BREAKING! Queens Rabbis Force Bakery To Fire Convicted Pedophile

Queens Pita given ultimatum by Vaad.

June 14, 2009 - Queens Pita 

PUBLIC ADVISORY - SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2009 On Friday, June 12, 2009, the Vaad Harabonim of Queens ordered the retail establishment known as Queens Pita Bakery and/or Queens Kosher Pita, located at 68-38 Main Street, Flushing, NY 11367, to terminate the employment and any ownership interest of Isaac Ebstein, who earlier in the week pled guilty to felony and misdemeanor sex crime-related charges in the State Supreme Court, Queens County. In its hand delivered letter to Queens Pita, signed by Executive Vice-President, Rabbi Chaim Schwartz, the Vaad stated that "by the close of business on June 12, Ebstein shall neither work, nor be present in the store in any capacity whatsoever." Additionally, the letter ordered Queens Pita "to remove Ebstein as an owner, shareholder, officer, director, and/or partner, and provide written evidence." The Vaad was contacted by the victims family, and was closely monitoring the situation. Two senior members of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens were present in court for the guilty plea. The Kosher Supervision Agreement between the Vaad and Queens Pita provides that the Vaad has the discretion to terminate the Agreement upon the conviction of any crime of moral terpitude committed by a store officer or director. This clause was cited by the Vaad in its letter. The decision to order Ebstein's withdrawal as an owner and employee was jointly made by the Vaad and local Kew Gardens Hills congregational rabbis in a special meeting, and upon consultation with legal counsel. Vaad officials have also conferred with Queens Pita owner and proprietor Norman Kohn. Queens Pita has complied with the Vaad directive to immediately terminate Ebstein's employment. The report from the NY Daily News Saturday, June 13, 2009 that Ebstein would be returning to work, based on a statement from an unidentified female employee, is erroneous. Queens Pita continues to be under the supervision of the Vaad.

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Comments

[shmuel]

Well done, Queens Vaad.

[David]

Right. Get that guy out of the bakery, and get him a job in a Va'ad-supervised Yeshiva, where he belongs.

[rabbiyaacov]

Kudos to the Vaad. This makes me even prouder that I am a former associate of theirs. Rabbi Yaacov

[steve]

Good job by the Vaad. Avi Shafran will protest claiming using the smelly poet analogy. After all, Ebstein admitted his guilt and ought to be admired, like Bernie Madoff. It's not fair to fire him because of some tawdry tale with flimsy anecdotal evidence.

[MisterApikoros]

As much as I detest the hypocrisy of ultra-Orthodox Judaism, it appears in this case the Va'ad of Queens absolutely did the right thing, even if because had they not done it they would have been utterly scorned and ridiculed, even by many Orthodox.

[maven]

Steve: LOL. Perhaps he'll argue that Ebstein is a better man than that pilot, because that pilot saved himself but this Ebstein, by giving up the shop, saved all these children while taking a personal economic loss.

[Just a Goy]

What personal economic loss...?

He'll be simply bought out, if he has a vested interest.

Do I sense empathy from you, Maven?

[maven]

Just a Goy: you are kidding, right? Or what about sarcasm don't you understand?
As it is Jewish tradition to be "melamed zechut", that is, to try to give credit to all (ie, innocent until proven guilty), I'll guess that you are unaware of the Avi Shafran commentary controversy.

[Just a Goy]

It was my failed attempt at wry humor, Maven. Sorry!

[great unknown]

Note that the Vaad had two witnesses in court for the confession. No reliance on hearsay here. And while confession is not valid for much of Jewish law, in financial cases such as this it is dispositive.

Nice to see an organization dotting the i's and crossing the t's halachically

[Proton Soup]

good for them

[MisterApikoros]

I'm very much opposed on principle for the clergy to dictate to a business, or to tell people not to shop at a certain store. However, in this particular case, there's a big difference.

The store made a contract with Va'ad for Kosher certification. As we all know from Postville, that generally only refers to the food. However, at least in some eyes, Kashrut certification implies certain ethical standards must be met, and being a perv doesn't measure up.

Good for Va'ad of Queens.

[steve]

Let's not forget that Ebstein met his victim at his bakery. The poor kid went to buy some cookies and his life was changed forever. That's why this guy cannot be around kids on a regular basis and cannot be working in a neighborhood bakery. Schoolchildren are constantly going to the local bakery for donuts and cookies. Besides the ethical issues, the kashrus issues of neemanus, there is the safety issue. The same applies to Jerry Brauner at his father's bakery in Boro Park.

[steve]

This case further illustrates how far we have come in our war against child molesters, and yet, how far we still need to go. The fact that the victim's family went to the police is certainly a positive. The Queens Vaad's action is also a positive. However, as in the Kolko case, the victim's refusal to testify allows the perp to walk with a mere slap on the wrist. We must offer the victims of abuse a support network that would encourage them to testify at a trial. The government needs to allow these kids to testify via closed circuit television rather than in person. Also, their anonymity needs to be guaranteed. Until this support system is in place, we are only taking baby steps.

[SJ]

What happens when kosher supervision organizations try to force taliban shit down the throats of restaurants?

Threating to drop kosher certification to get rid of sex offenders is great, but the power can be abused if kosher supervision is not based on food alone.

[Isa]

If the owners are required to be Shomer Shabbas, which is the standard of whether one can rely on their trustfulness then other issues might come into play. If one has done a great evil (molestation) then it is as if the owners drove on Shabbat.

A Shomar Shabbas person is regarded as 'G-d fearing' so if they observe Shabbat they are likely to observe things like :not putting milk in the parve products to make it taste better. Certainly a molester is not G-d fearing and there-by not to be trusted.
All too often Shomar Shabbas thieving criminals are still honored.