Chief Rabbi Backs Chabad In Outreach Conflict

Chabad accused by secular residents of targeting children, calls secular protests "the biggest compliment testifying to the success of the (Chabad) activities."

Metzger: Chabad controversy testimony of success

Chief rabbi showers praise on disputed Chabad activities in Ramat Aviv during organization's annual conference, reveals that secular businessman who supports group has been threatened

Kobi Nahshoni • Ynet

Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger expressed his support for Chabad's activities in Ramat Aviv and criticized the methods used against the group by the Tel Aviv neighborhood's secular campaign.

During a speech at Chabad's annual leadership conference on Thursday, Metzger, himself a resident of north Tel Aviv, complimented the organization's activists, saying that the highly publicized conflict in Ramat Aviv is "the biggest compliment testifying to the success of the (Chabad) activities."
 
The chief rabbi also revealed at the event that a secular businessman living in the neighborhood told him that he started receiving threats from his neighbors asserting that should he fail to cut off his support for the local Chabad House, they would damage his income, and even detailed how they intended to do so in an email sent to him.
 
According to Metzger, "In Ramat Aviv, there is a fear of becoming religious… This instance is proof of the inadequacy of those making the threats."

The conference of the Hasidei Chabad, led by Rabbi Yossef Yitzhak Aharonov was held at The Avenue in the Airport City. It was attended by Tel Aviv's Chief Rabbi Meir Lau and Knesset members Avi Dichter, Ofir Akonis, Zevulun Orlev, and Othniel Schneller. Many businessmen and professionals also attended the conference and gave tips and tools for proper management practices.

The primary issue for these secular Israelis has always been Chabad targeting their little children. Chabad sends its missionarues to the park where they distribute candy to secular children if they recite pesukim (Biblical verses) chosen by Chabad's late rebbe.

Israel's Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi sees nothing wrong in this.

I think Rabbi Metzger's attitude would dramatically change if secular Israelis went to parks and gave candy to haredi children who properly identified dinosaurs or who could recite the stages of Evolution.

Related Posts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Comments

[danny]

Don't take candy from the strange men. Scream when one of them approaches you.

[who knows]

They should be arrested for approaching little children without parental concent.

What if a pedophile dresses up as a Lubavicher Hosid and gives candies to children and invites them to follow him?

[harold]

I don't quite understand. The seculars send their children unattended to a park? That is irresponsible to say the least. I always accompany my granddaughter when I bring her to the local park. I know that when daughter was in Israel she also would accompany her child or would send her child with another friend whom she trusts and the two children would play, but there always was an adult supervising them.

[Shmarya]

I don't quite understand. The seculars send their children unattended to a park? That is irresponsible to say the least.

Please.

10 year olds in Israel go to parks by themselves.

Stop trying to divert attention away from Chabad's misbehavior.

[Norm]

The answer is to form a group which will try to deprogram hareidi children!

[Dr. Dave]

Why does this messianic cult get a pass, while others are prevented from doing the same thing?

[Phil]

".. the highly publicized conflict in Ramat Aviv is "the biggest compliment testifying to the success of the (Chabad) activities."

Metzger speaking out in support of Chabad is the biggest testament to how right they are.

[Phil]

The protesters not Chabad - of course.

[Althelion]

Metzger's support is a political move designed to foment support for him by chabad in Israel and the diaspora.

Does Metzger believe that Menachem Schneerson is the messiah?

The enemy (chabad) of my enemy (secularists) is my friend.

[A E ANDERSON]

How would the Habadskers like it if Christian missionaries gave their children candy in Prospect Park as a reward for reciting John 3:16?

Strangers have no right to approach children in public for any reason without express parental permission.

Wasn't Aharonov under indictment for something? I would imagine that of Metzger and Lau showed up for his event, he must no longer be under a cloud.

[Alter Kocker]

Go ahead kids, take the candy. Then kick the funny man with the beard in the balls.

[sandra]

shot him on the street .

send a few men to hold him , cut his beard and beat the hell out of him .

[concerned citizen]

This is off topic but, Just came across KWWL tv. the Jury has found Rubashkin NOT GUILTY.

[harold]

How would the Habadskers like it if Christian missionaries gave their children candy in Prospect Park as a reward for reciting John 3:16?

I don't think frum mothers would send their childred (even if they were 10 years old) to Prospect Park without some sort of parental supervision.

[harold]

This is off topic but, Just came across KWWL tv. the Jury has found Rubashkin NOT GUILTY

Rubashkin found not guilty in child labor law case

WATERLOO — Former Agriprocessors executive Sholom Rubashkin has been acquitted of allowing minors to work at the Postville slaughterhouse.

The jury indicated they had reached a verdict shortly before 1 p.m. Monday.

Jurors acquitted him of all 67 counts of child labor violations.

Rubashkin is awaiting sentencing on federal bank fraud charges in connection with loans Agriprocessors received. Federal immigration charges stemming from the May 2008 raid at the plant were dropped earlier.

State labor officials began investigating information that minors worked at the plant in the months before the May 2008 immigration raid.

Prosecutors said Rubashkin, who was described at the CEO and co-vice president of the company, knew underage workers held jobs at the facility and did nothing to remove them or change hiring practices.

Twenty-six former Agriprocessors employees from Guatemala and Mexico testified they had worked at the plant as teenagers. The state said they worked with dangerous chemicals and some tended power-driven equipment like conveyor belts

http://www.globegazette.com/news/iowa/article_5511a39a-7267-11df-82aa-001cc4c03286.html

[Dr. Dave]

Should've worn the kittel at his first trial too!

[Michali]

I am so happy for Sholom and his family. Yasher koach to harold for posting the pixs.

[harold]

I am so happy for Sholom and his family. Yasher koach to harold for posting the pixs

I guess it was too much for Scotty to look at those pictures. Anyway, I am glad that you were able to get "hanah" (pleasure) from the pictures. It made my day too!

[Shmarya]

I guess it was too much for Scotty to look at those pictures.

No.

Every time you or anyone else posts pictures or graphics I take them down.

The comments section is not the place for it.

[harold]

Every time you or anyone else posts pictures or graphics I take them down.

The comments section is not the place for it.

Being that, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, those pictures spoke thousands. Anyway it fealt good while they were up.

[R]

Of course Metzger commended Chabad and their dodgy methods...he was after all speaking at a Chabad gathering.
Plus he seems to like spin. It only goes to show he is simply a political figure and there is nothing religious or holy about him.

[Jeff Eyges]

I don't think frum mothers would send their childred (even if they were 10 years old) to Prospect Park without some sort of parental supervision.

Of course not; they might have to talk to a secular person, and their precious little neshomos might be irreparably damaged.

Harold, you're a piece of work. Your constant attempts to defame Scott while whitewashing your little corner of the world would be laughable, if they weren't so tragic. You've taken over the niche vacated by Archie (it's occurred to me that you may actually be Archie) - and, as he did, I'm sure you derive enormous pleasure from the consternation you cause.

I used to stay away from this site because of him. I now stay away because of you. I don't like you. I don't know how seriously you take the theology upon which you claim to base your life, but I want you to know that you have inspired nothing but loathing and profound contempt in another Jew.

[dovidk]

If you stay away from this site, how did you post that comment?

[Yosef ben Matitya]

Metzger is either brainless, or on the take of the meschichisten rachmono leitzlon! indeed I suspect he would be both brainless & dishonest, as well as min himself! שר'י