The Haredi Curse That Rocked Great Neck

Like biblical plagues raining down on them from an angry God, the white-bearded, black-hatted rabbi laid a string of curses upon the unsuspecting suburban partygoers gathered in honor of a little girl’s first birthday.

The Curse That Rocked Great Neck
Rabbi Mordechai Aderet: Party crasher frightens guests.
by Sharon Udasin • The New York Jewish Week

Like biblical plagues raining down on them from an angry God, the white-bearded, black-hatted rabbi laid a string of curses upon the unsuspecting suburban partygoers. Banging a siddur on a table and screaming “Shema Yisrael,” the rabbi, accompanied by a four-man entourage — all of whom had burst into a Great Neck home — lit into those gathered for an evening of celebration, mixed dancing and traditional Iranian fare in honor of a little girl’s first birthday.

After “shrieking Hebrew oaths,” the “uninvited” rabbi launched into a “lengthy diatribe” during which he told those who chose to remain at the party that they would be cursed with “illness, bankruptcy and tragedy for eternity,” according to a petition signed by some of those in attendance.

“They just came right in like a storm, inside the middle of the party,” said a woman who attended the December party but, like many others contacted by The Jewish Week, asked to remain anonymous because she fears for her safety. “They started to curse everybody, saying — ‘You’re going to have tragedies, everyone who stays here.’”

Guests and their children were allegedly so frightened by the rabbi’s intrusion that many left, while others stood shaking and crying, according to those in attendance.  

After the rabbi left, rumors began circulating around the community about the presence of naked women at the party. Those in attendance suspect the rabbi and his men of spreading the reports.

The actions of Rabbi Mordechai Aderet — and the sheer incongruity of medieval-like curses being hurled at well-off Persian Jews in Great Neck, of all places — have sent shockwaves through the local Jewish community. 

Other rabbis in the community seem stunned by Rabbi Aderet’s alleged behavior. Those at the party drafted an emotional memo to a Great Neck bet din detailing their “deep distress, sadness and anger” over the rabbi’s actions. It urged the rabbis making up the religious court to “use your influence to prevail upon your colleague to cease and desist from his unauthorized, illegal and unethical harassment of members of our community.”

And the bet din, run by Rabbi Eliyahu Ben-Haim, in turn circulated a letter among Great Neck rabbis that referenced the incident, but without mentioning Rabbi Aderet’s name, according to those who saw it. Only one rabbi is believed to have signed the letter.

“No one else wanted to even get near it,” said the one signatory, Rabbi Yamin Levy, who is vice president of yeshiva affairs at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School and serves as a part-time rabbi at a Great Neck congregation, Beth Hadassah. “Rabbis don’t want to go on record as appearing like they’re against a colleague.”

Reached by phone, Rabbi Ben-Haim said he would not comment on Rabbi Aderet, then hung up. Rabbi Aderet refused to speak with The Jewish Week himself but asked that the paper call one of his main supporters who would speak on the rabbi’s behalf.  

In an indication of how controversial Rabbi Aderet has become in Great Neck, the congregant tapped to speak for him would not agree to use his name, saying that his business might suffer from the association.
“They [the partygoers] exaggerated the event in order to take revenge against Rabbi Aderet and the Orthodox Jewish community because they don’t want Great Neck to become Orthodox,” Rabbi Aderet’s supporter said. “They don’t want another Five Towns.”

The supporter, who accompanied Rabbi Aderet to the party, claims he was invited, though he could not produce an invitation. Partygoers say Rabbi Aderet was not invited and that invitations were sent out to all of those on the guest list.

Rabbi Aderet’s supporter suggested The Jewish Week call Rabbi Avraham Cohen of Torah Va Danesh, an Orthodox synagogue in Great Neck, for comment. When reached, the rabbi said through a secretary that he “doesn’t want to get involved.”

The bizarre scene that played out in December didn’t come out of the blue, as it perhaps seems. Great Neck residents say it is part of a widening gulf in the community between a growing secularism on one hand, and a growing haredi element on the other. 

Rabbi Aderet, a representative of the latter group, is a popular Ashkenazi kabbalist from upstate Monsey. Born in Israel, the rabbi, who is in his 60s, according to those close to him, came to the U.S. some 35 years ago. He arrived in Great Neck in the late 1990s, recently establishing a branch of his Monsey Beth Eliyahu shul in the North Shore town. While some in Great Neck say he has a sizeable following, the head of the New York Board of Rabbis knew nothing of him. Neither did a spokesman for Agudath Israel, a haredi umbrella group. The rabbi’s shul seems not to operate a Web site, but dozens of the rabbi’s lectures on the weekly Torah portion are available at TorahAnytime.com. He first attracted the attention of Great Neck’s Persian community in 1993, when he began delivering lectures near Persian offices in Manhattan’s Garment District, according to the rabbi’s main supporter.

For Rabbi Aderet, the path that brought him to barge into the Great Neck home began earlier that December day, according to sources. He apparently heard about the upcoming party that morning at a brit milah, through friends of those hosting the get-together. Allegedly, the rabbi objected to both the mixed dancing that might occur at the private party and the idea that people would be celebrating on the night before the Fast of Tevet, which marks the siege of Jerusalem. A second supporter said the rabbi gave the hosts ample warning that he’d be stopping by to see about the mixed dancing. The hosts deny the rabbi contacted them. 

“What happened was not a pretty sight, and Rabbi Aderet just did some type of blessing in a loud voice — Shema Yisrael,” the rabbi’s main supporter said. “The next day was the day that Jerusalem was seized and it’s a fast [day]. Doing these kinds of things on the night before the siege is not a good thing.”

But since the fast did not begin until the following morning at sunrise, the party was in keeping with Jewish law, say those in attendance. They note that several similar celebrations — with rabbis in attendance — were taking place throughout the neighborhood. The host family had simply gathered to celebrate their daughter’s birthday with fellow Persian neighbors and relatives at a party that featured glatt kosher food, music and dancing, guests said.

Yet at approximately 10 p.m. that evening, Rabbi Aderet and his entourage parked two vehicles outside and entered the home uninvited; he unleashed his curse-filled tirade at the 60 or so guests present as well as their family members, according to the petition against the rabbi sent to the bet din. “The disruption he caused cannot be overstated,” it reads, stating that the events described are “undisputed, as witnessed by over 50 innocent by-standers.”

“Judaism has never and must never be used to bully and humiliate human beings in our own homes,” the petition continues. “Judaism has never and must never be used to turn Jews against one another.”

Said a guest who attended the party: “It was like bin Laden — all they needed were guns. My daughter was terrified after — she was screaming. She didn’t talk for three days after.”

Rabbi Aderet’s main supporter claims that on the day after the party, the host came to see the rabbi to clear the air and ask for the rabbi’s blessing. But according to guests, the hosts did not come seeking a blessing but rather demanded that the rabbi remove the curses from their home and write them an apology letter. 
Rabbi Yosef Bitton of the Young Mashadi Jewish Center said he saw a draft of the letter distributed by the Great Neck bet din, but did not sign. He said he understood that Rabbi Ben-Haim felt that speaking directly with Rabbi Aderet was a more effective means of solving the problem. 

“I think he preferred to talk to Rabbi Aderet and to use a different channel,” Rabbi Bitton said, stressing that Rabbi Aderet’s actions at the party are by no means representative of rabbinical practice in Great Neck. “It’s something that’s not in accordance with the spirit of unity, love of Torah that we all want to transmit to our communities.”
n
Other rabbis throughout Great Neck agreed, and some were still in shock that such an event could have even occurred in their backyard.

“Based on what I heard happened, I hope that people appreciate that the approach that most of the rabbis take with Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Judaism in Great Neck is quite different than what was described,” said Rabbi Howard Stecker of Temple Israel of Great Neck, a Conservative synagogue. “We try to bring people closer with an approach to Judaism that emphasizes growth that’s presented with love and respect.”

Beth Hadassah’s Rabbi Levy agreed. “Our style of presenting Judaism is different than his,” he said. “God doesn’t curse, people don’t curse. If that’s what he did, it’s not the kind of Judaism that I would espouse. But he does have a strong following.”

Last December, Rabbi Aderet received a special honor, the Kesser Torah Award, from the Mirrer Yeshiva Central Institute in Midwood, where one of his children studies. But school officials would say only, “They’re parents here and they’re a wonderful family.” 

Though his congregants are predominantly Persian, the Ashkenazi rabbi manages to maintain a following of congregants, with 30 to 40 people showing up to a typical morning service, according to a party guest who has attended the rabbi’s services on occasion. 

“His followers are really so dedicated to him so that they would do anything to protect him,” said the guest. 
Another party guest called Rabbi Aderet’s followers “very fanatical and brainwashed” about the magnitude of the rabbi’s wisdom and said that his congregants seem to fear his alleged magical powers.

Yet some of Rabbi Aderet’s followers believe so much in his abilities that they call him a “messenger from God,” capable of saving them from both health and financial catastrophes.

“Rabbi Aderet has saved a lot of lives that were very close to being dead, and he has helped tremendous amounts of people when they have bankruptcies or any other financial differences in their life —and I’m one of them,” the main supporter said.

This congregant cites a 2007 incident in North Shore Long Island Jewish Hospital where his aunt had just suffered a stroke; doctors recommended against life support because the patient had no chance of recovery beyond a vegetable-like state. But when Rabbi Aderet arrived to perform Havdalah at her bedside, sprinkling wine on her forehead, the woman allegedly awoke and lived to see her son get married and two grandchildren grow, according to the congregant. 

“I believe that Rabbi Aderet has a very big connection [to God] because I’ve seen it with my eyes,” the supporter said.
n
Rabbi Aderet’s presence in Great Neck is emblematic of changes taking place in the Persian community there, residents say.

“The community is moving in different directions in a way that didn’t happen when we were still living in Iran,” observed community member Ellie Cohanim, who did not attend the party. “There is a group that is becoming more secular, and there’s a group that’s taking on this very haredi brand of Judaism — and neither of those trends is normative to the Middle East. It’s not normative to how our parents and grandparents observed Judaism.”

According to Rabbi Levy, the trend toward kabbalistic Judaism and the charismatic, magical rabbi — “the Madonna syndrome” as he calls it — has spread far beyond Great Neck. 

“There is this trend in Orthodoxy today where people are being drawn to the mystical rabbi, the rabbi that promises blessings and good fortune by virtue of association,” he said. “And that’s happening in Israel, throughout the U.S., throughout the world really. It’s not just in the chasidic movement. Now many rabbis present themselves that way. [Rabbi Aderet] has built a following like that that. ... People just want to follow blindly. They just want a simple life, to turn over their thinking to a rabbi. I guess it works.” 

As for those who attended the party — some say they are still traumatized more than two months after the incident — the ideal solution would be for Rabbi Aderet to simply pack up and leave their community.

“This is not Mea Shearim here,” said one party guest, referring to the iconic haredi neighborhood in Jerusalem. “This is Great Neck.” 

[Hat Tip: HaNavon.]

Comments

[Chayim]

KOOL KOOL KOOL
This is a real Rabbi. Not like the clean shaven modern orthodox knitted kippah types who shake hands with women and support homosexuals. This is the MOSES of our generation.
WAY TO GO.............................
CHAREIDI POWER

[Yochanan Lavie]

Boor Day (as sung by Rabbi Aderet)

Apologies to the Beatles

You say it's her birthday
It's my fast day too, yeah
They say it's her birthday
You're gonna have a bad time
I'm mad it's her birthday
Many curses to you.

Yes we're going to ruin a party 3x

I want no one to dance (Birthday)
I'm in a tra tra tra trance (Birthday)
I'm a kabbalah dunce (Birthday)
Dunce! 2x

You say it's her birthday
Well it's too bad for her, nu
You say it's her birthday
I'm gonna make a little girl cry
I'm mad it's her birthday
Crappy birthday to her.

[steve]

The hypocrites at Matzav attacked VIN for posting this Jewish Week article. They then proceeded to put their own usual Al Jazeera spin to the story on a separate post. These same hypocrites attacked Rabbi Dr. Lander after his death, with lies about him allegedly not listening to the rabbis. Even after their allegations were proven to be false, they refused to take down that post. Today they are screaming about "Bizayon Chochomim". The real bizayon on the internet is Matzav.com.

[harold]

I feel terrible for the one year old child whose birthday was farshtered (disturbed) I hope that she will not be emotionally scarred by this intrusion.

[Harry Callahan]

Does not New York have the “Make My Day” Law (Castle Law) ?

From Wikipedia:

A Castle Doctrine (also known as a Castle Law or a Defense of Habitation Law) is an American legal doctrine that arose from English Common Law[1] that designates one's place of residence (or, in some states, any place legally occupied, such as one's car or place of work) as a place in which one enjoys protection from illegal trespassing and violent attack. It then goes on to give a person the legal right to use deadly force to defend that place (his/her "castle"), and/or any other innocent persons legally inside it, from violent attack or an intrusion which may lead to violent attack. In a legal context, therefore, use of deadly force which actually results in death may be defended as justifiable homicideunder the Castle Doctrine.

I think the problem will be solved with Ateret’s brain splashed on walls.

[Shlomo]

This is not an example of דרכיה דרכי-נעם Torah ways are pleasant ways

[jay]

This Harediban Rabbi is very lucky they didn't file charges and have him thrown in jail.

[state of disgust]

They should bring charges against Aderet and his goons of criminal trespass with intent to do bodily harm.
If he ever showed up in my house uninvited I introduce him to my lawyers, Smith & Wesson.

[Isa]

In Texas...
All someone would have to do is shout...

HOME INVASION!

and then one could pull out a shotgun and start blasting!

True stories
Neighbor KILLS two burglars that broke into his neighbors house...shoots them in the back [a little more complicated than that]

Grand Jury verdict... NO CHARGES!

Someone catches a burglar running out of his house with a flat screen TV, when the burglar gets on top of the fence to escape, the homeowner shoots and kills him in the back.

Grand Jury verdict... NO CHARGES!

[Yochanan Lavie]

Introduce home invaders to Reb Uzi, or the Glocker Rebbe.

[bubele]

well theese so called rabbis think they are infallible with all those mindless moron supporters he gets even more mindless its like a herd mentality where anything goes and reson goes out the window what a waste of mind

[A. Nuran]

Harry. Here are the relevant NYS statutes:

§ 35.20 Justification; use of physical force in defense of premises and in defense of a person in the course of burglary.
1. Any person may use physical force upon another person when he or she reasonably believes such to be necessary to prevent or terminate what he or she reasonably believes to be the commission or attempted commission by such other person of a crime involving damage to premises.

Such person may use any degree of physical force, other than deadly physical force, which he or she reasonably believes to be necessary for such purpose, and may use deadly physical force if he or she reasonably believes such to be necessary to prevent or terminate the commission or attempted commission of arson.
2. A person in possession or control of any premises, or a person licensed or privileged to be thereon or therein, may use physical force upon another person when he or she reasonably believes such to be necessary to prevent or terminate what he or she reasonably believes to be the commission or attempted commission by such other person of a criminal trespass upon such premises. Such person may use any degree of physical force, other than deadly physical force, which he or she reasonably believes to be necessary for such purpose, and may use deadly physical force in order to prevent or terminate the commission or attempted commission of arson, as prescribed in subdivision one, or in the course of a burglary or attempted burglary, as prescribed in subdivision three.
3. A person in possession or control of, or licensed or privileged to be in, a dwelling or an occupied building, who reasonably believes that another person is committing or attempting to commit a burglary of such dwelling or building, may use deadly physical force upon such other person when he or she reasonably believes such to be necessary to prevent or terminate the commission or attempted commission of such burglary.

In other words, NYS seems to have a "weak" Castle Doctrine. The residents could (and probably should) have given him the bum's rush. He could absolutely have been arrested for criminal trespass. I don't think you could make the case that the rabbi was attempting a burglary, arson or a crime involving immediate danger of death or serious bodily injury.

But really. Breaking up a baby's first birthday party is about as chickenshit as it gets.

[Chayim]

We need to have a group of such Rabbis in every frum community to keep law and order.
Meah Shearim is the prime Jewish community of the world and we need to import their ideas.This way less kids will hang out smoking and killing time.
CHAREDI POWER

[harold]

I can't understand why this rabbi should get involved in the going ones in the non-orthodox world. Yelling curses to the non-frum won't make them more observant. A rather pointless exercise.

[ruthie]

what this rabbi did to an entire room of jewish people is just so sad. maybe he has some type of mental illness? not kidding.

[ruthie]

actually it sounds like this rabbi thinks he's g-d. not.good

[harold]

demanded that the rabbi remove the curses from their home

If he was smart he should charge $100,000 to get it removed - guaranteed!

[Chayim]

But you see many of the guests got scared and ran out,so it did work. Force always works.We got to take off the kid gloves and be tough.You cant let such ireligious parties happen in a Jewish neighborhood. Lets clean up Teaneck,Riverdale,Lawrance,Cederhurst,and Tel aviv. We can do it if we Chareidim unite,we can win the fight.and make everyone see the light,even in the dark night,make everyone reach their spiritual height.
CHAREIDIM ON THE MARCH.FIRST GREAT NECK THAN TEANECK.

[Jay]

It doesn't matter where this happened or what happened, the rabbis should be arrested for trespassing and wielding threats.

[Chayim]

The Rabbis should receive medals from city hall for their couragous actions.
CHAREIDI POWER ON THE MARCH

[Rivkah]

Shut up chayim, just listen to yourself

[A. Nuran]

Rivkah,

[Bill]

Yeshivah Torah Va Danish?

I always thought that would be a fantastic combination.

[shlomo zalman]

The tepid response of the participants in the party is a sign of weakness. They can do what they want, but if they don't want this thug to keep intruding on their private lives, they must go to the police and file a complaint. If they don't , it will continue. These so called mekubalim are just gangsters who won't stop until they are in jail

[harold]

A. Nuran

Just how did you embed the picture? Very cute. What are the html tags that did the trick?

[Mr. Apikorus]

If this piece of shit of a "Rabbi" pulled this in my house, he'd be drinking out of a straw for the next two months. If he was lucky, that is.

[Chicago Sam]

That troll sure looks like Chayyim!

[nader bolour]

I was intervied, however not one piece of information I gave was inserted.
Many of Rabbi Aderets followeres are infact well studied Rabbis who do not follow him blindly.
As a follower for the past Thirteen years i have grown richer in spirtuality,become a finer being and have become more attached to the almighty.
It is shame ful for this paper to interview Rabbis whose Synagoues are not observant ie parking lots on Shabbath or the use of Microphone on Shabbath oh by the way the paper will say we tried to intrviews with other orthodox Rabbis (you did not try hard enough.

[A. Nuran]

Harold, it's the image tag. img src="url of the image". Then close the tag with /img.

[shmulki]

nader bolour you show youre arrogance by stating that you are a better person well youre not the one to judge youreself this shows that you left youre better judgement by judging youreself only a fool talks like you and that is what you became with youre religiosity this guy charim is a good example of what i call fanatacism and youre also on youre way to it

[Mr. Apikorus]

Nader (or is it "nadir?") you sure know how to spell.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Mr. A: At least he doesn't cast a spell.

[Chicago Sam]

Oy vey, another Chaim wannabe--I hope it's not contagious.

[Rivkah]

A. Nuran,
That picture was brilliant!
I laughed so hard.
Point taken. I won't feed the trolls:)

[harold]

Harold, it's the image tag. img src="url of the image". Then close the tag with /img.

So I assume that all the goodies that I can find in "w3schools" I can use? You do realize what you have done? Now people can embed all kinds of images into the comment thread, you have opened a Pandora’s box of goodies. We will not be limited to Scotty's handful of images (shtriemels and black hats) but now the collective imaginations of the user base.

Chayim, got that, we will be looking forward to some colorful Haredi images to supplement your colorful posts.

A. Nuran, I am not clear about the /img closing tag, HTML and XHTML only require the “/” > terminator (without the space). Is this a Typepad thing? Anyway I will try a test or two this evening. Again many thanks, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

[harold]

Test #1

[harold]

Got it! Thanks A.Nuran don't need the /img end tag, the / > (without the space) works fine.

[harold]

Test #2

Sorry couldn't resist. Scotty if this offends you feel free to remove (as well as the 770 image). I am just flexing my new found freedom. I feel like a blind man that can now see. I will try to limit images to ones that have relevence to post or comments.

[shneerhere]

Looks like FailedMessiah should be renamed FailedBlogSite. 'Chaim' has taken over everything. Pity.

[A. Nuran]

Harold, do you have a source for a large, good quality image of the 770 house? My wife needs one for a Jewish-themed collage.

[harold]

Looks like FailedMessiah should be renamed FailedBlogSite. 'Chaim' has taken over everything. Pity.

You can always ignore his posts. I find the "Page Up" and "Page Down" keys very effective as well as having a mouse with a scroll wheel.

I personally find Chayim's posts more of a comic relief to all the anger and doom and gloom here.

[harold]

Harold, do you have a source for a large, good quality image of the 770 house? My wife needs one for a Jewish-themed collage

Always remember, Google is your friend. My two images were gotten by simply going to Google Images http://images.google.com/ and typing "770 eastern parkway" and "lubavitcher rebbe" then choose an image that interests you, right click on image choose properties and you will see its url.

[harold]

To continue, I just noticed in Google image if you expand on "Show Options" you can specify the size of the image that you are interested. This will help you find what you are looking for quicker.

[David]

This chayim guy is a troll and is very annoying.

[Yosef ben Matitya]

A. Nuran is asking for picture of lubivitz den fer his vife jewish themed collage?
For such theme, I would use a real Jewish subject. Not those?!

[Yosef ben Matitya]

This C----m guy is a troll and is very annoying.
from David

True, David. I think his parents gave him this name Bilshon Sagui Nahor.

[shmulki]

i wrote before and am writing it again hey chayim commit youreself into an insane asylem before you will be taken in its for youre own good

[Neandershort]

LOL @ Harediban. We've become too effete, as well as too deferential to any old or not-so-old man with a beard. Where was the homeowner, a man whose daughter's first birthday party was being violently disrupted by that "rabbi" and his goons? Why didn't he do his duty as a man; doesn't he thank God every day that he is one? Look the mamzer in the eye and tell him to get out, and if he doesn't then beat him senseless and call Hatzalah. THEN call the cops.
We've tried being "civilized" and refined, and all it got us is a one-way ticket to Auschwitz. It's 10 P.M.; have you punched an evildoer in the mouth?

[Rivkah]

Neandershort,
You say it like it is!
They all call themselves "Rabbis" bc they have a beard.
How about ACTING like a Rabbi and not someone who just escaped from a mental institution and mooches off taxpayers.
Yeah, "mystical powers" my toochus!
I feel so terrible for those who fall prey to their money grubbing schemes.
We have to have these people put away and protect society from them.
THIS IS NOT IRAN PEOPLE!!
This kind of behavior is terrorist behavior.
We are in a CIVILIZED country with laws and that type of invasion is NOT tolerated here. Where does this Rabbi think he is? If he wants to get away with that stuff, he should go to Iran.
Those sweet Jewish Persian people did not escape opression and terrorism in Iran just to get terrorized here in America!
I say we all do something about this and get the law to take care of him, if they won't.
Who's with me?

[Chicago Sam]

It' beginning to look like a pandemic at failedmessiah; Chaim and his hasidim all seem to suffer from hoof and mouth disease.

Am I the only one noticing this? Methinks Chaim is getting his friends to stage a hostile takeover of FM. Any thoughts?

Oy

[Neandershort]

Back to Iran indeed. Take a hard look at this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvF2cKXqWeE

Sounds like Meah Shearim? Israeli politicians play with fire when they kowtow to these crazies. And even here in America, we will have our freedom only as long as we are willing to stand up like men and defend it. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

[jay]

@chicago - maybe when Shmarya is back full-time he'll be able to start moderating effectively again.

[harold]

maybe when Shmarya is back full-time he'll be able to start moderating effectively again

I really think that he is under the weather. No "please", "idiot" or "jerk" for a while, not his style.

[Pidyon haBen]

Rabbi Aderet and others like him are nothing more than cult leaders, who try to garner support and money, and then dictate to their followers their every step in life, many of whom will not do a thing without consulting him first. These are all immature and naive persians, who have fallen prey to this cult like leader, thinking that he is raising their spirituality. It's a shame, because some persian communities in great neck have the greatest rabbi's, whom some neglect and leave to follow people like Aderet to be told how to live their lives, without thinking about what judaism is all about. These rabbi's force young married women to wear sheitl's, even though this has never been a sephardi act. Aderet himself doesn't even raise his eyes if there are any women within 500 yards of him, and no doubt his male followers will do that too, and when it comes time to marry, won't have a clue how to approach a woman, or talk to a woman, never mind the sex part. Aderet should go back to Monsey, and leave the persian's alone, let them follow their own great rabbis. If anyone is so stupid to want to follow him, they should go and live in monsey with him. These cult like rabbi's should stay well away from such a great community as the perisans, who have held their jewishness for thousands of years, and it's because of such people that disunity occurs. He has no right to tell any of his followers what to do, and certainly no right to go into anyone's home and tell them how to dress in their own home, or how to conduct a party in their own own. That is not, and has never been, Judaism, but in my book can only be called cult like behavior.

[Mr. Apikorus]

He hasn't called me a nazi, nor threatened to kick my butt. Maybe his shrink changed his medication.

[Chayim]

It is most interesting that in this weeks Torah portion discusses the Sabbath.What most interesting that in 1911 there was the Triange shirt factory fire that killed 146 mostly Jewish girls and it was on Shabbos.They were killed because they violated shabbos at the very moment that shuls around the world were reading IT IS FORBEDDEN TO KINDLE A FIRE ON THE SABBATH DAY
OBSERVE THE SABBATH OR DIE
CHAREIDI POWER

[Chayim]

Now in connection to this great Rabbi in Great neck who barged into a home to save Jews in spiritual danger ,kol hakovod.
There is a similar story that the great chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Rabbi Chaim yosef Zonnenfeld was once informed that in a certain home nearby someone was violating Shabbos. He ran out of his home annd barged into this house where shabbos violation was taking place and began yelling. Someone asked this respected great Rabbi,how could he act so wild as it does not befit such a respected personality.He replied when you go to save someone in a house thats on fire you dont gently knock on the door and wait for a response. You break the door down barge in,scream out to see if anyone is asleep and act as fast as you can. OUR GREAT GREAT NECK RABBI DID THE SAME THING .HE BARGED INTO A FLAMING HOUSE THAT ITS MEMBERS WERE IN GREAT SPIRITUAL DANGER WORSE THAN A PHYSICAL FIRE.THE FIRES OF HELL ARE 60 TIMES AS HOT AS THE FIRE ON THIS WORLD.
HAVE A CHAREIDI GUT SHABBOS DEAR YIDDEN

[Jeff Eyges]

interesting that in this weeks Torah portion discusses the Sabbath.What most interesting that in 1911 there was the Triange shirt factory fire that killed 146 mostly Jewish girls and it was on Shabbos.They were killed because they violated shabbos at the very moment that shuls around the world were reading IT IS FORBEDDEN TO KINDLE A FIRE ON THE SABBATH DAY OBSERVE THE SABBATH OR DIE

They worked long hours for slave wages to support their families - something your kind doesn't understand.

Scott, isn't it time to cashier this piece of garbage?

[Chayim]

Fighting for Shabbos is not garabage. Working long hours on shabbos ,where did it get them.These girls were burnth and many jumped out of windows like the wtc episode and now they are frying in hell.They jumped from one hot pot into another hot pan.
CHAREIDI POWER
BE CHAREIDI OR BE A BIG TIME LOSER

[Pidyon haBen]

Chayim you are more brainwashed than the followers of Aderet. There are millions of people and houses around the world where jews are "in spiritual danger" whatever that's supposed to mean. So should all rabbi's do the same thing, and start breaking down the doors of people in their community, whether it's in new york, london, paris or tel aviv, and curse them and tell them to stop doing the non-jewish act they are doing because they are in spiritual danger? is that what you recommend? Who is the judge and jury of all of our actions? Aderet or other cult rabbis of his ilk, or God almighty in the heavens?? you are completely disconnected to reality, and as i see it, to Judaism as well. You should also go back to monsey or meah shearim and live in your own bubble.

[Eddie London]

This fool Aderet has not right to enter into people's houses, and is a criminal. His acts are contrary to Torah, and he should not be regarded as a rabbi.
There is nothing wrong with celebrating in your house for a birthday of a child.
But he is a charlatan, and by use of magic (forbidden by Torah) he amasses money from gullible or distressed customers. Essentially he is a fraud.
The real leaders of Torah, the Neviim, like Elisha, would be on hand to those in trouble, and help or heal them.

[Alter Kocker]

Chayim
Your hero, this Rabbi needs to be put down like the mad dog that he is. Aderet should have been arrested and thrown into the general population of the nearest prison. Lets see if he objects to mixed dancing after some of his prison mates have at his sorry old ass.

CHAREIDI POWER FULL OF SH*T

[Jeff Eyges]

Scott, I used to complain to you about Archie, but this raving psychotic makes him almost seem the soul of reason by comparison.

Chayim, here's someone with whom you'll get along: http://jewishphilosopher.blogspot.com/

[Maskil]

“Judaism has never and must never be used to turn Jews against one another.”

What "Judaism" is this petition referring to? Not any I've ever heard of. Turning Jews against one another could probably be described as our greatest national passtime.

Rabbi Levy agreed. “Our style of presenting Judaism is different than his,” he said. “God doesn’t curse...

Has this guy ever read any part of the Torah? God curses like humans breathe. He is not fit to be called a "rabbi."

[Voice of Reason]

I know Rabbi Aderet pretty well. I am not sephardic, not overly religious, and certainly not "branwashed". Everyone here is jumping to conclusions and making baseless attacks on the Rabbi- Nobody knows exactly what happened and knowing Rabbi Aderet, its very hard to believe this account to be wholey truthfull. Rabbi Aderet is a very humble person who looks down on people who call themselves "kabalists"- he decries there actions and false piety. He would never consider himself a "kabalist" and doesnt take kavod or honor to himself.

You can bash all u want but know what u are venting your anti religious hatred on a very loving, humble and sincere person

[Mr. Apikorus]

Archie might have been a racist fool, but he was a decent writer. This putz sure can't even spell his name correctly.

[Pidyon haBen]

Voice of Reason

If you know Aderet so well, why don't you find out truthfully exactly what happened, and post it here for all to read. He may seem like a humble rabbi to you, but humble rabbis don't go into peoples homes and tell them they are not doing a Jewish thing, and curse them all. Humble rabbi's do not take it upon themselves to be the Judge of man's behavior, that's Gods job. Unless of course all this cult following he has, has gone to his head, and he thinks he's some kind of messiah hero. Failed messiah more like.

[Abracadabra]

Pidyon haBen
Alter Kocker
Jeff Eyges

And anyone else who has the urge to answer Chayim - PLEASE STOP.

Feeding the trolls will only keep them coming back for more.

If you have something to say to Shmarya/Scotty about a TROLL please just email him directly. If you are too lazy to click on the Contact link above, it is:

failed.messiah@comcast.net

Again, feeding the trolls will only keep them coming back for more.

[Jeff Eyges]

Abracadabra, ordinarily I'd agree with you, but I've noticed that even in threads where no one pays attention to him, he just keeps coming back and leaving his droppings as the mood strikes him.

Ignoring this guy is like ignoring a puppy that isn't housebroken - he'll crap all over the rug whether you're paying attention or not.

[Mr. Apikorus]

Scott apparently doesn't have a problem with this guy, because "Chayim" doesn't challenge him directly, as I've been known to do.

This week has been notable for Scott's quiescence. I suspect he's gotten a full-time job, and thus can't devote as much time to the blog as previously. If that's the case, I'm delighted for him, as his zealous dedication to the blog was destroying him.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Jeff, I remember 'jewish philosopher' used to troll and harrass people on the 'Hasidic Feminist' blog. He is consumed with his sexual obsessions.

He is truly one sick perverted creature. We should be thankful that all we have to deal with here are Chayim, Pessie, and Harold.

[Jeff Eyges]

Oh, I think JP and Chayim deserve one another. In addition to his sexual obsessions, JP is a raging fundamentalist. They'd each be so busy trying to out-frum the other, they might leave others alone for a while.

[Mr. Apikorus]

I'd bet "Chayim" isn't even Haredi. I can't imagine that even the most rabid Haredi Jew would claim that Elior Chen is a "hero." Yigal Amir, unfortunately yes.

Note that "Chayim" started posting around the same time the guy calling himself Jose Torres Puello disappeared.

[Mr. Apikorus]

Puppies are cute. Puppies are adorable. Even those which aren't housebroken.

Can't say the same about "Chayim."

[R]

This rabbi is a kabbalist...says it all.

[Voice of Reason]

Pidyon Haben,

Did you do your own research to find out what happened? why do you feel the right to level these unsubstantiated allegations at the rabbi? He is truly humble and until you know for sure what happened, you just sound like a fool and venomous spitting, angry person who has a vendetta against rabbis

[Pidyon haBen]

I know more about what happened than you probably do. and although he's at fault for doing what he did, what's even worse is one of his followers who put him up to doing such a thing by telling him about the party and where the house was. i have no venom against rabbi's, but i do dislike false prophets like aderet, who's power has gone to their head, and who have been turned into some kind of cult leader by followers who are too ignorant to think for themselves.

[Chayim]

Yes we must do everything to influence secular Jews to become Chareidim. Thats what G-d wants. As far as curses we find it openly in the Torah spelled out, horrible curses if one does not follow G-ds law. We must use all means possible and every Rabbi is responsible for his communitys observance.Rabbi Adereth is a great man and on friday I left him a message encouraging him on his holy work.
CHAREIDI JUDAISM IS AUTHENTIC JUDAISM

[Abracadabra]

Jeff,

Chayim's crap doesn't smell if you don't stop to smell it. When I see his name, I just ignore the posting.

It's as easy as that.

Just "passover" him! (okay, that was bad... but I couldn't resist!!)

[dena]

How dare this rabbi break into a private home, uninvited. This is a crime of breaking and entering, and punishable by jail time. I would bring this to court and drag this monster through the mud. Who does he think he is? In this country people have the right to do as they please. How dare he set policy. I'm glad that I am not the kind of Jew that lives in an encapsulated community which is governed by a Bais Din. The Bais Din's protect criminals as long as they are orthodox Jews. Me, I would go to the American legal system and show him that he's no longer living in the dark ages.

[Lou]

I don't know who is crazier: the crackpot "rabbi" for crashing the party, or the partygoers for paying him attention.

[Peyman]

I know this Rabbi. He brain washed his followers so much that they don't do anything without his permission. I mean anything. If they want to buy a house, rent a house, sell anything, name their kids, even emptying their sewer it must come from his blessing. He has been terrorizing our beautiful down for many years. People are so scared of hm and his followers. He is Osama Bin Laden of Great Neck. It is time for him to get the hell out of our town.

[gaongaon]

Rabbi Aderet, Yimach shmo.

[Malka]

I am a baal teshuva girl and I don't know rabbi aderet but I know that there is a nicer way of trying to help other jews become more observant of Torah. In my opinion rabbi aderet shouldn't have taken this approach because it is a big chillul hashem and it will make people more anti religious and that is really sad. There are many jews in the world who never had opportunity to learn Torah and I think that the right way to inspire them to learn is through love. I was not raised religious and I never saw anything wrong with not keeping shabbat or tsniut because everyone around me was like that. Baruch hashem I was inspired to learn about my beautiful heritage because of my positive experiences with torah observant people and as I was learning Torah, I started to appreciate being Jewish and the importance of keeping the mitzvot. If chas ve shalom torah would be forced on me with voilence and humiliation I would probobly never be so connected to my heritage as I am today. It makes we sad to see religious looking people especially rabbis acting in such a bad way.

[Malka]

I know the rabbi had good intentions but I think he should have done this in a nicer way.

[h h]

if the congregants of the party asked the rabbi to remove the curse shows that the jews are ignorant to there religion. Most congregations want to get unreligous people to come but all it does is cause more machalal shabbat people to your place and make your place of worship tameh. rabbi aderts way is strict just like the torah. all the unreligous people who have problems come visit him to speak to him because they know he is the real deal, and why do they turn against the rabbi? Because they are not keeping anything from the torah and the rabbi tells it to there face like how a normal rabbi would for 2000 years, not like today in this generation. 60% of rabbi aderets congregation are REAL baletishuvah. visit
divineinformation.com and watch torah and science by one of rabbi adverts students who is big in kiruv now.