tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post4423322193154384495..comments2024-03-27T15:07:31.495-04:00Comments on <b><center>Unorthodox-Jew </center></b> <br><small>A Critical View of Orthodox Judaism</small>: The Hoodlums At The Agudath Israel And Their Friends In The Catholic Church!Paul Mendlowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05887774341136059873noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-895857460865800112013-04-17T06:41:01.743-04:002013-04-17T06:41:01.743-04:00No one is above the law even if you are a priest!No one is above the law even if you are a priest!the courtney law firmhttp://thecourtneylawfirm.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-71115836101987896252008-01-20T23:08:00.000-05:002008-01-20T23:08:00.000-05:00http://jewishsurvivors.blogspot.com/2008/01/watch-...http://jewishsurvivors.blogspot.com/2008/01/watch-panel-discussion-on-child-sexual.html<BR/><BR/>Audience Member said...<BR/><BR/> The man you are talking about identified himself as Rabbi Reuven Poupko. Here's his web page: http://www.poupko.com/<BR/><BR/> He also scared me and I think everyone in the room. I would have described his behavior as being irate.<BR/><BR/> I think Vicky Polin handled the situation perfectly. I was surprised that they edited his comments out of the video. I think it would have been important for the world to see how insane those who represent the Board of Rabbis are.<BR/><BR/> January 20, 2008 10:06 PMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-14256452813613584742008-01-20T22:43:00.000-05:002008-01-20T22:43:00.000-05:00I was also at the 'Narrow Bridge' screening in Bal...I was also at the 'Narrow Bridge' screening in Baltimore a few weeks ago. There was a man there who scared me. I didn't catch his name, yet he identified himself as being a rabbi, attorney and a psychologist. <BR/><BR/>The extremely large man was speaking extremely loudly while thrashing his arms around. I was afraid he was going to get up and hit someone as he spoke. <BR/><BR/>He was obviously out of control. All he was doing was spewing the propaganda of the Vaad of Baltimore.<BR/><BR/>I'm wondering if anyone knows his name? I think all survivors need to be warned to stay away from him.<BR/><BR/>I think this man should be reported to the APA if he's really a psychologist. I also believe that if he's really a rabbi he should have his ordination revoked. I think the only career this man is qualified for is being a defense attorney for sex offenders.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-58888821938618678512008-01-20T20:32:00.000-05:002008-01-20T20:32:00.000-05:00"UOJ" - "The Un-Orthodox Jew" said: "I am not in a..."UOJ" - "The Un-Orthodox Jew" said: "I am not in a position to speak about his foot-dragging for years;..." <A HREF="http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/Freilich_Bernard.html" REL="nofollow">maybe because of this.</A> (see esp. 2nd article under 2000 header)<BR/><BR/>This happened right after a deranged frum man was gunned down in Flatbush and Hynes didn't indict the cops. So the Satmarers took advantage of this to exort pressure on him to let a few criminals go. See also the pupa rebbe's son case (israel greenwald)J. "יהוא בן יהושפט בן נמשי" Izraelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09751836004961760098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-73974008646017775162008-01-20T17:31:00.000-05:002008-01-20T17:31:00.000-05:00The Chelme Putz from Chicago has another post up a...The Chelme Putz from Chicago has another post up about child abuse. I think he envisions himself as taking over UOJ's position.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-36288595403125515722008-01-20T16:05:00.000-05:002008-01-20T16:05:00.000-05:00To Anon 9:20 re Mutual Funds:Truthfully, all money...To Anon 9:20 re Mutual Funds:<BR/><BR/>Truthfully, all money you put in the stock market should be considered gambling money right now. If you have debts, focus on getting out of debt - which might mean pulling out of mutual funds, etc. to pay off debts. In the great scheme of things, being out of debt is likely to be more valuable in this coming cycle than having stocks that could end up not regaining their value for another 5-10 years.Ahavahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12795309173195607578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-24902998103627016782008-01-20T13:51:00.000-05:002008-01-20T13:51:00.000-05:00TO Eisemann Survivor,Can you give us any more deta...TO Eisemann Survivor,<BR/><BR/>Can you give us any more details of the agreement that was made between the survivors and the Baltimore rabbis? I understand that you may be prohibited to discuss specifics about the abuse you endured, however any information would be helpful. People need to be aware that this man is dangerous and that he must be kept away from children.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-2850271340140790332008-01-20T13:03:00.000-05:002008-01-20T13:03:00.000-05:00Whatever the ulterior motive was, that letter was ...Whatever the ulterior motive was, that letter was a mea culpa and should be used as an example to other communities that it's time for the Establishment to admit past mistakes. As Boog said correctly, we know that the others will never do the same and express vidui and charatta. I was just making a point that they should not feel that they are any better or holier than the Baltimore rabbis. Even when you know that they will not listen, you should always offer them a chance to do tshuvah. We learn this from Moshe Rabbeinu's dealing with Pharoh. A more recent example is UOJ's dealing with Margulies and YTT.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-18093646813861907172008-01-20T04:41:00.000-05:002008-01-20T04:41:00.000-05:00Above Anon:I don't know your ability to hang on, a...Above Anon:<BR/><BR/>I don't know your ability to hang on, and don't know what sector of the economy the funds money is in.<BR/><BR/>Consumer spending decreased in December .04%...traditionally a pivotal economic indicator. The first such decrease in December, I believe, in 27 years.<BR/><BR/>A real tough call. <BR/><BR/>Hatzlacha!Paul Mendlowitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05887774341136059873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-25617735062550905902008-01-19T21:20:00.000-05:002008-01-19T21:20:00.000-05:00UOJ if I remember correct, predicted the last rate...UOJ if I remember correct, predicted the last rate cut would only be 1/4 percent and that the economy would slip into a recession afterwards. I didn't listen and I'm losing money every day in mutal funds. UOJ what should I do now? sell & cut my losses or stick it out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-42437168568297311342008-01-18T19:31:00.000-05:002008-01-18T19:31:00.000-05:00Steve,The only reason why the vaad put out the let...Steve,<BR/>The only reason why the vaad put out the letter in Baltimore was because it was part of an agreement they made with some of the Eisemann survivors and the administration of Ner Israel. The letter was to only be signed by the rabbonim of Ner Israel. Unfortunately, Shefty Neuberger et al thought it would look much better if the letter came from the vaad. They knew the article about Ephraim Shapiro was about to come out and needed to do some damage control. <BR/><BR/>The letter was nothing more the a PR event as is the program they are putting together on Feb. 20. <BR/><BR/>The rav's in the Baltimore community are no better then those in Lakewood, Crown Heights, Williamsburg, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-31233389563370775652008-01-18T15:38:00.000-05:002008-01-18T15:38:00.000-05:00"One furniture maker asked for kosher certificatio..."One furniture maker asked for kosher certification, drawing a polite rebuff."<BR/><BR/>I betcha any money with the Chumra Tzdreyter "Rabbis" we have today that Kosher certified furniture is not that far off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-85851854932057809322008-01-18T15:35:00.000-05:002008-01-18T15:35:00.000-05:00rabbinic corruption Friday, January 18, 2008rabbin...rabbinic corruption <BR/><BR/>Friday, January 18, 2008<BR/>rabbinic fraud to the MAX!!!!!! <BR/>SEE THIS EYEOPENING ARTICLE AT THIS WEBSITE EXPOSING FEMINIST RABBONIM AND PSEUDOFRUM IDEALOGIES: http://www.mishpattsedek.com/ORA-Report.htm<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>ORA Report<BR/><BR/>A Special Report on the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot<BR/><BR/>Recently an outrage was committed where a respected TALMID CHACHAM was viciously and publicly insulted and defamed. As reported in the Jewish Press on Nov. 9, 2007, with the headline "Rabbinic Rally Against Alleged Get Abuse", a protest against a Brooklyn rabbi who is a respected TALMID CHACHAM was called by Rabbi Hershel Schachter of Yeshiva University and the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot (ORA).<BR/><BR/>Attending the rally were several rabbinic advisors and supporters of ORA including Rabbi Hershel Schachter, Rabbi Kenneth Auman of the Young Israel of Flatbush, and Rabbi Hershel Billet of the Young Israel of Woodmere.<BR/><BR/>Torah law considers public humiliation to be akin to murder. Numerous witnesses at the Nov. 9 protest observed the respected TALMID CHACHAM being maligned with falsehood and attacked SHEH LO K'DERECH HATORAH by the vicious ORA protesters.<BR/><BR/>"He who publicly shames his neighbor ... though he may have Torah and good deeds, has no share in the world to come." (Pirkei Avos 3:11).<BR/><BR/>In early November 2007 a letter allegedly signed by Rabbi Hershel Schachter appeared on the website of the RCA rabbinic organization. Another letter, allegedly signed by Rabbi Hershel Schachter, appeared in late November 2007 on the RCA website. Both letters contained brazen SHEKER and MOTSI SHEM RAH against the rabbi and TALMID CHACHAM who is being targeted by Schachter and his feminist hench(wo)men.<BR/><BR/>In truth the rabbi and TALMID CHACHAM being targeted by ORA is one of the few remaining authentic rabbinic experts in GITTIN (Jewish divorce matters), and CHOSHEN MISHPAT. The said TALMID CHACHAM makes diligent and ethical efforts to resolve all divorce disputes AL PI HALACHA. ORA's true agenda is apparently to suppress and silence the few remaining rabbinic authorities who strictly adhere to authentic Torah law and values in Jewish divorce matters.<BR/><BR/>The protest mentioned above was shameful and disappointing and demonstrates how far some have traveled from the truth. It also demonstrates the tremendous feminization in many areas of of the Bais Din process and the process of obtaining a GET, and it exposes the Torah violations of those using ARCHAOS (non-Jewish courts), and those who are enabling them, two terrible transgressions.<BR/><BR/>ORA utilizes public demonstrations and other forms of pressure to coerce Jewish husbands to grant GITTIN to their wives. Mr. Joshua Ross ( Josh Ross ) of Manhattan is ORA's vice-president, and Rabbi Hershel Schachter of Yeshiva University is ORA's primary rabbinic advisor.<BR/><BR/>For some time many EHRLICH YIDDEN have been shocked and outraged at the wild, unscrupulous, and anti-HALACHIC tactics of ORA. At the protest against the TALMID CHACHAM, while a severely handicapped Jewish man was being assisted to enter the TALMID CHACHAM's home, the vicious ORA protesters shouted "FAKER" at the handicapped man. The Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) in Evan HaEzer considers such cruelty to be a sign of non-Jewish ancestry !!!<BR/><BR/>Josh Ross (a YU student in his 20's) and the ORA organization have inflicted unjustified abuse and harassment against a number of decent Jewish men who are dealing with marriage or divorce issues, but who are in compliance with HALACHA. It is truely outrageous that Rabbi Hershel Schachter, a person considered a Torah scholar in the "Modern Orthodox" world, would be involved in a protest disgracing and defaming a respected TALMUD CHACHAM. On a number of occasions various activists have informed Rabbi Schachter that Josh Ross was involved in activities SH'LO K'HALACHA and SH'LO K'YASHRUSH. No apparent action was taken to correct Ross's behavior.<BR/><BR/>Now we see the same kind of reckless irresponsibility, where false statements are being made that a respected TALMUD CHACHAM (the target of the protest) is allegedly issuing HETER MEAH RABBANIM. Upon careful investigation, we were unable to determine the name of even one man who had obtained a HETER MEAH RABBANIM from the TALMUD CHACHAM who was targeted by the protest!<BR/><BR/>Fraudulent Seruvim Against Decent Men<BR/><BR/>A valid SERUV under Jewish law is a document issued by a reputable and KOSHER rabbinic court indicating that a Jew has been found in violation of a rabbinic court order. Bogus and fraudulent SERUVIM are being wielded on a more frequent basis to justify the vicious harassment and abuse of various decent Jewish men. An unsuspecting Jewish public is not aware of the extent of the invalid SERUV abuses. The Jewish Press and the ORA organization have eagerly publicized a number of these so-called SERUVIM in an attempt to create an appearance of halachic legitimacy to their coercion and abuse against Jewish husbands.<BR/><BR/>In the Justice Denied section of this site, a number of these PASUL (fraudulent) SERUVIM have been exposed. Bogus SERUVIM may be invalid for a number of reasons. For example, a PASUL SERUV may lack the name, address, and phone number of a real Bais Din, or else a SERUV may be PASUL because the defendant was willing to appear before another Bais Din (not the one he was summoned to), or else a SERUV may be PASUL because the plaintiff in Bais Din was litigating in a non-Jewish court while attempting to use a Bais Din only to obtain a GET.<BR/><BR/>Numerous Jewish women have had valid and KOSHER SERUVIM issued against them after they had utilized non-Jewish courts against their husbands in violation of HALACHA. Yet it appears that neither the Jewish Press, nor the ORA organization, nor any of the "Modern Orthodox" pro-feminist organizations have EVER published the names of any of the numerous women who have had valid SERUVIM issued against them!!!<BR/><BR/>Using these kinds of "tactics" of publishing bogus SEIRUVIM (against men only) in the Jewish Press and on the ORA website is another example of unscrupulousness that makes people question the authenticity of various "players" in the BAIS DIN system today. In fact according to HALACHA the persons responsible for these tactics deserve CHEREM, not their victims.<BR/><BR/>"For 24 actions we ostracize a person ... (1) One who disgraces a Talmid Chacham ... (24) Those who ostracize one who has not incurred ostracizing ..." (Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law), Yoreh Deah 334:43).<BR/><BR/>OZER L'MOSRIM<BR/><BR/>In many cases women being assisted by ORA and the Jewish Press are utilizing non-Jewish courts in violation of HALACHA. Many of these women are or have engaged in MESIRAH against their husbands, one of the most serious AVEIROS in HALACHA, for which a Jew loses their OLAM HABAAH. Thus ORA and its rabbis and activists are protesting to champion the cases of certain women demanding GITTIN, even though these women may have the status of MOSRIM, and even though they are not conducting proper halachic BAIS DIN processes. These women and their supporters seem to figure - Why bother to appear before a BAIS DIN if we can obtain a bogus SEIRUV and scream AGUNAH?<BR/><BR/>There is certainly an increasing number of Jewish women attempting to dance at two CHASUNAS at the same time - by litigating in secular courts to get a better deal (K'NEGED HALACHA) and then attempting to utilize BAIS DIN only to obtain their GET afterwards. This unfortunately has been allowed in too many cases by spineless BATEI DIN who either due to profit motives or feminist influences take a very benign docile attitude in insisting that these women immediately withdraw from secular courts, stop the terrible transgression of MESIRAH, and cease throwing their husbands in jail with phony orders of protection. This whole system has caused various RABBANIM ranging from R. J.K. Bleich in America and New York to GADOLIM in Eretz Yisrael to question the validity of many GITTIN that are "coerced" in NY.<BR/><BR/>Coerced and PASUL GITTIN<BR/><BR/>No Jewish man is required to give his wife a GET just because the ORA feminists "paskened" that he is required to do so!<BR/><BR/>The fact of the matter is that one does not have to be a significant Torah scholar, (perhaps now with the feminist influences one does have to be a significant scholar) to know that just because a woman demands a GET, she is NOT entitled to break up her family and obtain a GET. This can only be decided in an authentic BAIS DIN setting that adjudicates the entire issue and rules that the husband is CHAYAV L'GARESHA (that the husband is required to divorce her). Anything less that such a ruling does not obligate a man to give a GET. EHRLICHE RABBANIM will say that its extremely important, lacking that PSAK, not to coerce the husband financially or socially, or to coerce him to give a GET as this will call into question the entire validity of the GET.<BR/><BR/>All disputes between a husband and wife must be resolved according to HALACHA before a GET procedure is performed. Both husband and wife are prohibited from making any new claims against each other after a GET is provided in a Bais Din, and all the more so in civil courts. The Ramo in Evan HaEzer, Seder HaGet, paragraph 81, clearly proscribes this, and Rav Moshe Feinstein Z"TL says that for many centuries no GET is given until all fiscal and other matters are settled. A woman who litigates in civil court after she receives her GET may very well invalidate the GET.<BR/><BR/>The activities of the ORA organization, and certain other "AGUNAH" organizations are resulting in coerced and PASUL GITTIN, along with grave injustices against various Jewish men and their families. There have been numerous reports of various Jewish men being harassed and abused by ORA. These are cases of decent men who are NOT obligated under HALACHA to give their wives a GET.<BR/><BR/>At times the infirm and elderly relatives of certain men have allegedly been subjected to abusive protests by ORA. There have also been reports that ORA has allegedly contacted the employers of some Jewish men in order to pressure the men into giving GITTIN to their wives - see the NY State police report reproduced at the end of this article.<BR/><BR/>Until recently, on the home page of ORA's web site www.getora.com, it stated that "An agunah is a woman whose husband refuses to grant her a Jewish divorce upon request." By this statement ORA revealed its true anti-TORAH, anti-family agenda. There appears to be no halachic source which can validate this fantastic claim. We consulted with a number of highly learned, senior rabbis, who specialize in Jewish divorce law. None of the rabbis we consulted were able to cite any source for ORA's definition of an "agunah" in any Jewish law texts. At least one learned rabbi this writer spoke with characterized ORA's definition of an "agunah" as being apikorsos.<BR/><BR/>The "Reformadox" Movements<BR/><BR/>ORA and other "agunah" organizations attempt to portray themselves as operating within the parameters of HALACHA, but they are clearly violating some of the most serious Torah prohibitions.<BR/><BR/>ORA could be characterized as a "Reformadox" movement - a movement which pretends to be adhering to Orthodox Jewish law by publicly practicing Jewish rituals like Shabbos and Kashrus, while privately promoting an anti-Torah, anti-male, new age feminist ideology.<BR/><BR/>As stated in the "Bitul Seruv" letter (in the Justice Denied - LA page of this site):<BR/><BR/>"... the "ORA" group - shamefully known for their disgraceful actions against the Torah - under the auspices of Josh Ross ( Yehoshua Ross AKA Yehoshua Zev), to whom many False and invalid GITTIN could be credited - which is causing the sin of ESHES EISH and ARAYOS to be allowed, as well as MAMZERIM B'MACHANEINU, [a Get obtained through such practices should be deemed highly questionable and most likely invalid PASUL, it makes one wonder why she would want a GET at all as required by the Torah, since they are violating many other severe laws of the Torah anyway!]<BR/><BR/>They (ORA) are following the crooked way of the Reform movement, as if in every conflict between husband and wife - the wife has to have the upper hand - to be able to force him to give a GET while depriving him of his rights, as well as in every detail of the conflict she has to have it all according to her wishes. And a husband who is willing to give his wife a GET, but insists on his basic human and halachic rights, is immediately being overwhelmed and publicized falsely as a (disobedient person) and is being shamed, humiliated and embarrassed as though he is a SARBAN (chaining) his wife, while quite the contrary, whereby the wife would only want a GET in a way that deprives her husband of his rights, it is only the wife that is chaining herself rather than the husband chaining her."<BR/><BR/>Several questions beg themselves: Why has Rabbi Schachter not spoken out about the numerous women using non-Jewish courts and committing MESIRAH, while being assisted by ORA? Is Rabbi Schachter in favor of forcing husbands to give GITTIN while their wives are in court and jailing their husbands? Can Rabbi Schachter's "Modern Orthodoxy" be considered authentic Torah Judaism or is it in reality a type of Reform in disguise? <BR/><BR/>A COURSE FOR THE ORTHODOX JEWISH COMMUNITY<BR/><BR/>We believe Torah law forbids assisting or participating in protests against decent, HALACHA observing rabbis and men unless and until a kosher, HALACHA observant, non-corrupt, non-feminist, and non-politicized Bais Din authorized such a protest.<BR/><BR/>No Jew who observes the Torah should support or assist in any way any persons or organizations which promote any violations of HALACHA, and especially severe violations of HALACHA.<BR/><BR/>We believe HALACHA requires that the Orthodox Jewish Community refrain from supporting or assisting ORA in any way, and HALACHA also requires Jews to refrain from supporting or assisting any other such organizations involved in coercing GITTIN, assisting MOSRIM, and publicly shaming KOSHER Rabbis and Jews.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Page Two of a New York State Police Report<BR/>Re: Abusive Communications Allegedly Made by Josh Ross of the ORA Organization Against a Monsey Man<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Page Three of a New York State Police Report<BR/>Re: Abusive Communications Allegedly Made by Josh Ross of the ORA Organization Against a Monsey Man<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Copyright © 2007 by Mishpat Tsedek. All Rights Reserved.<BR/><BR/>[ Agunot-ORA ] [ Beis Din ] [ Domestic Violence ] [ Erev Rav ] [ Jewish <BR/><BR/>Posted by shalom67 at 10:46 AM 0 comments <BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Sunday, January 13, 2008<BR/>RCC rabbinical Corruption in california <BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>In the recent case of the "MOSER" relating to the "Spinker"money laundering scandal, I found it pathetic that once again Shachter, from Riets in NYC, and the RCC of California have been quoted as saying that in financial matters "its prohibited to inform the authorities against another jew".What hippocrits they and other rabbis are who allow women to JAIL their husbands or ex-husband in matters relating to finances;be it in divorce proceedings,child support arrears,or a means to extort a GET.There is no basis to have a person jailed in ANY case other than when this person is a danger and menace to society.Such as a rapist,robber,molester,wife beater,child abuser or predator.It is a fact that in many jails today,men are raped or beaten by other scum in the jail,because our system doesnt always put a "nice jew with a nice Goy"!! See this link where rabbi shachter own words prohibit it! http://www.torahweb.org/torah/special/2007/rsch_mesirah.html I abhor and am disgusted with Rabbis who bend the rules where they see fit to meet their agenda.So no rabbi shachter,no rabbi belski,no rabbi union,no rabbi landesman,no rabbi bryks,no rabbi ralbag, no rabbi kohn, ETC,ETC,ETC.......... A HETER ARKOOS IS UNCALLED FOR WHEN THE MAN DOESNT POSE A DANGER TO HIS WIFE OR CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) <BR/>Blog Archive<BR/>▼ 2008 (2) <BR/>▼ January (2) <BR/>rabbinic fraud to the MAX!!!!!! <BR/>RCC rabbinical Corruption in californiaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-6248038411101378732008-01-18T13:42:00.000-05:002008-01-18T13:42:00.000-05:00Rabbis On The Take - WHOLESALE!-------------------...Rabbis On The Take - WHOLESALE!<BR/>-----------------------<BR/> <BR/>Bloomberg Press<BR/> <BR/>China Goes Kosher as Exporters Use Rabbis to Reassure Consumers <BR/><BR/>By Mark Drajem<BR/><BR/>Jan. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Chinese exporters, facing a U.S. backlash over tainted food products, are turning to an unlikely group of inspectors to help clean up their act: Jewish rabbis. <BR/><BR/>Kosher certifications by rabbis have doubled to more than 300 in China in the past two years, according to the Orthodox Union, a New York-based organization that does inspections. The group expects thousands more plants to get certified in the next few years, covering everything from spices and chemical additives to frozen berries, sliced garlic and beef. <BR/><BR/>Chinese exporters, eager to gain access to the $11.5 billion U.S. kosher market, had already begun seeking the certifications before the uproar over contaminated seafood, toothpaste and pet food began last year. Now, after a rush of recalls, the rabbis say the companies are paying for the inspections to ease growing concern among U.S. consumers about imports from China. <BR/><BR/>``When we certify a product, consumers know there is another pair of eyes'' on it, said Mordechai Grunberg, an American rabbi whose seven-member team examines Chinese factories, scans company books, and even drops in for surprise inspections to ensure the biblical dietary laws are followed. <BR/><BR/>The surge of kosher certifications hasn't come without hiccups. Many Chinese companies were unfamiliar with the concept: One furniture maker asked for kosher certification, drawing a polite rebuff. Another facility asked to get certified as kosher even though it was smoking eel on site, a kosher no- no. The company was turned down; it is now building a separate, kosher-only facility. <BR/><BR/>Jarred by Grilling <BR/><BR/>And many companies weren't ready for the grilling the rabbis gave them on their first visits to their plants, seeing it as a sign of distrust. ``In China, everything works on relationships,'' said Grunberg of the Orthodox Union, which certifies more than 400,000 products worldwide. <BR/><BR/>Grunberg first traveled to China in 1981 in what would have been the first kosher-certification there. It didn't work out. His translator failed to meet him at the airport and his hotel had rats. Grunberg didn't bother to examine the facility, instead returning to New York the next day. <BR/><BR/>``It was a trip wasted,'' he said in a telephone interview from Israel, where he lives. When he returned two decades later, ``it was a different China.'' <BR/><BR/>Now, kosher ``is part of the vernacular'' as companies there try to take advantage of the U.S. market, he said. <BR/><BR/>Fully half the Chinese exports to the U.S. of $2.5 billion a year in food ingredients, such as coloring agents and preservatives, are kosher, up 150 percent from two years ago, the Orthodox Union estimates. <BR/><BR/>`Phenomenal' <BR/><BR/>``We are experiencing phenomenal growth,'' said Rabbi Moshe Elefant, chief operating officer of the kosher-certification body. <BR/><BR/>While the rabbis see to it that the products adhere to such laws as prohibitions on pork and the mixing of meat and dairy, they don't perform scientific food-safety tests. <BR/><BR/>``There is definitely marketing power to have a kosher symbol on products,'' said Mark Overland, who directs the kosher and organic department at Cargill Inc., the largest U.S. agricultural company. ``But it would be a misnomer to equate kosher with food safety.'' <BR/><BR/>Many consumers disagree. Buyers of kosher products -- the majority of whom in the U.S. are non-Jews -- are seeking healthy and safe products, according to a 2005 survey by Lubicom, a marketing firm specializing in kosher products. <BR/><BR/>Plant Codes <BR/><BR/>And one of the kosher safety measures has already been seized on by Chinese regulators since the U.S. began cracking down on the imports. Since 2001, the Orthodox Union has required makers of products it certifies as kosher to place a code on their packages identifying the plant where it was made so the product can be traced in a recall. In September, Chinese regulators began requiring the same code on all food exports. <BR/><BR/>For Chinese companies, the benefits are clear amid increasing scrutiny from foreign consumers. More than two-thirds of Americans say food and product recalls have dimmed their view of Chinese-made products, according to a poll released last month. <BR/><BR/>For Nanjing Biotogether Co., certification is a prerequisite for selling fructose, salts and amino acids to U.S. makers of sports drinks, pharmaceuticals and food flavoring. Exports may soar to 450 million yuan ($62 million) in the first year since it got the kosher stamp last June, more than 11 times the previous year's total, said sales manager Wu Yonghong. <BR/><BR/>`Vote of Confidence' <BR/><BR/>Zhoushan Genho Food Co., in eastern China's Zhejiang province, got its frozen tuna fillets certified as kosher last August. Its sales have picked up, too. <BR/><BR/>``At a time of renewed international scrutiny on quality and safety, any additional stamp of approval or certification is equivalent to a vote of confidence,'' said sales manager Chen Xing. <BR/><BR/>While food companies say they already use many comprehensive safety procedures, analysts say they have a lot to learn. <BR/><BR/>``If unsafe food is getting through, then someone has dropped the ball,'' said James Morehouse, a senior partner at A.T. Kearney in Chicago and lead author of a study on China's food-safety system. ``The rabbis are an example of a working inspection system.'' <BR/><BR/>To contact the reporter on this story: Mark Drajem in Washington at mdrajem@bloomberg.netPaul Mendlowitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05887774341136059873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-23469602675333040852008-01-18T12:48:00.000-05:002008-01-18T12:48:00.000-05:00Rabbi Steven Weil - a good man - yet chooses to le...Rabbi Steven Weil - a good man - yet chooses to let Shalom Tendler in his shul.<BR/><BR/>Shalom Tendler is a despicable creature - and has done more damage to Judaism than the Spinka and Robert Kassirer combined.<BR/><BR/>Rabbi Weil - time to stop speaking out of both sides of your mouth! It smells real bad!Paul Mendlowitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05887774341136059873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-17584823270543625392008-01-18T12:47:00.000-05:002008-01-18T12:47:00.000-05:00UOJ Wrote; C'mon...put your hands together for the...UOJ Wrote; C'mon...put your hands together for the good rabbi who may be on the run:-)<BR/><BR/><BR/>Please also thank the Mishpocho Magazine for printing Rabbi Horowitz's article!<BR/>They deserve a thank you as well!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-14479677665705808342008-01-18T12:43:00.000-05:002008-01-18T12:43:00.000-05:00As the United States Congress passed legislation i...As the United States Congress passed legislation in the form of Sarbanes-Oxley to eradicate corporate malfeasance, so too must State Legislatures pass compliance legislation to institute Mandatory Fingerprinting, Registries, Background checks, and Reporting of all Personnel for Yeshivas/Mosdos.<BR/><BR/>You can talk all you want about Dass Toiyreh, self-policing has been clearly shown to not work and it will not work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-62581457252868975232008-01-18T12:32:00.000-05:002008-01-18T12:32:00.000-05:00(Lakewood, NJ) Looking For More Information on An ...(Lakewood, NJ) Looking For More Information on An Alleged sex offend <BR/>Posted by: "vickipolin@aol.com" vickipolin@aol.com shoshanaavigail <BR/><BR/>Rumors have been floating around that an orthodox rabbi who resides in Lakewood, NJ has been molesting high school aged boarders in his home for years. <BR/>The Vaad in Lakewood was made aware of the situation and handled the case quietly and discretely. They never reported the case to the child abuse hot line or <BR/>law enforcement. Instead they made an agreement with the rav that he would no longer taken boarders. Like in many Chassidic families this rabbi has many <BR/>of his own under age children still living at home. If the rumors are true that means the Rabbi's own children are also at risk of harm. <BR/><BR/>If anyone has more information or were abused by this Lakewood rabbi, please contact The Awareness Center immediately. 443-857-5560 or vickipolin@aol. comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-17404780264125576992008-01-18T08:03:00.000-05:002008-01-18T08:03:00.000-05:00Steve;You're deluding yourself if you think, even ...Steve;<BR/><BR/>You're deluding yourself if you think, even for a moment, that the "Rabbis" in other Precincts will voluntarily take/advocate these steps/measures. Never will happen.<BR/><BR/>What happened in Baltimore was an isolated "Full-Moon" 'out-of-body'<BR/>Twilight Zone(Doo-Doo-Doo-Doo)experience.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>I've said this several times before on this Blog:<BR/><BR/><BR/>All Yeshivas clearly understand and appreciate one thing: MONEY. Hit 'em in the pocket.<BR/><BR/>Therefore the only way that Yeshivas will have Mandatory Fingerprinting, Sex Registry, Mandatory Background Checks, and Mandatory Reporting is if it is enacted by the respective State Legislatures accompanied by very $tiff penalties in the form of loss of all Financial Aid, Tuition Credits, Bus Service, and removal of State Regents Accreditation for the English Departments. Annual Review and Compliance are to be made Mandatory.(I know some wags will opine that with the state of the Yeshiva English departments today you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Vy can't Yossi Read and speak Henglish?) But that's a horse to be rode another time and day.<BR/><BR/>Unless and until these measures are enacted into Law, progress in accomplishing the eradication and removal of sex predators and pedophiles from our yeshivas and all Mosdos will be slow and painful and result in more Tyreh Yiddeshe Neshomos being served up to the Molech.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-45316565154839792802008-01-18T04:03:00.000-05:002008-01-18T04:03:00.000-05:00Michael Steinhardt, the famed Jewish philanthropis...Michael Steinhardt, the famed Jewish philanthropist wrote in the pages of this newspaper on July 28, 2006: "We are donors to universities, museums, orchestras and hospitals, but when it comes to Jewish philanthropy, we fall short. Today, perhaps 20 percent or less of Jewish giving goes to Jewish causes.... Of the $5.3 billion in megagifts given by America's wealthiest Jews between 1995 and 2000, a mere 6 percent went to Jewish institutions……. Only 11 percent of Jews donate over $1,000 to Jewish causes."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-89438777070831971272008-01-18T03:58:00.000-05:002008-01-18T03:58:00.000-05:00http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=1...http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=18795<BR/><BR/>"You call yourself a tzaddik, you're a liar!" Rabbi Steven Weil told his congregation in a fiery speech from the pulpit last Shabbat, regarding someone who acts very religious but may be involved in stealing, lying or cheating. <BR/><BR/>The rabbi of Beth Jacob, an Orthodox congregation in Beverly Hills, was reacting to the Spinka case, in which eight ultra-Orthodox men were indicted for tax fraud and money laundering.<BR/><BR/>A member of Beth Jacob is alleged to have been involved in the scheme, and served as a subject of the three-part speech. Robert Kasirer, the state's confidential witness, has donated funds to the synagogue, including a kollel named for his father, Jacob Kasirer, and machzors (high holiday prayer books) embossed with the family name. <BR/><BR/>Weil declined to be interviewed for this article, saying his speech was a private sermon for community members and not for publication. But past-president Marc Rohatiner confirmed the content of the three-part speech. Firstly, Weil condemned the alleged actions in the Spinka case, noting that the United States government has treated the Jewish community wonderfully, and that there is no excuse for defrauding the government.<BR/><BR/>"He said that when non-Jews look at our behavior, they don't look at whether you keep Shabbos or wear tzitzit or keep kosher, they look at how you treat your employees, how you deal with the government, are you an honest and straightforward person?" Rohatiner recounted. <BR/><BR/>Actions like these play into negative stereotypes about Jews, Weil said. <BR/><BR/>Shul President Steve Tabak then announced that "at the request of Robert Kasirer and with the agreement of Beth Jacob," Kasirer will remove his family's name from Kollel (the adult learning center and its program), the Torahs and from the prayer books.<BR/><BR/>Weil, who has come under fire for evicting members from synagogue, then resumed his speech and said that they will not "engage in collective punishment" by barring the family from the shul. Kasirer was not one of the anonymous donors who contributed to the purchase of a new lot for Beth Jacob, Weil said. <BR/><BR/>Weil concluded by saying no one should point fingers at other religious Jews. He did not talk about the issue of moser (being a Jewish informant on other Jews).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-16514098936511259572008-01-18T03:37:00.000-05:002008-01-18T03:37:00.000-05:00http://jewishsurvivors.blogspot.com/2008/01/watch-...http://jewishsurvivors.blogspot.com/2008/01/watch-panel-discussion-on-child-sexual.html#6260201398709832662<BR/><BR/>Anonymous said... <BR/>Besides Eisemann, there's still a sex offender on the loose at NIRC. He has a connection to the dorms.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-39847576757396191552008-01-18T03:33:00.000-05:002008-01-18T03:33:00.000-05:00To all who ask about Daas Torah consulting. Many o...To all who ask about Daas Torah consulting. Many of the victims were were molested by the "Daas Torah" who you are encouraging them to ask. Al Tadin Es Chaverecha Ad Shetageeya Le'mekomo. Until you have had a Daas Torah in places that you never imagined that Daas Torah could possibly ever be present do not play the Holy Card of "did you ask Daas Torah". The same way that you have no idea of who the victims are you also don't know who the Daas Torah really is either. Do a little homework.If you are reading this then you are already on the internet. (which is also against the very "Daas Torah" of which you allude to. Perhaps it has to do with exposing the travesty which they perpetrated against so many and taking away their ability to control what information you get. But that is another subject altogether) Give your mouse a little workout. It will not be very hard to find the "Daas Torah Enablers" who have swept this all under the carpet for Many years and listened to the victims with their fingers in their ears while humming loudly. So please, stick that argument in your pipe and smoke it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-22617585024907433742008-01-18T03:26:00.000-05:002008-01-18T03:26:00.000-05:00http://www.observer.com/2008/shiller-new-york-we-r...http://www.observer.com/2008/shiller-new-york-we-re-ancient-rome-right-fall <BR/><BR/>Shiller on New York: We're Ancient Rome, Right Before the Fall <BR/><BR/>Yale economics professor Robert Shiller famously predicted the death of the dotcom boom. He’s been warning about a real estate bubble for years, but now he says New York will self-destruct if prices don’t come down: ‘It can’t keep going like this!’<BR/><BR/>by Max Abelson | January 15, 2008<BR/><BR/>Location: You’ve been warning of a national real estate collapse since 2005. Do you feel vindicated by last year’s downturn?<BR/><BR/>Mr. Shiller: Well, I don’t like to use the word vindicated, but it is unraveling as more or less I expected. <BR/><BR/>When your S&P/Case-Shiller index of home prices came out last year showing record drops, you said things hadn’t been this bad nationally since the Second World War. Yet the sub-prime mortgage scandal hasn’t much affected Manhattan. Are we immune?<BR/><BR/>Firstly, you’re definitely not immune, OK? Manhattan is a unique place, and that does mean that it has different dynamics, but it’s not immune, I can guarantee you that … If it gets too expensive in New York, people will leave it, no matter what—they can’t afford to live there. And so it’s just not true that New York will keep appreciating independently of everywhere else, I just don’t believe it. Elementary economics say people will always substitute away when the price gets too high, and so they’re doing that.<BR/><BR/>What will the bursting of the real estate bubble in New York look and feel like? <BR/><BR/>It will probably start showing synchrony with the rest of the country, and it will happen very gradually, it will start slowing down. If we’re going into a recession, it won’t be that exceptional, people won’t be that surprised.<BR/><BR/>Our real estate boom since the 90’s is unrivaled, you’ve said, even by the post-war baby boom. So would it be normal, even desirable, for it to end?<BR/><BR/>It would be a great thing for New York if prices came down, because more interesting people would move in. Your artists can’t afford to live there anymore … They’ll move out of Brooklyn, they won’t be anywhere nearby.<BR/><BR/>You’ve suggested the Internet boom was ‘a silly, in fact embarrassing fad.’ But will the New York City real estate obsession ever die?<BR/><BR/>Did you know that the world financial center [of the 1600’s], Amsterdam, created a second city called New Amsterdam? And it’s the world financial center today. Amsterdam hasn’t gone up! It’s the satellite city, called New York now, that’s replaced it … New York will set up satellites; we’re starting to do that with Greenwich and Stamford and I don’t know where else, and it doesn’t have to stay there. The idea that it’s just going to keep going up, especially with the Internet age, which makes communications more easy, I just don’t think it’s reasonable to think it’s just going to keep getting more and more expensive.<BR/><BR/>So we’ll be replaced? <BR/><BR/>That’s right. People like urban living, I think we’ll see a movement toward building more urban centers. Manhattan is a symbol for a kind of living that people find very attractive … [Scholars] are arguing that zoning has to be rethought. We have to create new Manhattans, there’s a demand for them. It’s too expensive in Manhattan, there’s no reason why we can’t have a brand-new one somewhere. We just have to build it, plan it all out, a planned city, put it somewhere where land is really cheap, on the coast somewhere with a good location.<BR/><BR/>A New Yorker wouldn’t believe the city would be replaced! ‘Boom psychology’ is the egoism that investors get during good times. When that dissipates, it’s bad for the economy. So can New York’s cockiness be a good thing?<BR/><BR/>No, I don’t think it’s a good thing. I think it has encouraged people to push prices up too high, and that creates all kinds of distortions. Unfortunately people have trouble maintaining an even keel; we go through waves of optimism and then maybe excessive pessimism.<BR/><BR/>If New York’s unique, even among the so-called superstar cities, what’s our kryptonite? What could potentially bring us down?<BR/><BR/>I was just in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Bank of America headquarters, and they moved their headquarters from San Francisco. Why did they do that? Because it got so awfully expensive in San Francisco. Of course San Francisco is another superstar city. I asked people [who relocated to Charlotte], ‘Do you regret it?’ What do you think they said? They said ‘No, I have a two-acre lot, and I have a horse, and we just love it here’ … There’s always going to be something unique about New York, but you know sometimes these unique places are surprisingly not expensive.<BR/><BR/>I’m 23 and making under $30,000, and so of course I hate the expensiveness of this city. And yet I think you’re underestimating New York.<BR/><BR/>It’s a little bit like Rome. I don’t know if you’ve ever read what Roman historians say: People in that city, I’m talking about ancient Rome, there were poets who extolled it, it must have been an amazing place. I wish I could go back in a time machine, it must have been something! The Roman Empire centralized on Rome more than the U.S. does on New York; in fact their whole country was named after Rome … They definitely had great feeling for that city, and it’s still there, and it’s still a neat city. But it went through some bad periods, if you look at history: Really bad periods when it fell into decay! So it’s kind of up and down, and I think that’s the typical history of cities. Rome has not always been expensive.<BR/><BR/>What’s the psychological factor to a real estate bubble? <BR/><BR/>The human species is very empathetic; they connect with each other … We get the excitement—you get a sense of excitement of a boom. I was in Silicon Valley in the late 90’s, and I was at the hotel breakfast, listening to people at the tables, they were hatching these excited businesses, all sitting on the edge of their seats. There was a sense of euphoria, and it does infect everyone else.<BR/><BR/>Is the tip-top of the high-end market vulnerable, or is it protected because there will always be enough billionaires who want to grab up the small amount of trophy properties?<BR/><BR/>The point of the [Christopher] Mayer and [Todd] Sinai “Superstar Cities” paper is that income inequality is worsening in the U.S. and it’s worsening around the world. And their point about superstar cities is that they are increasingly populated by the super-rich, not just New York … Where will it go from here? The “Superstar Cities” people seem to think that it’s just a law of nature and will continue, but I wonder … The idea that Manhattan is going to be this super-rich city in the midst of a country where more and more people are having trouble, where these low-income wages are not going up? I don’t know! I just wouldn’t bet on it. I’m not talking about this election, but eventually something has a chance of happening that’s going to stop this.<BR/><BR/>A hedge-fund guy is paying $46 million, a New York record, for a co-op apartment this month. As long as there’s a single buyer willing to pay $46 million for a co-op, can we say the apartment is fundamentally worth $46 million? Or is the price inflated?<BR/><BR/>I would say the question is whether this is temporary or not. What I mean by inflated is that I don’t think it’s going to stay—it’s not going to hold. It happens all the time that some rich person pays way too much for something, and so he’ll discover that when he tries to sell it.<BR/><BR/>In 2003, New York magazine asked, ‘Is This the Year the BUBBLE BURSTS?’ and ‘crash’ cover stories have followed annually. At what point is a bubble no longer a bubble, just the normal state of affairs?<BR/><BR/>It can’t keep going like this! What’s it been going up, like 10 percent a year? That compounds. Eventually it compounds into something astronomical. It can’t be … You’ve got to really remember that this has been an unusual period, very unusual period, for Manhattan and for the country.<BR/><BR/>You’ve said that ‘a fundamental weakness of our free-market system is that, especially during boom periods, there tends to be a decline in ethical standards.’<BR/><BR/>I can’t speak specifically to New York, but there has been a decline in ethics in the real estate industry nationwide. A lot of mortgages were issued to people who shouldn’t have bought them, and they weren’t warned about interest rate resets and things like that.<BR/><BR/>Which was more dangerous, the dotcom bubble or the real estate bubble? <BR/><BR/>Interesting question—I think the real estate boom is more dangerous to our economy, because real estate is held more widely, and the effects on confidence are likely to be more severe, because it’s our homes now that are going down.<BR/><BR/>Two years ago, the chief executive of huge homebuilder Toll Brothers said: ‘Shiller is predicting the mountain goes into the sea. He’s selling himself.’ Toll just had their first quarterly loss in 21 years.<BR/><BR/>Their stock, I’m trying to remember, soared just like the NASDAQ stocks in the 90’s. I guess they didn’t appreciate anyone criticizing their optimism, investors were really believing in them, and they were doing extremely well because of the boom. Of course, they’re not going to want to hear it’s temporary.<BR/><BR/>Have you invested in property in New York City? <BR/><BR/>No. Hah.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21519732.post-45642989392406873882008-01-18T03:10:00.000-05:002008-01-18T03:10:00.000-05:00Avrohom Meir Gluck - Your response in regards to t...Avrohom Meir Gluck - <BR/>Your response in regards to the reaction of the gedolim is exactly what people have been saying all these years: "Trust them. They're acting behind the scenes. They're handling it." Grandiose claims with absolutely nothing concrete. With all due respect, these are empty words until they are backed up with some substantial proof. I've heard all my life that I should trust the gedolim. And I've tried to. But why should anyone trust them that they are doing anything at all when it seems clear that the problem has been festering for years and only getting worse? Why should they be trusted to have been on top of the situation when we all know of people who remained in their positions with access to children and freedom to act as they please, despite there being years of suspicions about them? I ask this not to attack, but to sincerely inquire, on what should we be basing our trust? I would love to trust them, but tell me why they deserve that trust. Please, give me something solid, anything at all!, on which I can rest my hope that they have not been negligent in this matter. <BR/><BR/>> The gedolim do not resort to forums such as this one or 'kol koreis'... <BR/><BR/>I don't expect them to be using blogs, but if they had something to say they have ways of getting a message out. They have publications. They have spokespeople. They have events where they speak to the public. For crying out loud, they have a national organization with influence in Washington! The fact that they are virtually silent on this matter is, to me, an unequivocal indictment of their lack of action in this matter. <BR/><BR/>You say that three "well known gedolim" spoke to your staff? Well, why don't they speak to the public? Why don't you tell us who they are? Why can't they tell us what steps they've taken to redress these problems? Why can't they be asked what they advised victims to do when people confided in them? <BR/><BR/>Some might say that it's disrespectful to pose these question to gedolim. But in any other society, it's expected that leaders of a community or institution would be posed these questions when problems under their leadership are revealed. That's what responsibility is about. Asking for answers is not disrespectful. It's simple accountability. Don't we deserve to know the truth of how our leaders our leading us?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com