Synagogue Criticized For Having Pioneering Orthodox Female Rabbi Speak

Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg of the Chofetz Chaim Torah Center in Cedarhurst repeatedly described the invitation to Rabba Hurwitz as a “great bizayon haTorah [disgrace to the Torah], the degradation of the gedolei Torah [rabbinic sages] that took place in our community.”

‘Rabba’ Appearance Stirs Up Controversy

The Jewish Week staff report

Rabba Sara Hurwitz of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, who was invited to speak at the Young Israel of Hewlett on a Shabbat several weeks ago, has come and gone. But a flare-up over her title continues to reverberate in the Five Towns community, prompting rabbis and others there to lash out at each other.

Writing in the Five Towns Jewish Times the week after her appearance, Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg of the Chofetz Chaim Torah Center in Cedarhurst repeatedly described the invitation to Rabba Hurwitz as a “great bizayon haTorah [disgrace to the Torah], the degradation of the gedolei Torah [rabbinic sages] that took place in our community.”

Noting that some may be angry at him for “stirring the pot,” the rabbi said he was speaking out because leading Torah scholars have condemned the appointment of a woman to a rabbinic position as “a breach of tzniyus [modesty] and mesorah [tradition].”

Rabba Hurwitz was given her title, seen as an upgrade from maharat, earlier this year by Rabbi Avi Weiss of the Riverdale congregation. In a subsequent agreement with the Rabbinical Council of America, Rabbi Weiss consented not to give anyone else the title of “rabba.”

Rabbi Ginzberg wrote that his criticism was not personally directed at Rabba Hurwitz, who he referred to as “Ms.” But he noted that while she may be an expert in Talmudic studies, “I am highly doubtful.”

Rabbi Ginzberg concluded his essay by asserting that as a result of this breach of Jewish law, “we will have something else to cry about” on Tisha b’Av, the upcoming fast day which marks the destruction of the Holy Temple.

That final comment was too much for Rabbi Hershel Billet of the Young Israel of Woodmere, who says he was “particularly taken aback by the last line. At a time of civil strife between brothers in Israel and blood libels against Israel, this is what we should be mourning about?”

In a sermon to his congregation, Rabbi Billet described the Ginzberg essay as “trash.”

Even Rabbi Heshy Blumenfeld, whose Hewlett congregation hosted Rabba Hurwitz, would not call her by her title in introducing her, according to attendees at the Shabbat lectures, though he praised her scholarship and potential.

While she may not be playing well in the Five Towns, Rabba Hurwitz this week was named by Newsweek magazine as one of its 50 Most Influential Rabbis in America.

Comments

[Weiss]

Is Mahrshas Hurwitz lesbian too?

[Eliezer]

Why don't you ask her husband, Weiss?

[Shmarya]

Is Mahrshas Hurwitz lesbian too?

I don't know, but she's certainly smarter than you and more kind than you.

[who knows]

Why is naming a woman Rabba considered to be desecration of Torah by Rav Ginsburg and gadoylim, while Rubashkin and Syrian Rabbis public thievery is not?

I am confused. Which values the haredi and increasingly entire orthodox Judaism holds sacred?

[Alter Kocker]

The Haredim have no values, they are guided by the principles of their gedolim: in other words self-serving and self-aggrandizing, no concept of concern for anything but their own wants and their own twisted version of a non-changing and non-evolving Judaism.

The concept of female rights and equality is a dagger through their hearts. In Chareidi-world women have only limited uses such as child-bearing, housekeeping and support of studying males. It would serve that entire group right if their females suddenly woke up one morning to realize that the males had little or no use, and then systematically emasculate the bunch.

[Weiss]

She's not smarter and I have real semicha

[Neo-Conservaguy]

She's not smarter and I have real semicha

It would seem neither midot nor derekh erets are required for that title.

[Weiss from NK]

She's not kind to the Almighty - she's deliberately fighting HIM every day!!!

[Weiss from NK]

Midot??? Derech Eretz??? Towards HER???

[jewishwhistleblower]

Rabbi Aryeh Ginzberg Chofetz Chaim Torah Center has sat on the Vaad of rabbonim of Queens for years with alleged pedophile pedophile Rabbi Ephraim Bryks. Where was his voice all these years? Will he speak out now against Bryks and have him removed today instead of October? Everyday he sits on an organization with a pedophile is a great bizayon haTorah.

Membership now:
http://www.queensvaad.org/about_vaad/members.cfm

Membership 2004:
http://web.archive.org/web/20040408113845/http://www.queensvaad.org/about_vaad/members.cfm

(Bryks has not been shown on the Vaad's website as a member for years in order to mislead the public.)

1) Excerpts from todays Jewish Week article:
Sources told The Jewish Week that the Queens board, known as the Vaad Harabonim, had long sought to have Rabbi Bryks removed as allegations against him persisted but was advised by lawyers that doing so was complicated because there has been no formal legal or halachic proceeding against him. Rabbi Bryks has been a member of the Vaad since the early ‘90s.

Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, co-president of the Vaad, would tell The Jewish Week only that “we reached an agreement with an individual that will take full effect in October.”

The October date, coming at the start of the new Jewish year, appears to coincide with the time when membership renewals are considered.

The board’s other president, Rabbi Richard Weiss, declined to comment and would not confirm or deny that the person involved in the agreement was Rabbi Bryks.

2) Excerpts from Awareness Center website:
In the summer of 2001, a group of Queens rabbis took the allegations against Rabbi Bryks to the Vaad Harabonim of Queens. There were several meetings, including a screening of the 1994 CBC documentary feature.

Rabbi Simcha Krauss of Young Israel of Hillcrest congregation led that effort. And he said he remains distressed that Bryks is still in Jewish education.

"To make a long story short, any pressure brought that he should resign would be welcome," Krauss said.

"Unfortunately, there wasn't a tremendous reaction - it was hard for them to believe that he could do it," said a Queens rabbi who didn't want his name published.

On March 31, 2002 The New York Post published an article entitled Queens Yeshiva Boss is a Molester: Boy's Mom by Douglas Montero about allegations concerning Rabbi Bryks. The story was re-broadcast on WCBS radio in New York. Once again, there wasn't a tremendous reaction within the Rabbinical or Jewish community.

On May 26, 2003 Stephanie Saul, journalist at Newsday (NY) began a series on sexual abuse in the Jewish community. An article published along with that series dealt with allegations concerning Rabbi Bryks. Rabbi Bryks was quoted:

"How do you battle a ghost?" says Bryks, sitting in the cramped office of the small yeshiva he runs in Kew Gardens Hills. He has done nothing wrong, he says. "I would love to have that case fully investigated."

It should be noted that despite this claim Rabbi Bryks continues to exercise his legal rights and refuses to allow the Winnipeg police to question him or cooperate in their investigation.

"We brought the rabbi in for questioning, but he refused comment."

Two days after the initial Newsday article was published, a follow up article was printed:

A Queens rabbi who had been dogged by old sexual abuse allegations from Canada this week resigned his membership in a prestigious rabbinical organization and agreed to leave Jewish education, officials of the group said Wednesday night.

The Rabbinical Council of America, an organization of Orthodox rabbis, was believed to be considering ousting Rabbi Ephraim Bryks of Kew Gardens Hills as a result of the lingering abuse allegations, which arose when he was the pulpit rabbi and yeshiva administrator in a Winnipeg congregation during the 1980s.

Bryks has always denied those claims and continued the denial in submitting his resignation.

[Shmarya]

She's not kind to the Almighty - she's deliberately fighting HIM every day!!!

Find the Biblical halakha that says women cannot be religious leaders. You can't, can you?

So what is the isser?

[alternative childcare]

AZ Ginsburg is not Charedi, he's a Chofetz Chaim guy (that strange cult-like neo-yeshiva) from Forest Hills, Queens, certainly not the person to be questioning others abilities in learning. As you can tell by his article, he's not the sharpest guy around.
The chofetz chaim "yeshiva" chain (for the record, no connection to the original Chofetz Chaim) is particularly obsessed about "guys talking to girls", so it is no surprise that they find this equivalent to the death of millions during the Roman invasion, but then again, they also downplay the Shoah.

[Weiss from NK]

How about "Lo Sassurmin hadavar asher yageedu lecha yamin usemol"?

[Weiss from NK]

Shmarya,
So you and Avi Weiss are smarter than all the great sages of generations past and present LOLOLOL!!!!
Sorry, I'll take them over you, your fellow bloggers and Avi Weiss any day

[Shmarya]

How about "Lo Sassurmin hadavar asher yageedu lecha yamin usemol"?

That's the same halakha that mandates women wear stockings with seams, or without seams, and navy blue and charcoal gray skirts but not denim skirts, etc.

The problem is that there are Orthodox rabbis who rule women can be rabbis.

Worse yet for you, there were women who were shoftim, and after that there were women who were communal leaders and teachers up through the medieval era.

But you wouldn't know that because you really don't know much of anything, now do you?

[Weiss from NK]

Who are the Orthodox Rabbis who rule that women can be rabbis???

[Tam]

Is Mahrshas Hurwitz wearing a Borsalino in that picture? How do you think she'll look in a streimal, if she ever merits that upgrade?

If I rememebr correctly from my days in yeshiva, the Talmud states something to the effect that anyone who teaches females is "Tiflus". And ""Nashim d'atan kalus".

Stick to the cooking and being a good baabuster. Leave the 20th century gender confusions to the secular society.

We definitly should mourn the moral decline and confusion of the 20th century this Tisha B'av.

[Weiss from NK]

In the past they were tzanuah and wanted to fulfill the ratzon of Hashem unlike todays feminists who are out for equality and destroying the will of Hashem

[Weiss from NK]

Shmarya,
Only you know our history - not our great sages LOLOL - you are an immature haughty blogger who simply cant fathom that a person who studies Torah 18 hours a day for 80 years knows Hashem's will more than you!!!

[Cheskel]

""Find the Biblical halakha that says women cannot be religious leaders. You can't, can you?

So what is the isser?""

As one of the 613 commandments?

Are you saying that everything we go by must be written in the chmusah? Away with the talmud,rishoneim etc.?

""there were women who were shoftim, and after that there were women who were communal leaders and teachers up through the medieval era.""

To which of the shoftim are you comparing her?

[Shmarya]

Are you saying that everything we go by must be written in the chmusah? Away with the talmud,rishoneim etc.?

Not at all.

What I'm saying is that the basis for banning women from leadership roles is quite shaky and historically unsound.

[Another Weiss from NK]

evidently all the great Sages disagree with your shaky position

[jewishwhistleblower]

Rabbi Aryeh Ginzberg what does your unnamed senior gadol ha’dor and unnamed distinguished colleagues say about the great bizayon HaTorah of you sitting on the Vaad Harabonim of Queens with an alleged pedophile?

Speak out against Bryks today.

http://thejewishstar.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/backlash-to-visit-by-sara%c2%a0hurwitz
...
But the most prominent criticism came in a newspaper article by Rabbi Aryeh Zev Ginzberg of the Chofetz Chaim Torah Center in Cedarhurst. Writing in the Five Towns Jewish Times, he claimed to “have been asked by one of the senior gedolei ha’dor (great Torah leaders of the generation), as well as by several of my distinguished colleagues to bring to the attention of the general community the great bizayon HaTorah, the degradation of the Gedolei Torah (Torah greats), that took place in our community this past Shabbos.” He did not name the other rabbonim although he promised that they would be identified upon request. A request by the Jewish Star for the names was unsuccessful.
...

[Nuchshlepper]

Shmarya,
Avi Weiss himself disagrees with you, as he has committed to never repeating his original sin!!!

[Shmarya]

evidently all the great Sages disagree with your shaky position

Actually not.

But you really haven't learned enough to know that. All you know is that your fur-hatted leader is opposed.

[jewishwhistleblower]

Rabbi Tzvi Flaum of Congregation Knesseth Israel has sat on the Vaad of rabbonim of Queens for years with alleged pedophile pedophile Rabbi Ephraim Bryks. Where was his voice all these years? Will he speak out now against Bryks and have him removed today instead of October? Everyday he sits on an organization with a pedophile is a great bizayon haTorah.

Membership now:
http://www.queensvaad.org/about_vaad/members.cfm

Membership 2004:
http://web.archive.org/web/20040408113845/http://www.queensvaad.org/about_vaad/members.cfm

(Bryks has not been shown on the Vaad's website as a member for years in order to mislead the public.)

http://thejewishstar.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/backlash-to-visit-by-sara%c2%a0hurwitz
...
A June 23 e-mail obtained by The Jewish Star, signed by Rabbi Zvi Flaum, chairman of the Vaad Harabanim of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway, urged local rabbis to attend a meeting that night “at Cong. Shaaray Tefila with the president of the Young Israel of Hewlett (Rabbi Blumstein’s shul). We will be discussing recent events that happened in that shul and I urge your participation so that he should see the broad based united voice in regard to the recent bizayon HaTorah,” literally ‘humiliation of the Torah.’

The meeting never took place and Rabbi Flaum, formerly of the White Shul, declined to comment.
...

[Shmarya]

Another Weiss from NK / Nusachschlepper:

I do not allow commenters to use more than one name or alias, especially when doing so on the same post and when the second comment is meant to support the first.

It is what is called sockpuppeting.

Do it again and I'll ban you.

[Althelion]

Tam wrote: "Is Mahrshas Hurwitz wearing a Borsalino in that picture? How do you think she'll look in a streimal, if she ever merits that upgrade?"

I love it - Judaism reduced to a fashion statement. A streimal as an upgrade from a Borsalino!?! Maybe she can cinch her waste with a neon gartel to separate the holy from that which is south of the border and LOOK GREAT while doing it. How about mezuzah earings?

All I can say is: Fabulous!

[Dave]

Althelion, neon gartel, ha ha ha!

[Cheskel]

""What I'm saying is that the basis for banning women from leadership roles is quite shaky and historically unsound""

Many haluchus (rulings,for you seculars) thats being ruled in these times has no mention in the reshoinem,schulachn orech or in the seforim of the previous acceptable poskim. Because it never came up in those times for example,turning on lights,elevator, fertility etc etc.

I don't know how far back in years,but about 150 years ago there was a pasek from many poskim that women cant vote who should be president in a shull.

So imagine what they would say about having a role in leadership.

[Shmarya]

I don't know how far back in years,but about 150 years ago there was a pasek from many poskim that women cant vote who should be president in a shull.

And there were also pesak dinim from many poskim allowing women to vote.

[harold]

AZ Ginsburg is not Charedi

He has a beard and wears the dreaded black hat; I thought that makes one Haredi. If not, then exactly what is the definition of a Haredi?

[Althelion]

......and for those quiet evenings at home with the rabbahtzin (the Rabbah's husband), a soft, cozy talis with tzit tzit in all the right places.

[harold]

... sitting on the Vaad Harabonim of Queens with an alleged pedophile?

What of the thousands of people who live in Queens with an alleged pedophile?

[Shmarya]

What of the thousands of people who live in Queens with an alleged pedophile?

This is perhaps the dumbest and most insensitive comment you've ever made.

[Althelion]

New for Fall 2010 - A plaid kittel that will be turning heads. This is an absolute MUST HAVE for the Yom Tovim.

[harold]

This is perhaps the dumbest and most insensitive comment you've ever made.

I was pointing out the absurdity of the original comment " sitting on the Vaad Harabonim of Queens with an alleged pedophile". The question is why a pedophile was sitting on the Vaad, not why someone is sitting on the Vaad with a pedophile. This is like if you have a shul and a pedophile becomes a member, should all members run away and join other shuls or should the shul expel the pedophile from its membership.

[jay]

No, Harold is right this time. After all, is it any more reasonable to expect a dozen rabbis to respond to the issues of a pedophile in their midst, then it would be to expect the same from someone who lives within a 10 mile radius of a pedophile? Should we expect a so-called religious leader who is literally rubbing elbows with an alleged molester to be more reactive then someone working at the 7-11 who sells the alleged molester an occasional jar of Vaseline or a slurpee?
(sarcasm intended)

[Cheskel]

""And there were also pesak dinim from many poskim allowing women to vote.""

My memory aint working now this good,cant think of any. If it is as you claim then it was from poskim who leaned towards the enlightenment.

And now we can argue if their pesak has any validity.

[alternative childcare]

He has a beard and wears the dreaded black hat; I thought that makes one Haredi. If not, then exactly what is the definition of a Haredi?

Chofetz Chaim likes to promote themselves as a "blue hat" yeshiva. What that means, I don't know, the place is insane and not really recognized by other yeshivot, with their strange derech halimud, etc.

However, chareidism is not "all people with hats". It is a specific political category of the Israeli religious parites, meant to differentiate from the old term dati, which encompasses halachic people but of different political makeup.
Chofetz Chaim yeshiva (home of Baruch Chait, the Rabbis Sons, Deveykus, etc) is an independant network of yeshivot with a unique and particular approach to many issues that would not be within the standard "chareidi" system.

[Radical Feminist]

feminists who are out for equality and destroying the will of Hashem

LOLOLOLOOL
Oh I needed a good laught today, (wipe my eyes). This is so funny.
Shmarya thank you for being so pro-women yet again and that makes you oh os SEXY!

[jewishwhistleblower]

>or should the shul expel the
>pedophile from its membership.

But of course they haven't.

Why have the rabbonim sitting on the Vaad Harabonim of Queens like Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg and Rabbi Tzvi Flaum allowed Bryks to remain for over a decade? Why have they stood silent for over a decade? Why do they continue to lend their names and their credibility to a Vaad that has an alleged pedophile sitting on it? Why do they permit this to continue even a day longer let alone til October?

This is a great bizayon haTorah that they continue to be a part of. There is no justification for their silence and inaction.

[Gonzo Ginzburg]

Frankly, Ginzburg is a joke. Anything that wasn't sanctioned by his "rebbe" R. Henoch Leibowitz,is automatically taboo. Nothing new under the sun. His father, Abraham Ginzburg, is also a big "Chofetz Chaim Chassid"- they, and their ilk cannot think for themselves and resort to what their rebbe has told them. They are taperecorders and automatons-part of a very strange and psychologically unsound Jewish cult. V'hameivin Yavin.

[seymour]

he call out a woman rabbie

but how many times have a convicted felon been invited to shul and not a peep from him.

The moral of the frum are the lowest it has ever been

[harold]

Why have the rabbonim sitting on the Vaad Harabonim of Queens like Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg

Rabbi Ginzberg is a member of the 5 Towns and Far Rockaway Vaad, is he still also a member of the Queens Vaad as well?

[chaim]

here is another Rabbi who is pro-feminist, rabbi bess from LA. Here is a seiruv issued againsthim.
http://rabbiniccorruptionatrcc.blogspot.com/

[Mr. Apikoros]

Hey Weiss from NK:

Are you Yisroel Dovid Weiss? If affirmative, tell me this: Was it as good for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as it was for you?

[A E ANDERSON]

I think the Rabbah's kinda cute. I'd do her.

[HaNavon]

Hmm, a degradation of gedolei torah, eh?
nothing makes a rav more worthy of being called a gadol b'torah more than complete silence when it comes to tropper, or pedophiles, or parading around in a motorcade in support of segregated schools that turn sefardic children into second class citizens.
somehow they call the woman who wants to be a rabbi a chillul hashem, but they call the gedolim supporting complete bigotry against sefardim a kiddush hashem.
oilem hafucha!

[Successful Messiah]

"What I'm saying is that the basis for banning women from leadership roles is quite shaky and historically unsound."

First of all there is no ban. The question is whether it is permitted or acceptable. And it is on such shaky grounds that virtually all rabbonim, haredi or modern orthodox, have signed on to this so called "ban." But I guess Scotty knows better than any rabbi.

[SJ]

>> First of all there is no ban.

Lie.

>> The question is whether it is permitted or acceptable.

Lie.

>> whether it is permitted or acceptable. And it is on such shaky grounds that virtually all rabbonim, haredi or modern orthodox, have signed on to this so called "ban."

By and large true, but I thought there was no "ban." O.O

[alternative childcare]

Gonzo Ginzburg is right.

[Seraphya Berrin]

Why would someone claim they have real smicha (as opposed to Rabba Horowitz, no one has had real smicha in over 1,500 years.

[Shmarya]

here is another Rabbi who is pro-feminist, rabbi bess from LA. Here is a seiruv issued againsthim

Please. The seruv is issued by a beit din almost no one recognizes and that is in a geographic area far from the parties involved in this.

Basically, what that triefe beit din does is help husbands extort money from their wife's family during the divorce process.

The Chief Rabbis of Israel and many other rabbis haredi and MO refuse to accept gets written by this beit din as a result.

You can see the details here, along with details about a man who has refused to give his wife a get for almost 6 years.

http://meirkin.com/default.htm

The 'chaim' who left the comment I'm responding to is a friend or relative of this man.

[Someone]

number 1,604 in a long list of things I dislike about Judaism, especially Orthodox Judaism. Many Jews are obsessed with 'idolatry', but what is idolatry if not the idea that a man, or a group of men, can 'determine' if one is a rabbI-I-I-I? How does a rabbi's, or a group of rabbis' ruling become 'law'? How is this different from worshipping a graven image, set in stone, unreal, unchanging? How is it different from believing that humans are god and their decrees are therefore purely divine? Rabbi Hurowitz is a rabbi, plain and simple, although she may have some emotional issues to work out if she insists on demanding legitimacy from a culture that clearly is incapable of giving it, because legitimacy does not COME from a particular community in this case, it comes from itself?

[chabadnik attorney]

More power to her. A number of years back I was shocked to learn as to how much some ultra frum are literally appalled at the idea of a woman learning Gemara.

Once again I will say that regular normal free thinking people need to start celebrating their heritage and take back Judaism. The Charedim are far outnumbered, but, a group of people at best sanctify and sanction doing less ritual mitsvos and at worst who make fun of and reject everything about the Torah will not be able to reclaim it.

[harold]

number 1,604 in a long list of things I dislike about Judaism, especially Orthodox Judaism. Many Jews ...

The anti-Semites are crawling out of the woodwork - YECH!

[rabbidw]

The father, Rabbi Abraham Ginzburg, is a mentch. AZ is a phony baloney, who got where he is by nepotism. He cannot say anything on his own. He can only repeat the words of others. If he ever got anyone upset with him, he would be crushed because he has nothing going for him, besides the endorsements of the "gedolim"
My challenge to him is to tell me one thing R' Hurwitz does that R'Jungreis does not do. Why is Esther Jungreis Kodesh Kedoshim and R'Hurwitz Glatt Treif?
BTW Harold you can answer my challenge as well.

[randomthought]

I thought someone raised some good points... I am confused about this as well - the issue of equating custom of man with law from G-d.

[BPHocker]

Two married buddies are out drinking one night, and one of them is married to a rabba.

The one who isn't says to his pal, "You know, I don't know what else to do. Whenever I go home after we've been out drinking, I turn the headlights off before I get to the driveway. I shut off the engine and coast into the garage. I take my shoes off before I go into the house, I sneak up the stairs, I get undressed in the bathroom. I ease into bed and my wife STILL wakes up and yells at me for staying out so late!"

His buddy, looks at him and says, "Well, you're obviously taking the wrong approach. I screech into the driveway, slam the door, storm up the steps, throw my shoes into the closet, jump into bed, rub my hands on the rabba's ass and say, 'How about a blowjob?' ... and she's always sound asleep."

[jewishwhistleblower]

>Rabbi Ginzberg is a member of the 5
>Towns and Far Rockaway Vaad, is he
>still also a member of the Queens Vaad
>as well?

Yes. I posted links to the current membership list and the 2004 membership list above. He is and was.

[harold]

Yes. I posted links to the current membership

I see that he is. I had no idea that the list is so long. More power to him!

[harold]

is it any more reasonable to expect a dozen rabbis to respond to the issues of a pedophile in their midst

Thanks to "jewishwhistleblower" I see that the the size of the Vaad is considerable, much more than the dozen that you claim.

[EDITED BY SITEOWNER]

[jewishwhistleblower]

95 Rabbis are STILL sitting on a vaad with an alleged perdophile and have allowed him to remain for over a decade? Why have they stood silent for over a decade? Why do they continue to lend their names and their credibility to a Vaad that has an alleged pedophile sitting on it? Why do they permit this to continue even a day longer let alone til October?

This is a great bizayon haTorah X 95 that they continue to be a part of. There is no justification for their silence and inaction.

[Abracadabra]

whistleblower -

You are 100% right!!! I am right there with you on this issue!

BTW - I used to read your blog years ago, and it was EXCELLENT. I was sad to see you stop blogging. You did a great job at putting some of these very important issues out there. It was great activism.

I wish you would consider picking it up again. Please don't underestimate the impact you make on all the faceless and nameless people out there. Especially someone who is not looking for your sight, but who does a search for something else, and comes across your blog, the very name of which is intriguing and piques one's curiosity.

(And when you do go back to blogging, please let all of us over here know about it - k?)

[harold]

95 Rabbis are STILL sitting on a vaad with an alleged perdophile

Sources told The Jewish Week that the Queens board, known as the Vaad Harabonim, had long sought to have Rabbi Bryks removed as allegations against him persisted but was advised by lawyers that doing so was complicated because there has been no formal legal or halachic proceeding against him

Well there appears to be the answer. If he has not been found to be guilty yet and your lawyer advises against it I really don't see the problem, I am sure that as soon as he is found guilty he will be booted, from my read, they have removed his name from the list so they are not happy having him in their midst.

[harold]

BTW - I used to read your blog years ago, and it was EXCELLENT. I was sad to see you stop blogging

Are you sure that he is THE "jewishwhistleblower", I don't think that Scotty does background checks when someone chooses a handle to post.

Nu "jewishwhistleblower" are you "the Real McCoy"?

[KushKush]

You can see the details here, along with details about a man who has refused to give his wife a get for almost 6 years.
http://meirkin.com/default.htm

On the seiruv against Meir Kin there is the signature of Avraham Union of the RCC who is Tropper’s buddy and just as corrupted. (I think he from Chofetz Choyim as well)

[jewishwhistleblower]

I am "the Real McCoy".

>Well there appears to be the answer.
>If he has not been found to be guilty
>yet and your lawyer advises against it
>I really don't see the problem, I am
>sure that as soon as he is found
>guilty he will be booted, from my
>read, they have removed his name from
>the list so they are not happy having
>him in their midst.

So 95 Rabbis can't figure out a way to remove a pedophile for over a decade from a Vaad? They have no problem having his name associated with them and allowing him the legitamacy of being a member of the Vaad? They are afraid of a lawsuit? What happened to his lawsuits against CNN and CBC? He lost or abandoned them.

Bryks can't answer the allegations concerning his credentials. He boasted he had a degree of law from the state of Israel, that he sat as a member of a religious court in Israel, and had a court room. All a lie. Not enough to for 95 rabbonim to remove him from the Vaad?

Bryks plagiarized several articles in his Weekly Torah commentaries from a book by Ottawa Rabbi Bulka's called Torah Therapy. Theft. When caught what did he do? He threatened lawsuits. Is intellectual theft not enough to for 95 rabbonim to remove him from the Vaad?

95 Rabbonim sit with a pedophile on a Vaad for over a decade because of fear of a lawsuit? Give me a break.

This is a great bizayon haTorah X 95 that they continue to be a part of. There is no justification for their silence and inaction.

[Insider]

Though I disagree with much of the defense of this so-called "Rabba", I am almost (98% or so) overwhelmingly impressed by the issues raised and dicussed on this blog. More power to you Shmraya.

[harold]

So 95 Rabbis can't figure out a way to remove a pedophile for over a decade from a Vaad?

If he was a pedophile why was he not in jail? If he was an "alleged" pedophile and they were advised by lawyers that getting rid of him was complicated because there has been no formal legal or halachic proceeding against him then what do you expect?

Let me ask - if he was employed by Walmart and Walmart would fire him because he was an “alleged" pedophile would Walmart have a legal leg to stand on in a court of law if he would sue them?

They clearly do not want him (by virtue of the fact that they contacted lawyers to see if they can get rid of him and the fact that they removed his name) so why are you speaking like they want him in the Vaad?

[harold]

I am "the Real McCoy".

Just what was going on the last month or so on your blog when you did not allow any comments on stories only your own? That was rather strange. Imagine if FailedMessaih posted stories but only Scotty would be able to comment on the stories how long would the blog survive?

I also noticed at the end that there was many posts being deleted it got to the point that people were complaining why all the censoring.

Are you planning a comeback or will your comeback be limited to being a member of FailedMessiah’s peanut gallery.

[jewishwhistleblower]

>If he was a pedophile why was he not
>in jail?

For the same reason most pedophiles like his convicted and confessed pedophile father-in-law don't spend a day in jail, they are protected by their enablers and silence those that they abuse.

>If he was an "alleged" pedophile and
>they were advised by lawyers that
>getting rid of him was complicated
>because there has been no formal legal
>or halachic proceeding against him
>then what do you expect?

They could do what the RCA was going to do if Bryks remained, retain an independant experienced 3rd party that would conduct an investigation as to the appropriateness of Bryks being in any position of honor or authority in the community. That's why Bryks ran. The 95 rabboninim are under no obligation to be part of the Vaad and could send a strong message by leaving en masse or demanding publicly an investigation and removal of Bryks.

>Let me ask - if he was employed by
>Walmart and Walmart would fire him
>because he was an “alleged" pedophile
>would Walmart have a legal leg to
>stand on in a court of law if he would
>sue them?

He would not have a leg to stand as a 1988 report by Winnipeg South Child and Family Services originating from a 14-year-old girl's allegations characterized Rabbi Bryks' interactions with female students as inappropriate and unprofessional. The report also found that "if there is a child in the school that is currently being abused, the dynamics of the reaction of the staff, fellow students and other adults over the past couple of months might prevent any child from coming forth with the new disclosure." That does not include the later charges by additional students and women. That is enough to get rid of him and enough to keep him out of the public education system in NY. If Bryks ever tries to apply to the public system there will be an investigation and he will be refused. But again the Vaad can get rid of him for many, many reasons (plagiarizing from Rabbi Bulka's book, false credentials etc.).

What would be the consequences of 95 rabbonim standing up against a thug? Bryks has never successfully sued anyone.

The Vaad is a religious organization, Wal-Mart is not. The Vaad has considerable discretion as to its membership. Your claim makes no sense. The Vaad can remove a person with ease. I do not believe their lawyer story. Let them produce their lawyer.

>They clearly do not want him (by
>virtue of the fact that they contacted
>lawyers to see if they can get rid of
>him and the fact that they removed his
>name) so why are you speaking like
>they want him in the Vaad?

Because clearly the Vaad has not taken the simple steps that it could take like the RCA 7 years ago to remove and yes most there want to keep him. They only removed his name to reduce publicity and mislead people to think he was not there. They have done nothing but protect him and ignore the allegations. The only reason they are doing anything is to try to reduce the publicity so that Bryks can re-emerge in a few years once again.

I disagree with your characterization of my blog, people abused the comments and they were closed. Those who falsely claimed I censored can now debate me here elsewhere in forums I have no control over. There are now many blogs that are very good where a short time ago there were few. Years ago major news stories of abuse in the Jewish community occured once every blue moon, now there are stories almost daily. I like change. There are many changes to come.

[Nigritude Ultramarine]

She's not smarter and I have real semicha

Posted by: Weiss | June 30, 2010 at 01:07 PM

Don't flatter yourself. "Real semicha" vanished about 2,000 years ago.

[Nigritude Ultramarine]

Why is naming a woman Rabba considered to be desecration of Torah by Rav Ginsburg and gadoylim, while Rubashkin and Syrian Rabbis public thievery is not?

It's not Rav Ginzberg, it's Mr. Ginzberg.

[harold]

I do not believe their lawyer story. Let them produce their lawyer.

Listen, my comments are made by what I read so I must make the assumption that I am being presented with accurate facts. My conclusions and comments are driven by that premise.

That little tidbit is a critical one since no matter how you slice or dice it, going to a lawyer to inquire if you can remove someone from your organization shows disapproval.

[harold]

Those who falsely claimed I censored can now debate me here

So what we have here is the "techias hameisim" of the (in?)famous "jewishwhistleblower"! You should feel at home here with all the other self-Hating Jews. Welcome aboard the Lashon Harah Express! Toot Toot!

[harold]

It's not Rav Ginzberg, it's Mr. Ginzberg.

No I believe it is Rav since he does have smicha. He also has a shul in the 5 Towns which has recently expanded in size due to its growth in membership. I daven there sometimes. He is quite knowledgeable and speaks well.

[Nigritude Ultramarine]

No I believe it is Rav since he does have smicha

Why are you so makpid on his kavod but not Rabba Hurwitz's inasmuch as he referred to her as "Ms" in his essay?

[Nigritude Ultramarine]

If I rememebr correctly from my days in yeshiva, the Talmud states something to the effect that anyone who teaches females is "Tiflus". And ""Nashim d'atan kalus".

That was then, this is now. Anyway, those views came from men who thought that lice spontaneously generated from dust. Or that, if you burn a fire in the same spot for 7 years, a "Phoenix" -- a bird that has never existed -- will rise from the flames.

[David]

Poor Hashem! He seems to be losing all His battles, according to some of the commenters here. Amazing, isn't it? Who would have thought that one mortal woman could actually whip the Creator of the Universe?!

[harold]

Why are you so makpid on his kavod but not Rabba Hurwitz's inasmuch as he referred to her as "Ms" in his essay?

Two seperate issues. In his world there is no place for a woman rabbi hence his reference to her as "Ms" the proper titleless way to address a female. His title however is not in question.

I personally feel that she is entitles to a title for her studies, whether it carries any weight is another question so Ms was not appropriate.

[alternative childcare]

"Nashim d'atan kalus" is a line from Tosfos in chulin, quoting a medieval forgery probably written by Eldad HaDani. The fact that it caught on so popularly is not a good reflection upon anyone, as it is almost certainly a false quotation.

And Harold, if you think protecting children against pedophiles makes one a "self hating" Jew, then I know some rebbeim that would love to teach your children.

You really are a sick troll, and I have not yet (as opposed to Archie Bunker, z"l) seen one comment of yours that reflects any learning at all.

[harold]

And Harold, if you think protecting children against pedophiles makes one a "self hating" Jew

Don't know where that came from.

[alternative childcare]

Harold, from your words here:

"So what we have here is the "techias hameisim" of the (in?)famous "jewishwhistleblower"! You should feel at home here with all the other self-Hating Jews."

[harold]

Harold, from your words here:

"So what we have here is the "techias hameisim" of the (in?)famous "jewishwhistleblower"! You should feel at home here with all the other self-Hating Jews

So where didi the "protecting children against pedophiles " come from?

[Red Sox Fan]

As to why Rabba Horowitz gets ripped while Rebbetzin Jungreis gets a free pass - one word: KIRUV!

[alternative childcare]

"So where didi the "protecting children against pedophiles " come from?"

JWB was the first blogger to raise consciousness about these issues, Kolko, Lanner, Gafni, etc. So attacking him as a "self hating Jew" for exposing this issue means you are protective of pedophiles.

[rebitzman]

++Worse yet for you, there were women who were shoftim, and after that there were women who were communal leaders and teachers up through the medieval era.++

And a biblical queen or two as I recall............

I have to confess, however, that I don't REALLY get what the fuss is here. Orthodox Judaism is not egalitarian - this woman wishes to make it egalitarian by virtue of her title. It's not at all surprising that the good old boys club is up in arms.

Their attitude is Liberal Judaism's greatest recruitment tool. May they long hold it.

[NotHarold]

The religion called Modern Orthodoxy didn't exist 400 yrs ago so one can safely say that MO is unrelated to the will of HaShem.

[harold]

JWB was the first blogger to raise consciousness about these issues, Kolko, Lanner, Gafni, etc. So attacking him as a "self hating Jew" for exposing this issue means you are protective of pedophiles

As JWB stains this blog you will see that he, like Scotty, will knock almost everything Jewish, its people, customs and its traditions. It is in this context that I call him a self-Hating Jew.

[Insider]

Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis works hard and achieves a powerful impact. Though she may come very close, she will NEVER step on or pass the line of modesty and old-time Torah. Madam (or Madame) Rabba is breaking precedent behavior. She's an attractive woman, as is rebbetzin Jungreis, but her attire is not within the gates of tznius.
I haven't heard her, but I seriously doubt that her "learning" is anywhere near that of a 12 year old Satmar yeshiva boy (cheder yingel). Does anyone believe that Madam Rabba would have passed muster or been acceptable to the Chazon Ish, Chofetz Chaim, or the Chasam Sofer?

[Shmarya]

As JWB stains this blog you will see that he, like Scotty, will knock almost everything Jewish, its people, customs and its traditions. It is in this context that I call him a self-Hating Jew.

Idiot.

JWB has been "staining" this blog since 2005.

His comments are always about Orthodox pedophiles and rabbis who enable them.

He has never knocked anything Jewish or Judaism.

Sp process, 'harold': JWB is not a stain on anything, but you – the obnoxious troll who alibis for haredim at almost every turn, and who takes special pleasure alibiing for haredi enablers of child sexual abuse – are a stain – on this blog and on Jews in general.

And may you so be judged.

[harold]

He has never knocked anything Jewish or Judaism.

Good to hear that. I guess he changed from his blog days. Here are some posts from his blog – sure sounds FailedMessiah like to me.

-----------------------

Rabbi Judah Feinerman, of Far Rockaway, Queens confessed to stealing $20 million in insurance fees from clients who were left without insurance

Judge Gerald Garson fixed Jewish divorces in Brooklyn, now his cousin Judge Michael Garson is to be indicted for stealing elderly relatives fortune

The Rabbi Joseph H. Lookstein Upper School of Ramaz High School discovers the school buses it was using had forged registration & inspection stickers

Sydney Rabbi Elozer Gestetner pleads guilty to assaulting his brother-in-law Rabbi Dovid Slavin and putting him in the hospital, walks free

Monsey Rabbi Mendel Wagschal / slum landlord's Hyenga Lake bungalow colony to be by torn down.

Reporter wins Pulitzer for expose of cover up of statutory rape committed by former Oregon Governor. Publisher & governor went to same shul.

Sandy Hutchens, career criminal that preyed on the vulnerable, claims turned over new leaf, found religion in Lubavitch, victims don't believe it

Does the money you give to the JNF actually get used to plant trees in Israel? The answer may shock you.

60 Australian Moriah College Year 12 yeshiva students suspended for pre-Purim intoxication

[Shmarya]

Reporting news doesn't make one anti-Judaism.

Past the obvious, there is one person here who is clearly anti-Judaism, and that is you, 'harold.'

Judaism OPPOSES crime. It OPPOSES child sexual abuse. It OPPOSES enabling and covering for pedophiles and other criminals. And it SUPPORTS full restitution for victims and penalties for the criminals.

But 'harold' alibis for criminals, pedophiles and their enablers.

'harold' opposes restitution when the criminals are haredi.

And 'harold' tries to smear JWB, who has never written anything anti-Jewish, because JWB exposes haredi pedophiles, criminals and their haredi enablers.

You are a sick, sick man 'harold' – and you are the most anti-Judaism person here.

[jewishwhistleblower]

Harold said:
>They clearly do not want him (by
>virtue of the fact that they contacted
>lawyers to see if they can get rid of
>him and the fact that they removed his
>name) so why are you speaking like
>they want him in the Vaad

Wrong.

As I've pointed out before the Queen's Vaad promotes a Mikva on its official website that is run by Bryks out of his home address. The Queens Vaad misleads the public and has obscured Bryks' role by placing the name of another Rabbi on the listing. A simple search reveals the truth, the address for the Mikva is the same as Bryks' home address. The Queens Vaad has obscured the control of the mikva not because they want Bryks out of the Vaad or don't want to be associated with him but only because they have protected him for years in this manner by obscuring the truth, his connection to the Vaad and the undisputable facts that they promote his mikva located in Bryks' home on its website and that Bryks is a member of the Queens Vaad. Those are facts.

Rabbi Ephraim Boruch Bryks has a mikvah operated out of his home:
see:
http://www.queensvaad.org/mikvah/
Name: Mikvah of Kew Gardens

http://www.google.com/search?sa=X&oi=fwp&pb=f&q=%22(718)+849-0065%22+ny
and
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&pb=f&q=%22ephraim+bryks%22+ny&pb=f

[WoolSilkCotton]

Harold never met an orthodox criminal he didn't immediately fall in love with.

[harold]

A simple search reveals the truth, the address for the Mikva is the same as Bryks' home address.

According to the web site the address of the Mikvah of Kew Gardens is
Audley St. & Beverly Rd. Kew Gardens, NY 11415

Kew Gardens
Name: Mikvah Of Kew Gardens
Address: Corner Of Beverly & Audley, A
Cross Streets: CORNER OF BEVERLY & AUDLEY
City: Kew Gardens
State/Province: NY
Postal Code: 11418
Country: USA
Supervision: RABBI TREIGER
Schedule: SHABBOS AND YOM TOV ONLY, BY APPOINTMENT
Mikvah Tel. #: 718 849 0065
Alternate Tel. #: 718-849-4140
Mikvah Type: BOR AL GABAI BOR
http://www.ccfnewyork.com/mikvhe.html
http://www.frumcommunity.com/Default.aspx?ItemID=65&TabID=1026&controlpath=mikvaos_moreinfo.ascx&mode=dir

Following you Google phone search the address of Ephraim Bryks is
8424 116th St,Richmond Hill, NY 11418-1467

The two are not the same. What did I do wrong?

[jewishwhistleblower]

The 2 are the same.

The Queens Vaad thinks that by not putting the precise address down for the mikvah and Bryks' name that it can fool the public.

Reverse search the phone number for the mikva (the link is above) on the Queens website. Same address as Bryks. The alternate telephone number for the mikvah that you printed above Harold that is Bryks' personal phone number.

Here's another listing for the mikva that shows Bryks' address:
http://www.chossonandkallah.com/new-york/jewish-wedding/Mikvah.html

[jewishwhistleblower]

More evidence of the Queens Vaad cover-up:

1) In 2004 the Mikvah Of Kew Gardens was shown at Bryks' home address:
http://web.archive.org/web/20040616164632/http://www.queensvaad.org/mikvah/

2) After posts on this blog in recent years concerning this mikvah, the Vaad obscured the location of the mikvah to protect Bryks
http://www.queensvaad.org/mikvah/