I thought I'd get this in before Elul - Pretty corny I must admit!
 |
| In an undated photo - UOJ training for the rabbinate |
Internet Billionaire Bloggers - The Semi-Jewish Press - Bombay Edition - By Nisht Emes - Contributing Editors - Nisht Geshtogen & Nisht Geflogen
When a billionaire wants a soapbox, he has plenty of options.
He could found his own television network, like Ted Turner did with CNN. Maybe buy a magazine, taking a page from Mort Zuckerman, who bought U.S. News & World Report. Or just go for an old-fashioned newspaper in a nod to Rupert Murdoch, who recently paid $5.6 billion to add The Wall Street Journal to his media empire.
But a few of the world's wealthiest have opted for a decidedly less costly option. One is activist investor Carl Icahn, who has recently been waging very public battles with Yahoo! and a handful of other companies. Another is Ross Perot, a fellow billionaire probably best known for his surprisingly strong 1992 bid to become U.S. President.
UOJ's fortune is a closely guarded secret that - he discloses to no one - for he believes most of the rabbis in the world will be hanging out at his place of business, and a host of other undesirables. He is not very fond of most rabbis, and makes no secret about it. UOJ is a recluse, making it very difficult to get a current photo. The above photo was taken by a former yeshiva classmate - before UOJ was dragged off to the principal's office. He obviously was on to something at a very young age.
In March, Forbes estimated Icahn's fortune at $14 billion and Perot's at $4.3 billion. That's more than enough for each to buy any newspaper, magazine or TV channel, but those bring the pesky issue of editorial independence, and it's clear both Icahn and Perot are interested in editorializing.
At PerotCharts.com, Perot takes up a familiar cause: the ballooning federal deficit. Balancing the budget was a central plank in his run for the White House. He says the problem is only getting worse, and the U.S. is now facing its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
Icahn also wants to point out a problem facing the country at IcahnReport.com. On his site, he's railing against corporate abuses in America.
Not surprisingly, some of the abuses Icahn decries are corporate practices that hinder his investing methods. In posts, he attacks the practice of staggered boards, which makes it more difficult for activist investors like Icahn to gain control of a company.
He also rails against so-called "poison-pill" measures, which many publicly traded companies adopt to limit the number of shares any one shareholder can buy. Last year, Icahn built up a 14.6% stake in homebuilder WCI Communities; the board of the homebuilder responded by adopting a provision that would kick in when a shareholder acquired more than 15% of the company's stock.
Blogging billionaires aren't new. UOJ has broken the back of the vastly corrupt Orthodox Jewish establishment, and exposed rampant child sexual abuse by rabbis; although the Agudath Israel, Rabbi Mattisyahu Salomon from New Jersey, and Marvin Schick Esq. - an officer of the court ---- who took an oath to uphold the laws of the United States - vehemently deny that there is a child sex-abuse problem among rabbis; --- "theunorthodoxjew.blogspot.com." Mark Cuban has been writing regularly on BlogMaverick.com since 2004. Pierre Omidyar has a blog and Twitter feed at pmo.vox.com.
Of course, these men have the Web to thank for their billions. Omidyar, 40 and worth $7.7 billion, founded online auction site eBay. Cuban, 49 and worth $2.6 billion, launched a Web audio and video portal he sold to Yahoo for billions; but UOJ refuses to disclose how many billions he made through his blog.
Other billionaires have taken a more measured pace to getting out their messages: Warren Buffet is famous for his annual newsletter to shareholders--that's not exactly a 140-character Tweet. Bill Gates has penned books and newspaper columns.
A blogging Icahn and Perot are a jolt, though. They are part of a different generation of billionaires from which you wouldn't expect as much Web savvy. Perot, 77, made his money in computer services long before the rise of the Internet. Icahn, 72, accumulated his fortune by buying into troubled companies and agitating for turnarounds.
Despite that, early indications are that they're not having any difficulty garnering readers or attention. Their prominence, success, and billions of dollars are instantly granting them an audience curious to hear their two cents.
USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, the New York Post, and plenty of other traditional print media outlets covered the unveiling of the Icahn blog. Ross Perot's only post so far, which is merely a press release announcing the Web site, has received 75 comments in the few days it has been up.
The Jewish Press, run by descendants of Albert Einstein, has contributed greatly to UOJ's notoriety, and claims on an average day, there are thousands of hits on his blog (on Shabbos that number falls to about 8,000.)
UOJ, Icahn and Perot have got something to say. It looks like plenty will listen. And they only had to pay for some Web hosting.
78 comments:
Dude, UOJ
You do great work and all and may the Almighty bless you for your truth, but you are not batman... and if you are than alot more makes sense! When you feel that the environment is ripe you should make your appearance, but don't do it in haste for guarding your health and safety is of primary importance.But please with the whole batman, superhero/business mogul thing- its cheesy. Thanks and keep up the good work!!
But please with the whole batman, superhero/business mogul thing- its cheesy-
------------------
I've been told that before.
Science of becoming Batman
Posted by David Pescovitz, July 15, 2008 12:24 PM | permalink
E. Paul Zehr has a book coming out in October called Becoming Batman:
The Possibility of A Superhero, about the physical and mental training one would need to become a superhero without any supernatural powers. Zehr, a professor of kinesiology and neuroscience at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, is also a karate expert. Over at Scientific American, JR Minkel interviews Zehr about how one might train as the Dark Knight. From SciAm:
What's most plausible about portrayals of Batman's skills? You could train somebody to be a tremendous athlete and to have a significant martial arts background, and also to use some of the gear that he has, which requires a lot of physical prowess. Most of what you see there is feasible to the extent that somebody could be trained to that extreme. We're seeing that kind of thing in less than a month in the Olympics.
What's less realistic? A great example is in the movies where Batman is fighting multiple opponents and all of a sudden he's taking on 10 people.
If you just estimate how fast somebody could punch and kick, and how many times you could hit one person in a second, you wind up with numbers like five or six. This doesn't mean you could fight four or five people. But it's also hard for four or five people to simultaneously attack somebody, because they get in each other's way. More realistic is a couple of attackers
Read this very carefully! The FDIC lost more than 10% of their reserves -($4-$8 billion loss - they claim --- I'll bet it's double)...with one bank failure. There are 90 banks on their watchlist. Get your brain wrapped around the danger we're in!
-----------------------------------
What if my bank fails? Some questions and answers
Monday July 14, 6:29 pm ET
By Ieva M. Augstums, AP Business Writer
Could what happened at IndyMac Bank happen to my bank? Some questions and answers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The government's seizure of IndyMac Bank raises concerns for many consumers about whether their banks might be next.
While it is unlikely the nation will see thousands of banks fail as they did during the savings and loan industry collapse in the late 1980s and early '90s, analysts predict there will be more battered financial institutions that are unable to survive in today's marketplace.
"IndyMac's failure is certainly a broader issue," said Eva Weber, an analyst at Aite Group, a financial services research firm. "Those who are trenched in more risky business, who are feeling more heavy losses, may be at more risk."
On Friday, the Office of Thrift Supervision transferred control of the California lender to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. because it did not think IndyMac could meet its depositors' demands. By Monday, the bank reopened as IndyMac Federal Bank, FSB, and customers whose deposits were insured by the FDIC were able to access full banking services, including online banking, during normal business hours.
IndyMac, like many of the nation's banks, was facing pressures of tighter credit, tumbling home prices and rising foreclosures. In recent weeks it had experienced a run on the bank, with depositors pulling out $100 million a day.
Here are some questions and answers about the government's role when a bank fails and if other banks are at risk:
Q: Why did the government seize IndyMac's assets?
A: Regulators closed IndyMac after customers began a run on the lender following the June 26 release of a letter by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., urging several bank regulatory agencies that they take steps to prevent IndyMac's collapse. In the 11 days that followed the letter's release, depositors took out more than $1.3 billion, regulators said.
In a statement Friday, Schumer said IndyMac's failure was due to long-standing practices by the bank, not recent events. And on Sunday, he noted that IndyMac was more heavily involved in originating riskier mortgages than traditional community and regional banks, which weakened the bank's finances.
The financial institution spent the last two weeks trying to reassure customers that it was not near default, including announcing that it had stopped accepting new loan submissions and planned to slash 3,800 jobs, or more than half of its work force.
Q: What happens when the government takes over a bank?
A: In such a scenario, called a conservatorship, a bank's regulator takes control of the company and oversees their operations. The move is to maximize the value of the institution for a future sale and to maintain banking services in the communities formerly served by the bank.
Q: Is my bank at risk?
A: John Bovenzi, the former chief operating officer of the FDIC put in charge of IndyMac, reassured consumers late Sunday that bank failures have been rare in the past, and that if more banks do fail, the government has enough in reserve. According to regulatory policy, there is no advance notice given to the public before a bank's assets are seized by federal regulators.
"I think the important point to make is that, historically, only a very small percentage of the banks on our problem banks list ever failed," Bovenzi said on CNN. "While there are 90 banks on the list, there would be no expectation that 90 of those banks would fail."
According to the FDIC, IndyMac is the fifth U.S. bank or thrift that has failed this year. In 2007, only three financial institutions failed, a small number when compared to the 2,808 institutions that failed between 1982 and 1992.
Q: How can I make sure my money is safe?
A: All deposit accounts worth $100,000 and less are automatically insured by the FDIC. Many retirement accounts, such as IRAs and 401(k)s, are insured to $250,000 per person. But since it's a person's aggregate deposits, and not their individual accounts, that are insured, any amounts over $100,000 deposited at any one bank are not covered.
In a joint account, each depositor is insured up to $100,000.
The FDIC has information about its insurance on its Web site, at http://www.fdic.gov/deposit/deposits/insured/yid.pdf.
While keeping more than the limit at any bank means taking a chance, the risks can be bigger with smaller companies, provided they're heavily exposed to mortgage and other debt during the current downturn.
"Consumers may want to pick an institution that has a substantial brand," Weber said. "But you don't necessarily want to run to a big bank because you think a smaller bank is going to fail."
Q: How much money does the FDIC have?
A: The FDIC has nearly $53 billion in insurance funds. Beyond that figure, Bovenzi said the FDIC would have go to other banks to raise more money, adding that in such a case, consumers could expect to see some of that amount passed on to them in the form of higher fees.
The current estimated loss to the FDIC resulting from IndyMac's failure is between $4 billion and $8 billion.
Q: How big does FDIC like to keep its deposit insurance fund?
A: The FDIC board of directors has set a Designated Reserve Ratio of 1.25 percent. That means their "target" balance for the fund is 1.25 percent of estimated insured deposits. As of March 31, the fund was $52.843 billion and insured deposits were $4.431 trillion, which resulted in a reserve ratio of 1.19 percent, 0.06 percentage point below the Board's target. If the fund falls below 1.15 percent of estimated insured deposits, the FDIC is required by law to adopt a restoration plan that will bring the reserve ratio back to 1.15 percent within five years.
Q: Do banks have to pay into the deposit insurance fund?
A: Yes. The total amount depends upon the assessment rate assigned to the institution and the size of their assessment base -- which is roughly equal to an institution's total domestic deposits. Assessment rates are assigned to institutions based upon the risk they pose to the fund, and currently range from 0.05 percent to 0.43 percent, with the vast majority of institutions -- almost 94 percent -- paying between 0.05 percent and 0.07 percent.
Q: Does the government's decision to aide Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac help the nation's banks?
A: Tony Plath, an associate professor of finance at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, says yes. "As mortgage money becomes harder to get and real estate prices go down even more, the solvency of many banks is called into question," Plath said. "The Fed is moving to protect the solvency of the banking industry by maintaining integrity."
Even so, the exact outcome is left to be seen, Weber said.
"One must have a bit of faith in the FDIC that they are going to be able to take care of whomever fails," she said.
Deconstructing everyone's
Hogwash
I was amazed by the fantasy that seems to substitite for reality in certain peoples minds. So a few points are in order:
Yes, it's true that Rav Shach had lots of nasty things to say about lots of yidden, including rabbonim, rebbes, and drochim. Since he's been dead a few years already, and whatever influence his hate may have had is fading, why don't we leave him alone in the 'olam hoemes' to deal with these issues quietly. He may have had good intentions in attacking everybody, but it's clear that this was and is NOT the derech hatorah as taught by our gedolim. Was the Chofetz Chaim any less of a kanoie for torah than R' Shach ?! Of course not. Could anybody even imagine the CC attacking other jews like RS ? The same goes for the Chazon Ish. He was famous for his kanous in his derech and shittos. Did he go around screaming that those who printed a sefer he didn't hold of could never do teshuvah ?! The same goes for R' Chaim Oizer, R' Chaim Brisker, R' Chaim Volozhiner, and the many true gedolim of the last generations. When we try to defend behaviour that so clearly violates Torah, we only cheapen ourselves to look like fools. Many gedolim didn't hold of R'YB Soloveichik's derech either. Did they call him a kofer and continue to fight him after his passing ?!! THIS is torah ?!
R' Shach was elevated to 'godol' status by a political apparatus terrorizing the yeshivish-velt who used him for their narrow political agendas. Do you really think that our bochurim shteighing in learning today- our future gedolim- do you really think they won't realize that the Avi Ezri is really just a mediocre collection of biurim that never was and never will be a real classic ? How stupid do you think our children are ? The haskama from the Brisker Rov proves nothing at all. For starters, the Griz gave the haskama ONLY on condition that it be printed in the sefer, so why isn't it printed in any Avi Ezri in my yeshiva's library ? Then, for anyone bothering to read through the various hakdamas to the Avi Ezri's different editions, it becomes clear that either 1)much of it was written by different people, or 2) R' Shach was a severe schizophrenic. Go into Chevron today, into R'Dovids, into the Mir, into Merkaz Harav, into any major yeshiva, and find me even one where the Avi Ezri is a major focus. The sefer is a non-event, period. And for those fools who STILL claim the Brisker Rov supported R'Shach, learn some history. R' Velvil held that it's forbidden to take any money from the medina to support the yeshivos, and that a frumer yid should not be involved with them in any way. He was furious at R' Shach for going against the derech hatorah on this, and called any money that came to the yeshivos through this as a mitzva-habo-be'avera. My own uncle was in R' Velvil zlt's yeshiva at the time, and heard from R'Velvils OWN MOUTH- "er vill mishen tumos mit taharos, vos hot er, a nayer toireh". It's well known that for this reason, even though the Griz had held of R' Shach earlier on, he later distanced him and in his last few years was quite cold to him.
Our gedolim wre not baalei-loshon hora, they were not mechrchei riv, they did NOT wage war against other derochim, they merely focused on their own. In fact, they had derech-eretz for other geonim, and didn't make sinas chinam a new 'derech'.
Cholent Fresser,
What is your point and what is your purpose here? You and "Arthur" (if the two of you are not one and the same) have been spamming this blog with repeat posts attacking the late Rav Schach zt"l. Where did this discussion start? Did UOJ post anything about Rav Schach? Did anyone write anything for or against him before the you started your spamming? You claim that "Avi Ezri" is a "non-event". I suggest that you, Cholent Fresser, are the ultimate non-event and are totally irrelevant, both in the real world and in the blogosphere. Now go crawl back into the hole you came out of. Sheesh, maniacs all over the joint (with apologies to Ralph Kramden).
Cheating husband is Yossi Kleinman-was living in Bayswater. He was a
"rebbe" in some kiruv school. He lost his job once someone informed
the school of his doings.
The girl he was cheating with was also working in the same school. Supposedly they both called in sick on the same days and spent time together.
His father is a bigshot At The Agudah and with one of the kiruv organizations dunno which one-lives on Bedford Ave in
Flatbush-owns "The Americare companies"http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5761/behar/adinner.htm
The lady he was cheating with her name is Effy Saftlas nee Kariti from Staten Island.
I'm starting to wonder if der Cholent Fresser is one of the crazy kanoyim who learned by R' Berel or their sons.
These nuts drey a kop tzu machen shuldiks every talmid chochom who they are choshesh did not follow the Rov's shitos to a tee. Rav Elyashev is also on their hit list and they have very nasty things to say about him. There is of course another motivation they have because Rav Schach held that all the Soloveitchiks after the Rov are a bunch of letzonim. There happen to be a lot of other choshuva misnagdim of Brisk like R' Chaim Epstein.
One of these jerks who lives in NY has a shmootziga background himself. His father was arrested for fraud and he is friends with some well known bandittin like Belsky.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/community/news/winterpark/orl-rachels1408jul14,0,1497322.story
Brothers Jim and Charlie Veigle worked together for 25 years building Rachel's, a chain of three high-class strip clubs in Florida.
They fought off anti-porn activists, government regulators, even prosecutors who arrested Jim on racketeering charges and tried to close the clubs.
Through it all, they stood side by side and survived.
Not anymore. Today, they are enemies. They have sued each other at least six times in the past two years, each accusing the other of cheating on deal after deal.
"They used to be very, very, very, very close," said Mike Pinter, former owner of Club Juana, a legendary strip club that was a half-mile from Rachel's North in Casselberry, the first of the three Rachel's clubs opened by the Veigles. "I feel bad for them. They're both nice guys."
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-me-andydick17-2008jul17,0,662378.story
By David Kelly, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
July 17, 2008
Actor and comedian Andy Dick, who has a history of run-ins with the law, was arrested early Wednesday outside a Murrieta restaurant on suspicion of sexual battery and drug possession.
http://chronicle.com/review/brainstorm/index.php?id=649
Pesach Lubinsky, a Postdoc in Botany and Plant Sciences at UC Riverside and former member of UAW 2865, the Union that represents Academic Student Employees at the University of California, said, “I’m glad we’ll be part of the same Union that already represents 12,000 Academic Student Employees at UC.
http://thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c41_a12932/News/Short_Takes.html
A P.R. Nightmare
by Stewart Ain
A large New York public relations company that represents Agriprocessors, the embattled giant kosher slaughterhouse, could use some positive p.r. of its own this week.
5W Public Relations, which also represents Pastor John Hagee and several right-wing Israeli groups, gained unwanted notoriety for itself with its admission that it posted fraudulent messages on the Internet to promote Agriprocessors.
In a statement, Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5W Public Relations, admitted that a “senior staff member” wrote the bogus messages and that steps were taken to “ensure this cannot happen again.” He declined to be interviewed.
The senior staff member who handled the Agriprocessors account is Juda Engelmayer, from whose apartment fake e-mails were sent, according to reports. He did not return phone calls.
One of the messages was written in the name of Rabbi Morris Allen of Minnesota, director of the Conservative movement’s new Heksher Tzedek commission, which seeks to create an ethical certification process for kosher food. Rabbi Allen, who was critical of working conditions at Agriprocessors, was quoted in one of the messages as saying that efforts to see changes made at Agriprocessors is a “cause” that drives the commission.
Agriprocessors was raided by federal authorities on May 12. A total of 389 of its workers were detained for immigration violations; 300 of them were charged with criminal violations.
Rabbi Allen said in an interview that he did not write the message and that he was told that other bogus messages were posted on at least two other Web sites.
“It’s unconscionable that people think the way to address a problem is to steal someone’s identity and to defame people and speak ill of people,” Rabbi Allen said. “I want a formal public apology and for them to cease and desist their attack on Conservative Jews [with their argument] that we don’t care about kosher food,” he added.
The commission’s lawyer, Stephen Durchslag of Chicago, said misrepresenting his client and making fraudulent representations to the public is something “we consider very serious.”
He said his firm had not decided whether criminal laws were broken or whether this matter should be referred to state or federal authorities. In the meantime, Durchslag said “a letter will go out shortly [to Torossian] asking the motivation” behind the fraudulent messages.
“I don’t have a clear idea of what their position is,” he said. “We are asking for a retraction, for them to reveal who sent the messages, where they were sent and for how long.”
The bogus messages were brought to light through a blog, FailedMessiah.com, and The Forward.
Torossian, a former student activist for Jewish causes, has a reputation in the field for being aggressive in his practices.
At press time, Agriprocessors said they were still being represented by the 5W firm.
http://gawker.com/tag/public-relations/?i=397466&t=how-to-write-a-press-release-that-doesnt-suck
5WPR: Ha, that's a little play on words on our part. It means that PR people should put the five W's into their press release right up top: "Who, what, when, where, and why." It also will help you remember not to act like the actual Ronn [sic] Torossian-led agency called 5WPR, in which the five W's stand for "What? Whoa. Wow. Who would" ever hire this incompetent PR firm?
I'm glad to see that Rubashkin's boy, Ronn Torossian, is representing Joe Francis from Girls Gone Wild. He used to employ my zona from the Mayflower Hotel.
http://www.gambling911.com/Wynn-Sues-Girls-Gone-Wild-070208.html
Wynn Las Vegas Casino first went after NBA star Charles Barkley for a gambling debt, then - just the other day - they announced a lawsuit against the NBA itself. On Tuesday, Wynn decided that wasn't enough. Now comes word Wynn is suing Girls Gone Wild and its controversial founder, Joe Francis.
The suit contends that Francis owes $2 mil in gambling debts from last February.
Francis spokesman Ronn Torossian said Tuesday that the man who built the soft porn empire already had satisfied his debt to the Wynn Las Vegas casino through "prior agreements."
He's moonlighting at Swift now that Rubashkin is at only 10% capacity.
http://www.startribune.com/local/25544024.html?location_refer=Local%20+%20Metro
Hundreds of hogs waited in the heat while the kill floor at JBS Swift & Co. in Worthington was temporarily shut down.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture representative said its inspection services at the plant were suspended for about 14 hours because of a humane-handling violation.
Truckers were angry their hogs had to wait in the 90-degree heat. Swift employees sprayed water on the hogs to try to keep them cool.
To Steve
I find that most of the blogger's here are not addressing issues that were brought up by UOJ or any one else but bring up issues about certain perceived iniquities.I perceive the fact that people like you have made a getchke out of a man who was a Talmid chochom but nothing more.
It's your right to disagree as it is my right to post that which I please to as long as it's acceptable to UOJ.You find it disagreeable? Don't read it.
As to me being Arthur,not in this world.
Just one question why are you and Deconstructing the only ones that have problems with my "spam" about Rav Shach?
FIND OUT WHO WAS MISSING IN THE ROTTENBERGS SHUL ON TUES AND WEDS
HIS WIFE IS ONE OF THOSE THAT COME FOR HAVDALA TO SHUL BECAUSE THE HUSBANDS ARE ALREADY ON THE WAY TO THE CASINOS OR CLUBS
WATCH YOUR CHILDREN CAREFULLY IN THE SHUL
ARE YOU AWARE ABOUT ROTTENBERG
i dont know about the molesters but his mizrach wall rivals frankels for convicted felons
maybe they fight over who gets the bigger crooks
He feels laws dont apply to him
he lost the shul school fight to convert the building
his school was closed down for fire code violations
city buses pick up his children for school thru grade 10
why dont the feds just stop and check the buses
then the will know what a fraud he is while he claims only till 6 years old
always a lier that rottenberg
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080716223606.okp0nvxp&show_article=1
A company that owns 11 McDonald's restaurants in Nevada was fined one million dollars Wednesday after pleading guilty to employing 58 illegal immigrants.
The company, Mack Associates Inc., knew the employees were illegal immigrants and had offered them names and social security numbers belonging to other people, the US Justice Department said.
The company pleaded guilty in federal court in Las Vegas to conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien's unlawful residence in the United States and aiding and abetting an alien to remain in the country, the department said.
The company's director of operations also pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting an alien to remain in the country.
And the former vice president of Mack Associates pleaded guilty to inducing an illegal alien to remain in the United States and faces a possible sentence of up to five years in prison and a 250,000 dollar five.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Juda_Engelmayer/526147941
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPATD481926&id=aTQPAAAAEBAJ&dq=D481926
He's listed as a manufacturer because he holds a patent on a plate for mounting telephones on the wall.
http://www.manufacturereviews.com/local/663410.html
Detailed information on Juda Engelmayer
Address: 367 Grand St.
City: New York
State: NY
Zip: 10002
County: New York
Phone: 212-473-4810
Fax: 212-253-2146
Steve
It's ironic that on a blog where alleged gedolim are ripped apart,and rightfully so, on a hourly basis are you so concerned about Maran.
Oh,and is it possible that you and Deconstructing are one and the same?
Brisker
Sorry to disappoint , but I am not a kanoi or talmid of of Reb Berel or his sons.Not even close.
One post is enough. You don't need to copy and paste the same nonsense. "Arthur" already posted the list of quotes attributed to Rav Schach zt"l. There is no need for you to rehash and repost those comments, and your own comments which you reposted on this thread.
Regarding your claim that "alleged gedolim are ripped apart" here, those are the living ones that are steeped in fraud and corruption, that are destroying yiddishe neshamos. I know what your problem is with Rav Schach, it's all about your Rebbe. Why can't you let both of them rest in peace in the olam haemes? As far as I'm concerned, they were both tzaddikim gemurim. Your arguments and posts may have been relevant in 1988, not in 2008. Rabbi Schneerson is dead, may Hashem rest his soul. He's been dead for fourteen years now. Get over it already. He's not coming back as the mashiach. That is a fact. Chabad messianism is not, never was, and never will be, Judaism. Rav Elyashiv is 100% correct to passel their shechita, their wines and their matzos. This cult must be exposed for the fraud and destruction that it has wrought and must be disbanded immediately before it claims more victims. It is borderline avoda zara, and in some parts of the cult, it is mamash avoda zara. This is not my opinion, this is fact. The sooner you and your ilk face reality, the better off you and the rest of klal yisroel will be.
Steve
I take Umbrage and feel high;y insulted that that you accuse me of being "cholentfresser".LOL.The only thing we have in common is our dislike for Marnan.
He does not seem to be a Lubavitcher, while I am a proud,card carrying member of that "vile and useless sect of Lubavidcher Chassidim" (UOJ,I just can't help it.No offense intended).
I doubt that you have read CF's posts.I think that they are to the point and well said.
I think you are suffering from Manchurian Candidate syndrome which is set of by the the word "Shach".Much to sensitive for a person posting here.As to mishichistim,sad to say ,but I agree with you.
Steve
There are a lot of things attributed to Rav Elyashiv shilita now days, much of which he never really said.I therefore am somewhat skeptical about your statement that he assured Lubavitcher shichita,wine and matzos and take it with a grain of salt.
Apparently what Rav Shach wrote in his own words for all the world to see is "nonsense",but something that Rav Elyashiv is alleged to have said is accepted by you as absolute truth.
A sad reminder in view of Wed's tragedy in Israel.See this and cry.I did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYyZ9pZE9PM
Colmer has been returned to Rikers Island!
Enlightening article in the Jerusalem Post.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215330995561&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
NEWS
Rabbonim Call on Travelers to Choose Movie-Free Flights
By Yechiel Sever
According to directives issued by maranan verabonon, the Rabbinical Transportation Committee has started to address air travel in order to allow every observant Jew concerned for his spiritual well-being and that of his family members to fly free of stumbling blocks.
Unfortunately, despite the efforts to safeguard against immodesty, the current situation on planes is highly unsatisfactory, particularly regarding in-flight movies. Airplanes that show movies on a central screen in every cabin make kosher flying nearly impossible.
Based on an inquiry, the Rabbinical Committee found that certain airlines do not screen movies at all or show only nature films, therefore these flights should be preferred since this is a case of "iko darko achrino," i.e. a suitable alternative is available.
Flights that provide individual screens should also be viewed as a preferred option since they allow passengers not to view movies at all, but the Rabbinical Committee notes that unwholesome images on nearby screens are liable to draw attention unwittingly.
In the case of airlines that show movies on a central screen the Rabbinical Committee advises travelers to avoid these flights if at all possible, and if not they should take along a folding mechitzoh, available by calling 057- 3155613.
The Rabbinical Committee recently publicized lists of flights ordered from preferred airlines to less preferred airlines, particularly since many people are already making travel arrangements for the chagim. The Rabbinical Committee also reissued an important notice by gedolei Yisroel shlita, which reads: "We have heard the outcries of bnei Yisroel, headed by the roshei yeshivos of the yeshivos kedoshos and the principals of other educational institutions, regarding the various stumbling blocks precluding proper modesty for passengers on air routes to Eretz Hakodesh, for they are exposed to immodest images in the movies screened before the Holy Nation, which despises and avoids them...
"We hereby issue an impassioned plea to all of the airlines to make arrangements for passengers to fly on their planes without stumbling blocks to tznius and kedushoh...And certainly when these arrangements are made passengers from among the Holy Nation who fear the Word of Hashem will make arrangements to fly on these approved airlines...Likewise the roshei yeshivos and seminary principals will direct their students, ensuring they use these companies that enable flying on their planes under conditions of tznius lemehadrin...
"May the activists and travel agents who assist, along with the entire public who back them in this matter be blessed, and in this merit may Hashem Yisborach, Tohor Einayim, Whose Eyes See All, Shomer Yisroel Who neither sleeps nor slumbers, guard his People, Am Yisroel, and bless His People with peace."
The call by gedolei Yisroel shlita is creating a widespread awakening on this issue and the Rabbinical Transportation Committee hopes the various airlines will try to make acceptable arrangements for the sake of all observant passengers.
NEWS
Meretz Activists Torch Eruv Posts in Kiryat Yovel
By Yechiel Sever
Residents of Jerusalem's Kiryat Yovel neighborhood were infuriated last Friday morning when the posts of the neighborhood eruv were torched by a group of Meretz activists with the backing of the officials on the board of the neighborhood's community administration. The fires also spread to a nearby canyon, leaving dozens of acres scorched. Firefighters spent several hours trying to contain the blaze.
Speaking to Yated Ne'eman reporters, eyewitnesses said, "At 9:00 am we saw a group of secular people who looked like tourists, wearing bucket hats, along with several Romanians standing together and sawing the posts of the internal neighborhood eruv at the corner of Sderot Herzl and Rechov Zangvil. We called the municipal inspector, who arrived at the site with police personnel.
"The group turned out to be Meretz activists, including a councilman representing the party, and the chairman of the community administration, who came to `provide security' for the burning of the posts. The city inspectors and the police halted the removal of the posts following a quarrel that broke out, ordering the group to leave the area."
A short time later neighborhood avreichim learned that the group of instigators had gone to the wadi to take down other eruv posts. The avreichim who went to the site saw a fire starting to spread in the wadi as a vehicle carrying the Romanians fled the scene. They took down the license plate number and called the police, who were again dispatched to the neighborhood.
Several fire trucks also arrived and spent some five hours getting the blaze under control. One phone line was melted by the flames, downing phone lines on Rechov Zangvil. Local residents joined the efforts to extinguish the fire when the flames approached Rechov Zangvil, forcing nearby residents to evacuate their homes. By about 5:30 p.m. firefighters had managed to contain the blaze.
Neighborhood residents filed a police complaint and Jerusalem Police say they are investigating the case.
Deputy Mayor Rabbi Uri Maklev, who received real-time updates, said, "This incident is another instance in a series of deliberate acts of incitement by political figures trying to foment anti-religious provocation in preparation for the elections, especially in these areas. The political figures involved in these actions are known to us, but we won't be deterred and in the final analysis destroying the eruv poles merely strengthens our resolve and unites the residents, as has already been demonstrated in other neighborhoods, while weakening the side of the instigators."
Rabbi Maklev said, "We plan to see to it that the perpetrators of this grave act be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and especially those who receive salaries from the Matnasim [the company that funds community centers] and public bodies, while waging anti-religious wars."
Flash !!!
I just spoke with one of my closest friends. He told me that he was sitting in the sefardishe shul (he went there to daven mincha) in borough park today and spoke with one of the major askonim in the community.
This askan told my friend that 20 years ago he was in a private meeting with the moetzes gedolei hatorah regarding torah umsorah. He brought up the topic of kolko and yeshiva torah temmimah.
The novominsker rebbe waved his hand at him and SHOUTED "torah is being built up in america and you want to destroy it " (exact quote)
The askan who is a very good man was devastated.
UOJ, Keep up the good work. We were duped all these years. These Ra- Bonim are nothing but vantzen (bedbugs).
I've been working on some posts after reading a book on the philosophy of history this summer, by a german 19th century writer. This second post in this series that I just wrote may or may not be something like what you're looking for for the UOJ Group. I know you're busy, but if you'd like to glance over it I can re-post it to UOJ Group if you think it's ok. You can suggest modifications for your audience if you like, also.
http://shalomhabayit.blogspot.com/2008/07/decline-of-west-continued.html
Shalom.
Malach:
Yes - the man is a legend; foresight, clarity of thought, vision, sense of purpose, a giant among giants, a leader of leaders, infinite chachma, daas Torah, binat h'adam...nobody to blame but ourselves - because we keep him/them there, when he should be a toilet-cleaner at Rubashkin!
Chaval - thanks
Ahavah:
Great writing. Please put it up on "UOJGROUP.BLOGSPOT.COM"
It's not for the average "guy" - but many of us are not average.
We need to hear from you more often, please.
UOJ
California's median home price plummets in June
From the Associated Press
2:24 PM PDT, July 17, 2008
Housing data show the median price of a home in California plummeted 31.5 percent in June compared with the same month last year.
DataQuick Information Systems says in a report released today the statewide median home price last month was $328,000. The statewide median home price peaked in May 2007 at $484,000.
The decline is being driven by tightening mortgage markets and a growing willingness by sellers to accept less for their homes, as well as a surge in sales of discounted foreclosed properties.
The firm says a total of 35,202 homes were sold statewide in June, down nearly 8.1 percent from a year earlier.
About 41.9 percent of the resold homes in June were foreclosed properties.
Gotta laugh at this one.
--you guys know anyone?
>
>
>
> Shidduch Resume
>
>
>
> Bracha Leah Stern
> 11 Kew Gardens
> Lakewood, New Jersey
> 732-363-6214
>
>
>
> Summary and Personal
>
> Date of Birth: 3-4-1989
>
> Yichus: Father is a yeshiva educated day trader who learns
> two daily sedarim
> in BMG; has been previously investigated by FBI for fraud
> but never did any
> jail time; big baal tzedaka who has been honored by BMG
> twice; mother is a
> retired BY teacher; youngest child with four brothers and
> 11 sisters all
> living off of the Lakewood General Fund and mechutanim from
> Brooklyn; other
> pedigree relatively clean, except for a 4th cousin, once
> removed who
> attended YU and is now a successful Ophthalmologist in
> Teaneck
>
> Parents looking for: solid learner from Brisk or Lakewood
> with neither a
> history of college nor foreseeable parnassa plans who will
> sit in Kollel
> indefinitely; she is looking for the same; father willing
> to support 10
> years @$75k per year, pending no stays in Otisville
>
> Appearance: dark hair with standard BY hairstyle;
> 5'4" with dress Size 2
> (Mother's size after her seventh child: Size 8
>
> Shadchan: Mrs. Goldberg of Lakewood (25% commission)
>
> Dating History: has gone out a few times with no measurable
> success;
> feedback from Mrs. Goldberg points to her having the
> charisma of a carrot
>
> Photo: yearbook picture available if requested through
> Torah channels
>
> Education
>
> K-12: Bais Yaakov of Lakewood
>
> Seminary: BJJ
>
> Post-Seminary: Online program to obtain teaching
> certificate from Torah
> Umesorah
>
> Work Experience
>
> 1996-1998: Counselor in several backyard camps in Brooklyn
> and Lakewood
>
> 2006-2008: Teacher's aide in BY of Lakewood
>
> Hanhagos and Opinions Checklist (Based on Interview with
> Shadchan)
>
> Tehillim: completes Sefer once a week while standing in
> line at Jewish
> stores
>
> Mother's use of Sabbath Mode oven: not any more
>
> Posek: Rav C. Kanievsky or Rav Elyashiv if his line is
> busy
>
> Internet: only with Torahnet filter on Tati's business
> computer
>
> Use of a community Eruv: never (she's looking for a
> Brisker, remember?!)
>
> Indian Hair Sheitels: only if on sale
>
> Seat Belt Use: No, unless pulled over by a female Police
> Officer
>
> Hobbies: reading Artscroll biographies, Yated, Hamodia, and
> Mishpacha;
> challah baking; asking shailos to Gedolim about her
> shidduch difficulties
>
> Her Preferred Dating Venue: Airport lounges without visible
> TV monitors
>
> Boys She Would Not Date: guys without BTEP
> (behind-the-ear-peyos), BT's,
> OTD's who have straightened out; guys whose Rabbeim
> believe that the
> Universe may be older than 5768 years old; guys who read
> Making of a Gadol
> or any of Slifkin's books
>
> Ideal Wedding: Chossen and Kallah adopt demeanor combining
> themes of Tisha
> B'Av and Yom Kippur; eyes-closed Tehillim throughout
> ceremony; kibbudim
> called up in Yiddish; separate everything including parking
> areas; Simchas
> Chossen V'Kallah at 10:30 PM; no Onlysimchas posting
>
> Shabbos Table: White table cloth, no plastic covers, no
> ground beef or plate
> scraping at the table
>
> Would be willing to live in: Lakewood, Brooklyn, Monsey,
> Passaic (or
> Baltimore for a few years)
>
> Music Preferences: Yeshiva Boys Choir; no more Lipa,
> Schwecky, or Carlebach
>
> Ideal Chesed Opportunities: helping put out cold beer and
> cholent at
> neighborhood Shalom Zachars; assisting with mass mailings
> from Oorah and
> Kupat Hair
Now that the nine days are coming--Who remembers that the most religious swam laps other than on erev Tisha B'av and on Tisha B'av?
We were not allowed to wear skirts mid-calf too hippie like?
Skirts had to cover mid-knee?
The most religious ate and picked wild berries?
Pulled over to a spring and filled jugs of water without checking for bugs?
Oh well in those days we covered for molesters, now we are frummer.
We teach our boys to be a kiddush Hashem?
CHESTER — The rigors of yeshiva life: 17-hour days of classes, prayers and studying.
It's no wonder that the 60-plus boys at Yeshiva Toras Chemed off Route 17M act like, well, boys when they get the rare chance to cut loose. But with nowhere to go — their campus is located on the secluded grounds of the former Inn at Chester — they have spent their time wandering local roads and poking about the farms and houses of the nearby community.
And that has residents of the bucolic area grumbling.
"They're a pain "¦," said Joe Lipsey, the 77-year-old owner of a farm off Goosepond Mountain Road. "I don't mind if they walk up and down the road, but they stop in front of my house and talk in Yiddish, and it's annoying. It's called loitering."
Lipsey and other residents of the road said the boys have been bothering their dogs, poking at their farm animals and even peering into their windows.
Town police Chief Brian Jarvis said he has had reports of the boys walking in the woods during hunting season, as well as standing in the middle of the road in packs and not moving for cars.
For many, the wandering of the boys reflects a pattern of disregard by the school for the laws and etiquette of the town.
"The biggest thing they said at the town meeting when they first got here was that the (students) are not going off the property," said a resident of Goosepond Mountain Road who asked not to be named. "That didn't last long."
The town took the yeshiva to court almost as soon as it opened in 2006 to fix the shoddy construction of temporary trailers it set up as classrooms. And the school still has not submitted plans for the construction of permanent buildings and facilities to accommodate its students, who use an old motel as their dorm.
"As far as my Town Board is concerned, we've had a tough time with the yeshiva," said Supervisor Steve Neuhaus. "We're concerned that we're going to end up in court again." He said he also worries about the safety of the boys walking along Route 17M.
Rafael Pollack, the administrator of the school, said he has told the boys not to trespass on people's property or walk at night in their dark coats along Route 17M. "We definitely tell them; but you know, boys are boys," he said.
He said the problems would end once the school is completed, hopefully within 18 months.
"When the buildings are full-functioning, God willing as soon as we can," he said, "the students will have all programs to keep them occupied and not be all over the place."
jsullivan@th-record.com
Reader Reaction
I guess it is better than having gangs.
WHAT A HEADLINE -
----------------------
Citigroup posts $2.5B loss, but beats expectations
AP Business Writer
Headline to come!
AGUDATH ISRAEL LOBBIES LAWMAKERS FOR SCHOOL VOUCHERS - NO JEWISH CHILD SHOULD BE LEFT "BEHIND" --- JOINS WITH CATHOLICS IN LOBBYING AGAINST SEX-OFFENDER REGISTRY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS - JEWISH CHILDREN DO NOT NEED TO HAVE THEIR "BEHIND" PROTECTED FROM CLERGY!
Foreign airlines outranked El Al in a kashrut ranking by ultra-Orthodox rabbis
By Yair Ettinger
Tags: air travel, Jewish World
Sometimes, in order to be truly righteous, it is better for a Jew to buy from a gentile and not from another Jew. Airplane tickets, for example. On Wednesday, airlines from Britain, Belgium, Russia and the United States picked up the highest kashrut rankings, in a list prepared by the Rabbinic Commission on Transportation Matters.
The ranking - the first of its kind - is aimed at helping the perplexed ultra-Orthodox traveler avoid viewing films that constitute "a terrible spiritual danger," a danger that cannot be avoided at an altitude of 35,000 feet.
The commission, which was established about a year ago on behalf of rabbis from all streams, published an extraordinary document in the two official ultra-Orthodox newspapers, Yated Ne'eman and Hamodia, on Wednesday: "The problem of in-flight movies constitutes a terrible spiritual danger. Several companies do not offer movies at all, and other companies do not have central screens, but only individual screens for each passenger, which can be turned off. These companies show that there is another way, and it is appropriate to fly with them," the document stated.
"I've been contacted by hundreds of bitter people," says a person close to the commission who was asked how it decided which airlines offer particularly inappropriate in-flight movies. Many ultra-Orthodox travelers complained they were shown licentious films while flying, the source said. He also noted that the ultra-Orthodox feel "they have paid their good money only to sit 'on thorns' for hours."
The commission established three rankings for airlines in accordance with their in-flight movie policies. In first place are the airlines that do not show films at all, such as British Airways flights to London or Swiss International Airlines flights to Switzerland. In second place are the companies that have individual screens "that can be turned off, but it is still possible to see the screens of other passengers, and therefore travelers are advised to equip themselves with a 'folding curtain.'" The third-ranked airlines also offer individual screens, but sometimes bring in planes with large cabin screens when demand is high.
About a year and a half ago, the ultra-Orthodox held an unofficial, five-week boycott of El Al because of a flight that departed late and landed in Miami after the start of the Sabbath. The company later reached an agreement with the ultra-Orthodox, but it turns out that that arrangement does not afford the national carrier any preference when it comes to in-flight movies.
The commission of rabbis ranked El Al only for flights to the United States and London, when it offers individual screens, but even then only as a third choice, after foreign airlines. "To our regret, on flights to the other destinations the company does not promise that films will not be screened, nor does it promise individual screens," they wrote.
Nonetheless, El Al is immeasurably better than Arkia and Israir, which "flout all the bounds of modesty in a grave and Sabbath-desecrating manner, and one must not travel with them at all."
Parallel to the commission's statement, on Wednesday the ultra-Orthodox newspapers also published a "Holy Call," signed by several preeminent Ashkenazi rabbis, and directed at the airline companies. This document is being republished at the rabbis' request, in advance of the peak travel season, exhorting "all the airlines to enable flying without obstacles to modesty or sanctity." And what will happen once the threat of in-flight movies is removed? Then the commissions will move on to the Internet, which brings "especially low and ugly films" into the home.
Rottenberg in monsey just sent a molester upstate according to the sources
whatch your children this man was released to rottenberg with no charges
trying to get the name
The ranking - the first of its kind - is aimed at helping the perplexed ultra-Orthodox traveler avoid viewing films that constitute "a terrible spiritual danger," a danger that cannot be avoided at an altitude of 35,000 feet.
Apparently chareidim have lost the ability to look away or close their eyes.
Regarding films while flying.
Last year on a flight back from Melbourne Australia ,where one of my daughters lives with her family, a yeshiveshe type of guy sat down next to me. The first question he asked me was, do I know when is neitz. Mein mazel. I almost always get this question from some frum individual when flying internationally on a red eye flight. After replying that I have no idea,he unashamedly turned on the screen in front of him and for the next 17 hrs.,which is the approximate flying time from Melbourne to LA,he proceeded to watch ,what I assume to be, every film on the menu.
I seems that his worry about neitz went out the window (pun intended).
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-donations19-2008jul19,0,6321406.story
Man to plead guilty in tax fraud scheme involving Orthodox Jewish group
Uri Mandelbaum admitted avoiding nearly $300,000 in federal taxes because of donations he made to the Spinka sect that were mostly refunded to him. He could face 10 years in prison.
From a Times staff writer
July 19, 2008
A Hancock Park man agreed to plead guilty to federal tax evasion charges for making donations to an Orthodox Jewish group that were mostly refunded and then deducting them on his tax returns, federal prosecutors said today.
Uri Mandelbaum, 70, agreed to plead guilty to two felony tax charges and to pay more than $1.5 million in back taxes, according to his plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney's office in Los Angeles.
Mandelbaum's plea agreement is the first involving a "donor" to a charity associated with Spinka -- a Hasidic sect within Orthodox Judaism that is at the center of a pending federal tax fraud case. The group is based in New York.
"Mr. Mandelbaum deeply regrets what he did," his attorney John Vandevelde said in a statement today. "Prior to any contact by the government, he decided to do what was right by voluntarily coming forward, not to provide information about others, but to take full responsibility for his own conduct and his own personal tax obligations."
The Grand Rabbi of Spinka, Naftali Tzi Weisz, several other defendants and five Spinka charities were indicted last year by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles on tax fraud and money laundering charges.
Two other defendants in the case -- Israeli banker Joseph Roth and Weisz's assistant Moshe Zigelman -- have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit tax fraud and are to be sentenced later this year.
The U.S. government is now targeting more than 100 people who contributed to Spinka organizations, said U.S. Attorney's Office Spokesman Thom Mrozek.
Mandelbaum admitted to not paying nearly $300,000 in federal income taxes in 2005 and 2006. During those two years, he donated nearly $900,000 to Spinka organizations, 95 percent of which was returned to him, court papers state.
Mandelbaum admitted that he claimed the entire amount as charitable contributions on his federal income tax returns for 2005 and 2006, according to court documents.
Mandelbaum is set to appear July 28 for his arraignment in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. The charges carry a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and $500,000 in fines.
http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/071708/cjOrthodoxYeshiva.html
by Johanna Ginsberg
NJJN Staff Writer
July 17, 2008
After 16 years in Springfield, Yeshiva Tiferes Boruch has moved to North Plainfield.
An expanding registration in the Orthodox boarding school’s three-year-old high school division and zoning issues provoked the move.
The high school and “kollel” for post-high school students is now housed at the McCutchen Mansion in North Plainfield, a historic property at 112 Linden Ave.
“We were overoccupied,” said administrator Shlomo Yoffe. “The facility itself had no problems,” but the number of boys did pose a problem.
The yeshiva had operated as a kollel for students ages 18-21 at 36 Evergreen Ave. for 16 years. Four years ago, it opened a high school division at 810 South Springfield Ave., which was zoned as a private residence, without obtaining a variance. Thirty high-school students were living at that address.
The yeshiva operated a kollel, or religious school for post-high school students, at this location, 36 Evergreen Ave. in Springfield, for 16 years before moving to North Plainfield in December.
The township filed a lawsuit in 2007, and the issue was unresolved last summer when the school began to look for a new location.
Terms of the sale were not disclosed, but the property had been on the market for $2.25 million.
The yeshiva, the first in Somerset County, remains loosely affiliated with the Springfield Modern Orthodox synagogue Congregation Israel. It is under the direction of Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Sorotzkin, who has ties to the more fervently religious Orthodox community of Lakewood.
Arthur said: "...he unashamedly turned on the screen in front of him and for the next 17 hrs.,which is the approximate flying time from Melbourne to LA,he proceeded to watch ,what I assume to be, every film on the menu.
I seems that his worry about neitz went out the window (pun intended)."
This is a symptom of the Decline we discussed on the UOJ Group page. Decadence - pure decadence. Clearly the man was HOPING he would end up sitting by someone who didn't know or didn't care that he wasn't "supposed" to be watching the films - meaning he's done this before, and had it all planned out. Decline, decline, decline. Too afraid of the Ravs to admit he doesn't agree with them - too hypocritical - just tries to go behind their back. And this behavior shows itself in just about every controversial issue of orthodoxy today. It's a pandemic.
It's clear that what the Ravs think they have enforced on everyone is accepted by almost no one outside of hotheaded youthful fanatics who have been indoctrinated with a hateful holier-than-thou mentality and enjoy terrorizing people and burning things. Normal people can't live under that kind of stress forever. How long before the facade crumbles?
More to the point: How much of real Judaism can be saved when this false edifice falls? We should be very worried. People who are freed from their chains tend to act out in the opposite direction - like poor Gitty, for example, whose story has been in the news lately. It's a natural reaction, but think about this: the majority of the people of "ultra" orthodoxy are bound by this fear and anxiety due to the power-mongering and social terrorism of the Ravs. Almost two whole generations of Gittys out there who will be lost, dazed, and confused and be, essentially, easy prey to the despair and self-hate and fear of a wasted life that will follow when the house of cards comes falling down.
The Ravs have preached their hate and intolerance of their fellow Jews and have left people with no soft landing place when this rug is pulled out from under them. The damage to Jewish society will be irreparable.
Is Arthur's observation any different than what goes on at the Lubav restaurant Deli Kasbah on the Upper West Side ?
The looney bin is outfitted with dozens of TV screens broadcasting old farbrengen.
It's All Moshiach All the Time.
"The looney bin is outfitted with dozens of TV screens broadcasting old farbrengen."
Somewhat more enlightening then what's available on Quantas airlines for 17 hours.
Are you implying you'd do the same when flying? Can't believe it. A misnagid vos iz duch gevaigt mit Taireh? Whats the world coming to.
After reading this blog I would love to stop eating Rubashkin meat. Can someone out there give me compelling arguments to convince my family that it's probably treif? They are not taking it seriously since they don't read your blog.
Thanks in advance.
Deadly Tolls: Sick truckers causing fatal wrecks (and treif animals)
Posted: 2008-07-21 07:23:25
By HOPE YEN and FRANK BASS
Associated Press Writers
WASHINGTON (AP) - Hundreds of thousands of tractor-trailer and bus drivers in the United States carry commercial driver's licenses despite also qualifying for full federal disability payments, and some of those drivers have suffered seizures, heart attacks or unconscious spells, according to a new U.S. safety study obtained by The Associated Press.
The problems threatening highway travelers persist despite years of government warnings and hundreds of deaths and injuries blamed on commercial truck and bus drivers who blacked out, collapsed or suffered major health problems behind the wheels of vehicles that can weigh 40 tons or more.
The U.S. agency responsible for cracking down on unfit truckers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, acknowledges it hasn't completed any of eight recommendations that U.S. safety regulators have proposed since 2001. One would set minimum standards for officials who determine whether truckers are medically safe to drive. Another would prevent truckers from "doctor shopping" to find a physician who might overlook a risky health condition. It's unclear whether any of the eight recommendations will be done before President Bush leaves office.
"We have a major public safety problem, and we haven't corrected it," said Gerald Donaldson, senior research director at the Washington-based Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, whose members include consumer, health and safety groups and insurance companies. "You have an agency that is favorably disposed to maintaining the integrity of the industry's economic situation."
Truckers violating federal medical rules have been caught in every state, according to a review by the AP of 7.3 million commercial driver violations compiled by the Transportation Department in 2006, the latest data available. Texas, Maryland, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Alabama, New Jersey, Minnesota and Ohio were states where drivers were sanctioned most frequently for breaking medical rules, such as failing to carry a valid medical certificate. Those 12 states accounted for half of all such violations in the United States.
Consider these cases:
A Florida bus driver who suffers from lung disease and uses three daily inhalers to control breathing told congressional investigators that he "occasionally blacks out and forgets things." He works as a substitute driver despite not having a medical certificate, and his commercial license expires in 2010. The driver, who was not identified but will figure prominently in a congressional hearing this week, has collected Social Security benefits since 1994. He confided to investigators that he "gets winded" walking to his mailbox but has no problem driving a passenger bus.
A Virginia trucker with a prosthetic leg from a farm accident more than 10 years ago is permitted to drive tanker trucks until at least 2012, even though he doesn't have the proper federal paperwork required for amputees. Virginia revoked the medical license for the official who approved him to drive over charges the official was caught illegally distributing controlled substances.
George Albright Jr., 61, smashed his 70,000-pound tractor-trailer into congested traffic on Interstate 70 in June 2006, killing four women in a Ford sedan about 30 miles east of Columbia, Mo. Albright's employer agreed earlier this year to pay $18 million in a settlement. A Missouri jury acquitted Albright this month on four counts of second-degree involuntary manslaughter, after his lawyers argued in court that a diabetic episode "put him in an altered state of consciousness." Albright wasn't injured.
A gasoline tanker plunged from an overpass and exploded in flames on Interstate 95 near Baltimore in January 2004, killing four people. Witnesses reported the driver slumped over the wheel. Maryland investigators concluded the driver, Jackie M. Frost, had suffered a heart attack or other medical emergency, but his family disputed that.
The driver of a 15-passenger "Tippy Toes" day-care bus traveling 63 mph on Interstate 240 in Memphis, Tenn., in April 2002 crashed into a bridge, killing the driver and four of the six children aboard. The National Transportation Safety Board said the driver, Wesley B. Hudson, 27, fell asleep, "quite likely due to an undiagnosed sleep disorder." Investigators said children sometimes had to wake up Hudson, whom the NTSB described as obese and a marijuana user.
A 55-passenger bus rolled off Interstate 610 in New Orleans in May 1999, killing 22 passengers. The NTSB said the bus driver, Frank Bedell, 46, suffered life-threatening kidney and heart conditions but held a valid license and medical certificate. Moments before the crash, a passenger recounted seeing the driver slumped in his seat. Bedell died three months later of an apparent heart-related illness. Investigators said he was treated at least 20 times in the 21 months before the accident for various ailments.
The Transportation Department said 5,300 people died in crashes involving large commercial trucks or buses in 2006, the latest year for which figures are available, and about 126,000 more were injured. A federal safety study last summer found that cases where drivers fell asleep, suffered heart attacks or seizures or otherwise were physically impaired were a leading cause of serious crashes involving large trucks. But those cases included healthy drivers who fell asleep.
Dems Pursue 2nd Economic Stimulus Bill
By ANDREW TAYLOR, AP
"We will be proceeding with another stimulus package," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said after meeting with several economists.
Pelosi said that recently issued tax rebate payments of $600 to individuals and $1,200 for married couples have helped the economy but that more is necessary to offset the drag of higher gasoline prices and other costs.
But President Bush cautioned in a White House press conference that lawmakers should "wait for the stimulus package to fully kick in" before passing another.
http://bp0.blogger.com/_DCGOA_RlajQ/SIBzYzMnMsI/AAAAAAAAB1o/6gYFhfu1WDs/s1600-h/scan0008.gif
http://yudelstake.blogspot.com/
If you were reading all the facts on this blog for the last year you would know why Rubashkin is treif and what the OU and Agudah don't want you to know.
http://telzyeshiva.blogspot.com/2008/07/anonymous-said.html
Can anyone figure out why I'm sticking my nose into the Telzer machlokes?
http://telzyeshiva.blogspot.com/2008/07/anonymous-said.html?showComment=1215971940000#c6365793331858703322
b gifter said...
come ellul or maybe rosh hashona, they'll all preach tshuva.
what a shame to see who marbitze torah are today!
sign my name...I am not ashamed.
binyomin gifter
Anonymous said...
In our city somone who just lost a din Torah went to court with his case. The court overturned the psak of the Beis Din!! :((
I witnessed tonight a Rov was asked by an ehrilche yid who earnestly pondered, "How is it possible that a frum jew could go to court ignoring the pask beis din"? The Rov answered by adapting an old saying as following: "Az in Telz est men chazir - dan in Pariz vet min avadeh esen chazer"! :(( Hashem Yerachem!
Dis iz vat I hate about der drei vochen:
Halachos of Fast of 17th of Tammuz, The 3 Weeks, and Tisha B'Av
Beginning with the 17th of Tammuz and for the entire 3 week period we do not make weddings, listen to music, dance, take haircuts/shave, wear new clothing or eat a new fruit which would require a Beracha of Shehechiyanu (except on Shabbos), >>> or hit children <<<.
Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 551
Mistumme Belsky can mach me a heter.
A distinguished rov (who is a secret admirer of UOJ) reports that he has observed Baruch Lanner since his release from prison acting very creepy around kids.
Misnaged
"Is Arthur's observation any different than what goes on at the Lubav restaurant Deli Kasbah on the Upper West Side ?
The looney bin is outfitted with dozens of TV screens broadcasting old farbrengen."
Forgot to ask you .What's a "Talmid Chochom" and a misnaged like you doing in such a den of iniquity? Were you being miannessed to go there and "oines rachmonah patrei"?.A Crazy Lubab place and a meshichist one to boot?
Where does the meat come from? Most likely Rubashkin loi aleinu.I am at a loss for further words.Is your Rov or Rosh Yeshiva aware of this terrible miscarriage of justice?
Bank Leumi was so angry over this case that Rubashkin settled out of court that years later they asked the judge to punish Rubashkin for his behavior in the courtroom by finding him in contempt. The judge declined in 2006 since it was 24 years after the lawsuit was brought.
Court: Kings Civil Supreme
Index Number: 015608/1982
Case Name: BANK LEUMI TRUST COMP vs. RUBASHKIN,MOSHE
Case Type: Other
Track: Unknown
Upstate RJI Number:
Disposition Date: 11/05/1986
Date NOI Due:
NOI Filed:
Disposition Deadline:
Calendar Number: 1986-025298M
RJI Filed: 09/09/1986
Jury Status:
Justice Name: BARRY HUROWITZ
Court: Kings Civil Supreme
Index Number: 025064/1986
Case Name: GOLDMAN, BELLA & SAUL vs. LIEBERMAN & RUBASHKIN
Case Type: Other Torts Negligence
Track: Unknown
Upstate RJI Number:
Disposition Date: 06/01/1987
Calendar Number: 1986-026560M
RJI Filed: 09/23/1986
Jury Status:
Justice Name: FRANK VACCARO
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff:
WILLIAM A. WINGATE Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
110 EAST 42ND STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
986-7353
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
BOMBARA,MANNING&MCGLYNN Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
85 JOHN STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10038
212 406 1000
This company builds bungalows. I have no problem with Rubashkin's meat but I am against not paying bills.
Court: Kings Civil Supreme
Index Number: 025958/1986
Case Name: POLORON HOMES vs. RUBASHKIN,JAYGY
Case Type: Contract
Track: Unknown
Upstate RJI Number:
Disposition Date: 05/04/1989
Calendar Number: 1986-027598M
RJI Filed: 10/02/1986
Jury Status:
Justice Name: FRANK VACCARO
Court: Kings Civil Supreme
Index Number: 006126/1989
Case Name: SEGAL,ICEK vs. RUBASHKIN,INC.
Case Type: Other Torts Negligence
Track: Unknown
Upstate RJI Number:
Disposition Date: 06/05/1991
Date NOI Due:
NOI Filed: 03/26/1990
Disposition Deadline: 06/27/1991
Calendar Number: 1989-008214T
RJI Filed: 05/08/1989
Jury Status: Jury At Plaintiff's Request
Justice Name: GABRIEL M. KRAUSMAN
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff:
FEDER,KASZOVITZ,IAACSON,W&S Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
450 SEVENTH AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10123
212-239-4610
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
JOSEPH W. CONKLIN Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
26 HARBOR CIRCLE
CENTERPORT, NEW YORK 11721
212-709-0300
So what can be done about Lanner now that the monster has officially "paid his debt to society"?
Court: Kings Civil Supreme
Index Number: 019886/1991
Case Name: W. GREENBAUM & CO vs. RUBASHKIN,AARON
Case Type: Contract
Track: Unknown
Disposition Date: 04/29/1996
NOI Filed: 11/22/1994
Disposition Deadline: 02/23/1996
Calendar Number: 1992-004107T
RJI Filed: 02/20/1992
Jury Status: Non-Jury
Justice Name: IRVING S. ARONIN
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff:
AMOS WEINBERG Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
49 SOMERSET DRIVE SOUTH
GREAT NECK, N.Y. 11020
516-829-3900
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
L SALZMAN Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
2116 AVENUE J
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11210
718 338 3183
Court: Kings Civil Supreme
Index Number: 014094/1996
Case Name: LANDA,CHAYE vs. RUBASHKIN,ABRAHAM
Case Type: Other Torts Negligence
Track: Standard
Disposition Date: 09/24/1998
NOI Filed: 05/19/1997
Disposition Deadline: 08/20/1998
Calendar Number: 1996-013554T
RJI Filed: 06/17/1996
Jury Status: Jury At Plaintiff's Request
Justice Name: RICHARD D. HUTTNER
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff:
HARRY I. KATZ Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
61-25 UTOPIA PARKWAY
FRESH MEADOWS, NY 11365
463-3700
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
BARRON MCDONALD CARROLL COHEN Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
ONE WHITEHALL STREET, 13TH FL
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004
(212) 248 - 9100
I also asked the judge to find Moishe Rubashkin in contempt.
Court: Kings Civil Supreme
Index Number: 014904/2006
Case Name: NASH,LEIBISH vs. RUBASHKIN,MOSHE
Case Type: Other
Track: Standard
Upstate RJI Number:
Disposition Date: 08/07/2006
RJI Filed: 05/15/2006
Jury Status:
Justice Name: MICHAEL A. AMBROSIO (PT. 31)
Court: Kings Civil Supreme
Index Number: 012640/2008
Case Name: CATENA,RICHARD vs. RUBASHKIN,MOSHE
Case Type: Other
Track: Standard
Disposition Date: 05/02/2008
RJI Filed: 05/02/2008
Justice Name: MARTIN M SOLOMON (PT. 38)
There is a Richard Catena company that is a car wholesaler in New Jersey.
http://decisions.courts.state.ny.us/fcas/FCAS_docs/2008MAY/2300126402008100SCIV.pdf
RICHARD CATENA
Petitioner,
MOSHE RUBASHKIN (WITNESS)
Respondent.
1
1 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF
I NEW YORK
and for the production of documents by
I
MOSHE RUBASHKIN (WITNESS)
Respoiidcn 1.
KINGS COUNTY
CAL NO.:
INDEX NO.: 1 ; , L 10 I I
CIVIL ACTION
ORDER PURSUANT TO CP 102(e):
FOK 'THE TAKING OF DEPOSITION I AND PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
For Use in an Action pending in the
State ofNcw Jersey entitled:
I
RICHARD CATENA
P1 aiiiti ff,
vs.
DANIEL P. ANDERSEN. et als
Defend anis
R
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
LAW DIVISION
BERGEN COUNTY
DOCKET NO. BER-L-5914-05
CIVIL ACTION
An application having been made by the petitioner for the taking of- the deposition of MOSHE RUBASHKIN and for the production of documents by MOSHE RUBASHKIN pursuant to a coniniissioii issued in connection with an action pending in the State of New Jersey, Law Division, Super; x- Court, Bergen County; and upon reading the affidavit of Janine Bauer, Esq., a New York attorney sworn to jurat on April 23,2008,
together with the conimission, and it appearin ; that the taking of- thc tcstiniony of MOSHE RUBASHKIN and for the production of documents is necessary anti proper, it is hereby a.m. before a notary public, or other persons authorized to administer oaths in order to give testimony and produce documents. And it is further 7 I I ORDERED: That personal service of a copy of this Order and an appropriate New York Subpoena Duces Tecum Ad Tcstificandum shall be made upon the respondent on or before May
rh g , 2008. And it is further
ORDERED: that a copy of this Order and Subpoena be mailed or telefaxed to all attorneys in the out of state action on or before the above date.
Court: New York Civil Supreme
Index Number: 017748/1985
Case Name: TURKEY HOUSE OF NEW YORK vs. LIEBERMAN & RUBASHKIN
Case Type: Contract-(Co)
Track: Unknown
Disposition Date: 03/25/1992
NOI Filed: 01/05/1988
Disposition Deadline: 02/18/1993
Calendar Number: 1988L-00021
RJI Filed: 06/13/1986
Jury Status: Non-Jury
Justice Name: NARDELLI, EUGENE
Attorney/Firm For Plaintiff:
J. OWEN ZURHELLEN, ESQ. Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
10 EAST 40TH STREET - 21ST FLR
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10016
1-212 213-8860
Attorney/Firm For Defendant:
FRENKEL & HERSHKOWITZ ESQS. Attorney Type: Attorney Of Record Status: Active
319 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10016
212 679-4666
Plaintiff is Breuer. Same name as the rov of the shul.
Court: Kings County Civil Court
Index Number: CV-044879-08/KI
Case Name: BREUER INFANT, SHIFRA, By Mother as Natural Guardian ANNIE BREUER
BREUER, ANNIE
vs.
AGUDATH ISRAEL BAIS BINYOMIN
Case Type: Civil
Classification:
Filing Date: 04/11/2008
Disposition Date:
Calendar Number:
Jury Demand: No
Judge Name:
Attorney/Firm(s) For Plaintiff - ANNIE BREUER:
KAGAN AND GERTEL, ESQS. Attorney Type: Firm
1575 EAST 19TH STREET, PH
BROOKLYN, New York 11230-
(718) 258-8080
Court: New York County Civil Court
Index Number: CV-041081-94/NY
Case Name: KANTOR DAVIDOFF WOLFE RABBINO MANDELKER & KASS P C
vs.
AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA
Case Type: Civil
Classification:
Filing Date: 11/15/1994
Disposition Date: 06/07/2008
Court: New York County Civil Court
Index Number: CV-008575-03/NY
Case Name: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, FKA THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
vs.
ISRAEL, AGUDATH, AKA AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA
Case Type: Civil
Classification:
Filing Date: 02/19/2003
Disposition Date: 06/06/2008
http://decisions.courts.state.ny.us/fcas/FCAS_docs/2008JUN/30060230820072SCIV.pdf
The Silverman Foundation sues Agudah of Boro Park along with Yisroel Lefkowitz & Sol Chaimowitz.
http://decisions.courts.state.ny.us/fcas/FCAS_docs/2006JAN/30012355620023SCIV.PDF
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK: IAS PART 55
Rabbi Steven Lawrence,
-------t--ll----f---____I_______X_ __
Plaint if 5,
INDEX NO. 123556/02
-against - - Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations
Of America, Rabbi Menachem Genack and Kehilah Kashrus, Inc. "4 eo Defendants.
-----I--------------_lll__ll________ X
JANE S. SOLOMON, J.
Defendant Kehilah Kashrus, Inc - ("KehilaOhF% moves for
summary judgment pursuant to CPLR S 3212 to dismiss the remaining
claim in this a c t i o n , f o r tortious i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h business relations, against it. The causes of action f o r slander and libel against Kehilah were d i s r n i s s d b y an earlier order, and the entire complaint has been dismissed as against the other defendants, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
("the OU") and Rabbi Menachem Genack ("Genack") . The previous
order denied Kehilah's first motion of summary judgment on this
remaining cause of action, because there was no evidence offered
in support of the motion. For t h e reasons set f o r t h below, the
motion now before me is also denied.
This action arises from the termination of P l a i n t i f f
Rabbi Steven Lawrence ("Lawrence") from his position as Rav Hamachshir of Empire Kosher Foods, Inc. (“Empire”). Empire, a
leading supplier of kosher poultry, contracts with OU, a not-forprofit organization that certifies, among other things, that
Rabbis are proficient in the ritual slaughter and inspection of
p o u l t r y . As part of the services it provides Empire, OU
supervises the performance of Rabbis working a t its slaughtering
f a c i l i t y . Genack is the Rabbinic Administrator of the Kashrus Division of the OU. Lawrence was hired on March 27, 2000, upon the recommendation of Genack. On October 3, 2000, Empire placed Lawrence on a 60-day suspension due t a h i s alleged unsatisfactory performance. According to Genack, Lawrence’s job performance did not improve. On February 10, 2001, Genack told him t h a t he would ultimately have to be replaced, and Empire terminated him as of April 23, 2001. Genack contended, as did Empire, t h a t this was because Lawrence (1) lacked the t e c h n i c a l skills required for the position; (2) was unable t o effectively manage Empire’s staff of Rabbis; and (3) failed to instill confidence in Empire’s Rabbinic
s t a f f
Kehilah is a not-for-profit organization of Rabbis t h a t
ensures, e v i d e n t l y for consumers, that kosher foods are prepared properly under Jewish Law. Lawrence claims that Kehilah caused him to be terminated from his position by sending letters to
Empire threatening a boycott of Empire‘s client-stores if Lawrence's employment was continued. Lawrence offers, as
evidence, a memo sent on March 29, 2001 by Kehilah to "all meat
establishments'' requesting t h a t they refuse to sell Empire
products. He also offers a l e t t e r that Kehilah sent to Genack on
April '18, 2001, thanking him f o r leading the e f f o r t to replace Lawrence
Kehilah moves again for summary judgment on an affidavit of a Rabbi who claims Kehilah thought Lawrence should be fired because he wasn't working a five-day week, and relies on the legal theory t h a t Lawrence's at-will employment insulates it, although t h i s argument was discounted in my earlier decision. It also contends t h a t Jewish theology controls the case so t h a t this court should dismiss it as a matter of first amendment theory. Lawrence argues t h a t the courtfa denial of the first summary judgment motion forecloses a subsequent motion for summary judgment because there is, he claims, no new evidence.
The Appellate Division, F i r s t Department, d e a l t with this issue recently In m z e w s k i v. Pask Ter raGe G a r d a , Inc., et al, I 18 A.D.3d 349 (lmDtep t. 2005). In that case, the court allowed defendants' second motion for summary judgment because the motion 'raised different arguments and adduced evidence that" was not
previously available. u. Indeed, the function of the r u l e against subsequent motions is to prevent "successive fragmented
attacks upon a cause of action" by withholding or f a i l i n g to urge "a ground for summary judgment." L e v i t z v. Ra-usjc
Cormration, 17 A.D.2d 801 (letD ept. 1962). Under the circumstances here, Kehilah moved for summary judgment along w i t h
the other defendants before discovery. Kehilah had not then
deposed Lawrence. The subsequent motion is allowed because Kehilah now relies on evidence that was not available before, namely the deposition of Lawrence, and its moving a f f i d a v i t . In an action for tortious interference w i t h business relations, the plaintiff must prove that a t h i r d party would have entered i n t o contractual relations or continued its existing business relations w i t h the plaintiff but for the defendant's conduct. See Guard - L i f e Corn. IT. S. pa rker H m r e Mau. Co TP. I
50 N.Y.2d 183 (1980). The evidence Lawrence offers, including his affidavit and the correspondence between the parties, is sufficient to establish each element of the cause of action.
Kehilah's affidavit here conflicts with the evidence offered by
Empire and Genack, and it is not clear what role the affiant had
in the underlying events; he speaks of the e n t i t y ' s collective conduct, Kehilah's argument that Jewish Law governs this dispute and that the matter is not subject to this court's Jurisdiction as a matter of F i r s t Amendment jurisprudence is unavailing.
Parties are not free to evade t h e law by claiming t h a t their
decisions are inherently protected because they are religious in
nature. Jews for Jesus , 968 F.2d 286, 297 (2nd Cir. 1992). In
Jews for Jesu , the Second Circuit noted that a Freedom of Religion defense would f a i l if it is used only to enable otherwise unlawful acts. u. In fact, in that case, the Second Circuit ruled specifically that "both caselaw and commentary recognize t h a t a boycott designed to secure an unlawful objective is not protected by the F i r s t Amendment." Under the circumstances, there remain triable issues of fact between the parties.
Accordingly, it hereby is ORDERED that the motion for summary judgment is denied; and it f u r t h e r is ORDERED that counsel shall appear f o r a pre-trial
conference on January 30, 2006 in Part 55, room 432, 60 Centre
Street
Dated:
,, New York,
January 2006
http://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/3dseries/2006/2006_06257.htm
Lawrence v Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of Am.
2006 NY Slip Op 06257 [32 AD3d 304]
August 17, 2006
Appellate Division, First Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
As corrected through Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Steven Lawrence, Respondent,
v
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America et al., Defendants, and Kehilah Kashrus, Inc., Appellant.
—[*1]
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Jane S. Solomon, J.), entered on or about January 20, 2006, which denied defendant-appellant's motion for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff's remaining cause of action for tortious interference with business relations, unanimously reversed, on the law, without costs, the motion granted and the complaint dismissed as against defendant-appellant. The Clerk is directed to enter judgment accordingly.
Plaintiff, an employee at-will, was hired by Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc., a slaughterhouse under the kosher supervision of defendant Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, as the head supervising rabbi. Defendant-appellant Kehilah Kashrus, Inc. is a nonprofit organization of rabbis that ensures that kosher foods are prepared properly under Jewish law. Plaintiff commenced an action claiming, inter alia, that Kehilah interfered with his employment relationship with Empire by sending letters to Empire threatening a boycott of its stores if Empire did not terminate plaintiff's employment. The motion court denied Kehilah's motion to dismiss this cause of action. We reverse.
In order to recover damages for interference with existing economic relations in a nonbinding relationship, a "defendant's conduct must amount to a crime or an independent tort" (Carvel Corp. v Noonan, 3 NY3d 182, 190 [2004]). A sole exception to this general rule has been recognized where a defendant has engaged in conduct "for the sole purpose of inflicting intentional harm on plaintiff[ ]" (NBT Bancorp v Fleet/Norstar Fin. Group, 215 AD2d 990, 990 [1995], affd 87 NY2d 614 [1996]; see also Carvel, 3 NY3d at 190).
No issue of fact is raised as to whether Kehilah's conduct was either criminal or independently tortious. Indeed, the record is devoid of any evidence that Kehilah wrongfully interfered with plaintiff's employment, or that it acted for the sole purpose of inflicting harm. Plaintiff conceded at his deposition that Kehilah had made no false accusations against him. In addition, plaintiff admitted he did not know what Kehilah's motivation was in opposing his employment. Further, neither the memo from Kehilah sent to all meat establishments directing [*2]them to cease carrying Empire products, nor its letter to the rabbinic administrator of defendant, advising that it was pleased to hear a new head supervising rabbi had been appointed, refers to plaintiff directly or indirectly. Nor does either contain any other evidence from which one may fairly infer that Kehilah was acting improperly to secure plaintiff's termination. Contrary to plaintiff's contention, the memo he claims as support does not "amount to the sort of extreme and unfair 'economic pressure' that might be 'wrongful' under Guard-Life [Corp. v Parker Hardware Mfg. Corp., 50 NY2d 183 (1980)] and NBT [supra]" (Carvel, 3 NY3d at 192-193; see also Dilimetin & Dilimetin v Stein, 297 AD2d 601 [2002]). Indeed, the record provides no ground to infer that Kehilah was not motivated by legitimate economic self-interest when it sent the memo. Finally, no triable issue is raised regarding the reason for plaintiff's termination. Kehilah submitted uncontradicted documentation that plaintiff was placed on a 60-day probation period, that he was told his management skills were deficient, and that he lacked the requisite technical skills for the job.
We need not reach Kehilah's remaining contention in light of our determination. Concur—Tom, J.P., Marlow, Nardelli and Malone, JJ.
http://www.nyrealestatelawblog.com/2007/06/was_rabbis_termination_kosher.html
WAS RABBI'S TERMINATION KOSHER?
Rabbi Steven Lawrence was formerly employed by Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc., a slaughterhouse under the kosher supervision of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America.
Rabbi Lawrence filed suit against Kehilah Kashrus, Inc., claiming that Kehilah -- a non-profit rabbinical organization which ensures that the preparation of kosher foods conforms with Jewish law -- had caused Empire to terminate his employment by threatening a boycott of Empire's stores. After motion practice, the New York County Supreme Court denied Kehilah's prayer to end the Rabbi's case. On appeal, the Appellate Division, First Department, reversed and dismissed the action as against Kehilah in its entirety.
Since the Rabbi was an employee-at-will, an extremely high threshold was necessary to support a "tortious interference" claim.
Without evidence of conduct amounting to "extreme and unfair economic pressure," and faced with "uncontradicted documentation" that the Rabbi had been placed on a 60-day probation, due to his "deficient management skills" and lack of "requisite technical skills for the job," the court concluded that the dismissal was kosher under the circumstances.
(Note: This blog entry was written without rabbinic supervision.)
http://www.nyrealestatelawblog.com/2007/05/how_cruel_can_you_be.html
HOW CRUEL CAN YOU BE?
"Cruel and inhuman treatment."
By way of example, in Gross v. Gross, Carol Gross claimed that her husband physically and sexually assaulted her by grabbing and pulling her down the hall of their residence, blocking her from exiting a room, throwing her on a bed, and, pushing her against walls.
Sounds pretty horrific, no? Well, the New York County Supreme Court thought so and found that behavior to be sufficient to support a judgment of divorce in Carol's favor. Yet, the Appellate Division, First Department, reversed.
While her husband's conduct may have been "[r]eprehensible and highly offensive," the AD1 did not believe that "cruel-and-inhuman-treatment" had been sufficiently established.*
Here was the AD1's take on Carol's claim:
Reprehensible and highly offensive behavior, however, is not necessarily sufficient to establish the cruel-and-inhuman-treatment ground for divorce. Plaintiff's uncorroborated testimony regarding unwanted physical contact was vague and general, and no evidence was adduced from plaintiff regarding the effects, if any, of defendant's conduct on her physical or mental well-being ... In fact, plaintiff denied suffering any injuries as a result of the incident which occurred in the bathroom. Similarly, plaintiff presented no evidence regarding the effects, if any, on her mental well-being of defendant's conduct in entering the bathroom of their residence while plaintiff was showering. While a party seeking a divorce on the ground of cruel and inhuman treatment is not required to produce medical evidence demonstrating the adverse effects of the defendant's behavior ... the absence of such evidence may be relevant ... The absence of medical evidence here is particularly telling in light of plaintiff's failure to offer any other evidence tending to demonstrate that defendant's conduct was "harmful to the plaintiff's physical or mental health and makes cohabitation unsafe or improper" ... At bottom, we are left to speculate as to the effects, if any, of defendant's conduct on plaintiff's physical and mental well-being.
Since when did spousal abuse become acceptable behavior?
And why require the demonstration of an "injury" before abusive conduct can be considered cruel?
Now that's gross!
Well, considering that Avoda Zara is yehurag veal yaavor, it does seem worse than bittul Torah and histaklus on airplane video.
I ventured into Deli Kasbah not knowing what I was getting into. I certainly would not eat there.
Post a Comment