Letter From Brooklyn: The Spinka Rebbe Says He's Sorry – Sort Of
A Money-Laundering Rabbi's Brooklyn Mea Culpa
By Nathaniel Popper • The ForwardEvery variety of fedora and yarmulke was on display as men poured into the central building of the Vizhnitz Hasidic community for a hastily arranged “legal symposium” Tuesday evening in Borough Park — the heart of ultra-Orthodox Brooklyn.
As we reported in this week’s Forward, the symposium was a part of an effort by some ultra-Orthodox leaders to take responsibility for the money-laundering scandal that erupted last week.
The most surprising moment of the night came at the very beginning, when the Grand Rabbi of the Spinka sect, Naftali Tzi Weisz, at right, took the stage for an unscheduled appearance. Weisz was arrested in a separate money-laundering case in 2007, and just last week he pleaded guilty, reportedly accepting a jail term. Before heading off to serve that term, Weisz delivered an obviously emotional mea culpa for his wrong-doings, first in Yiddish and then in awkwardly translated English.
“Unfortunately we have to admit in public that things happened that were not supposed to happen,” Weisz told the men in attendance (women were not invited to the forum). “We must have to express our wish that these matters will never happen — we have to commit that in the future this will never happen again.”
Weisz spoke in great detail about the compliance program that the Spinka board has entered with the government and he said, “Our community, baruch hashem, is not lacking in smart experienced lawyers and accountants that are willing to teach the tzibur [community], how to conduct their communal affairs in a manner that is in compliance with the law in all respects.”
The event kicked off with a prayer service and then a speech by Rabbi David Zwiebel, of Agudath Israel, in which he read out excerpts from a piece that Forward alumnus Jeffrey Goldberg posted on The Atlantic Monthly Web site, titled, “The Morality Crisis in Orthodox Judaism.”
Normally, criticism of the Haredi community in the secular press would provoke contempt and boos, but tonight most of the crowd looked on quietly and uncertainly. The lectern from which Zwiebel spoke had a poster on it that said “Legal Symposium,” with an American flag in the background. Cameras were flashing from every direction and overflow seating was set up upstairs, with a live feed of the proceedings.
The schedule after the Spinka rebbe’s appearance included celebrity defense lawyer Ben Brafman, and two big-name rabbis, who pounded the lectern and wailed as they pointed to examples in the Torah and Talmud of the importance of being honest in dealing with a goyische government.
Rabbi Dovid Ozeri, who came in from the Syrian Jewish community, which is at the center of the money-laundering probe, said, “We have to start thinking like the gedolim of previous generations; they appreciated the freedoms that this country offered.”
As the night went on, the audience kept growing and men were standing in every corner. In between speakers, Zwiebel asked men to clear the exits. “It’s a fire hazard — and it’s not consistent with the theme of tonight.”
The public signs of contrition went against many long-standing traditions in the Haredi community, and not everyone was willing to join in. Outside, an older gentleman was handing out pamphlets that accused the government of antisemitism in the arrest of the rabbis last week: “Had this been done to any other group in America — Christian pastors, Black preachers, Muslim imams, Catholic bishops — there would have been a huge outcry: “Racial Profiling, Bigotry, Entrapment …”
The pamphlet was signed by the Committee for Truth and Fairness in Media. When I asked the man distributing the pamphlets who supported the committee, he said that if he told me the FBI would come after him and his family as well. A crowd gathered around and a young man yelled out, “This is a blood libel!” Another said, “There’s a pogrom going on here!”
Here is the Spinka Rebbe's speech in Yiddish:
[Hat Tip for the videos: Joel Katz.]
he speaks in the classical passive tense of one who is NOT taking responsibility.
++things happened that were not supposed to happen,” Weisz told ...+++
its as if he didn't do terrible things, rather they magically happened. imagine a muderer apologizing by saying, " a terrible thing happened when the bullet decided to leave the gun and make contact with the victim. we should all do our best to ensure this does not happen again."
unless the terrible thing that wasn't supposed to happen was getting caught. then his statement would be accurate and properly worded.
Posted by: ah-pee-chorus | July 29, 2009 at 02:06 PM
APC, I understood Weisz's statement to mean the following
1) “Unfortunately we have to admit in public that things happened that were not supposed to happen,” - means unfortunately we got caught
2) “We must have to express our wish that these matters will never happen" - means that we'll continue to do fraud, but much more carefully and wish that this new scheme is going to work
3)"we have to commit that in the future this will never happen again.” - we'll cover so good and check for mosers so well that in should never happen again.
With this sincere apology I see that Spinka rav has repented and must not be imprisoned now. In fact he is greater now then all the ravs that did not sin by being caught.
Posted by: Ben | July 29, 2009 at 02:31 PM
Ben :
absolutely. this tsaddik was the VICTIM of "things that happened". nowhere to be found is the word "I".
and he also said,
“Our community, baruch hashem, is not lacking in smart experienced lawyers and accountants that are willing to teach the tzibur [community], how to conduct their communal affairs in a manner that is in compliance with the law in all respects.”
you see the poor tzibur was previously unaware that tax fraud was illegal, and how to hide it properly. they were victims as well. luckily smart experienced lawyers and accountants will show them how to be more careful.
Posted by: ah-pee-chorus | July 29, 2009 at 02:45 PM
APC, he relies on "smart accountants and lawyers". Is not it starnge that this pious one does not mention that he rely on G-d, Prayer and Torah Learning? There is a strange incongruity in this picture.
Posted by: Ben | July 29, 2009 at 04:46 PM
I wonder if everyone stood up for him as he approached the microphone.
Posted by: itchiemayer | July 29, 2009 at 04:53 PM
"We learned things the hard way"
TRANSLATION
We got caught
Posted by: mordecai | July 29, 2009 at 05:11 PM
I commend the Spinka Rebbe for publically recognizzing his mistake and advocating strongly that others don't do the same.
To me it's clear that R Weisz is saying that what happened shouldn't have happened because he shouldn't have done it. I'm not surprised, given the bigotry of this site and mnay of the posters against that Orthodox, that anything that was said would be twisted into something derogatory.
The Orthodox will never be percieved on this site of doing something constructive or positive. It's unfortunate that such bigotry continues to exist in our society -regardless of the ethnic group against which it's directed.
At some point I would hope that the site will recognize positive actions within the Orthodox community as well as criticizing the community when it's wrong.
Posted by: anycomment | July 29, 2009 at 06:57 PM
did any of the rabbis state clearly that this type of fraud and action are assur and people should should be just as careful about fraud as they are about bugs in strawberries.
Posted by: seymour | July 29, 2009 at 07:16 PM
++ commend the Spinka Rebbe for publically recognizzing his mistake ++
Posted by: anycomment
where exactly did he do that? what mistake did he say he made?
++To me it's clear that R Weisz is saying that what happened shouldn't have happened because he shouldn't have done it++
if so, why didnt he say that?
++given the bigotry of this site and mnay of the posters against that Orthodox, that anything that was said would be twisted into something derogatory. ++
you are the bigot. you assume orthodox rabbis are good and will try to make them appear good even when they are not, as is the case here.
this schmuck can't even say I. I screwed up. I laundered money, I evaded taxes. I robbed my fellow american taxpayers. I didnt follow the torah. I caused a terrible chillul hashem.
nope, the apologizing man said ,"we have to admit in public that things happened that were not supposed to happen,”
if you arent honest or smart enough to tell the difference between the 2 approaches, i feel bad for you.
Posted by: ah-pee-chorus | July 29, 2009 at 07:18 PM
The hateful - and false - comments of the previous commenters are hallmarks of this site. The videos - helpfully attached - show the rebbe as being contrite, and taking personal responsibility for the failings of his movement. He quotes first from the daily lesson of the "Chok" as being pertinent to what he has to say; the quote of the day is from the Sefer Chassidim, which speaks of the importance of one's publically admitting guilt, and it's efficacy in gaining atonement for one's misdeeds. The rabbi then goes on to quote R' Chaim Soloveichik in the same vein. It is absolutely clear that he is referring to himself, and it is how he sets the stage for the rest of his remarks. The rabbi's speech is, arguably, perhaps the most significant such speech ever made in this country by a person of his stature and religious standing. As such it is utterly majestic. The inability of anyone to not comprehend the moment, which may well stand as an historic turning point in the annals of religious Jewish life in America, is so disheartening, and points to the utter collapse of serious and thoughtful discourse on issues of seminal importance.
Posted by: Binyamin | July 29, 2009 at 07:35 PM
++The hateful and false - comments of the previous commenters +++
since i was quoting his words directly, i must assume you are referring to anycomment. and i agree. its terrible the way he has distorted the rabbis words. for shame.
and he is so hateful to this site abd its posters. you nailed him, binyamin.
Posted by: ah-pee-chorus | July 29, 2009 at 07:45 PM
++The rabbi's speech is, arguably, perhaps the most significant such speech ever made in this country by a person of his stature and religious standing. As such it is utterly majestic. +++
Posted by: Binyamin
personally i much more enjoyed jimmy swaggarts "i was caught with a prostitute"
speech as well as ted haggards "i had drugs and sex with a male masseuse" mea culpa. what with all the tears and all i was SO moved. and so much more entertained. they were practically grovelling on the floor kissing everyones feet asking for forgiveness. and each probably had thousands of followers for each one spinka has. so you might wabt to tone down the laughable hyperbole.
majestic? a guy gets caught with his hand in many cookie jars, with so much evidence that he has to take a plea with jail time. then he cant say any of the statements i listed earlier, or anything remotely resembling them, and you pronounce him majestic. i think your standards are a bit too low. i like it when convicts really apologize before i begin to pronounce them majestic.
Posted by: ah-pee-chorus | July 29, 2009 at 08:03 PM
Apc, You in fact are misquoting the particular phrase you chose, betraying a lack of command of the Yiddish language, and, in all probability, an even greater lack of command of the English language. The correct translation would be " Things happened that ought not to have happened"... I am not saying that you should be a member of the Rabbi's fan club, that you should stand up and applaud, or anything like that. But I am saying that anyone - anyone- Jewish or non-Jewish, of any creed or color, would not fail to understand the magnitude of the moment...your problem is that you lack class, that you are crass and boorish...sins in any language and culture.
Posted by: Binyamin | July 29, 2009 at 08:10 PM
Binyamin : why am i not surprised by your dishonesty? i guess dishonesty in thought leads to dishonesty in words.
1. i copied and pasted the words DIRECTLY FROM THE ARTICLE. so i am not misquoting anything.
2.++The correct translation would be " Things happened that ought not to have happened"..++
dont you realize that your important correction changes nothing. do you not see that he is still speaking in a passive voice? if you understood the distinction between active and passive voice you would know that every p.r. hack tells their clients who have been caught doing something immoral or illegal to speak in the passive voice. it tends to distance your involvement somewhat , while making it seem that this event acted on you in some way. i didn't drive drunk, a vehicle was mistakenly driven after drinks had been given to me.
spinka uses that same tactic. i quote you "Things happened". true apologies speak in active voice. if i am going too fast for you i will slow down.
Posted by: ah-pee-chorus | July 29, 2009 at 08:36 PM
Apc, let me explain the way this works: there is a little arrow-shaped icon superimposed over the YouTube video link. Press it. This takes you to the actual speech. Listen to the speech. Oh...wait...you don't understand Yiddish....oh...you're just relying on someone else's translation...you know, besides lacking class, and being crass and boorish, you're not even a very good apc...the good, old-fashioned apc's knew their Yiddish (and Torah) pretty well...good night, and wishing all an easy fast! (even you, apc!)
Posted by: Binyamin | July 29, 2009 at 09:21 PM
Binyamin: wow!! you are an idiot. you know that little arrow-shaped icon superimposed over the FIRST YouTube video link. Press it. This takes you to an actual speech in ENGLISH!!!! can you tell the difference? its the one where ENGLISH is being spoken,last i checked one doesnt need to speak yiddish in order to understand english. and the quote used in the article is from this actual speech. if the english translation from his yiddish speech is incorrect, we'll have to chalk it up to the rebbe and his followers only being semi-literate in english. tsk tsk
then, i permitted you to provide a better english translation of his yiddish speech, as i do not speak yiddish, and showed how your translation made absolutely no difference. you then attempted to blame the problem on the fact that i was relying on someone elses translation when that translation was your own. i guess you are not pleased or satisfied by your own translation.
and all the while, you attempt to divert attention away from the issue by neglecting to respond to the fact that according to both his own english, and your translation of his yiddish, he speaks in a PASSIVE VOICE.
remember, binyamin, (i realize your attention span is short) i did not write his english speech, nor did i write YOUR translation from yiddish. i just quoted both of you word for word.
Posted by: ah-pee-chorus | July 29, 2009 at 09:53 PM
apc - I agree with you. Since Binyanin might not know, I am an oft defender of Torah orthodox Judaism on this site, but the Spinka was far from "majestic".
Rabbi Harry Maryles quotes the Spinka as having said "Out of necessity, we allowed ourselves to indulge in illegal acts". So the Spinka is saying that Hashem put him in a position where it was necessary for him to commit a huge chillul Hashem. Wouldn't a man of true faith say that Hashem put him in a position where he had to daven harder, learn a little more, do more acts of chesed? But no, the Spinka claims Hashem put him in a position where he had to "indulge" in illegal acts. Binyamin can call this "majestic", but by my standards the Spinka's words were far from majestic. As a self-proclaimed orthodox Jew (as Maven likes to point out), I am waiting for the Spinka to apologize to me for bringing shame to me, and to all Jews. While not majestic, it would be a good start.
Posted by: itchiemayer | July 29, 2009 at 10:46 PM
itchiemayer: great points , and i commend you for your willingness to be objective even when analyzing the behavior of a rebbe. not enough orthos are. i, too await a real apology for hurting all jews. when your dress screams i'm super jew you have an extra obligation to act properly morally and legally.
Posted by: ah-pee-chorus | July 29, 2009 at 11:00 PM
Normally I am an enthusiast of this site, and I usually find the orthodox apologists on the comments board irritating, deceptive, and uninformative.
In this case I listened to the yiddish version, which was his real message. I still think he is a slime bucket. But I will give him credit for a few things.
1. He conceded that many in the community do these things justifying it in the name of institutional necessity, but in fact it is not necessary. He also acknowledged that these practices are widespread and the change to legal compliance is both necessary and the community should do all the work to realize it.
2. He invoked the concept of medinah shel chesed (roughly speaking a regime whose conduct is just and kind). The implication in halachah is dinah del malchusah dinah, the lawys of the regime are din, are halachah. Hence he is explicitly saying that breaking the law is a violation of halachah. That is a far reaching assertion.
3. His comment about accountants and lawyers was given more context in his Yiddish speech. He asserted, that while people were making the transition to functioning within the law, they were going to be unsure about how to do things. When there are questions, he said 'don't "pasken" yourself, consult with lawyers and accountants. He drew out the halachic analogy, that when halachic questions are complex, you don't render decisions yourself, you go to an expert.
In sum I give him credit for genuinely arguing that the haredi community needs to move to lawful compliance for practical and halachic reasons. But yeah, in spite of his talking about a need to admit sins, and commit atonement, he only admitted to breaking the law and committing hillul hashem (a public desecration of judaism). He didn't own the fact that he lied, signed false documents, and defrauded the public.
In contrast, I remember hearing about Yonasson Steiff, the revered williamsburg rabbi. When he saw a young man starting to jay walk at a quiet intersection he just said, "no, dinah d'malchusah dinah."
Sadly, the majority of leadership lack the quality of utter truthfulness and honesty.
PS I think the Yiddish text of his speech is an important document and it would be great if one his defenders would provide a full translation.
Posted by: ABDADD | July 29, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Wasnt spinka involved in nursing home scandals and medicaid-medicare fraud a few years back?
“Unfortunately we have to admit…things happened that were not supposed to happen.…we have to commit that in the future this will never happen again.”
I will translate the the Hareidi Speak for you....Vot happened is vee got caught and dat vos not supposed to happen. Next time vee steal/lie/cheat/abuse or just be hareidim, vee vil make shore to never to be chapped again.
Btw, the major word missing in the 'rebbe's' speech is "I". As in al cheit shecatati.....
Posted by: Notsofrumanymore | July 30, 2009 at 02:34 AM
ha ha ha yes. He seems to say that it is terrible that these things happened in that they got caught and the whole world watched their shame and humiliation.
He better invest in more fool proof methods of cheating, lying and stealing.
i am still waiting for rabbis or so called gadols to say anything against tax and income fraud. I think i will be waiting a long time. Which also shows me i will be waiting a long time to see a real gadol or rabbi.
Posted by: R | July 30, 2009 at 06:21 AM
Ah yes...the beat goes on...the dullards here bemoan "the passive voice" and the "lack of ownership" and so on...tell me, please - when was the last time a Chassidic Rebbe got up and apologised for ANYTHING? I think it was.... NEVER?!? And you dolts quibble about the finer points of confession?!? This is a historic moment - not for what he said, although he did pretty well for a first-time-in-history event....but for the fact that a well known leader of a Chassidic sect had the guts to stand up in front of the public and apologise...show some - just some - class, savor the moment, and think about the possibility of a brighter future....
Posted by: Binyamin | July 30, 2009 at 08:29 AM
Binyamin :
will you apologize for falsely accusing me of misquoting him?
Posted by: ah-pee-chorus | July 30, 2009 at 09:16 AM
Binyamin, I agree with your statement: "when was the last time a Chassidic Rebbe got up and apologised for ANYTHING? I think it was.... NEVER?!?"
So you say it is Ok for the first timer and it is breaking certain long standing tradition prohibiting admittion of any wrong doing by the haredi leadership as well as by haredi rank and file.
He, of course could have played a usual victimhood card, but he kind of admitted that something might have happened that may even should not have happened. Ok. This is strong for hassidic Rebbe (who, like the pope is practically infalliable).
I give him credit for that.
On the other hand, his admission is still few orders of magnitude lower then even a secular intermarried Jew called Elliot Spitzer.
This fact shows an increadible moral degradation of Haredi Leadership and Holy men.
Posted by: Ben | July 30, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Apc, we never apologise - NEVER! :)...of course, I understand now that you were working off the English version, and yes, their command of English is not that great, and so I do apologise...let's hope that this marks a new beginning for ethical behavior and leadership in Jewish religious life...
Posted by: Binyamin | July 30, 2009 at 01:16 PM
i accept and may i add amen! (not the el melech neeman meaning, but the 'i hope so too ' meaning.)
Posted by: ah-pee-chorus | July 30, 2009 at 01:28 PM
i forgot which judge it was who said somehing along the lines of it not being neccesary for a person to pay more taxes than neccesary. (better the way he said it as opposed to my poor excuse for paraphrasing)
let me be clear. i dont condone what happened. i'm just saying that the rebbe's comment about lawyers and accountants is reasonable.
i think he was saying that there are enough legal ways to pay as little taxes (etc.) as possible without resorting to crimnal activity.
just another few hours folks....
Posted by: ralphie | July 30, 2009 at 05:19 PM
These guys are not sorry. They are sorry they got caught. Things happened that are not suposed to happen? Give me break. They think that it is ok to cheat the government and twist gemara logic so they make an excuse they can cheat the goyim. What do they mean hire lawyers to teach them how to behave in business? They innately should knew they were cheating and breaking the law.Pullelease.
The problem is that these right wingers refuse to go to college and learn secular education to get honest degrees in a trade like engineering, meedicine, etc. so they can make a living like everyone else. They try to make money in their crude knowledge of business using shticklach. Wake up and learn soemthing honest to support your families. They are doing a disservice to their children by not giving them a college education. They will all end up being meshulcchim.
Posted by: Herman Fuggelman | July 30, 2009 at 05:33 PM
I do speak yiddish and he did just say thing happened that should not happened, what does that mean why did he say it that way who knows. I do not know what is in his heart. Lets not mince every word he used, not everybody has a gift for words and saying exactly what they mean.
On a positive side I hope he is serious and only time will tell with they will actually keep the compliance officer and others will use the services whatever the reason they did it. If they stick with it, good for them and other frum organizations that stick with it.
However, the problem I have, it seems he is saying that mistakes where made and with a little effort they can be in compliance, and other frum organization can do the same to be in compliance.
However, that is not the issue and he did not really discuss the real issues that many frummies and organizations willfully knowingly commit fraud.
I am under the assumption that great efforts where made to circumvent the law, he knew what they where doing how to hide cash and cheat the system. They did it with full knowledge they where doing something wrong, fraud. The people who where arrested in Jersey, where not ignorant of the law. On the contrary they knew the law and that is why they did what they did.
Until they tackle the underlining culture of fraud a compliance officer is useless
Posted by: seymour | July 30, 2009 at 11:53 PM
All you chareidi apologists, accolytes and enablers really make me laugh. Here you are reading or not reading into the 'rebbes' speech as if it were a piece of gemara and even categorizing it as 'Majestic' Fine lets go with the pshat....he should have said in english and yiddish 'I was wrong, I did something bad, I made a massive Chilul Hashem, I will not be spinka rebbe anymore, I will not accept kvitelach anymore, I am worthless and have brought shame and degradation upon the Holy One Blessed Be He and His People who bear His Name. I will do tshuva and vow to never do this again" Instead we heard what we heard. This applies to all the so called 'frum' felons and their fans ie. the dreck from deal, monsey, williamsburg, ocean parkway, bp, mea shearim and beit shemesh that have been gracing the covers of the papers lately.
Posted by: Notsofrumanymore | July 31, 2009 at 08:26 AM
A man who can not take responsibility can not be trusted.
The Spinka Rav is just this type of a man, in addition to being a cheat, a fraud, a hypocrite, a thief and a moral pervert of course.
Posted by: Ben | July 31, 2009 at 09:39 AM