Yesterday's post about Five New York and New Jersey rabbis being arrested in connection with a money laundering scheme, and the Star-Ledger's coverage of the story drew many heated comments including one from "DK" who wrote:
"Now is not a good time to whine about anti-Semitism". (Ital. mine)
It's never a good time to whine, DK, and I wasn't. I was simply raising questions about the underlying resentments against Syrian Jews in particular, which may have inappropriately shaped the coverage of the story. And other comments on that post more than justify those concerns. The concerns of yesterday though, in no way excuse the self-serving apologetics being offered up by members of the community.
I appreciate that this is a painful and embarrassing moment for the community, but when leaders like David G. Greenfield tells us that he is "shocked" because the actions of those arrested "go against every value and teaching the community holds dear", you have to wonder.
The sense that this community is a law unto itself has been an issue for decades. In fact, that problem is reflected in one of the most famous rulings of its previous chief rabbi, Jacob S. Kassin, father of the now arrested chief rabbi, Saul J. Kassin.
In 1935, Rabbi Kassin the elder declared that marriage to converts was not allowed. With that pronouncement, he placed himself above 2,000 years of Jewish law which recognizes the full equality of converts and born Jews. And by putting himself in that position, intentionally or not, he sent the message that his was a community that functioned as law unto themselves.
When any group believes that they are a law unto themselves, abuse is sure to follow. Whatever happens in this case, that issue must be addressed by members of the community. If they don't, and ethnicity is allowed to trump ethics, then they will have nobody to blame but themselves for the anger directed against them.
This is moment in time, both because of these events and where we stand in the Jewish calendar - just days before Tisha B'av , when the tradition invites introspection. I hope that the community has the moral courage to undertake such introspection and those outside it have the sensitivity and discipline to allow them to do so without being humiliated.
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Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 
OK.. THE ERR OF THE 5'S RABBIS..SORRY RABBBBIES?/ ARE NOT THAT OF OVERWHELMING MISTERIES TO OVERLAP THE COVERED GOOD BEHIND THE MASQUERADE OF MALEFICIOUS MINDS INVOLVED IN SAVING THE RICH BY KILLING THE POOR??? AMAZED THE WORLD MAY BE ...BUT WHEN THEIR CONNECTION TO THIS RING OF BESTIALITY AND INHUMAN TRAGEDY IS EVOLVING INTO A EVERYDAY SITUATION AS... IN DO THEY NEW ?? THE ORGANS COME FROM THE POOR DEATH AND WAS OFFERED TO THEM BY OTHER 44 PERSONS IN THAT... THE SAME RING?? ITS CONFUSING.. SOME WAY ALONG THE LINE.. WHO STARTED TO LIE TO THE RABBBBI'S? IN THE SHAPE OF ANIMALISTIC BEHAVIOR? IN ORDER FOR JEWS TO SUCUMMBED TO THE CRIME COMMITTED IN THE NAME OF THOSE THAT CAN PAY AND AFFORD TO MAKE THIS CRIME VIABLE TO RABBI'S? A BIG 44 PEOPLE INVOLVED OTHER THAN THE MERE AND ONLY 5 JEWS...WHO'S PERFORMED THE BUY AND SALE IN THE NAME OF DETERRED THE DEATH OF THE RICH?? THE RICH PAYING FOR IT?THE 44 PERSONS INVOLVED? OR THE 5 JEWS?
First of all, the nottion that Rabbi Kassin "placed himself above the law" represents a total ignorance of the "Takkanah" regarding conversion. this was not only doen by Rabbi Kassin but by Rabbis of OTHER Syrian communities -- worried about insincere conversions done for the sake of the ealth of the community. It was not a step taken lightly and should not be cited as an example of the community being a "law unto themselves". If anything, the cohesiveness of that community has tended to PREVENT the horror of men trying to extort their wives before giving a Gwt (I heard a personal story in this connectin that was very powerful).
Second, we have NO idea what Dweck -- the informant -- the MOSER -- the person who defrauded many without any evidence of regret (see story in the Star Ledger about HIM) -- told these Rabbis. we have no idea what "sob story" he spun in order to persuade the Rabbis to do sometihng illegal -- in order to help Dweck out. We DO know that the Syrian community has a history of helping its members in need. Could this have led to some possibly illegal actions? Maybe. Might there be some extenuating circumstances in which these Rabbis felt that they "had" to help out this unfortunate son of their community? Yes.
What this episode REALLY shows is how low one Jew will stoop to "save himself" -- Dweck had committed fraud -- had bilked a lot of money out of people and faced a serious punishment. In order to save himself, he not only becomes an informant (Rabbi H -- maybe you should review the section of Shulchan Aruch about Informants) but he becomes an "enticer" -- someone who seeks to tempt someone to sin.
Where is the condemnation of this creature who betrayed all -- family and friends with barely a blink?
I do not know the story of these Rabbis -- but what is clear is that we have a JEW who DELIBERATELY targeted other Jews, deliberately tempted them [possibly even providing a "compelling reason"] and then "turned them in.
Reminder: It is an uncontested Halachic that Jewish informers can be killed if that will prevent them from doing their nefarious acitvities. and, Rabbi moshe Feinstein Z"L (among others) stated that these rules apply EVEN IN A "Democratic" (and supposedly just) society.
I feel sorry for the Rabbis and for the overt antisemitism (come on -- Money laundering is a WORSE crime than corruption and betrayal of the Public Trust?? Yet it was the Rabbi's picture that was the largest and not that of the politicians...). But I feel nothing but contempt and scorn for "Dweck the dreck" -- the "Vinegar son of wine" who sought to save his skin by screwing as many pepole as he could.
More than one time in history has "the light unto the nations" been dimmed by the acts of Jewish persons within and outside of the Jewish community. What shames me most, as a Jew living in a primarily non-Jewish community, is that these were the "leaders, the teachers of the community". If I remember my lessons correctly, the law of the land is the law of the people unless that law interferes with religious observance. Here the law of the land has been broken, not for religious observance, but for greed. If the community does not seek forgiveness for these acts and demand that their leaders show remorse, they (the community) will share the scorn and ridicule deservedly heaped on their leaders.
wrong is wrong...right is right...no matter your color, religion, personal beliefs, orientation, tall or short...and until this value is in each of us there will be no peace of heart, justice for all, and healing in our everyday lives with regards to our neighbors (who ever they may be).
If you had two sons one good son and one bad or evil son,which would you worry or try to help more? the bad son right? Why do you think God is any different than you? The Jews are not gods people cause they are good. He was trying to help them and send his only son down and we all know what happened to him!
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