניבז'. תלמידי הישיבה מפלג ה'מחבלים', פרצו לפנימיית ה'שונאים', לאחר שראש הישיבה, הגר"ש מרקוביץ הוכה.

אתמול ביקש הגר"ש מרקוביץ' מתלמידיו, פלג 'המחבלים' בישיבת פוניבז', לשוב ללימודיהם, אך למרות זאת הערב שוב פרצו מהומות במהלך תפילת ערבית.

כאשר בחורי 'המחבלים' ו'השונאים' נאבקו ביניהם מי יתפוס את עמוד התפילה. במקום החלה התפרעות והותז גז מדמיע.

בהמשך לכך, לפי טענת התלמידים, בעת שראש ישיבת פלג ה'מחבלים' הגר”ש מרקוביץ שוחח בלימוד עם עשרות מתלמידיו ברחבת הישיבה, ניגש אליו אחיינו הרב יוסי כהנמן, בנו של נשיא ישיבת פלג ה'שונאים' הגר”א כהנמן, ותקף אותו, במקום פרצה קטטה רבתי.  

Why do non-Orthodox rabbis marry Jewish same-sex couples but not interfaith same-sex couples

NY Times  When Julia Spiegelman and Erina Donnelly, two teachers who met as undergraduates at Bryn Mawr, became engaged, they were looking forward to planning a wedding that included elements from both of their religions.

Ms. Spiegelman grew up attending a Reform synagogue in Andover, Mass., and Ms. Donnelly was raised a Roman Catholic.

The two women attend Jewish and Catholic services together, and they had hoped to find marriage officiants from both religions, which they did not think would be difficult. Most non-Orthodox rabbis officiate same-sex weddings, and while they could not expect to find a Catholic priest to officiate, they planned to ask a layperson from Dignity/Boston, a community of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics, to take part.

So one Sabbath morning, they approached the rabbi at their Boston-area synagogue, a liberal congregation unaffiliated with any particular branch of Judaism.

“We were really confident it was going to be this rabbi,” Ms. Spiegelman, 29, said, sitting in the condominium that she and her fiancée recently bought.

But the rabbi told them that she could not perform the wedding. The problem was not that Ms. Spiegelman wanted to marry a woman — it was that she wanted to marry a non-Jewish woman.

“In retrospect, I can’t believe we were so naïve and trusting,” Ms. Spiegelman said. “We were so excited to tell her we were engaged and wanted her to do our wedding, and she was like, ‘I don’t do that.’ ”

“That was a real blow to us,” she said as their cat, Laurie (named for the “Little Women” character), moved about the cozy living room. “We’d understood that she perceived our relationship as legitimate and would see our marriage as legitimate. And it really hurt us to be rejected for that reason.”

To many, the rabbi’s refusal seems paradoxical. If clergy can embrace same-sex marriage, why can’t they marry a Jew to a non-Jew? But for Jews, troubled by declining levels of affiliation, the concern about interfaith marriage is strong. A majority of Jews now marry outside the faith, and, according to the major 2013 Pew survey of Jewish identification, millennials with one Jewish parent are far less likely to consider themselves Jewish than those with two Jewish parents.[...]

Me'Am Lo'ez: Jerusalem was destroyed because they didn't sacrifice pigs in the Temple?!

I just came across this jarring statement in the English Mo'am Lo'ez published by Moznaim.

Me’am Lo’ez (Koheles 7:16): …. To apply mistakenly the strict letter of the law, without regard to circumstances, can be "subtle wisdom" that leads to desolation. When the Romans besieged Jerusalem, they substituted a pig for the sheep offering, and it was not allowed upon the altar. In his pious humility and excessive caution for the Law, Rabbi Zechariah ben Akilas insisted on the literal interpretation of the halacha (a pig is forbidden) even in this situation, and he was condemned by later generations.

Thus the Talmud declares: Jerusalem was destroyed for no other reason than that they had set their words upon the law of Torah.

Not sure where he is coming from. The story about Kamtza and Bar Kamtza in Gittin( 56a) was that the problem was a sheep that had been cut and thus rendered posul. 

Gittin (55b): R. Johanan said: What is illustrative of the verse, Happy is the man that feareth alway, but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief?26 The destruction of Jerusalem came through a Kamza and a Bar Kamza;27 the destruction of Tur Malka28 came through a cock and a hen; the destruction of Bethar came through the shaft of a leather. The destruction of Jerusalem came through a Kamza and a Bar Kamza in this way. A certain man had a friend Kamza and an enemy Bar Kamza. He once made a party and said to his servant, Go and bring Kamza. The man went and brought Bar Kamza. When the man [who gave the party] found him there he said, See, you tell tales about me; what are you doing here? Get out. Said the other: Since I am here, let me stay, and I will pay you for whatever I eat and drink.

He said, I won't. Then let me give you half the cost of the party. No, said the other. Then let me pay for the whole party. He still said, No, and he took him by the hand and put him out. Said the other, Since the Rabbis were sitting there and did not stop him, this shows that they agreed with him. I will go and inform against then, to the Government. He went and said to the Emperor, The Jews are rebelling against you. He said, How can I tell? He said to him: Send them an offering and see whether they will offer it [on the altar]. So he sent with him a fine calf.1 While on the way he made a blemish on its upper lip, or as some say on the white of its eye, in a place where we [Jews] count it a blemish but they do not. The Rabbis were inclined to offer it in order not to offend the Government. Said R. Zechariah b. Abkulas to them: People will say that blemished animals are offered on the altar. They then proposed to kill Bar Kamza so that he should not go and inform against them, but R. Zechariah b. Abkulas said to them, Is one who makes a blemish on consecrated animals to be put to death? R. Johanan thereupon remarked: Through the scrupulousness2 of R. Zechariah b. Abkulas our House has been destroyed, our Temple burnt and we ourselves exiled from our land.3

Rav Moshe Feinstein commented:

Igros Moshe (Y.D. 1:101): .... There is no question that we have the right even to disagree with Achronim and also on occasion with certain Rishonim when there are proper proofs and more important with proper reasoning. Concerning this and similar matters the gemora says that a judge can only make a decision based upon what he sees (Bava Basra 131, Rashbam). This is true as long as the ruling doesn’t go against the well-known poskim such as the Shulchan Aruch which has been accepted in all countries. This is what is meant by the saying that there was a place left to make a fence. And this is in fact what the majority of teshuvos of the Achronim do – they decide many practical issues on the basis of innovations. However it is important not to be arrogant in making rulings. Thus one should avoid using innovations when possible except in situations of great need and surely in situations involving aguna such as the case under discussion. Thus we are obligated to make a ruling if it appears to us that there is a basis for a heter. It is prohibited for us to show false modesty and cause a Jewish woman to be trapped as an aguna or to cause a stumbling block with prohibitions or even to cause loss of money. Look at Gittin (56) where it condemns the humility of R Zechariah for causing the destruction of the Temple! The obvious question is what does humility have to do with the destruction? Look at Maharetz Chajes who gives a proper explanation. This is exactly what we are concerned about. Thus we must make halachic rulings according to what appears correct with proper proofs and understanding – and in particular in cases of aguna like this – to save from this difficult situation.

================The original Hebrew is quite different than the translation=====

אל תחי צריק חרבח ואל תתחכם יותר למח תשומם, (קהלת ז:טז):

ואומר קהלת : אל תהי צדיק הרבה, הזהיר בזה החכם שלא יאמר אדם, הואיל והקנאה והתאוה והכבד מעבירים את האדם מן העולם, אפרוש מהם ואתרחק מהם, ולא אוכל בשר ולא אשתה יין ולא אשא אשה ולא אשב בדירה נאה, ולא אלבש מלבוש נאה, אלא השק, גם זו דרך רעה ואסור לילך בה, ור,הולך בה נקרא חוטא, כמו שנאמר בנזיר : וכפר עליו מאשר חטא על הנפש, והרי הנזיר לא פירש עצמו אלא מן היין ונקרא חוטא, המונע עצמו מכל דבר על אחת כמה וכמה, ולא ימנע אדם עצמו אלא מדברים שמנעתו התורה בלב.ד ולא יהא אוסר עצמו בנדרים ובשבוע ת על דברים המותרים, כמו שאמרו חז"ל : לא דייך במה שאסרה התורה אלא שאתר, אוסר עליך דברים אחרים, ובכלל זה אלה שמתענים תמיד אינם הולכים בדרך טובה ועל כל הדברים האלו ודומיהם צוח שלמה ואמר אל תהי צדיק הרבה ואל תתחכם י תר למה שתשומם, ובכלל זה שלא יפרוש אדם מן העולם הזה מחשש שמא יכשל באיסורים, ואומר למה לי לישא אשה וללבוש מלבושים נאים, אלך לי בנקיקי הסלעים ואסתגף כל ימי בשביל הבורא, על זה נאמר ואל תתחכם יותר למה תשומם, היינו שגופך יהיה שומם,

ובכלל זה המחמיר על עצמו במקום שהתורה התירה, כגון חולה שצריך לאכול ביום הכפורים והוא אינו רוצה לאכול, עליו נאמר אל תהי צדיק הרבה, כן אל יהיה אדם חסיד שוטה, כגון שרואה אשה טובעת בנהר ואמר אין זה ממדת דרך ארץ להסתכל בה ולהצילה, או שרואה תינוק טובע ואומר לכשאחלוץ תפילין אצילנו, ועד שחלץ זה התפילין הוציא זה נפשו,

ורבותינו ז"ל דרשוהו כנגד שאול שחמל על עמלק ובסוף הרג את נוב עיר הכהנים, וכמו שמצינו שענותנותו של רי זכריה בן אבקילס החריבה את בית אלקינו, ואל תתחכם הרבה, כמו קרח שאמר ומה חוט אחד של תכלת פוטר, טלית שכולה תכלת על אחת כמה וכמה, למד בקל וחומר שבית מלא ספרים פטור מן המזוזה, וזהו שאומר למה תשומם, למה תגרום לך שממה, כמו שגרם קרח לאבדונו, וכן הענותנות הנ"ל גרמה לחרבן בית המקדש,

ועוד ואל תהי צדיק הרבה לנהוג בדקדוק ולא לפנים משורת הדין, כמו שאמרו חז"ל לא חרבה ירושלים אלא על שהעמידו דבריהם על דין תורה, 

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Why you should care about the measles outbreak--even if you're vaccinated

Fortune   An outbreak of the disease highlights the dangers of foregoing vaccines – and the reality that they sometime fail.

A measles outbreak spreading across the country has sickened 86 people in 14 states, raising fears of an epidemic. But what’s different this time is the high number of adults falling ill –including some who have been vaccinated.

“We’re seeing more adults than we have seen in a typical outbreak,” says Anne Schuchat, director of the Center for Disease Control’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

The outbreak originated in Disneyland in December, sickening 11 people last month and another 56 people in January. The others most likely contracted the disease while traveling internationally in areas like Indonesia, India and Dubai.

The median age of infected patients is over 20, and not all of those were part of the anti-vaccination movement, whose adherents deliberately forego vaccines out of fear that they will cause more harm than good. At least six people diagnosed with measles got their measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, and all but two of them got the standard two-shot sequence.

This isn’t about measles vaccine effectiveness, which is actually one of the most effective in the world. Two doses provide 97% protection against infection and has been proven safe, says Schuchat. This is about the effect an outbreak has on the wider population when a select group of people remain unvaccinated.

The vast majority of both adults and children infected were unvaccinated–whether for health-related issues, lack of awareness or as part of the anti-vaccination movement. Medical professionals say the ongoing measles outbreak is the inevitable consequence.

Measles is a wildly contagious disease and is still common globally, sickening nearly 20 million people annually. The virus spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It’s so contagious that if one infected person coughs in a crowded area, 90% of the non-immune people in the vicinity will catch it. [...]

Rabbi Frederick Karp Arrested, Accused of Sexually Abusing a Minor

WBALTV   Frederick Martin Karp, 50, of Beachwood, Ohio, is being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center. The state wanted no bail, saying Karp is a flight risk, but after his attorney explained Karp was not fleeing, the judge set bail at $500,000.

Karp's wife and brother-in-law traveled to Baltimore and sat in on his bail-review hearing. In court, Karp sat with his head down, at times rocking back and forth.Karp was brought back from New York, where he had fled after charges of sexual abuse of a minor, perverted practice, and second- and third-degree sex offense were brought against him in Maryland earlier this month.

Baltimore County police said they learned on New Year's Eve that a girl had been abused by Karp. According to the Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office, the abuse occurred from July 2009 to early December 2014 when Karp visited the girl's family, with whom he was friends. The alleged abuse occurred from the time the girl was 7 until now. The prosecutor said in court Thursday that the 12-year-old's two sisters disclosed that they too had been inappropriately touched. [...]