Abuse:Rabbis fail to report pedophile

YNET

A Jerusalem resident Gil Dvash, 45, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of sexually harassing and sodomizing 10 minors over the past few years, after offering them money at a local synagogue.
 
The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court on Thursday extended the suspect's remand, with Judge Fineberg ruling that "there is reasonable ground to believe that he committed the acts ascribed to him."
 
According to the suspicions, the man arrived at a synagogue in the Bait Vagan neighborhood, where the minors were praying, offered them money and carried out his scheme. [...]

Gerim: Shavei Yisroel teaches Chinese

Forward

A year ago they were living by the bank of China’s Yellow River. Now, the seven yarmulke-and-tzitzit-clad young men, sitting in central Jerusalem and chatting about their lives, are Israel’s keenest yeshiva students.

It is the end of July, the day after the Fast of Av, when every yeshiva halts for summer break — but this group won’t stop.

They come from a community that has fascinated Jews for centuries — China’s Kaifeng Jewish community. Jews are said to have settled in China in the eighth or ninth century. It is believed that at one point, there were as many as 5,000 Jews in Kaifeng; however the community disintegrated in the mid-19th century, with the death of its last rabbi, and those members that hadn’t done so already intermarried and dropped most aspects of religious observance. [...]

Gerim: Shavei Yisroel sends rabbi to Bnei Anousim

YNET

Beginning this week, Rabbi Elisha Salas will be Shavei Israel’s new emissary to the Bnei Anousim, or crypto-Jews of North Portugal

Rabbi Salas, 53, was born in Chile and made aliyah to Israel in 1999. Salas now lives in Jerusalem and is married with four children. After graduating from Santiago University in Chile with two degrees in accounting and religious studies, Salas spent five years at the Beit Midrash Sepharadi in the Old City of Jerusalem. In addition to being an ordained rabbi, Salas is certified to practice as a "shochet" (kosher slaughterer).[...]

Deporting Children of Foreign workers II/Arab countries

YNET

The status of migrant workers and their children is a problematic issue not only in Israel, but in neighboring Arab countries as well.

In at least eight Arab countries, particularly in the Persian Gulf but in Syria too, when a citizen weds a foreign man, their children are not considered citizens and do not have the right to own property. In some of these countries, these children cannot even inherit their mothers' estate, in accordance with a law that forbids foreigners from owning property or real estate.[...]

Geurus - Rabbi Manny Vinas: Assisted in obtaining a Torah

Jewish Weekly

gerus wrote:

These people are not Jewish according to any definition, so how can Rabbi Vinas from Yonkers give them a sefer Torah?

http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/58867/black-proud-and-jewish-synagogue-founded-50-years-ago-takes-a-step-forward-/

Temple Beth’El is a predominantly black synagogue formed more than 50 years ago by the daughter of a Baptist preacher at a time when many blacks were rejecting Christianity as a slave religion. The same motivation led many blacks to move toward Islam.

The founder of Temple Beth’El, Louise Dailey, studied with a rabbi, but was not ordained by a recognized branch of Judaism. The synagogue has a kosher kitchen and a mikvah, but Dailey also adopted some traditions that are alien to the ancient faith. Congregants called her “Mother Dailey,” and she ordained Bowen, her daughter, before she died.

The Torah ceremony last year was a mix of Hebrew readings and shouts of “Hallelujah!” — a worship style typical of black churches. The booming music came from what Christians would call a “praise band” — with electric guitars, drums and a keyboard.

The Torah was acquired by Rabbi Emmanuel “Manny” Vinas, who leads a Spanish-Jewish synagogue in Yonkers, N.Y. Vinas noted that many suppliers had been reluctant to sell a Torah to Temple Beth’El because of its history, and he expected strictly traditional Jews would criticize him for brokering the purchase.

“I saw the service that was held for the Torah,” Vinas said. “You see those people crying and so deeply moved ... That’s a congregation that’s going to honor and uphold the Torah.”

Deporting Children of Foreign workers/USA & Israel

I received the following. It is important to note that this issue is a major one, not only in Israel but America where a child born in the USA is a citizen and the wisdom of that law is now being questioned.
=====================
Bartley Kulp wrote:

Rabbi Eidensohn, I was wondering whether or not you would be interested in opening a discussion the decision and debate on deporting children of foreign workers.

I know that some people may be reticent on discussing these issue saying that it is not an issue for the involving the frum community. My claim would be that since there are both dati leumi  [and chareidi] politicians and rabbis who are involved with the debate and the formulation of policy, I would say that it is a legitimate discussion and an important one in light of the recent headlines.

I have not provided a link to any specific article because I know that most of us have probably read various articles and perspectives on this already. If you could provide us with a few thoughts on this issue or if anybody else may have comments I would appreciate it.

Elon scandal: Police say they have evidence for trial

YNET

The police announced on Sunday that there is enough evidence against Rabbi Mordechai (Motty) Elon, who is suspected of committing indecent acts by force against two minors, to put him on trial.
 The investigation material was handed over to the Jerusalem District Prosecution, which is slated to hold a hearing prior to submitting an indictment against Elon.[...]