Agudah Head Rabbi Criticizes Bloggers, Activists, Victims
But when asked to intercede to stop Rabbi Yehuda Kolko's child molestation, the Novominsker Rebbe allegedly declined saying, "It's a Flatbush matter." Perlow, who lives in nearby Borough Park, did not call police.
“We live in changing times,” Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, the Novominsker Rebbe and Rosh Agudas Yisroel observed, but “the truth is that times always change. “The challenges and pitfalls of one generation are not those of another.” And with that introduction, the Rebbe chose the occasion of Agudas Yisroel’s 87th anniversary dinner last night to address two painful social issues facing the observant Jewish world at present.First, however, he reminded his listeners that what makes Agudas Yisroel special is that “it seeks the truth of Torah” and discerns it in the understanding of Gedolei Torah. That determination to divine what is proper for Klal Yisroel “resists even well-meaning daas baalei batim,” Rabbi Perlow proclaimed, and certainly “the bloggers and the picketers, presumptuous promoters” of the notion that “they know better what is good for the Jews.”
“A serious issue” has arisen in our community, the Rebbe went on. “Individuals have been hurt and deserve redress, acknowledgment and empathy.” There is a need, the Rosh Agudas Yisroel continued, “for tikkun ha’ovar” - correcting the past - and for addressing the future, “creating means to guide against wrongdoing to children.”
Not many people, Rabbi Perlow noted, know of the countless hours spent by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel and the Vaad Roshei Yeshiva of Torah Umesorah over the past two years discussing the many complex facets, including the implications “for mosdos haTorah.”
“No one really knows the sensitivity that went into this entire process,” over the course of many meetings regarding “this painful parsha.”
He called his listeners to carefully read and comprehend the joint statement that was issued several weeks ago by Agudas Yisroel and Torah Umesorah, reflecting the conclusion of the rabbonim at their helms. “It was carefully drafted,” he averred, “and is not to be misread or treated cavalierly.”
That statement made clear that the signatory organizations fully acknowledge the horror of abuse, “the devastating long-term scars it all too often creates,” and the fact that “for too long many victims have suffered alone.” It declared that Agudas Yisroel and Torah Umesorah would have “no objection to legislation designed to give victims of abuse greater recourse against perpetrators. Nor would we object to extending statutes of limitations for criminal proceedings against perpetrators.” But it objected to legislation that, due to its proposed year-long total suspension of the statute of limitations for civil suits against institutions, could, with the proliferation of lawsuits that might come in its wake, “destroy schools, houses of worship that sponsor youth programs, summer camps and other institutions that are the very lifeblood of our community.”
The second contemporary issue addressed by the Rebbe at the Agudah dinner involved an issue born of the constant balancing a Torah-faithful community has to undertake when living in a larger culture with very different ideals, some of them even “repugnant to our sacred values.”
“We live in a malchus shel chesed,” Rabbi Perlow asserted, “and we appreciate all that it has done for us.” At the same time, though, he continued, “we must proclaim Sheim Shomayim loud and clear,” and must declare “our opposition and strong protest” against efforts to “change the meaning of marriage” - the agenda of legislation currently before the New York State legislature.
The Rosh Agudas Yisroel then turned his listeners’ attention to the terrible loss the Torah world had suffered mere months earlier upon the petira of Reb Elya Svei, zt”l, the Philadelphia Rosh HaYeshiva and long-time elder member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. The challenge facing the Torah world today, he said, “is now greater,” as Rabbi Svei had so deeply invested himself in, and felt achrayus for, inyonei tzibbur.
The need now, he continued, is for further investment of the olam haTorah’s kochos into work on behalf of the klal, and an invigorated sense of achrayus on the part of all who carry the banner of Torah for undertaking efforts on behalf of the tzibbur. Reb Elya, zt”l, the Rebbe noted, undertook his responsibilities at the Agudah “as a link” to the great Lakewood Rosh HaYeshiva Rav Aharon Kotler, zt”l, and “a bridge” to a “pristine” past. “Tzaddik ovad, lidoro ovad.” - “The loss of a righteous man is his generation’s loss.”
The Agudas Yisroel dinner began with remarks by Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel - his first at an Agudah dinner in his position as the organization’s executive vice president. Rabbi Zwiebel took note of the constant growth of Agudas Yisroel as a force for kiddush Hashem nationwide, referencing not only the group’s Washington Office but regional offices in states across the country. He then focused on New York City, where Agudas Yisroel is headquartered, pointing out how the personal histories of the parents or grandparents of so many in the room - himself included - are bound up with the city. And how New York has today become home to over 240 elementary and secondary Jewish schools, servicing more than 88,000 children, “kein yirbu.”
Acknowledging that Agudas Yisroel has had, and likely always will have, “disagreements, even serious ones,” with local governmental officials, “on balance, we’ve been able to work with leaders” of city government to benefit both the Jewish community and New York itself. With that, Rabbi Zwiebel introduced Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York and the evening’s guest speaker, pointing out how helpful to the Orthodox Jewish community Mr. Bloomberg has been, on issues like the protection of bris milah, aid to private schools and security for religious and educational institutions.
Mayor Bloomberg began his remarks by imagining his elderly mother’s reaction when he calls her to tell her that he sat on a dais with members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah that evening. “Wow!” was his guess. He imagined that his late grandfather, a rabbi, would have been similarly impressed at the venue at which he was speaking.
With Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu set to meet with President Barack Obama the next day, Mayor Bloomberg recalled the President’s comment during the presidential campaign that “If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I’m going to do everything in my power to stop that. And I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.”
“I hope,” said Mr. Bloomberg, “that the President’s remark will be in his mind tomorrow.”
The New York Mayor went on to speak about the state of the city, and how, despite the “tough times” it is undergoing, “I find it hard not to be optimistic.” He recounted the drop in the crime rate and contrasted the Crown Heights of two decades ago with what he called “a safe neighborhood” today. He also proclaimed accomplishments and determination in the realm of affordable housing - an issue of great interest to the observant Jewish community - and economic opportunity plans.
Acknowledging that some of the Orthodox community’s needs “are unique” and may not always fit into the existing structure of governmental responsibilities, “if there is any way we can help, we will.”
Honorees at the dinner included: Rabbi Avrohom Halpern, who received the Rabbi Moshe Sherer Memorial Award, for lifelong devotion to Klal Yisroel; The Jewish Observer, which was honored as the recipient of the Hagaon Rav Aharon Kotler Memorial Award, for distinguished service to Torah; Irwin Mehl, z”l, whose family accepted the Reb Elimelech Tress Memorial Award in tribute to Mr. Mehl’s role in preserving the legacy of the Shearis HaPleitah; and Binyomin Berger, who received the Moreinu Yaakov Rosenheim Memorial Award, for distinguished service to Agudath Israel.
Avodas Hakodesh awardees were Ronald Coleman, Yankie Klein, Yosef Rapaport and Dovid Winiarz. Rabbi Raymond Haber was the recipient of the Wolf Friedman Leadership Award. Shimon Lefkowitz serves as dinner chairman, and Meir Lichtenstein as co-chairman.
[Hat Tips: MalachHaMovies, steve.]
Dear Rabbi Perlow,
Permit a small man to speak a word in the ears of my lord, and let my lord not be angry with his servant, for you are great.
Please, let me speak my mind freely.
"First, however, he reminded his listeners that what makes Agudas Yisroel special is that “it seeks the truth of Torah” and discerns it in the understanding of Gedolei Torah. That determination to divine what is proper for Klal Yisroel “resists even well-meaning daas baalei batim,” Rabbi Perlow proclaimed, and certainly “the bloggers and the picketers, presumptuous promoters” of the notion that “they know better what is good for the Jews.”
Really, Rabbi Perlow. Don't you get it? You're publicly acknowledging a burning fire in your community, a chillul Hashem of epic proportions, allowed to continue by...the Agudah and its leaders. If not for UOJ, a big, bad blogger, who singlehandedly raised and fought this issue into the consciousness of the charedi public, you would never have discussed it. It would have remained, as it was for 50 years, our dirty little secret. So, kok Hakavod to UOJ and all of us bloggers and readers, who have forced this unto the front pages, to finally be discussed and dealt with once and for all. But, knowing the Agudah, it won't be. Amazingly, by virtue of your discussing this crisis at an Agudah dinner, UOJ has won. We have all won. The Agudah lost. Don't you see that, too? You tried to keep it quiet, off the front pages. We wouldn't let you. So now you discuss it as the very first topic at your dinner. And bloggers shouldn't take credit? Then who should? The Agudah? After silencing students and parents for 50 years?
They will now try to deal with it. Let them try. They have a lousy track record so far on legislation. And they're in bed with the Catholic Church on Markey. What the RCA understands, the Agudah doesn't. What any baal habos understands, the Agudah refuses.
“Individuals have been hurt and deserve redress, acknowledgment and empathy.” There is a need, the Rosh Agudas Yisroel continued, “for tikkun ha’ovar” - correcting the past - and for addressing the future, “creating means to guide against wrongdoing to children.”
What does this mean? Are you agreeing you made serious mistakes for 50 years? You need to "correct the past"? Really? Why? Everything you've ever done has been Daas Torah, right? So how, where, did you go wrong? If you blew it, SAY SO: loudly and clearly: "We blew it, big time. Had no idea what we were doing. Always did the wrong thing, made the wrong decisions, for 50 years. Uhh, very sorry." That would be a step in the right direction.
"Not many people, Rabbi Perlow noted, know of the countless hours spent by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel and the Vaad Roshei Yeshiva of Torah Umesorah over the past two years discussing the many complex facets, including the implications “for mosdos haTorah.”
“ 'No one really knows the sensitivity that went into this entire process,” over the course of many meetings regarding “this painful parsha.' ”
That's the problem. We never elected you. You feel no need to communicate with American Jewry. There's no transparency. We have no idea if you're continuing to ignore the crisis---as you did for so long---or if you're trying to fix it. So we're supposed to believe you're attempting to fix it. But there's no evidence of any attempt to fix it, so what should people believe? That nothing is going on, that's what. But nice to hear that hours were spent trying to...fix it. Can you please show us the fruit of those meetings, other than climbing into bed with the Catholics?
"He called his listeners to carefully read and comprehend the joint statement that was issued several weeks ago by Agudas Yisroel and Torah Umesorah, reflecting the conclusion of the rabbonim at their helms. “ 'It was carefully drafted,” he averred, “and is not to be misread or treated cavalierly.' ”
Noone is reading it cavalierly, we just don't agree with it. You were wrong in the past---you just admitted it---and you're wrong now. That's ok. It's not a sin to be wrong. Just listen to baaleibatim who know more than you and try to lead.
"That statement made clear that the signatory organizations fully acknowledge the horror of abuse, “the devastating long-term scars it all too often creates,” and the fact that “'for too long many victims have suffered alone.'"
No! Are you kidding? Rabbi Shafran once called these incidents "tawdry tales"! Who could believe these children? Agudah rabbis never did. NOW you admit that long term scars result? Really? Who told you? Why believe him?
Your humble servant.
Posted by: shmuel | May 18, 2009 at 11:22 PM
Even if we had a Nosson Hanavi, we do NOT have a Dovid Hamelech for a Nasi. The sheer arrogance to put down the "presumtous bloggers and picketers" who include many, many victims of sexual abuse, who have been spat on and worse by our community and its leaders for so long.
Why is Hashem doing this to us? Why do we have such horrible people in leadership roles?
How did we allow thiso happen?
What can we do to change it?
Posted by: Astounded and horrified | May 19, 2009 at 01:49 AM
If Ravb Perlow is only a Rebbe in Boro Park, then why could he have not stayed home in his huge 17th Avenue abomination where children are being molested as we speak?
Why did he have to get up and go to Manhattan the way he got up from his wife's shiva to be a character witness for a drug money launderer?
What a terrible person. And this is what our communtiy calls a leader? A gadol? Rochmono Litzlan. Hasehm Yerachem.
Posted by: We NEED mashicah now! | May 19, 2009 at 01:53 AM
And check out Steve at UOJ for his take on this address. Great job!
Posted by: shmuel | May 19, 2009 at 02:50 AM
Thanks Shmuel. Yasher Koach to you on a great job of deconstructing Perlow's hogwash.
Posted by: steve | May 19, 2009 at 07:29 AM
“'for too long many victims have suffered alone.'"
1. How long a period of time are you talking about? What do you mean by "too long"? Ten years? Fifty years?
2. Why did victims suffer alone? Who is responsible for their suffering? Since you're discussing this at your dinner, are you acknowledging that your organization may have played a role, had a hand, in their suffering? Why else talk about this "painful parsha"?
3. A few years ago, 23 Baltimore rabbis signed a mea culpa admitting they had no idea of the depth of the problem, had no idea what they were doing, and acted wrongly for years. Many--not all--are Agudah-affiliating rabbis. What were your thoughts when that letter was sent out? Are those still your thoughts today?
Posted by: shmuel | May 19, 2009 at 07:33 AM
Interesting, isn't it, how they trot out Reb Elya Svei's name when it is to their advantage? When he called Chabad apikursus, they denied he was speaking in their name...
Posted by: Yossi | May 19, 2009 at 08:14 AM
I hope he is careful as he steps over the piles of dead messengers he has killed.
Posted by: Yochanan Lavie | May 19, 2009 at 09:57 AM
The questions someone asked here "How long we are going to have such a terrible leaders? What could we do to change it?"
The nature of unelected leadership is such that it produces "terrible leaders" sooner then later. Once the first group of "terrible leaders" are in power they are being replaced exclusevely with other "terrible leaders". There is no mechanism to change that.
Therefore the answer to the second question is - disband current corrupt organizations and replace them with another ones, which suppose to operate with transparency and not use a crutch of loshon hara to hide wrong doings.
Posted by: Ben | May 19, 2009 at 11:19 AM
No demographic prognostications will convince me that this is the future of Judaism.
Sick.
Posted by: ML | May 19, 2009 at 11:20 AM
If this is the future of Judaism, we are all in deep trouble.
Posted by: Ben | May 19, 2009 at 11:23 AM
I just blogged about this. These people can pat themselves on their backs all they want. The truth is known and everyone knows that they are the ones who covered up the abuse. They are running scared and deserve what ever comes to them. I pray that the Markey bill passes and all these people are sued into oblivion. I'll buy a condo at the site of the former Torah Temima.
http://honestlyfrum.blogspot.com/2009/05/at-agudah-convention-other-night-their.html
Posted by: Honestlyfrum | May 19, 2009 at 12:43 PM
What's sickening is that when they can't argue facts and when they can't argue halacha, they resort to throwing their weight around. This idea that they "divined" what is right for us, and that they divined that the Markey Bill is wrong for us, is another way of saying, "We're the annointed Gedolim and whatever we say goes, because we are infallible."
Posted by: steve | May 19, 2009 at 01:49 PM
No Steve, we are NOT simply infallible, we are simply DIVINE. Just what they accused the Lubavitcher Rebbe's chasidim of doing to him and the Christians of doing to Jesus, they now do to themselves. It would be laughable if it weren't costing innocent Jewish lives.
Posted by: Asher | May 19, 2009 at 05:01 PM
The Agudah can probably continue to hoodwink the faithful with their little two-step. They are equally self interested in preserving the status quo and sweeping everything under the carpet. The only thing that really bothers them is that the picketers and bloggers have ruined that picture perfect, air brushed, candy coated, art scrolled vision of themselves.
The problem they have are the victims. "The voice of thy brothers blood is screaming from the ground." That voice cannot be silenced and is growing louder and louder. Call it the night of the living dead or perhaps the telltale heart.
When the OU had the Lanner problem, over the objections of the old guard, they brought in an outside law firm with a former US Attorney, to do an independent audit. The results were damning but it saved that organization's hide. Right now it does not appear that there is even one bar daas in the Agudah fold who has the guts and brains to take the "painful" steps needed to save that organization. Perlow actually articulated the reason. They are afraid that any real admission of wrongdoing, as opposed to the mealy mouthed nonsense that they have been spewing forth, will subvert the entire daas torah/gedolim power structure.
They need to realize that their organization is in grave danger. Their continued arrogant and wrong headed approach will ultimately cost them their credibility, to the extent they still have any, and will end the Agudah as we know it. Many believe that's a good thing and should have happened long ago.
Posted by: Genuk | May 19, 2009 at 06:16 PM
"The Agudas Yisroel dinner began with remarks by Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel - his first at an Agudah dinner in his position as the organization’s executive vice president. Rabbi Zwiebel took note of the constant growth of Agudas Yisroel as a force for kiddush Hashem nationwide"
This same Zweibel let's one of his employees go to ARKO'OYS for money with NO heter from a bais din which is the PERPETRATION OF A MASSIVE CHILUL HASHEM. This fact needs to be archived forever.
Posted by: zweibel the skunk | May 19, 2009 at 08:41 PM
Didn't Rabbi Solomon state---and let it be said!--- at an Agudah dinner 2-4 years ago that all's well, there is nothing to see here, the Agudah took care of everything, maybe one case slipped through their fingers?
If so, what do we now make of Rabbi Perlow's contention that there is a pressing need to correct the past? No mistakes were made in the past! There's nothing to correct, right, Rabbi Solomon?
Can someone please take this case and depose these two rabbis? The answers under oath would be...enlightening.
Posted by: shmuel | May 19, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Oh, and Genuk, love your post.
Posted by: shmuel | May 19, 2009 at 10:37 PM
"They are afraid that any real admission of wrongdoing, as opposed to the mealy mouthed nonsense that they have been spewing forth, will subvert the entire daas torah/gedolim power structure."
Right. Yet:
“ 'A serious issue' has arisen in our community, the Rebbe went on. 'Individuals have been hurt and deserve redress, acknowledgment and empathy.' There is a need, the Rosh Agudas Yisroel continued, 'for tikkun ha’ovar' - correcting the past - and for addressing the future, 'creating means to guide against wrongdoing to children.' ”
Sounds like he's just admitted everything. That's the winning quote, delivered before 800 people at a dinner and millions world-wide. It's the quote of the century. It proves the falsity of infallible daas toireh, proves they knew what was going on, and that they did nothing, or proves they had no idea what was going on. Either way, no leadership, lots of fallibility, liability, law$uit$ are on their way. First moisid to go down the tubes? The Agudah. Get ready, lads. The lawyers are coming for you.
Posted by: shmuel | May 19, 2009 at 10:44 PM
The Agudas Yisroel dinner began with remarks by Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel - his first at an Agudah dinner in his position as the organization’s executive vice president. Rabbi Zwiebel took note of the constant growth of Agudas Yisroel as a force for kiddush Hashem nationwide"
This same Zweibel let's one of his employees go to ARKO'OYS for money with NO heter from a bais din which is the PERPETRATION OF A MASSIVE CHILUL HASHEM. This fact needs to be archived forever.
Posted by: zweibel the skunk | May 19, 2009 at 08:41 PM
STOP USING MORE THAN ONE NAME OR ALIAS.
NO MORE WARNINGS.
DO IT AGAIN, AND I BAN YOU.
Posted by: Shmarya | May 19, 2009 at 11:08 PM
yes these people are disgusting thugs.they are the people that we pray to be wiped out in shemonei esrei not gays,not liberals,not people who are off the derech but agudas yiroel.they are the wanton sinners who need to be humbled by god.i used to be orthodox growing up i have become reform in part because of my utter disgust with the orthodox leadership and all nonsense they spew.also being openly bisexual vertianly does not fit into the heimishe lifesyle.
Posted by: moshe kaufman | August 20, 2009 at 11:48 PM