https://www.wnpr.org/post/new-haven-rabbi-daniel-greer-sentenced-sex-abuse-case
Friday, December 6, 2019
New Haven Rabbi Daniel Greer Sentenced In Sex Abuse Case
Thursday, December 5, 2019
THE HELLENIZATION OF TORAH EDUCATION
BS"D
By Binyomin Feinberg, Contributor to The Jewish Press*
FeinbergBinyomin@gmail.com
* The perspectives and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of The Jewish Press.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FeinbergBinyomin@gmail.com
* The perspectives and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of The Jewish Press.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A GUEST POST, by the Conference For Child Protection (edited):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE HELLENIZATION OF TORAH EDUCATION
7 Kislev, 5780
Why are there so often imposter firemen blocking the real firefighters from saving a town during a raging fire? We’ve all heard that there are concerns over the impending Board of Regents vote on the Educational Equivalency Regulations - potentially as early their next meeting on Dec. 9-10. We are told that we can relax because organizations like PEARLS are dealing with the threat.
But how many people truly understand the issue and where the real threat lies? “YAFFED” is not the true threat; it merely serves as an excuse for the GOVERNMENT to introduce the LGBT program to our yeshivos. (For the yeshivish reader, that's the abbreviation for “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender.")
How Are We Being Misled Here?
In the year 2010 CE, the “DASA/Dignity of All Students” law was passed. DASA specifically requires schools to “tolerate and respect LGBT" behavior. It is currently in force in public schools as part of the curriculum, and in their books (incidentally affecting many Jewish kids there).
Cleverly, the new Regulations don't mention the section of the N.Y. State Education Law that REQUIRES LGBT INDOCTRINATION, specifically 801A. Instead, they showcase other sections of the law, thereby reducing public resistance - and GIVING THE REGULATORS A BLANK CHECK, TO FILL IN AT WHIM, AFTER THE REGULATIONS WOULD PASS. If they do pass, NYS is free to require LGBT indoctrination. WE LOSE OUR LEGAL RIGHTS. All we can do is sue, at the mercy of the liberal democratic judges beholden to the same Gay Mafia that is pushing this agenda on us.
WHO Is Being Misled?
If most of this is news to you, there’s a reason for that. It is because organizations such as Aguda, PEARLS and Satmar tranquilize the Roshei Yeshiva, Menhalim and the public by withholding vital information (perhaps for the sake of funding or political gain).
Anyone who knew either Rav Ahron Kotler or the Satmar Rov, Rav Yoel ZT"L, or understands what they stood for, would realize that if they’d be alive, none of this would even be a discussion. It’s not up for discussion now either, because we may not violate the Aseres HaDibros, nor the laws of Sefer VaYikra (18:22 and 20:13).
Some frum organizations dupe us and mislead us into believing that the solution lies in appeasing the legislators with compromises. They claim that as long as we show goodwill and are “ready to improve,” the authorities will be satisfied and leave us alone. True, compromises can often avert catstrophies. However, in this case, it is naïve to assume so, because their true goal has absolutely nothing to do with "improving the quality of education." Rather, this transparent pretext is merely the official line, behind which stands a relentless crusade to crush the Torah value system, in exchange for our incrementally accepting LGBT values -- starting with indoctrination of "respect" for LGBT behavior.
And how do we respond? We politely and helpfully capitulate by opening the door for them to enter and implement their plans, step by step! Isn’t that wonderful?!
Let us form a united front and remain resolute in completely opposing these abominable laws and regulations. If we fail to protest, we are culpable for aiding the government in accomplishing its clear aim: to slowly but surely and progressively infiltrate and destroy our Chinuch.
=====
~~~~~~~~~~~
To check for updates throughout the week please visit:
https://docs.google.com/
To check for updates throughout the week please visit:
https://docs.google.com/
Crime Wave Strikes Israeli Girls
Israelis are Suffering a Spike in Incarcerations of Religious Girls Who Refuse to Capitulate to the Military Draft
By Binyomin Feinberg, Contributor to The Jewish Press*
FeinbergBinyomin@gmail.com
* The perspectives and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of The Jewish Press.
~~~~~~~~~~~
To check for updates throughout the week please visit:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11EUa2a_8OwXs7T1vMfek3MehHfC2Rd9mWt6NetNxLm0/edit?usp=sharing
~~~~~~~~~~
FeinbergBinyomin@gmail.com
* The perspectives and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of The Jewish Press.
~~~~~~~~~~~
To check for updates throughout the week please visit:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11EUa2a_8OwXs7T1vMfek3MehHfC2Rd9mWt6NetNxLm0/edit?usp=sharing
~~~~~~~~~~
Just recently, we've learned of quite a number of recent incarcerations of religious girls, over their refusal to enlist in the IDF. According to Jewish Law, it is absolutely prohibited for girls to enlist in the military, according to leading authorities from across the Orthodox spectrum. Not to mention forcing girls or women to enlist being absolutely prohibited. Nonetheless, the government - despite all of the unrelenting dysfunctionality - manages to pursue religious girls for the military draft. THAT is what they are assiduously addressing with increased efficiency while the country is facing unprecedented threats and instability.
In that context, it's all the more crucial for girls to obtain quality guidance to help avoid complications, and to deal with them properly when unavoidable.
°°°
Contacting Chomosaich:
Free information is available by calling the volunteer ladies at "Chomosaich" 03-545-6770 (24/6). They provide information and advice to girls in danger of Army enlistment, harassment or persecution. Girls are urged to call before even considering stepping foot into the Draft Office. In fact, it's advisable to contact Chomosaich even before problems arise, to prevent many costly errors made out of sheer ignorance. Chomosaich provides information and guidance to girls from across the spectrum, independent of their level of religious observance. Thousands have benefited from their painstaking work.
°°°
About Chomosaich:
Chomosaich provides an approach to obtaining military service exemptions, one that differs from the modus operandi of some of the ladies whom girls may possibly bump into outside the Draft Offices:
1. Chomosaich ladies generally encourage religious girls to fight for their Religious Exemption, and provide information on how to do so effectively, including properly taking advantage of the game-changing strategy of PR (pirsum)
2. They generally do NOT encourage girls to avail themselves of the "Petur Nafshi" (PN), the (psychological) exemption. This approach provides an additional benefit of avoiding being overcome by a wave of mass disqualification of Petur Nafshi exemptions, a specter possibly alluded to in a recent Maariv article about a crackdown on spiking PN exemptions.
3. Additionally, Chomosaich discourages interviews - e.g. a Rayon Dat, or a plain Rayon - with those seeking to trip up, terrorize, or convince girls to enlist.
4. Chomosaich focuses on strengthening the individual girl, providing her - on an ongoing basis - the chizuk she needs to be inspired to stand strong against government harassment, and even threats of arrest and incarceration.
5. Chomosaich does acknowledge the importance of legal intervention, but generally only as an adjunct to the chizuk of the girl herself.
~~~
Recent Refuseniks:
Examples of recent incarcerations of Refusenik girls follow. There.are others who were recently released, including an 18 y/o religious Ethiopian girl, Simcha S., from Kiryat Malachi, and Udel H., a 19 y/o from Eilat, learning in a Chareidi Seminary in Yerushalayim.
The Israelis were at an advantage in some of these cases, because the advocates who obtained the cases aren't as adept at employing modern PR methods and documentation protocols as are organizations like Shalhevet.
1) In an interview early this week with a volunteer from the volunteer ladies network "Chomosaich", Miriam Natan, a 19-1/2 y/o baalas teshuva, claims that she recently endured six harrowing days in military prison 6, for failure to send in her religious exemption certification, losing about 5 Kg (over 10 lbs.). Due to kashrus concerns she had, she barely ate for most of her incarceration. Initially, she sought a medical exemption due to a medical condition, but was rebuffed with what she deemed insufficient Army accommodations. When she persisted, and asked to meet a mental health officer, she was placed in solitary confinement. She claims she was initially denied her basic rights to medical care and pain relief medication, as well as denied proper access to necessary hygiene. She reports she was subjected to intolerable emotional abuse as well, and suffered terribly from exposure to the cold. (Keleh 6 is in Northern Israel, where it.can get very cold in the winter.) She reports being treated in a humiliating, even subhuman fashion.
B"H, now Miriam is free, with her petur. She felt that the experience strengthened her closeness to HaShem. Seeing the injustice around her actually strengthened her resolve to shun Army service; why would she want to be part of such an institution, one that could maintain such an abusive, inhumane facility.
2,3) Miriam also reports that there are two additional religious girls remaining in military prison 6, including one (Adina from Be'er Sheva) who has been languishing for over six weeks(!). Apparently, Adina is from the Ukraine.
4) According to Bnos Melech, (a ladies' network to provide assistance to girls in trouble with the IDF, which branched off of Chomosaich around last Pesach), another girl, Shir, is currently in solitary confinement in Military Prison 4. She is considered to be in a predicament that's literally pikuach nefesh. Solitary confinement is excruciatingly difficult, especially for girls, and can exacerbate an already very difficult situation. In the case of Rinat bat Chedva, solitary confinement had clearly been employed as a means of psychological abuse to break the girls (see Jewish Press Dispatch columns of Febuary and March). Solitary confinement was similarly employed against the Bnos Beruria and Lidar Shira bas Yaffa in mid-late June, when arrests and abuse of frum girls spiked similarly (in the wake of Netanyahu appointing the openly practicing homosexual Amir Ohana as Justice Minister).
5) Bnos Melech reports another girl, Hilah bas Adinah, 19 y/o, of a National Religious school, languishing in military prison 4. She has apparently been in dire straights for almost four weeks. At this time, she remains without a private attorney, even though there are those who sponsor legal representation for just such girls.
4) According to Bnos Melech, (a ladies' network to provide assistance to girls in trouble with the IDF, which branched off of Chomosaich around last Pesach), another girl, Shir, is currently in solitary confinement in Military Prison 4. She is considered to be in a predicament that's literally pikuach nefesh. Solitary confinement is excruciatingly difficult, especially for girls, and can exacerbate an already very difficult situation. In the case of Rinat bat Chedva, solitary confinement had clearly been employed as a means of psychological abuse to break the girls (see Jewish Press Dispatch columns of Febuary and March). Solitary confinement was similarly employed against the Bnos Beruria and Lidar Shira bas Yaffa in mid-late June, when arrests and abuse of frum girls spiked similarly (in the wake of Netanyahu appointing the openly practicing homosexual Amir Ohana as Justice Minister).
5) Bnos Melech reports another girl, Hilah bas Adinah, 19 y/o, of a National Religious school, languishing in military prison 4. She has apparently been in dire straights for almost four weeks. At this time, she remains without a private attorney, even though there are those who sponsor legal representation for just such girls.
Reportedly, she was first "offered" to appear before a Vaadah Das ("Religiosity meeting,") ostensibly to help her try to secure the religious exemption to which she should be entitled. That offer was subsequently denied by the government prosecution. Perhaps the government feels that they can persecute her with impunity because she, like many of those girls targeted by the Army, are from disadvantaged backgrounds, with little visible assistance, thus easy targets.
6) It was reported that another girl, Donna bas Haddas, 20 y/o, has been in military prison number 4 for over three weeks. However, reportedly, she has a decent attorney.
~~~~~
A MAJOR VICTORY FOR REFUSAL OF RAYON DAT:
B"H, in a landmark development, on Nov. 26, Maitav (the military draft offices) sent a letter of notification of religious exemption from military service to the attorney of Avigail Leah H.. Miss H. is a 17y/o Chabad girl learning in an elite, non-religious, but religious-sensitive environment, suited to her needs. Due to that, the Army insisted she undergo a Rayon Dat (a "Religiosity Interview"), even though there's no question about her religiosity. Miss H. has been steadfast, braving months of Army threats of arrest, in her refusal to enlist in the IDF - or make any Halachic compromises in the process, including submitting to a Rayon Dat. Often, the Rayon is a hazard-laden interrogation process, geared to trip up girls, done without benefit of legal representation or even an accompanying party.
Her attorney bypassed the Draft Office, and got a favorable result from a direct approach to the IDF legal authorities themselves. The attorney argued that the IDF has no basis to require a Rayon Dat, inasmuch her religiosity in not in question. The Draft Offices subsequently acquiesced to the family's request, while specifically avoiding conceding defeat on the broader legal issues at stake. Nevertheless, practically speaking, this win should inspire thousands of girls, and their advocates, to insist on fighting on principle.
Avigail's persistence in refusing to compromise on Halacha wasn't easy, but it certainly paid off. As the Vilna Gaon is quoted: "The persistent prevail."
For Background on this case see:
Violating the Vineyard:
<28 aug.="">
https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2019/08/alh-report-2-28-augviolating-vineyard.html
https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2019/09/violating-vineyard-update.html
<28 aug.="">
https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2019/08/alh-report-2-28-augviolating-vineyard.html
https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2019/09/violating-vineyard-update.html
####
About a fifth of American 15-year-olds scored so low on the PISA test that it appeared they had not mastered reading skills expected of a 10-year-old"
"About a fifth of American 15-year-olds scored so low on the PISA test that it appeared they had not mastered reading skills expected of a 10-year-old"
American 15-year-olds scored so low on the PISA test that it appeared they had not mastered reading skills expected of a 10-year-old"
Sunday, December 1, 2019
CNN: Worry rises in military over Trump's decision-making.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/27/politics/pentagon-concern-trump-decision-making/index.html
Thursday, November 28, 2019
To Even Close the Yeshivos?
Parshas Toldos, 5780
By Binyomin Feinberg, Contributor to The Jewish Press*
FeinbergBinyomin@gmail.com
* The perspectives and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of The Jewish Press.
~~~~~~~~~~
Despite recent political disfunction, it was just reported that Israel may nevertheless be heading for some form of a limited-scope Unity Government (between both Likud and Blue and White mainstream blocks). That means the religious parties will be asked to, or seek to compromise to join. Will they compromise on the drafting of girls? The saintly Brisker Rov ZT"L [whom many of those elected officials acknowledge as a Gadol] held it was better to close all the Yeshivos than to draft girls, even into Sheirut Leumi, if indeed ever faced with such a dilemma ("The Brisker Rav," Vol.3, pp. 49–51, 56–57).* However, the religious parties, in contrast, now allow the drafting of girls to pass quietly, apparently under the pretext of helping their own institutions. Additionally, the religious parties now have an increasingly resonant national-defense argument against expending resources on drafting religious girls, if they'd ever be inclined to use it. The Army needs the girls like a Katushya in the Knesset. Galei Tzahal Radio reported months ago that the IDF is encumbered with a 5-digit troop surplus. On the other hand, anti-missile defense is sorely inadequate. Several weeks ago, it was reported that Netanyahu recently requested four BILLION shekel for missile and drone defense, in light of the threat illustrated by the game-changing Sept.14 drone attack on Saudi oil production. The "HaKotarot" (Nov.25, in Ivrit) just reported a former Israeli Air Defense official in the Air Force, Tzvika Heimowitz, interviewed in The Jerusalem Post, warning about the inadequacy of Israeli missile defense in event of a serious conflict with Iranian proxies. R"L, thousands of missiles would rain down from multiple sources, and would overwhelm current defenses. [In that context, one could see the recent missile barrages not so much as practice runs, as much as merely testing Israeli responses, to feel out weaknesses, and prepare for a far graver mutlipronged assault, dwarfing anything Israel haa ever experienced (including the first Gulf War).] Thus, the entire "Equality-justified" emphasis on chasing teenage girls to fill up an already over-staffed army is easy to argue against, in context of geostrategic realities.
######
FeinbergBinyomin@gmail.com
* The perspectives and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of The Jewish Press.
~~~~~~~~~~
Despite recent political disfunction, it was just reported that Israel may nevertheless be heading for some form of a limited-scope Unity Government (between both Likud and Blue and White mainstream blocks). That means the religious parties will be asked to, or seek to compromise to join. Will they compromise on the drafting of girls? The saintly Brisker Rov ZT"L [whom many of those elected officials acknowledge as a Gadol] held it was better to close all the Yeshivos than to draft girls, even into Sheirut Leumi, if indeed ever faced with such a dilemma ("The Brisker Rav," Vol.3, pp. 49–51, 56–57).* However, the religious parties, in contrast, now allow the drafting of girls to pass quietly, apparently under the pretext of helping their own institutions. Additionally, the religious parties now have an increasingly resonant national-defense argument against expending resources on drafting religious girls, if they'd ever be inclined to use it. The Army needs the girls like a Katushya in the Knesset. Galei Tzahal Radio reported months ago that the IDF is encumbered with a 5-digit troop surplus. On the other hand, anti-missile defense is sorely inadequate. Several weeks ago, it was reported that Netanyahu recently requested four BILLION shekel for missile and drone defense, in light of the threat illustrated by the game-changing Sept.14 drone attack on Saudi oil production. The "HaKotarot" (Nov.25, in Ivrit) just reported a former Israeli Air Defense official in the Air Force, Tzvika Heimowitz, interviewed in The Jerusalem Post, warning about the inadequacy of Israeli missile defense in event of a serious conflict with Iranian proxies. R"L, thousands of missiles would rain down from multiple sources, and would overwhelm current defenses. [In that context, one could see the recent missile barrages not so much as practice runs, as much as merely testing Israeli responses, to feel out weaknesses, and prepare for a far graver mutlipronged assault, dwarfing anything Israel haa ever experienced (including the first Gulf War).] Thus, the entire "Equality-justified" emphasis on chasing teenage girls to fill up an already over-staffed army is easy to argue against, in context of geostrategic realities.
######
~~~~~~~~~~~
To check for updates throughout the week please visit ("Updates for Cheshvan" at: )
https://docs.google.com/docume
~~~~~~~~~~~
To check for updates throughout the week please visit ("Updates for Cheshvan" at: )
https://docs.google.com/docume
~~~~~~~~~~~
Info on Sefer available at:
https://www.judaicaplace.com/t
~~~
Female IDF Refuseniks - Cheshvan
Female IDF Draft Update: Parshas Toldos, 5780
Nov. 27, '19
By Binyomin Feinberg, Contributor to The Jewish Press*
FeinbergBinyomin@gmail.com
* The perspectives and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of The Jewish Press.
~~~~~~~~~~~
It was recently revealed that yet another Jewish girl, Donna bas Haddas, has been languishing in an Israeli military prison (number 4) - for over two and a half weeks - refusing to succumb to immense pressure to enlist in the IDF. Having just turned 20, and being engaged to be married, Donna was arrested on Nov. 10. She had had been represented by a public defender. She is facing an vigorous legal battle. (Her draft date was in March, '18.).
Nov. 27, '19
By Binyomin Feinberg, Contributor to The Jewish Press*
FeinbergBinyomin@gmail.com
* The perspectives and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of The Jewish Press.
~~~~~~~~~~~
It was recently revealed that yet another Jewish girl, Donna bas Haddas, has been languishing in an Israeli military prison (number 4) - for over two and a half weeks - refusing to succumb to immense pressure to enlist in the IDF. Having just turned 20, and being engaged to be married, Donna was arrested on Nov. 10. She had had been represented by a public defender. She is facing an vigorous legal battle. (Her draft date was in March, '18.).
She very much needs our immediate support. The Israeli government wouldn't persist in persecution of girls who refuse military service if there would only be sufficient protest from enough individuals in Diaspora (especially American) Orthodox communities.
Moreover, far more than she needs us to help her - WE need to help her. That is because her profuse tears are being carefully counted in the Heavenly Court, to determine precisely how much Divine Justice will rain down on us - and on whom specifically - for tolerating these ongoing travesties involving innocent girls suffering untold pain in the military justice system, all for their steadfast refusal to be forced into military service. We know from our Sages that "He extends His Wrath," but, ultimately, "He collects His dues."
B"H, another girl, O. H., a 19 y/o Chareidiah from the south, was just released this week, after languishing perhaps about two weeks in Military Prison number 6. She too had been incarcerated for a quite a while without public awareness of her plight. She still seeks to secure her military exemption.
°°°
While some may expect the government to be preoccupied with it's own dysfunction, and unprecedented missile threats from multiple staging areas, the terrorization of young women seeking to avoid being forced into the military continues. As does the overall deafening silence of the ostensibly rightwing and religious parties. Even when there was a Jewish military which operated al-pi-Torah, under a King and the Sanhedrin, immorality put our national security in grave danger. (See VaYikra 18). How much more so does that danger apply nowadays, given the rampant immorality within the IDF.
~~~~~~~~~
To check for updates throughout the week please visit ("Updates for Cheshvan" at: )
https://docs.google.com/docume
~~~~~~~~~~
###
https://docs.google.com/docume
~~~~~~~~~~
###
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Why Trump Is Bad for Business
https://fortune.com/longform/trump-policies-bad-for-business-trade-immigration-taxes-regulations-us-economy/
But wait—how can today’s environment be bad for business? Stocks have been hitting new record highs. Inflation is low. Interest rates are extraordinarily low. Though the labor market is ultra-tight, more workers are reentering the labor force in response, and consumers have more money to spend. Isn’t this close to business nirvana?
It ought to be, but look closer. Sentiment in some previously friendly quarters has turned powerfully against Trump. CEO confidence, which leapt in Trump’s early days, has since plunged to levels not seen since the darkest days of the financial crisis in 2009. “The Trump administration lost the C-suite in 2018,” says Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a Republican who ran the Congressional Budget Office from 2003 through 2005 and now heads the American Action Forum, a center-right think tank. “I think the cause is mainly trade.” (Fortune interviewed several corporate executives who largely shared Holtz-Eakin’s view but were wary of saying so on the record. The White House, for its part, did not respond to several requests for comment.)
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Break
I am going to be in NY between Nov 25 and DEC 10
posting might stop if I can't get a WiFi connection
posting might stop if I can't get a WiFi connection
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