Rich Jew Threatens Poor Blogger With Big Lawsuit
Guma Aguiar didn't like Rabbi Daniel Eidensohn's reporting about him on the Daas Torah blog, especially Aguiar's former connection to haredi conversion partisan Rabbi Leib Tropper, and his current connection to Chabad.
Rabbi Eidensohn caved in and pulled all the posts off his blog– including a brief interview done Erev Shabbat with Aguiar that Eidensohn titled Guma Aguiar – A Genuine Jew, and which was almost fawning in its praise for Aguiar.
Aguiar is a public figure. The rabbis he donates millions to publicize those donations, and there is no public record of Aguiar objectiong to this or threatening these rabbis with legal action.
That should mean coverage of those donations and related activities is completely protected, even in Israel.
While I strongly disagree with Rabbi Eidensohn and have done so publicly, I don't think Aguiar has any legal basis for his threatened lawsuit.
Eidensohn should have countersued Aguiar for harrassment. And he should have gone to the media with this story – a story of an insanely rich man trying to bully a critic into submission. Aguiar would like the outcome of that media coverage, and his threatened lawsuits would not intimidate Ha'aretz, Ynet and Ma'ariv, let alone Israeli TV.
This unofficial translation comes from ReligionAndStateInIsrael:
Guma Aguiar - Warning letter
Friday, May 8, 2009 10:54 AM
From: "Eitan Gabay, Adv."
To: yadmoshe@yahoo.com
Attn.: Without prejudice to rights
Rabbi Daniel Eidensohn
34 Shaulzon
Har Nof
Jerusalem
Re: Your articles in the DAAS TORAH blog on the Aguiar family
Dear Sir,
In the name of my client, Jamie and Guma Aguiar, I hereby respectively direct your attention to the following:
1. For some period of time now you have written articles in your blog whose subject concerns my client and their family.
2. An examination of the written material in the blog is evidence of a serious violation of the prohibition of “lashon harah” (libel) and harassment.
3. The content in the blog is harmful and relates to the personal life of my client and their family. My clients are represented as those whose conversions are in doubt without showing any clear proof and without any indication of any decisive or clear proof showing that the conversions were not performed according to Halacha (Jewish law).
4. The statements on the site border on defamation of my client where there is no conflict nor connection whatsoever between you and my clients.
5. In addition, publishing your opinion in public concerning how donations were made by my client and decisions to whom to donate border on infringement of privacy and a violation of their right of privacy.
6. My client is now considering filing a police complaint in respect to the content in the blog and even filing an appropriate lawsuit against you in this matter. In addition, my client is willing to refrain from taking further action against you if within 48 hours you would remove from your blog all material connected to my client and his family.
7. I remind you that your refusal to remove the content as stated above will compel my client to instruct me to act as mentioned above, and be aware that this will cause you much anguish and large and unnecessary costs incurred by you.
8. No further notice will be sent.
Regards,
Eitan Gabay, Esq.
EITAN GABAY - LAW OFFICES
13 Ben Maimon Blvd.
Jerusalem 92262
Tel: 972-2-5610095
Fax: 972-2-5610096
Email: eitan@aglaw.co.il
UPDATE 10:50 AM CDT – I did a quick Google cache search for Daas Torah and found a number of relevant posts now taken down by Rabbi Eidensohn.
Here is a screenshot of the post discussing removal of all posts related to Aguiar followed by the text of that post:
Response to Guma Aguiar's threats & intimination
In my conversation with Guma I asked him whether he was threatening me for having information on my blog that he did not appreciated. He responded, "No, that if I were threatening you, You would know it." I know it.
It is unfortunate that Guma feels it necessary to threaten and intimidate any one who says something he doesn't approve. In fact the vast majority of posts have been very flattering of his deeds
The issue of contention is in fact a side issue. In the course of defending R' Tropper, commentator Roni used Guma as an example of praise for R' Tropper. Commentator RaP responded and these issues were mainly in the comments of these two - not in my posts. I had asked Guma about his wife's conversion and his responses didn't contradict what I had posted.
I consulted with Rav Sternbuch and he said the following, "Write to him and tell him that this is not the way a Jew handles a problem - there are Jewish courts that should be used." I responded that I don't think that is of interest to Guma but since Rav Sternbuch insists I will send a letter to him.
Bottom line - Guma has given me 48 hours to erase every reference to him on my blog. Obviously I will comply because I don't have a billion dollars to deal with frivolous laws suits from someone who objects to someone who doesn't have a picture perfect description of his life. Because it will take a lot of time to erase every mention of his name I will have to close the blog or alternative erase it and start over again. Hopefully it will be back in operation within a week.
The modification will in addition remove all mention of R' Tropper - Guma arch enemy - because the two names frequently together. It is interesting to note that R' Tropper who has been criticized here much more severely has not seen fit to take the same route as Guma nor has Guma's uncle Thomas Kaplan. Perhaps they have what to learn from Guma.
This is one of the reasons that most blogs are anonymous.
Please have patience.
APG sends in several now deleted posts he culled from his Google Reader.
Aguiar's attorney's letter in the original Hebrew:
Daas Torah - Issues of Jewish Identity by Daas Torah on 5/9/09
Yahoo! Mail
Guma Aguiar - Warning letter
Friday, May 8, 2009 10:54 AM
From:
"Eitan Gabay, Adv."
To:
yadmoshe@yahoo.com
לכבוד, מבלי לפגוע בזכויות
הרב דניאל אידנסון,
שאולזון 34,
הר-נוף
ירושלים
א.נ.,
הנדון: כתבותיך בבלוג DAAS TORAH על משפחת אגיאר
בשם מרשי, ג'יימי וגומה אגיאר, הריני מתכבד לפנות אליך כדלקמן:
1. מזה תקופת מה שהנך כותב מאמרים בבלוג שלך שבנדון אודות מרשי ומשפחתם.
2. עיון בתוכן הכתוב בבלוג מעיד על עבירה חמורה על איסור אמירת לשון הרע והטרדה.
3. התכנים בבלוג פוגעניים ועוסקים בחיים אישיים של מרשי ובני משפחותיהם. מרשיי מוצגים כמי שגיורם מוטל בספק מבלי שקיימות הוכחות חותכות לכך ומבלי שיצאה בת קול חדה וברורה המעידה כי הגיורים נעשו שלא כהלכה.
4. האמירות באתר הינן גובלות בהשמצות מרשי כאשר אין בינם לבינך כל יריבות ו/או קשר כזה או אחר.
5. בנוסף, פרסום דעותיך בציבור לגבי אופן מתן תרומות ע"י מרשי ועל החלטותיהם למי לתת הינה גובלת בחדירה לצנעת הפרט והפרת הזכות שלהם לפרטיות.
6. בימים אלה מרשי שוקלים להגיש תלונה במשטרה כנגד תכנים בבלוג ואף להגיש תביעה משפטית מתאימה נגדך בעניין. יחד עם זאת, מרשי יאותו שלא לנקוט בפעולות נוספות נגדך באם בתוך 48 שעות יוסרו מהבלוג שלך כל התכנים הקשורים במרשי ובני משפחתם.
7. אזכיר כי סירובך לבצע הסרה של התכנים כאמור לעיל ייאלץ את מרשי להורות לי לפעול כאמור לעיל, ודע לך כי הדבר יגרום לך לעגמת נפש רבה ולהוצאות רבות ומיותרות אשר תחולנה עליך.
8. התראה נוספת לא תשלח.
בברכה,
איתן גבאי, עו"ד
EITAN GABAY - LAW OFFICES
13 Ben Maimon Blvd.
Jerusalem 92262
Tel: 972-2-5610095
Fax: 972-2-5610096
Email: eitan@aglaw.co.il
Aguiar funds Chabad:
Guma Aguiar gives Chabad $500,000 for Pesach
Daas Torah - Issues of Jewish Identity by Daas Torah on 3/31/09
[...] Funding for the seders comes from several philanthropists including Mr. George Rohr, a long time supporter of Chabad activities, and a gift of $500,000 from energy magnate, Guma Aguiar. This is the second consecutive year that Aguiar, 31, has been a major sponsor of Chabad’s global Passover campaign.
Aguiar became excited about this project last year and contributed towards what is now the world’s largest collective Pesach seder in the world. As a result, he said, "Chabad leaders and I have realized what a truly sacred honor it is to partner together with each other on this project." [...]
Aguiar and Rabbi Tropper:
Guma Aguiar & R' Tropper
Daas Torah - Issues of Jewish Identity by Daas Torah on 4/23/09
Horizons
It all started with a phone call. Last Erev Pesach the Kol Yaakov Torah Center received word that the Sefer Torah the yeshiva had been borrowing for a number of years had to be returned to its owners. Yehuda Dovid Kaplan, staying with the Rosh Yeshiva for Yom Tov, offered to donate a new Sefer Torah as a replacement. Yehuda Dovid and his uncle, Mr. Thomas Kaplan, generous supporters of Kol Yaakov and its outreach division, Horizons, decided to dedicate this sefer to the memory of their mother and grandmother, Mrs. Lillian Jean Kaplan, A”H.
Within a few weeks a new sefer was procured with the assistance of sofer Rabbi Melech Michaels, an alumnus of Kol Yaakov, and a Hachnosas Sefer Torah was quickly planned. Rabbi and Mrs. Yehoshua Krohn graciously offered their home on Meadow Lane for the K’sivas Ha’osios. Talmidim, Rebbeim, alumni and supporters of Kol Yaakov gathered to complete the sefer on the Sunday before Shavuos. The yeshiva was honored by the participation in the k’sivas ha’osios of Ha- Gaon HaRav Reuven Feinstein, Rosh HaYeshiva of Tiferes Yerushalayim, Staten Island and HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Faivelson Rosh HaYeshiva of Bais Medrash L’Torah in Monsey, shlit”a. With Rabbi Yehuda Tropper, the Rosh Yeshiva’s father, completing the last of the osios, the Sefer Torah was exuberantly escorted to the Kol Yaakov Torah Center along Saddle River Road and on to West Maple Avenue. Though the noonday sun was out in force the participants escorted the sefer accompanied by unwavering dancing and singing to music provided from the back of a pick-up truck by Nochi and Yosef Krohn.
After the Sefer Torah was brought to its new home, the over 100 assembled guests, sat down to a seudas mitzvah and were inspired by the amazing story as told by Yehuda Dovid Kaplan. Also known as Guma Aguiar, Yehuda Dovid, though born a Jew, was raised as an Evangelical Christian. Through the dedicated teaching and inspiration of Rabbi Tropper and Kol Yaakov, Yehuda Dovid has since returned to the path of yiddishkeit and has made a stunning transformation in recent months. Part of his desire in dedicating a new Sefer Torah for the yeshiva was as a means of reaching out to his estranged family who were still practicing Christians. This endeavor surpassed his greatest expectations: In the span of the few shorts weeks between Pesach, when the Sefer Torah was purchased, and the week of Shavuos, when the sefer was completed (and paralleling the sefira period, when we mark the ascent of our forebears from the 49 Sha'arei Tum'ah of Mitzrayim to the spiritual heights of Har Sinai), Yehuda Dovid’s family had ceased practicing Christianity and had begun their return to their true heritage.
Friday's interview with Aguiar:
Daas Torah - Issues of Jewish Identity by Daas Torah on 5/6/09
In the world the internet, one deals with links, reports rumors and anonymous commentators. It isn't often that you come in contact with someone you have been talking about for a year.
Recently, I received a called from Guma Aguiar - world famous billionaire philanthropist. He was concerned with what he perceived as the negative comments on my blog about him and his wife. [He noted that he had no objections to the conversation being recorded - which I didn't]. While I spoke to him for about half an hour, I got three strong impressions. 1) he is genuine and sincere in his Judaism and desire to help. 2) He has no clue as to the significance of halacha. 3) He is willing to learn
He did not hesitate to answer my questions about himself and his wife. Nor did he seem to mind my criticism of his influence over major issues and being taken advantage of by various rabbis.
He responded that he was aware of being taken advantage of and that he tried to get along with all Jews. "Have you heard of Rabbi Auerbach, Kanievsky? Did you ever hear of Rav Mordechai Eliayahu... They are all friends of mine."
At one point I asked him if he was threatening me for my coverage of his career. He responded honestly, "No, if I was threatening you it would be obvious."
Of interest is his response to one of my questions, "If a person put on tefillin for 25 years at great sacrifice - but then he discovered that there were not parchments in them - would he have fulfilled the mitzva?"
His response was yes. "There are mitigating circumstances. He was sincere. He really tried etc etc."
But as he was explaining how sincerity was the most important fact he stopped. He said he realized he made a mistake and he wanted to retract and say that the mitzva was not fulfilled.
My chavrusa came at 2 - as he always does - so I had to apologize for cutting the conversation short. I thanked him the efforts he and his wife are making to improve the world situation.
What determines the content of the Daas Torah blog?
What determines concerns of this Blog?
Daas Torah - Issues of Jewish Identity by Daas Torah on 5/6/09
Anonymous asked:
Please explain why it is permissable to expose Tropper's behavior to the world but not X and Y chillul hashems?
Answer: Good question. A similar question was asked by Roni of why focus on R' Tropper and not on R' Bomzer?
Actually this blog started out with the concern for Jewish identity - halacha and hashgofa. Then I got involved in kiruv and conversion when Rav Sternbuch found out about R' Tropper's activities.
The focus of this Blog was never chillul haShem. My concern was originally the halacha concerning geirus and kiurv and then how did R' Tropper justify what he was doing. I stated repeated that I felt R' Tropper was a sincere dedicated individual - but I didn't understand why he was stonewalling on the halacha. Similarly R' Vinas was discussed because of his halachic views and was likewise described as a sincere dedicated individual.
In short, to assert that an individual is or is doing a chillul hashem - requires 1) major research efforts 2) fairly consistent or egregious behavior 3) lack of sincerity and a track record of harmful behavior 4) the individual has to be influential so the information will warn people not to be influenced. 5) there are also the laws of libel which need to be attended to.
For example, I once knew someone who was a purported wife-beater and was about to married for the fourth time. I went to Rav Dovid Cohen and asked whether I should inform the kallah of this information. R' Cohen answered that any normal person who heard that a guy had been divorced 3 times would obviously check for this. Thus there was no need to tell anyone. [empashis Shmarya] I was also once discussing with R' Belsky the fact that wall poster's had gone up against him in Yerushalayim with R' Eliashiv's signature. He smiled and said he was aware of them but that I should know that Rav Eliashiv actually agreed with his view and that his opponent was an ignoramous in that halachic area.
Regarding the two individuals you cited, can you provide proof for your assertions and what is the benefit to expose them even if it is true? Furthermore assuming there is no halachic problem - but if it taints my reputation and thus my credibility on the issues I am dealing with then I'll leave the expose to those Blogs which are viewed as lowlifes because they delight in smearing anybody who is Orthodox.
Aguiar and Chabad:
Guma Aguiar & his Chabad rebbe's bas mitzva
Daas Torah - Issues of Jewish Identity by Daas Torah on 3/25/09
Chabad Lubavitch reports
How do parents of a severely challenged 12 year old girl celebrate their daughter’s bat mitzvah?
The question was poignantly relevant for Rabbi Moshe Meir and Pnina Lipszyc, Chabad representatives to Ft. Lauderdale, who have cultivated a lively Jewish community over nearly two decades while raising their special needs children under extraordinary circumstances. [...]
Guma Aguiar came from Israel with his wife and children to celebrate. “The first time I came to this Chabad center six years ago,” the founder of Leor Energy told the guests, “I had nothing. I knew nothing about Judaism, and didn’t understand a thing of what was going on during services.”
Aguiar, who went on to become a successful entrepreneur, was born to Jewish parents but raised as an evangelical Christian. “I came here because I wanted to try something authentic,” he said, recalling how he walked into the Chabad center one Friday night in search of something missing in his life. He found it in Rabbi Lipszyc’s unconditional acceptance. Aguiar has since returned to his Jewish roots, living in Jerusalem much of the year.
Like Aguiar, many at the Torah dedication/ bat-mitzvah were there having discovered the joy of belonging through Rabbi Lipszyc. Aguiar says that observing the rabbi’s unfaltering devotion to his daughter has been a tremendous inspiration. “Goldi’s come a very long way since we got to know her six years ago. Moshe Meir has nurtured her with incredible love and patience.”
From the way Rabbi Lipszyc greets an endless stream of visitors to the Chabad center and the Kabbalah Café in Ft. Lauderdale, one would never guess that the 45 year old father of five has twice battled cancer and continues to struggle with his own health while working creatively to build and grow Jewish life in the area.[...]
[Hat Tips: Joel Katz, APG.]
I'm not touching this one!!!
Posted by: Dr. Name Withehld By Request | May 10, 2009 at 09:11 AM
it could be that r'eidensohn himself did the translation of the lawyer's letter. the original hebrew was on the daas torah blog a few hours before the english appeared.
Posted by: Avi | May 10, 2009 at 09:33 AM
I don't think so.
Posted by: Shmarya | May 10, 2009 at 09:54 AM
You can see that the translation was made by ReligionAndStateInIsrael. Look at the very bottom of the screenshot posted above.
Posted by: Shmarya | May 10, 2009 at 10:58 AM
You're a rich Jew (apologies: Hall & Oates)
You're a rich Jew, and you've gone too far
'Cause you know it don't matter anyway
You can rely on the old Rebbe's money
You can rely on the old Rebbe's money
It's a bitch, Jew, the blog has gone too far
But you know it don't matter anyway
Spend money and it will get you too far,
Get you a lawyer...
[I'm procrastinating today].
Posted by: Yochanan Lavie | May 10, 2009 at 11:28 AM
This is the first post on his blog that I understood. I've been following it for a few weeks trying to figure out who Aguiar, and Tropper are and why I this is important. It feels like a soap opera that you had to start watching years ago to understand today's episode.
Posted by: p_almonius | May 10, 2009 at 11:38 AM
I personally know of an excellent trial attorney who is an expert in this particular area of law.
If the defendant wishes to explore his legal options, he can contact me at sender12@aol.com
Posted by: Chicago Samson | May 10, 2009 at 01:45 PM
What is the problem here? Is Aguir's wife's converstion in doubt? If so no money will erase it (unfortunately for this idealistic BT billioner).
This looks like continuation of Haredi sell of legitimacy for big bucks. However they never sell it fully and there is always more to sell. The carrot is tied to the back of the bull. He would never be able to quite reach it.
Posted by: Ben | May 10, 2009 at 05:40 PM
Been doing some digging, and it APPEARS that under Israeli law, the "plantiff" is within his rights to demand that the posts be pulled from a site run by an Israeli.
Of course if the posts were replicated - on a US based blog - let's say, one headquartered in Minnesota............
Posted by: Equal Tim e | May 10, 2009 at 07:56 PM
YL You alwyas bring light to dark subjects..It's o.k to give your clever mind a rest.
CS Kuddos to you for info on helping the defendant
Posted by: Avis Johnson | May 10, 2009 at 10:29 PM
The Hebrew letter version of the attorenys letetr is strange.
When typing inHebrew useing computers in Israel everything would be lined up on the right side.
Paragraph numbers would be on the riihgt side etc.
The greeting would be on the right.
Even on my Hebrew enabled. windows software it would shouldall copy on to the right side if I did a copy and paste.It did not.
I also have an Israeli version of office professional and it did not line up on the rihgt side.
PAragrapg headings are on the left.
Weird!
Posted by: jake | May 11, 2009 at 03:41 AM
It isn't weird.
It was picked up by Google Reader, emailed and then run through an Apple word processor.
It looked fine when I first saw it on the blog.
Posted by: Shmarya | May 11, 2009 at 03:52 AM
AJ: Thanks, as always.
Posted by: Yochanan Lavie | May 11, 2009 at 04:22 AM
I actually defended Goilem Guma on Daat Torah and said he has his heart in the right place.
As frequent poster on that blog I can report what exactly happened,
Rabbi Eidensohn was publishing media clips about EJF/Tropper/Kaplan and Guma. One day one the clip mentioned Guma in Israel and his wife Jamie.
Beheima Leib Tropper who posts on Daat Torah as Roni commented that Jamie is not Jewish because she got converted by rabbi Bomzer who did not demand kabalas mitzvos from her.
Then Tropper went on and said that he (Tropper) is so great and rabbi Bomzer and rabbi Lipszyc are receiving esnon zonah (prostitute's fee).
Then Tropper sent to Rabbi Eidensohn a letter for publication from Rabbi Nachum Eisenstein and some other out of town rabbis (who probably got paid to put their signatures on the letter) claiming that Rabbi Bomzer conversions are not valid anymore because he converted a Brazilian women (Jamie Guma) without kabalas mitzvos.
Tropper then went again and again bad mouthing Guma,Bomzer and Lipszyc, and claimimg that Jamie is not Jewish. If you ask me goilem Guma should sue Tropper because it is Tropper who goes all over the place and says that Jamie conversion is not valid.
There are more to it, like how the rabbis who went to EJF conferences did not realize that it is supported by someone who his gentile wife refused to get EJF style conversion.
What probably happen is that Tropper was milking Guma for money and holding Jamie conversion as bargaining chip to get more money from Guma. Beheima Tropper is controlling and he probably demanded to control every detail of Jamie and Guma daily life. (he does it to to BT and converts).
Jamie who is hot blooded Brazilian woman (which Brazilian woman is not ?...) probably refused Tropper total control and they decided to go to rabbi Bomzer.
Posted by: The Monsey Tzadik | May 11, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Most of the posts on Daas Torah were positive. By threatening the author of Daas Torah, Guma showed his true colors. Guma has a tremendous ego and will atempt to squash anyone who questions him, or his "master plan".
He has many (once holy, but now corupt)Rabbi's all around him (all of which receive heavy funding) that are feeding his ego and dillusion of being Messiah. He quickly played the "messiah claim" news piece down by instantly publicizing his good deeds to distract the attention from his uncle's law suit. Anybody looking to verify this can simply look into the dates the donations were made vs. the dates of the press release... and who wrote and paid for those press releases? The organizations receiving the gifts varied, but the press releases all came from the same place?
Even though most of the posts on Daas Torah were positive, Guma is very worried that his identity (no tribal affiliation) and the halachic status of his wife and children would become public...all causing tremendous problems with his future plans to reveal himself as Moshiach.
Posted by: EmetEchad | May 11, 2009 at 01:07 PM
EmetEchad, I'm confused, are you trying to stop new messianic Jewish sect with Guma at the head of it, which is encouraged by Torah or simply abusing a convert which is prohibited by Torah?
Posted by: Ben | May 11, 2009 at 03:59 PM
Tropper's schtick is to string people along and then give them "an offer they can't refuse." Jaime and Guma aren't the only ones to tell him to shove his offer, but they are so far the only ones rich enough to pull it off. Tropper's other victims just got their conversions pulled or annulled because they lacked the resources to fight him.
Posted by: One who's been there, done that | May 15, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Ben, who exactly is being abused? The blog site was on issues of Halacha. I'm no expert on halacha, but please answer me this:
If a convert admits that they have no intention of keeping the mitzvot, and the Rabbi does the conversion for a large amount of money, is the person a genuine convert? Are the children of such a person Jewish according to halacha?
Posted by: EmetEchad | May 15, 2009 at 07:12 PM
Here's the full actual post taken from a past Google cache of the page (now deleted) by Rabbi Eidensohn with its follow-up post by "Recipients and Publicity" and his "7 Questions for Guma Aguiar" that caused Guma to finally flip out and have his attorney send Eidesnohn the warning to stop posting about the holy Guma:
Guma Aguiar - A genuine Jew
In the world the internet, one deals with links, reports rumors and anonymous commentators. It isn't often that you come in contact with someone you have been talking about for a year.
Recently, I received a called from Guma Aguiar - world famous billionaire philanthropist. He was concerned with what he perceived as the negative comments on my blog about him and his wife. [He noted that he had no objections to the conversation being recorded - which I didn't]. While I spoke to him for about half an hour, I got three strong impressions. 1) he is genuine and sincere in his Judaism and desire to help. 2) He has no clue as to the significance of halacha. 3) He is willing to learn
He did not hesitate to answer my questions about himself and his wife. Nor did he seem to mind my criticism of his influence over major issues and being taken advantage of by various rabbis.
He responded that he was aware of being taken advantage of and that he tried to get along with all Jews. "Have you heard of Rabbi Auerbach, Kanievsky? Did you ever hear of Rav Mordechai Eliayahu... They are all friends of mine."
At one point I asked him if he was threatening me for my coverage of his career. He responded honestly, "No, if I was threatening you it would be obvious."
Of interest is his response to one of my questions, "If a person put on tefillin for 25 years at great sacrifice - but then he discovered that there were not parchments in them - would he have fulfilled the mitzva?"
His response was yes. "There are mitigating circumstances. He was sincere. He really tried etc etc."
But as he was explaining how sincerity was the most important fact he stopped. He said he realized he made a mistake and he wanted to retract and say that the mitzva was not fulfilled.
My chavrusa came at 2 - as he always does - so I had to apologize for cutting the conversation short. I thanked him the efforts he and his wife are making to improve the world situation.
Posted by Daas Torah at 2:04 PM
1 comments:
Recipients and Publicity said...
SEVEN QUESTIONS FOR GUMA AGUIAR !Dear Dr. Rabbi Eidensohn/da'as torah:
Thank you for sharing this important event with us. It is heartening to know that you responded well to Guma Aguiar's outreach to you.
What you say about him seems correct and I concur with you. Given that this blog has probably been the only place on Earth that has been trying to come to grips with and fathom who Guma Aguiar and his family are and what they are all about, and as it ties in with the ongoing EJF fiasco, there are still some questions that need answering.
Before the questions, here is an some important reason and rationale for the questions themselves:
From the time Guma Aguiar and his uncle Tom Kaplan met Rabbi Tropper who brought them into his own personal megalomaniacal vortex and got them involved with funding EJF to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, and since so many hudreds of the world's leading rabbonim got dragged into this saga willy-nilly, and since this entire matter touches on the vital interests of the Jewish People today involving as it does public campaigns to promote mass proselytizaions, therefore neither Guma Aguiar nor his uncle Tom Kaplan nor Rabbi Tropper can claim that they deserve "privacy" and non-scrutiny of their actions that are aimed at nothing less than revolutionzing the entire Jewish People (if not the world) with campaigns to enlist millions of gentiles hitched to Jews into becoming EJF-style converts to ultra-Haredi Judaism as Modern Orthodoxy and its RCA rabbinate is crushed in full public display by Rabbis Tropper and Eisenstein, while Guma continues massive financial involvement with new projects now that he is on the outs with Rabbis Tropper and Eisenstein.
So here are the legitimate unresolved questions:
(1) Has Guma Aguiar totally, truthfully and verifiably renounced his not-so-long-ago Christian Evangelicalism, which would have made him an apostate (meshumad)? If yes, how has this been verified and by whom?
(2) What was the true nature of Guma's relationship with Rabbi Tropper and what really happened between them that led to Guma no longer associating with Tropper and Tropper denouncing the conversion of Guma's wife so brutally in public, via this blog yet resorting to a forged document with forged signatures of prominent rabbis? Aside from giving millions away, how can Guma reassure the rest of us who do not get a penny from him, and are not looking for it either, that Roni/Tropper's concerns can be put in their correct context and not hang like a sword over Jamie Aguiar's converion and over Guma's crediblity head? Additinally, how come it was never revealed during all the years that Guma was co-founding and co-chairing EJF that he was living with Jamie who was not only not Jewish but also refused to go along with Rabbi Tropper and Rabbi Reuven Feinstein to convert and why was this kept a secret by all at the head of EJF and not told to more of the great rabbis whose names were involved with EJF over time, like Rabbi Eliashiv who surly would not have condoned a situation that a person who was living with a gentile and having children with her should be creating and making policy and disbursing millions of dollars to hundreds of leading rabbis to lure them to concerts and to pay them off by donating to their institutions for a supposed international Charedi new-fangled organization like EJF?
(3) What is the status of Jamie Aguiar, Guma's converted wife and their children born before she was converted or now that the conversion is disputed by Rabbis Tropper and Eisenstein? Is what poster Roni/Tropper alleged true and is there any way of knowing not just what happened, which seems to be controversial, but what has been or is being done to remedy the situation so that Jamie Aguiar be converted, not by EJF of course, but using their "rationales" perhaps so that controversy not surround Jamie Aguiar's conversion and that the matter can be resolved and finally put to rest to everyone's satisfaction?
(4) What is the status of the dispute between Guma and his uncle Tom that was openly reported in the press about the legal case that uncle Tom brought against Guama with accustions that Guma is suffering from a messiah complex and that Guma (presumably with his mother Ellen and maybe even his father Otto) wrongfully wrested control of the Lillian Jean Kaplan Foundation from uncle Tom (Ellen's brother)? Oh, and why is it only the Lillian Jean Kaplan Foundation, didn't "Lillian Jean" also have a husband, or was he also not Jewish or was something else wrong with him? Intelligent people notice all this stuff and they want to know to allay their worries given all the controversies surrounding EJF and the controversial events surrounding Jamie's and even Otto's conversion supposedly by Rabbi Herbert Bomzer that angered Tropper and was hotly disputed on this very blog so many times by poster Roni/Tropper!
(5) What is the present status of Guma's parents because Ellen Kaplan, Guma's mother was also an admitted Christian Evangelical (making her an apostate/meshumedes according to Jewish law) and she married Otto who was not Jewish. The question is relevant because Guma is giving philanthropy from the Lillian Jean Kaplan Foundation and it was Guma and his mother Ellen who officially signed as its founders and they presumabyly continue to control it. While we hear of Guma we don't hear of his mother Ellen but she must surely also be involved in the decision-making if she co-chairs the Lillian Jean Kaplan Foundation with her son Guma! Additionally, what is the status of Ellen's husband and Guma's father, Otto Aguiar's conversion and what is the level of religious observance of the senior Aguiar family? These are not random questions but are critical in order for all the Aguiar's to gain absolute legitimacy in the eyes of concerned Charedi and all Orthodox Jews and set at ease any lingering supicions that they are not just a well-honed fifth column of Christian Evangelicals trying to penetrate into the heart of the Orthodox world which can be very vulnerable.
(6) What are Guma's criteria in choosing who he gives his philanthropy to? Such as, why has Guma chosen to fund organizations organizations like Nefesh BeNefesh and praising Shavei Israel that are promoted by Christian Evangelicals? Or organizations like EJF where he was very active that promotes proselytizations and conversions for millions of gentiles not in the manner or traditions or laws of Judaism for the last 2000 years or more?
(7) And finally, who are Guma's present spiritual guides? He had previously been under the spell of Tropper. The name of Rabbi Tovia Singer of Outreach Judaism keeps on being mentioned in connection with events that Guma sponsors. Guma and Jamie Aguiar have also been generous to the Chabad rabbis in Florida that they were close to. Poster Roni/Tropper alleged that Rabbi Bomzer received hefty pay-offs too from the Aguiars. So is any one of these their "rabbi"? Or do they have other rabbis now Israel that they have decided to follow? The question is important because choosing a rabbi is not just a key decision required by the classical rabbis who say "asy lecha rav" but it goes a lot deeper and as Guma's experience with Tropper should teach it has major ramifications. If Guma and Jamie do not have one single rabbi presently as their guide, the question is why not? They are not learned enough in Judaism to follow their hearts' desires which could lead them astray quite easily. They should have one, or at least a key known Torah scholar person who can guide them correctly.
This may be the perfect time for Rabbi Eidensohn to set up a meeting between Guma Aguiar and Rav Moshe Shternbuch who has vast experience in the correct way to channel tzedakos. Rav Shternbuch speaks the Queen's English and he knows Baalei Teshuva well. He also has a wide perception of Eretz Yisroel events in Israel and the world. Send Guma links or copies of all the articles that have been published recenetly conveying Rav Shternbuch's Da'as Torah in pallatable form. It may make a huge difference to the Torah world -- all for the good -- if only Rabbi Eidensohn would make the offer and Guma Aguiar would take him up on it! There is hope!
May 7, 2009 6:52 AM
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Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Posted by: Blast from the Past | May 22, 2009 at 04:09 AM
I just want to ask to Monsey Tzadik not to confuse nationality with religion. When he wrote: "he converted a Brazilian women", there is a confusion here. A Brazilian woman can be a Brazilian Jewish woman. I don't know so much about this case, but he could best write this sentence like this: "he converted a Brazilian non-jewish women" or "he converted a non-jewish women".
I am a jewish man, live in Brazil, know a lot of Brazilian jewish girls/women...
Thanks!
Posted by: Brazilian Jew | June 08, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Could you help me. I said to myself, I have things in my head that are not like what anyone has taught me - shapes and ideas so near to me - so natural to my way of being and thinking that it hasn't occurred to me to put them down. I decided to start anew, to strip away what I had been taught. Help me! It has to find sites on the: Herpes outbreak stages. I found only this - frequency of herpes outbreaks. Herpes outbreak, tim months are only for any immunoglobulin and energy and are again theoretical for person by genital lungs and vaginal horses. We were too due about just making recent and however there was a nyob of test about triggering right versus just, herpes outbreak. Thank :-( Zelda from Lithuania.
Posted by: Zelda | March 18, 2010 at 04:26 PM