Rav Sternbuch strongly advises against an Israeli boycott of England

There has been talk about boycotting products and services from England in retaliation against similar British activity against Israel. Rav Moshe Sternbuch requested that I communicate his very strong feelings that such actions  - while sincerly motivated - have historically produced a strong rebound effect of anti-Semitism. Therefore  he strongly urges that Israel does not institute a boycott - even if is effective in applying political pressure to England - because the  dangerous consequences for Jews world-wide are unaccepatble.

JPost

[...] In her petition, which she plans to send to Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow after she gathers a final few signatures on Monday, Tirosh wrote that Israel's parliamentarians "call on Britain to immediately cancel this decision that casts a shadow upon economic cooperation among residents of both countries."

"We recommend that the Israeli public reconsider using the services of companies from countries in which decisions such as these are in effect," she continued.

Tirosh added that she would not rule out submitting a bill to require similar marking in Israel of all British products, and that she also was attempting to prevent government officials from flying on British Airways.

When is R' Tropper going to confess & apologize?

Perhaps the most pressing issue at present is when is R' Tropper going to publicly acknowledge and apoligze for this disgusting state of affairs? Is there anyone who can persuade him of the urgency of making a public statement? If he is reading this blog - please, please bite the bullet and start the process of cure.

It is important to note that when I offered my services today to R' Tropper in minimizing the damage he responded with a thank you. He clearly is functioning. But he needs to act soon - as do the gedolim who were associated with him. This gigantic train wreck is not going to disappear by ignorning it.

The silence is deafening.

Rav Reuven Feinstein, shlita - An Open Letter

HaRav Reuven Feinstein, shlita,

Someone recently asked me to find the teshuva (Y.D. III 96.9) that your father wrote to you concerning your 20th birthday for his son's 20th birthday. It is especially relevant in your present situation in which your reputation and loyalty are keeping alive an organization which has become a disgrace and embarrassment to the Jewish people. Those who agree with me, will hopefully send a copy of this letter to you.

Yeshiva and Mesivta of Staten Island
1870 Drumgoole Road, East
Staten Island, NY 10309
U.S.A.

Phone: (718) 356-4323
Fax: (718) 356-5412

Your father described that birthday as the day you would become punishable for sins also by the hand of Heaven. He was responding to your request that he advise you on how you should conduct yourself the rest of your days. He wrote:

The most important thing is the study of Torah and to be engaged in the struggle of understanding it. Rashi notes in Bechokosai that this is needed in order to avoid making mistakes in halacha. Our Sages note that even the inadvertent errors of a talmid chachom are considered deliberate because he should have learned the halacha in order to reach a true understanding and then G-d would provide assistance to grow in Torah and to know everything clearly. This study will then lead to observing the halacha because our Sages say that the observance of mitzvos is greater than the study. Also your goal in life should be that for all your days that your sole activity will be involvement in Torah study. If that is so I am sure that G-d will help you and will send you generous parnosa with bountiful beracha. Because one's livelihood is entirely a gift from  G-d Who sends it by means of what ever endeavors a man choses to do. This is stated at the end of Kiddushin (82b). It says that one does not suffer poverty because he picked a particular trade nor does one become rich because of a particular trade - but everything is determined soley from Heaven according to his merit.  However, chas v'shalom, to accept this in the manner of an oath which is prohibited. Rather it should be strongly implanted in your thoughts and consciousness and you should do it without taking an oath.

Furthermore you need to train yourself in good midos. The main thing however concerns anger - for which it is necessary to go to extremes to avoid. That is because pride and anger are the attributes one needs to avoid most of all. If you wish to strongly deal with these midos by training yourself properly then G-d will help you. However also in this matter, chas v'shalom, to accept it in the manner of an oath as I mentioned before. It is also important to be careful to honor your mother. This is very difficult for most people because of the habits of childhood - therefore it is necessary to be extremely careful about this. That is because even if she forgives you, chas v'shalom, to rely on this. This that you ask whether you should fast various fasts - this is not appropriate for you and for all those who are engaged in Torah study because this can, chas v'shalom, lead to loss of Torah study. Even if it doesn't result in a quantitative loss but it will result in a qualitative loss. Our Sages (Ta'anis 11a) say that a person who engages in fasting is called a sinner. Similarly one should not afflict yourself in any manner but should increase Torah study. My words should always be before you and G-d should help you always.

      
                              With deep respect,

                              Daniel Eidensohn

Rav Reuven Feinstein:Kiruv & mixed couples [transcript]

Imprisoned by mistake for 35 years for a rape

CNN

A day after a Florida man was released from prison after serving 35 years for a sexual assault that he did not commit, law enforcement authorities are turning their attention to finding out who was responsible.

James Bain was set free Thursday after a DNA test showed he did not kidnap and rape a 9-year-old boy in Lake Wales, Florida, in 1974.

DNA found at the crime scene has been sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for further testing. It will be entered into Florida and national databases to see if it matches anyone whose DNA is already in the system. [...]

Reb Reuven - please!

Rav Sternbuch: Hard Times

An open letter to Reb Elya Ber, shlita

The below was just confirmed by a letter from Reb Elya Ber just published on Matzav

I have it on excellent authority that Reb Elya Ber Wachtfogel never accepted any responsibility, oversight, or position of any kind for EJF!

If anything at all - he was duped by a phone call from an individual in Eretz Yisroel (a beneficiary of Tropper/EJF money) that Rav Shteinman and Rav Y.S. Eliashiv had "requested" he assume the position at EJF, But he never accepted!

In the interim it has now been determined that Rav Y.S. Eliashiv had no idea at all about ANY of these goings on - let alone he never asked for R' E.B.W. to accept any position or achrayus for EJF!

The time has come for Reb Elya Ber to speak up and put this to bed!

 ===============================
Below is the hierarchy of rabbis from the EJF webpage - you will note that HaRav Elya Ber, shita - one of the major gedolim of America and perhaps its leading rosh yeshiva - is not accorded to same title as Rav Reuven Feinstein, Rav Shmuel Stern, and Rav Ehrentreu. Hopefully it is just a mistake but if not it does not bode well for Reb Elya.
==========================
EJF Leadership
Harav Reuven Feinstein, Shlit"a

President of Halachic Committee
Harav Shmuel Eliezer Stern, Shlit"a

Chairman of Halachic Committee, Israel
Harav Chanoch Ehrentreu, Shlit"a

Chairman of Halachic Committee, Europe
International Rabbinical Board
Rav Ela Ber Wachtfogel

Chairman of Rabbinic Committee
Harav Doniel Neustadt

...

R' Farber's eulogy for R' Tropper

JC.com

The founder of a powerful American group that seeks to enforce a tough stance on conversions has abruptly resigned.

Leib Tropper, a strictly Orthodox rabbi who founded the New York-based Eternal Jewish Family, said he was stepping down last weekend to "pursue a variety of other interests".

In the past week, images appeared on several Jewish blogs showing posters on display in Orthodox neighbourhoods of Jerusalem accusing him of indiscretions.[...]

Sex offender extradited to U.S.

YNET

Samuel Arthur Silverman, also known as Abraham Cohen, was extradited Thursday from Israel to the United States. Silverman was convicted in Oregon for sexual abuse of minors in the late 1990s, but before a hearing on his sentence commenced he escaped to Israel.

His extradition was made possible following an amendment to the extradition treaty between Israel and the US.

Silverman, a former social worker and psychologist mainly treating children and teenagers, was charged and convicted of sexually  abusing two minors who were friends of his son during the years
1995-1996. [...]

The Sin of Adam - inaccurate self-assessment

Rav Tzadok (Machshovos Charutz #1):.. The sin of Adam was in thought rather than deed…These are the thoughts that the Serpent gave him when he told him, “You will be like G‑d.” The source of all vain and empty thoughts is that a person errs in self‑assessment. He mistakenly thinks that he is on a higher level than he is actually is or is even capable of reaching. Adam who had reached the pinnacle of perfection as a man, mistakenly started thinking that he was in fact on the level of G‑d. Therefore the Torah warns that while a person should be holy he can never reach G‑d's level of holiness (Vayikra Rabbah 24:9). When he had in fact reached the level of the angels, his evil inclination did not leave him alone and deceived him into thinking that he could be as holy as G‑d. A person can thus achieve the pinnacle of greatness and yet fall to the deepest depths – as we see what happened to Yeshu and Shabtsai Tzvi. Their great asceticism and separation from the material world distorted their perception of their true spiritual level until they thought that they were the source of holiness…" This is the way of the seduction of the Serpent (evil inclination). He begins with something small and progresses. He begins with thoughts and imaginations which seem external and superficial but in fact touch all levels of thought in an essential manner.

Eternal Jewish Family video - looks different now

Eternal Jewish Family Web Brochure

Shannon | MySpace Video

Chofetz Chaim:Why people speak lashon harah

Chofetz Chaim(Introduction): …Why has the prohibition against lashon harah become so widely ignored? I think it is the result of a number of different reasons. The masses ignore it for a different reason than the scholars. The masses simply don’t know that there is a prohibition against speaking lashon harah – even if the facts are correct. The talmidei chachomim – even those who have in fact verified that there is a clear prohibition against lashon harah even if it is true – the yetzer harah is able to mislead them in other ways. 1) The yetzer harah convinces the talmid chachom that the other person is wicked and tells him that it is a mitzva to publicize derogatory information about wicked people. 2) There are times that it says that the other person is a troublemaker and it is permitted to say lashon harah about troublemakers. 3) There are times when it seduces the talmid chachom with the leniency of something said before three people. 4) Or the leniency of saying it in the person’s presence and he convinces himself that he would in fact say it even if the person was in front of him. The yetzer harah succeeds in making the talmid chachom aware of the appropriate text – even though they are inappropriately applied. 5) Sometimes the yetzer harah seduces by simply saying that what he is telling others is not really lashon harah since everyone is saying it - such as saying that someone is not really a scholarly. All of this is explained in Clall 5.

---

חפץ חיים (הלכות אסורי לשון הרע – הקדמה): ואחשבה לדעת זאת, מאין נעשה הלאו הזה הפקר כל כך לעיני הרבה בני אדם. והתבוננתי שזה הוא מכמה סבות, להמון מצד אחד ולהלומדים מצד אחר. ההמון אינם יודעים כלל שאסור לשון הרע הוא אפלו על אמת, ולהבעלי תורה אף אותם שנתברר להם ונתאמת להם שאסור לשון הרע אפלו על אמת, יש מהם כמה שיצר הרע מטעה אותם בפנים אחרים. אחד, שתכף מחשיב היצר הרע ברעיוניו את האיש שהוא מספר עליו לחונף, ואומר לו מצוה לפרסם את החנפים והרשעים. ופעמים אומר לו, הלא פלוני הוא בעל מחלקת ומתר לספר לשון הרע עליו. ולפעמים הוא מפתהו בהתרא דאפי תלתא (בפני שלשה), ופעמים בהתרא דאפי מרא (בפני המדבר), שמסכים בעצמו בעת הספור שהיה אומר לו אף בפניו, ומגלה לו היצר הרע את המאמרים השיכים לזה, ועין לקמן בכלל ב' ג' ח'. ופעמים הוא מפתהו באיכות הדבר, לומר שאין זה נכנס בכלל לשון הרע כגון מה שרגילין הרבה אנשים, בעונותינו הרבים, לפרסם על אחד שאינו חכם, ובארנו זה לקמן בכלל ה':

Chareidi websites respond to ban

YNET

In public statements, haredi website managers attempt to avoid confrontation with religious leaders, align themselves with traditional views. Off record they say campaign against them led by hypocritical lobbyists concerned with threat to newspaper

The ultra-Orthodox websites have not given up their fight in the face of the senior rabbis' campaign against them. Following the first harsh condemnation document published by the rabbis, all website managers declared their devotion to the "great ones" on Sunday.

However, despite the desperate attempts to align themselves, the websites have had a particularly rough weekend. One of the managers of the "Behadrei Haredim" website resigned his post immediately after the publication, whereas other reporters and editors are also reconsidering their future in the internet.

UK Court:Jewish school policy illegal

JPOST

Britain's Supreme Court said on Wednesday that a Jewish school discriminated against a child when it denied him admission because it did not recognize his mother as Jewish.

The ruling came in a case of a child identified as "M." His father is Jewish by birth, but his mother converted at a progressive synagogue.

But the conversion ceremony was conducted by a Progressive rather than an Orthodox synagogue which is not recognized by the Office of the Chief Rabbi.

The court said that the policy amounted to race discrimination. [...]

Sincere condolences for Tom Kaplan

There is one major player in this whole scandal who probably suffered the most and is getting the least sympathy and support - that is EFJ backer Tom Kaplan. EFJ was not a power trip or  desire to play moshiach on the part of Tom Kaplan - it was a genuine idealistic attempt to do good. He wants to help preserve and save Judaism for the same noble reason that he wants to preserve nature. He is not an Orthodox Jew and yet he intuitively felt that the cause of Jewish identity is necessary and the energy and spirit he vicariously felt was invigorating and pure.

He has been badly betrayed by Tropper. Eternal Jewish Family was a massive project that he not only invested millions of dollars in it but personally attended the conventions, went to meet gedolim and he took genuine pride in being part of this movement. He also made decisions which showed that he understood the reality of the Jewish people better than his rabbinic adivsors.

What does he have now? Tropper schemed to be his sole connection to the Orthodox world as a teacher, guide and friend. He really has no alternative interface with the Orthodox world. It is likely that he will be bowing out of the picture financially and with his personal involvement. That is really a shame. His instincts were right about the need for preserving Judaism - but the vehicle he chose was deeply flawed.

Hopefully - he will find a way to continue his commitment to the Jewish people as he has in the past and he won't walk away in disgust with the garbage  that has been thrown on him. I just would like to personally thank him for what he tried doing.

Ezekiel 8: Our case against R Tropper

We are Ezekiel 8:Groups 12/13.

Question: Given the paucity of evidence - how would you defend Rabbi Tropper

Answer: Alleged paucity of publicly exposed evidence, that should be.

Tropper was advised to immediately retain an attorney for his defence-from/attack-against the allegedly 'vile' and 'defamatory' statements.

He could not and would not do so, because he knows only the tip of the iceburg is out there, he knows that the only reason we have refrained from splashing the whole fetid mess out into the 'velt' is reasons of tzniut and avoidance of chillul Hashem.

The only reason this much is exposed is due to the disgusting, filth-enabling erevRav misLeaders y"sh, who were approached and begged to merely demand the removal of Tropper and his wretched 'organisations' from our midst, and instead chose to follow their wallets, positions and 'glory' in most dispicable ways and means.

All of the uncensored evidence is admissible.

Every mitnaged to Troppers ouster, every defender and enabler of the abomination, has a clear motive which we have documented admissible proof of.

A logical one with common sense knows where this will lead, to whom and with what results. B'Ezrat Hashem Yitbarach:

We are not posting exagerations, defamations, slanders or falsehoods.

We are Ezekiel 8:Groups 12/13.

A fuller release will be posted in the comments sections of all serious blogs within 24 hours.

bobX@anonymousspeech.com

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.[...]

Kars4kids defends its reputation

Kars4Kids writes to respond to the December 12th article in the Newark Star Ledger involving the suggestion that Kars4Kids or any of its related charities have been involved in financial misdeeds, including money laundering or other illegal practices.  Not only are any such suggestions completely false the newspaper report is based on unjustified accusations in court papers from a court case that has nothing at all to do with Kars4Kids.  Those papers do make serious accusations against a number of charities involving millions of dollars. BUT KARS4KIDS IS NOT ONE OF THEM

The article states at the very beginning that "At issue are millions in payments to Kars4Kids and more than 60 other registered charities."  This is completely misleading.  No one -- not even the lawyers who made the original claims -- has EVER said that "millions" of dollars having anything to do with Eliyahu Weinstein have ever been paid by, through or to Kars4Kids. (In fact Mr. Weinstein has never even donated to our charity!)  Of all the transactions involving Kars4Kids that the lawyer in question claimed "carry the scent of money laundering," despite the impression left by the newspaper article,

KARS4KIDS IS NOT ONE OF THEM!

In fact, the same lawyer who made these claims filed an extensive list in court detailing the "millions of dollars" he thinks may be money laundering, down to the penny.  Anyone can download this list from the Internet. It names every one of the 68 Jewish charities he is accusing of possible involvement in this crime and the specific amounts involved.

KARS4KIDS IS NOT ONE OF THEM! 

The Star Ledger chose to write about the "local angle" -- a New Jersey charity whose name people recognize because of its success.  The magnetism of such a story to its readers, when mixed with the "religious wrongdoers" claims, was raw meat to the newspaper.  It was prepared to publish this story no matter how desperately it had to cut and paste unconnected "facts" or even unconnected accusations.  There are serious accusations against charities in this lawsuit, but KARS4KIDS IS NOT ONE OF THEM!

So what is the Kars4Kids "connection"?  A few years ago Kars4Kids was involved with a single transaction with a third party.  That third party in turn conveyed money to the defendant in that lawsuit, Eliyahu Weinstein, with no direct involvement of Kars4Kids.  Two years prior Oorah, Inc., a related charity, exchanged its old office 421 West County Line Road for the office building located next door to its current headquarters at 1785 Swarthmore.  The lawyer involved in the present Weinstein litigation, seeing the name of Kars4Kids in banking records produced in the case, served us with a subpoena so he could satisfy his clients that nothing "went on" with Kars4Kids and his client's money.  We resisted the subpoena at first because it was unnecessarily invasive and broad.  Our charity has nothing to hide, but is obligated to protect its donors privacy and its own private information.  We filed a motion in that court to quash the subpoena and eventually worked out a friendly agreement to give them what they needed to go on with their case.  That litigation is going on and involves a large number of accusations, suspected transactions and defendants.  KARS4KIDS IS NOT ONE OF THEM

Kars4Kids is the real deal.  We have nothing to hide and because the public has supported our programs so generously we have no need to make money the dishonest way, and never have.  There are lots of negative stories out there, unfortunately, that put Klal Yisroel in a bad light, and a lot of people and institutions that bear great guilt for causing Chillul Hashem by their actions.  KARS4KIDS IS NOT ONE OF THEM!

What's wrong with raising funds for a rapist?

JC.COM

A strictly Orthodox community is running a fundraising campaign for a convicted child molester who avoided jail by hiding in London for two years.

Nachman Stal lived secretly among the Charedi community in Stamford Hill, north London, having fled Israel in 2006 after being found guilty of sodomy and indecent assault of a minor.

The father-of-nine lost an extradition hearing in June and is now serving his sentence in an Israeli prison.

Members of the Stamford Hill community are appealing for money to support his wife and children, who have also returned to Israel..A fundraising committee spokesman, who asked not to be named, said: "We are trying to raise a large amount both for legal fees and also to support the family. We are doing what we can to help.[...]

The Tiger Woods of the Chareidi world

There is an ancient saying that there is always something in the Jewish world corresponding to what goes on in the non-Jewish world.

There will soon be a major earthquake upon the publication of the information which was associated with the following excerpt from an email I recently received. The information is now being verified. - but has not been so far. However it was also sent out to a number of others who will probably be the ones to actually publish the explosive and disgusting material. It will result in the effective end of a very powerful figure.

8 יְחֶזְקֵאל:

יב וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי, הֲרָאִיתָ בֶן-אָדָם, אֲשֶׁר זִקְנֵי בֵית-יִשְׂרָאֵל עֹשִׂים בַּחֹשֶׁךְ, אִישׁ בְּחַדְרֵי מַשְׂכִּיתוֹ: כִּי אֹמְרִים, אֵין יְהוָה רֹאֶה אֹתָנוּ--עָזַב יְהוָה, אֶת-הָאָרֶץ

.

יג וַיֹּאמֶר, אֵלָי: עוֹד תָּשׁוּב תִּרְאֶה תּוֹעֵבוֹת גְּדֹלוֹת, אֲשֶׁר-הֵמָּה עֹשִׂים

.

Ezekiel Chapter 8:

12 Then said He unto me: 'Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his chambers of imagery? For they say: the LORD seeth us not, the LORD hath forsaken the land.'

13 He said also unto me: 'Thou shalt again see yet greater abominations which they do.'

Deuteronomy דְּבָרִים 1:17

לֹא תָגוּרוּ מִפְּנֵי-אִישׁ, כִּי הַמִּשְׁפָּט לֵאלֹהִים הוּא

Be not afraid of the face of any man; for Judgment is God's

B'ezrat Hashem Yitbarach

24 Kislev 5770
"For out of Zion shall go forth Torah, and word of Hashem from Yerushalayim" 

A group of G-d-fearing individuals called Ezekiel 8:13 wishes to draw your attention to the following:

100 year old active molester released from jail

MSNBC

Everything that pedophile Theodore Sypnier has to show for his 100 years on Earth is packed in a single duffel bag as he prepares to begin a new chapter in life: freedom.

It's a chapter that prosecutors, judges and others who know him never wanted — or expected — to see written.

New York's oldest registered sex offender is scheduled to move by week's end out of a Buffalo halfway house for released inmates and into a place of his own, after completing his latest term in state prison for molesting little girls.

The judge who sentenced him said at the time that she expected him to die behind bars.[...]

Conservative Judaism - Increasingly irrelevant

Haaretz

Some of Conservative Judaism's top leaders found little to criticize within their own movement when they gathered together December 7 for a panel discussion on the future direction of their troubled denomination.

The plenary forum at the biennial convention of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism saw one panelist tout renewed involvement by rabbinic spouses in congregational life as a crucial tonic. Another lamented that the movement's "detractors" failed to recognize Conservative Judaism's far-reaching and vital role in Jewish life. Yet another acknowledged generically that the movement had "failed to live up to our own best ideals," but did not specify how.

Meanwhile, the chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary - traditionally seen as Conservative Judaism's titular leader - was nowhere to be seen on the dais or even in the audience. Though spotted having dinner just minutes earlier with USCJ?s new executive vice president, Rabbi Steven Wernick, who served as a panelist, it was announced from the podium that Chancellor Arnold Eisen had been invited to participate but was "unable" to make it. JTS spokeswoman Sherry Kirschenbaum did not deny a report that Eisen declined to take part in the panel because he wanted, but was denied, the role of moderator.[...]

Fire: Chanukah safety rules

Maccabee Aish Jewish Fire Prevention

Menorah Safety

    * Don't leave Chanukah candles unattended and never go to sleep while Chanukah candles are burning
    * Place the Menorah on a sturdy heat resistant surface away from anything that can catch fire including walls, curtains, cabinets, wooden and plastic tables, tablecloths, etc
    * Light candles out of childrens reach and where they cannot be knocked over
    * Keep surfaces and surrounding areas clear from burned matches, wick trimmings, oil residue, and other debris
    * Do not light "school project" Menorahs made from materials that can burn (wood, plastic, etc)

When Cooking Latkes

    * Keep small children away from hot oil and cooking areas
    * Keep pot handles turned inward and away from the edge of the stove
    * Keep hands, hair and sleeves away from open flame
    * Use extra caution when carrying hot food around children
    * Designate ovens, stoves, and heat containing appliances as a "NO GO ZONE" for children
    * Never put water on a grease fire, use a fire extinguisher and call the Fire Dept amergency number
    * Treat burns immediately by cooling with cool water and call your emergency number

Obama's EEOC Nominee is gay rights advocate

FOX

President Obama's controversial nominee for the EEOC, Chai Feldblum, has not been shy about her plans to fight for gay rights -- a position that is now is drawing sharp criticism.

President Obama's controversial nominee for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Chai Feldblum, has not been shy about her plans to fight for gay rights -- a position that is now is drawing sharp criticism.

"She's been an aggressive advocate for some of the most radical views that have ever been expressed," said Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America.[...]

Lashon harah:Permitted about wife?

Chofetz Chaim(Hilchos Lashon Harah 8:2):… it is prohibited to speak lashon harah about both men and women and there is no difference whether it is about his wife or any other woman. However many err in this matter due to our many sins and they think it is permitted to speak lashon harah about one’s wife and in‑laws before his own family. In fact this distinction has absolutely no significance in halacha and it is prohibited to speak lashon harah about her no matter how a she is related to you. In fact, just as with others, it is prohibited to speak lashon harah unless it is clearly needed for a future benefit and is not said just to degrade her. Furthermore even when it is permitted it is prohibited to mix in false statements. In fact the laws that govern the conditions for speaking lashon harah about one’s wife are the same as other people and are detailed later in section 10:13.

חפץ חיים (הלכות אסורי לשון הרע ח:ב): ... אסור לשון הרע הוא בין על איש או אשה, ואין חלוק (ד) בין אשתו לאשה אחרת, ורבים נכשלין בזה, בעונותינו הרבים, שהתר בעיניהם לספר גנות על אשתו ובית חותנו לפני אחיו ובית אביו, ומדינא אין שום נפקא מנה בזה, אם לא שהוא מכון בזה לתועלת על להבא ולא לגנותם, וגם לא יערב בדבריו שום שקר, וכל דינו הוא כפי מה שמבאר לקמן בכלל י' מסעיף י"ג ואילך, עין שם:

Reporter fired for anti-gay marriage e-mail

Fox News

A seasoned reporter who says he was the "conservative wolf" in his Maine newsroom claims he was wrongfully fired after he wrote a harshly critical personal e-mail to a group that supports gay marriage.

Larry Grard, 58, was fired from the Morning Sentinel in Waterville, Maine on Nov. 10, less than a week after he sent an e-mail to the Human Rights Campaign after Maine voters repealed a law that would have allowed gay couples to marry.

"This is an example of what can happen when you stand up for your beliefs," Grard told FoxNews.com. "I was the lone conservative wolf in that newsroom for years and I never said a thing because nobody agreed with me. I suppose that's what conservatives have to do today — just shut up.[...]

Chanukah:Time of tefila

Poneviz & Chabad

http://www.bhol.co.il/news_read.asp?id=13973&cat_id=2 <http://www.bhol.co.il/news_read.asp?id=13973&cat_id=2>


http://www.bhol.co.il/news_read.asp?id=14001&cat_id=1 <http://www.bhol.co.il/news_read.asp?id=14001&cat_id=1>

Rav Sternbuch:Encounters with Eisav

Banning the Chareidi Internet sites

Haredim

סערה של ממש מתרגשת על עולם האינטרנט החרדי: גדולי ישראל כתבו במכתב חריף שיפורסם מחר ביומונים, כי האתרים החרדיים מכילים "שקרים וטומאה  נוראה של תועבות", והם הזהירו: לא להסתכל, לא לשתף פעולה, לא לפרסם

Haaretz

Ultra-Orthodox Internet forums are in an uproar over a harsh letter against the sites, signed by leading Haredi rabbis, that is due to be published Friday in the three Haredi daily papers.

The news, appropriately, was broken by one of the sites themselves. The site, called Haredim, reported that the rabbis had denounced the sites as containing "lies and terrible impurity" and instructed all Haredim "not to look, not to cooperate, not to advertise."

Officially, the site managers all told Haaretz that if so ordered by the rabbis, they would shut down.

Justice:Harvard Prof Sandel #8

Inside Bangkoks Chabad house

CNN

Free Internet, free dinner with red wine on Friday nights and help arranging a hotel in Thailand are some of the delights available in Bangkok’s Chabad House near the backpacker-thronged neighborhood of Khao San Road.

But first, the hosts want to know if you are Jewish.

A stout Israeli security guard will demand to examine your passport -- "do you have an Israeli visa?" -- scoff at any plastic identification you may offer and interrogate you in English and Hebrew.[...]

Lashon harah against troublemakers and whistleblowers

It is important to remember that lashon harah is a two edged sword. On the one hand it has the ability to destroy the innocent and kill society. But on the other hand it is a legitimate weapon for society to use to destroy and delegitimitize those who are designated trouble makers or deviants or bad influences. The obvious problem is who decides that it is permitted to destroy another person's reputation for the well being of society? What safeguards and what recourse does a person  have who has been designated for destruction? Is a person who reports child abuse to the police a legitimate target for destruction by lashon harah? Are authorities who conceal child abuse legitimate targets?

Most don't think Obama deserves Nobel Prize

YNET

No support at home or abroad. As US President Barack Obama boards a plane from Washington for the Nobel Prize ceremony that will be held on Thursday in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, some two thirds of Americans believe their president is not deserving of the prize. [...]

Abuse:Family Abductions

CNN

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• More than 200,000 incidents of family abductions occur in the U.S. each year
  
• Christine Belford's three daughters were kidnapped by their father in 2007
  
• Authorities launched a search that spanned at least four countries and several states
  
• The children were found in Nicaragua, living in a trailer with their father and grandmother [...]
  

Shavei Israel:The "Hidden Jews" in Poland

Haaretz

The Shavei Israel organization released on Monday the first Polish-language guide to the holiday of Hannukah geared toward Poles who have only recently discovered their Jewish roots.

Lights for Polish Jewry will be circulated for free during the week of the Jewish holiday throughout Poland.

According to Michael Freund, chairman and founder of the outreach organization,the reason for the sudden publication of the guide is due to the fact that many Poles have of late leared that they are "hidden Jews" and wish to reconnect with the traditions they know little about.

"In recent years, an increasing number of Poles have rediscovered their Jewish ancestry, seeking to reclaim the precious heritage that was so brutally taken from them and their forebears," he said.[...]