The Haredi-Induced Death Of The East Ramapo School District

For the past five years news reports detailing the destruction of the East Ramapo School District have appeared on a regular, and recently daily, basis. This once-proud and superlative school district has been ravaged by mismanagement and the shortsighted agenda of the ultra-Orthodox majority on the school board.

Some of the members of the East Ramapo School Board in 2011

THE DEATH OF A ONCE-PROUD SCHOOL DISTRICT
Michael Bongiorno • Our Town News

For the past five years news reports detailing the destruction of the East Ramapo School District (“ERSD”) have appeared on a regular, and recently daily, basis.  This once-proud and superlative school district, that encompasses a section of Clarkstown, has been ravaged by mismanagement and the shortsighted agenda of the ultra-Orthodox majority on the school board.  As a 1974 graduate of Spring Valley High School, I find these events especially disturbing.

The most recent revelation is that despite exorbitant school property taxes, the district faces a $6 million– and growing – budget deficit for the current school year.  Part of that deficit stems from the district over-budgeting approximately $2 million in revenue from Medicaid reimbursement.  This deficit continues to grow even in the face of layoffs and large cutbacks in student programs.  At a minimum, the huge deficit symbolizes the incompetence that grips the ERSD, an incompetence that may have crossed the line into illegal and even criminal conduct.

While most elected officials have ignored the cause of the public school students in East Ramapo, a small but growing group of parents has taken action to protect their children. Showing remarkable courage and fortitude, the district’s critics have filed a petition with the state Educational Commissioner to remove five board members for a “pattern of impropriety” and to appoint a monitor to oversee the district.  An even larger group has filed a federal class-action lawsuit against current and past board members, claiming they improperly diverted millions of dollars to private schools.

The lawsuit details a long and troubling record of board actions, most of which have  been reported by the press.  The lawsuit highlights the attempted sales of the Hillcrest and Colton schools to Yeshivas at bargain-basement prices. After minimal advertising over a very short time span, the board agreed to sell Hillcrest, which is located in Clarkstown and is appraised on the town’s tax rolls for approximately $11 million, for only $3.1 million.  The attempted sale took place after the board called for a second appraisal that miraculously appraised Hillcrest at only $3.24 million after an initial appraisal valued the school at $5.9 million.  Evidently even the low $5.9 million figure was not low enough for a board intent on selling the school for less.   According to the lawsuit, the comparable properties used to reach the final low appraisal were undervalued, and the Town of Ramapo records for one comparable sale property indicate that the sale was for “Land Only”!

The actions of the board were so irresponsible that the state Education Commission, following a petition filed by a parent, took the extraordinary step of invalidating the sale. The Commissioner has also temporarily halted a similar undervalued sale of the Colton school. In a recent interview the former president of the school board, Morris Kohn, admitted that the board did not exercise due diligence, as legally mandated, in seeking the highest possible price for the schools.

In that same interview Kohn made his most revealing --- and upsetting – comment.  He admitted that the religious board members listened to and adhered to the advice of a separate board of rabbis, especially when it came to the “larger issues” confronting the school board.  Would those larger issues include the sale of schools for one-third their true value?  Did the Yeshivas seeking to purchase the public schools have representatives on the enigmatic board of rabbis? If so, was pressure put on board members to sell the schools for a fraction of their true worth?   Why would a public school board allow a private cabal to influence or control the decision-making process?

The board’s machinations have caught the attention of the state Attorney General who has initiated a long-term investigation into the attempted sales of the schools. This is not surprising – or perhaps it is -- since the chronology of events has all the hallmarks of a classic bid-rigging scheme. Time will tell if the AG concludes that criminal charges and/or civil action are warranted.

The citizens’ lawsuit also sets forth the case of the missing $2.4 million worth of textbooks, including possibly improperly purchased religious textbooks, loaned to private schools.  The books are unaccounted for, and the Comptroller could not ascertain what happened to the books due in large part to a lack of cooperation from the private schools that received the books.  How are taxpayers to know that these books have not been stolen or improperly transferred to schools outside East Ramapo?  Hopefully the AG’s investigation will come up with an answer to this question.

The silence of New York’s elected officials to the plight of the predominantly black and Latino students of the ERSD is an example of political cowardice in the extreme.  Profiles in political courage have been in extremely short supply.  This silence is especially deafening since the damage to the district is so severe that Harry Phillips, the Rockland/Westchester/Putnam representative to the State Board of Regents, recently decried that the school district was “shafting the public-school kids.”

Why has it fallen upon private citizens to bring attention to this dire situation and request investigations and intervention?  Where are our illustrious senators, publicity-hound Charles Schumer and the sphinxlike Kirsten Gillibrand?  Has either of them spoken up on behalf of the thousands of students being shortchanged on their educations?  Would they be so silent if Evangelical Christians pulled the same stunts against impoverished students in upstate New York or Tennessee?  If you thought the Ramapo town supervisor or members of the town board would be incensed on behalf of their constituents, you would be woefully mistaken.  Has Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Congressman Eliot Engel or any county or state legislator (other than Joe Meyers) called for an investigation or shouted out to protect East Ramapo’s disadvantaged children?

No, they have not, and that speaks to the political power and influence of the religious bloc vote, the same vote that elected the school board members in the first place.  Fortunately, we have not yet reached the point in America where the voices of average citizens can be totally ignored by political elites.  There are profiles in courage in this sordid situation:  the East Ramapo parents who have taken it upon themselves to persistently challenge the powers in charge to seek justice and an education for their children.

Michael Bongiorno is a former Rockland County District Attorney.

Comments

[Yochanan Lavie]

The writer of this article is obviously an antisemite. He probably texted the entire article to his editor on his iphone. (/sarcasm).

[simple jew]

B"H

Why would a former rockland cty da think it is logical for a congressperson from nyc to get involved in this?

This guy sounds as lacking knowledge about the ERSD as I do. ( I don't live there)

Let's hear some facts like how much was being spent per pupil before thy took over? How much now?

What services have these students lost?

[Blima]

Time for the government to get out of the education business. Just like we have private healthcare, as opposed to the entire planet providing healthcare for its citizens, we should also have only private schooling. The less government in our lives the better

[devorah]

Michael is a former graduate of East Ramapo and lives in the area.

Full day kindergarten was lost since the hasids don't feel it's necessary. I believe it's the only 1/2 day kindergarten program in the state. They originally wanted to cut out kindergarten entirely and felt the goyim should pay to send their kids to private kindergartens. Security was drastically cut along with most sports, the award winning marching band and many electives. It is now almost impossible to graduate in three years from high school. Class sizes have doubled and I'm not sure if they still offer college classes.

The school board President, Daniel Schwartz, said on You Tube if the parents are not happy with the way the haredim are running the board, the parents should move. He also wants to initiate an anti semitism program to teach the goyim about the Jewish religion.

[Skepticalyid]

Time for the government to get out of the education business. Just like we have private healthcare, as opposed to the entire planet providing healthcare for its citizens,

Posted by: Blima | October 13, 2012 at 10:29 PM

We rank 34th worldwide in healthcare. So much for our for-profit healthcare system

[Jake]

If you have insurance this is one of the best places in the world to be sick.

[Blima]

We rank 34th worldwide in healthcare. So much for our for-profit healthcare system

Posted by: Skepticalyid | October 13, 2012 at 10:47 PM

If you have insurance this is one of the best places in the world to be sick.

Posted by: Jake | October 13, 2012 at 10:57 PM

So are we first or 34th?

[AztecQueen2000]

Time for a state takeover. The school board should be barred from extending any services and/or funds to private institutions without MAJOR state oversight. If private schools want publicly-funded textbooks, buses, special ed., and other services, they should teach the same curriculum as the rest of the state, and only hire state-certified teachers.

[Garnel Ironheart]

Odd. If you look up the biological definition of parasite, a lot of what you find there fits here.

[Bench Kvetcher]

Sour grapes frome a guy who lost his bloc vote when running for his third term.

[ruthie]

antisemetic? sour grapes?
whatever.
fact is the frumma holy people here have COMPLETELY RUINED
public education in east ramapo. it is not deemed important enough.
i.e. most, if almost all, kids aren't jewish.
very very sad for the children that DESERVE an education.
monsey is SO fucked up.
omg

[Blima]

Very interesting story about Israeli world educational status.

And the World’s Most Educated Country Is…

Based on a study conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 24/7 Wall St. compiled a list of the 10 countries with the highest proportion of college-educated adult residents. Topping the charts is Canada — ...

Snagging the number two most-educated spot was Israel, which trailed Canada by 5%. Japan, the U.S., New Zealand and South Korea all ranked with more than 40% of citizens having a higher-education degree. The top 10 most-educated countries are:

1. Canada

2. Israel

3. Japan

4. United States

5. New Zealand

6. South Korea

7. United Kingdom

8. Finland

9. Australia

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/09/27/and-the-worlds-most-educated-country-is/

[Jeff]

Time for the government to get out of the education business. Just like we have private healthcare, as opposed to the entire planet providing healthcare for its citizens, we should also have only private schooling. The less government in our lives the better

Posted by: Blima | October 13, 2012 at 10:29 PM

Really? And how many Haredim would be able to afford their private Torah academies if they weren't receiving subsidies from the government in every other aspect of their lives?

[Jeff]

The writer of this article is obviously an antisemite. He probably texted the entire article to his editor on his iphone. (/sarcasm).

Posted by: Yochanan Lavie | October 13, 2012 at 09:57 PM

HEH! You know you're going to gehinnom, don't you?

[Skepticalyid]

Posted by: Blima | October 13, 2012 at 10:29 PM

The US is 34th in healthcare and infant mortality. We are 38th in life expectancy. Not withstanding Jake's unsubstantiated drivel about being number one for those with insurance, the best delivery system we have is Medicare-the government run health plan.

[Bench Kvetcher]

Really? And how many Haredim would be able to afford their private Torah academies if they weren't receiving subsidies from the government in every other aspect of their lives?

Lower tax bill which for some can be over $10,000.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Jeff: I'll be in good company.

[Atheodox Jew]

Yes, there are exceptions, but the charedi community is by an large not known for "looking out for the other guy". It is inwardly focused to the point where others feel their rights needs/rights are brushed under the rug.

That is the community's reputation. If it's not deserved, if they want to change that reputation, then charedim in positions of power need to go OUT OF THEIR WAY to show a concern for others and put others' needs first.

I hope a case like this can bring about such an awareness. But I wouldn't necessarily hold my breath.

[nachos]

Simple Jew:

This is an example of an environment that breeds antisemitism. Don't be suprised when Jews start getting blamed for the economic morass our nation is in.

[Jeff]

Lower tax bill which for some can be over $10,000.

That presupposes that one is paying taxes.

[Jeff]

That is the community's reputation. If it's not deserved, if they want to change that reputation, then charedim in positions of power need to go OUT OF THEIR WAY to show a concern for others and put others' needs first.

They're the collective result of generations of xenophobia, and of being told they're morally, intellectually, spiritually and genetically superior to "the nations".

As you say - I wouldn't hold my breath.

[Rocky]

SR: Thanks for reprinting this article. It is bad enough when then frum provide inferior secular educations for their own children. It is even worse when they help ruin the futures of non-frum children from poor homes. Nachos raised an important issue which most of us would prefer to ignore.

Blima: How many Haredi children in Israel are college graduates? Are you aware that 25% of this year's Jewish grade 1 class in Israel is Haredi and that this percentage continues to grow each year? My guess is that very few will be prepared to go into well paying jobs when they leave school.

[Jeff]

Are you aware that 25% of this year's Jewish grade 1 class in Israel is Haredi and that this percentage continues to grow each year? My guess is that very few will be prepared to go into well paying jobs when they leave school.

I read this yesterday in one of David Hartman's book, The God Who Hates Lies, which I mentioned above:

I once spoke to a haredi friend who was about to board an El Al flight to Israel. “On your way back to Medinat Yisrael [the State of Israel]? I asked him. “No,” he replied - he was going to Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel). With this pointed distinction, common among non- and anti-Zionist haredim, he was asserting that the fact that Jews have gathered to create a new state for themselves in their ancestral homeland has no meaning for him-no more meaning than a group of incidental Jews gathering as a community In Florida, or Wisconsin, or Katmandu. For him, the building of one kollel - where married men engage in full-time Talmud study, supported financially by donors and, in Israel, by the state-carries far more significance than the building of a “secular” state. I tried to call his bluff, asking him if he would still be willing to live in Israel if every adult man studied in kollel, leaving no one to build the economy, serve in the military, or run the state. But he called my bluff instead, answering, “Absolutely! Because then I know we’d be secure.” It was hard to imagine a more vivid illustration of the disconnection of the religious life from even the most seemingly basic conception of reality.

There is absolutely no arguing with a delusion this profound. Any attempt to do so is a waste of time.

Incremental change is an utter impossibility. Massive, sweeping, system-wide change is called for - and that will never be done, as they would die resisting it and the politicians who are dependent upon them will never approve it, in any case.

Israel's finished. They've killed it. It's all over but the shiva.

[Simple Jew]

B"H

by the way -- 20 comments later and still no answers about how much was being spent per student in the public schools when they took over and how much now.

I expect (but could be wrong) that they are spending more on the public school students now than they were a few years back.

Devorah-- you live there -- can you find out and let us know?

In this economy a lot of cutbacks have taken place in various areas of peoples lives.

Nachos -- this is the problem with dealing with non jews --- jews are blamed for being communists, socialists, conservatives, dictators, etc etc we are supposedly behind the left and the right.

I think everyone should be treated with respect but I don't think the frum people are wrong for running the school board in their own district.

A lot of the upper middle class white people who would tend to have better academic performance have left the area.

The school has a high population of black/hispanic welfare recipient, lower income households.

The students from these homes tend to not do as well statistically.

I personally believe that the school board needs to give the students an excellent education.

It is their obligation.

Even if they are selfish and want to do it for the wrong reasons... just think about that these public school students are at a crossroads in life... if they drop off and lead lifes of crimes who's homes are they stealing from?

[SkepticalYid]

Posted by: Simple Jew | October 14, 2012 at 09:46 AM
You could easily look up the facts yourself, but that would be too intelligent, wouldn't it?
The facts are that the Ramapo district is running deficits because of increasing private school enrollment- ie. Haredi schools The district is required to provide transportation, books, special ed. and BOCES programs for the private schools. However, the district loses funding from state and federal sources because the increasing enrollment is in private schools- not public schools. Additionally, the Orthdox controlled school board has been reallocating funds from the public schools into their own private school system. The Orthodox board is also alleged to have attempted to sell public properties to the private schools BELOW market value. So with increasing deficits in the system- the Orthodox board continues to cut in the public schools while preserving state funds funneled into their own system.

[Jeff]

I personally believe that the school board needs to give the students an excellent education.

It is their obligation.

You think that's their goal? You really believe that?

You know what slays me? You guys never say anything along the lines of, "I'm frum, but I don't approve of this. I think this behavior is over the top." Never. Instead, all we ever hear from you are excuses, rationalizations, accusations of bias, and of course, my personal favorite - "You're nothing but a bunch of Self-Hating Jews™!" And of course, when confronted with evidence that is irrefutable, evidence so overwhelming that even you can't make excuses for it - you clam up and say nothing. You then move onto another post so you can being the rationalizations and defense maneuvers all over again. You never admit anyone or anything in your world is wrong. EVER.

You then can't understand why - and take offense when - we call you brainwashed trolls and tell you you're incapable of independent thought - which, for the most part, you are.

You people, as a collective, are un-fucking-believable.

[Jeff]

*begin* the rationalizations. Damn spell check.

[Blima]

The US is 34th in healthcare and infant mortality. We are 38th in life expectancy. Not withstanding Jake's unsubstantiated drivel about being number one for those with insurance, the best delivery system we have is Medicare-the government run health plan.

Posted by: Skepticalyid | October 14, 2012 at 07:15 AM

I would shutter to think what the lives of retires over 65 would look like if there were no Medicare and these poor souls would be at the mercy of the private health care system.

Just try to price the cost of a decent health care policy for a say 63 year old person and you will see what I mean.

[seymour]

Time for the government to get out of the education business. Just like we have private healthcare, as opposed to the entire planet providing healthcare for its citizens, we should also have only private schooling. The less government in our lives the better

Posted by: Blima | October 13, 2012 at 10:29 PM

my guess is you are saying this because the frum cannot avail themselves to that program

but everything else, food stamps, welfare, buses for yeshiva, pell grants for yeshiva and so on that is fine with you.

[Blima]

Make that

shudder to think

[apikorus al ha'esh]

Mike Bongiorno knows first-hand about the chasidic bloc vote; he ran after it like a lap dog when he was Rockland DA. Who had a front-row seat at the Vizhnitzer Rebbe's hakafos on simchas torah? Mike Bongiorno. Who attended all the tishes and kissed all the rings? Mike Bongiorno. He's a politician, which means he'll jump into bed with whomever will advance his cause, and his cause will change based on which way the wind's blowing.

[seymour]

he does make some valid points but the tone is antisemitic

[John Haman]

I keep making this point on this topic but it seems none of the frumma will ever get it. You all claim in public and private "hey were in golus" esav soinai es yaakov, Goyim hate us and are anti semetic etc. And you know what you may be right, so lets say youre right. Wouldnt it occur to you to go out of your way to show the gentiles you dont fit the stereotypes that antisemites point to?? the common antisemetic claim is jews are parasites, money hungry, selfish and greedy, Now even if the actions of the board fall in to the legal category. Wouldnt it behoove them to try thier best to show thier support of the local gentiles and with thier actions strongly refute all the antisemtic claims?? but no instead it is the classic frumma defense of, "oh they are antisemites and we are right" "we pay taxes this is america" "and the goyim hate us anyways so we might as well take advantage of what we can" etc. Wrong wrong and wrong!!! goyim who hate jews may hate anyways but they will keep thier hate to the dinner table if Frumma jews(and non frumma in certain cases) dont treat the local goyim like sheep who can be taken advantage of. We all know the gemarrah logic and that is what the frumma use when they justify everything. Well if we lived in talmudic times then that would be great but we live in 21st century america and for Gds sake stop raping the locals and standing behind a cowardly claim of antisemetism, and if there is something in the grey area then go the other way to show how Real jews are supposed to act!!!but i can scream till im blue in the face and the results wont change...Till its too late like we all know will happen....

[simple jew]

B"H

John Haman

Start being frum and you be our role model on how to deal with non jews.

Run for school board, own a business, etc

When you own that business and you accidentaly overhear 2 employees that you are paying a higher salary so you can help undo th steretypes.... and you overhear those employees complaining about what a cheap jew you are.... just resolve to treat them better.

[Alter Kocker]

There are two issues that need to be resolved here.
1.) If your child/children are not or were not registered and attended the schools managed by the board you do not qualify to sit on the board.

2.) If the board is found to have mis appropriated funds or assets, then the board members are personally, jointly and severally liable. They will also be liable for costs involved in investigating any malfeasance if said malfeasance is detected and proven.

[SkepticalYid]

Posted by: simple jew | October 14, 2012 at 02:17 PM

I ran a business for 20 years and my father ran one for 28 years before me. The gentile employees swore that no one treated them as well as their Jewish bosses. We would overhear them talking to their acquaintances. They never complained "cheap Jew"

Maybe it's just you.

[Alter Kocker]

PS
Why is it that our orthodox brothers do not care when they look and act like thieves liars and cheats?

Hey, I know it takes a lot of truth to get through that heavily blocked black hat, but you assholes are the cause of anti-semitism. If you stop acting like criminals society might stop treating you that way.

[Yoel Mechanic]

Howdy Mr. Haman, were you frum at some time in the past? are you like speaking from any personal experience?

[devorah]

"If the board is found to have mis appropriated funds or assets, then the board members are personally, jointly and severally liable. They will also be liable for costs involved in investigating any malfeasance if said malfeasance is detected and proven"

The board has hired attorneys from Washington, big guns, and unfortunately, the school is paying the legal fees!!! This could be millions and millions of dollars. The board is being sued personally. Makes no sense to me. Maybe someone here can explain it?

[John Haman]

When you own that business and you accidentaly overhear 2 employees that you are paying a higher salary so you can help undo th steretypes.... and you overhear those employees complaining about what a cheap jew you are.... just resolve to treat them better.

Posted by: simple jew | October 14, 2012 at 02:17 PM

First off, I am currently religios I dont know what you consider frum so i dont want to say frum bec i am not black and white but i do keep The mitzvos. I lead by example if you knew me you would know but to you i am some random poster online. If i am in an area or surrounding area where there is large frum population I go out of my way to make a kiddush hashem,a small example if i am in a local Department store or Gas station and i am wearing a kippah i will make sure to hold the door open even, not accidently bump into people smile and say hello to people i make eye contact, dont cut anyone off or Take up an isle with my wagon etc etc. You are probably saying to yourself, hey that is what is normal who doesnt act like that? well i have some news for you I get shocked stares and on many occasions the comment of "wow you guys are alowed to be nice" or if a female cashier "I didtn realize you are alowed to talk to me and say hello" And on countless occasions witness rude abrupt behavior from the frumma and they dont even realize what they are doing is wrong because, Hey its not against halacha bec there was no article in the yated saying they should act like humans and no asifa for it so why would it cross thier minds that how they are acting is wrong and causes a huge chilul hashem. This is the same attitude the Board has in monsey, it is a plague in the frum world, can go on with these examples for hours but i will keep it short. Now getting back to my point If all the frumma lifted thier heads out of thier behinds and stopped living a rushed self centered life and took a second to think, Hey there are humans living around us and we have to treat them like that, and actually didnt preach and brainwash thier kids that Goyim are evil and they shouldnt talk look or say anything to a goy. and that when Mashiach comes goyim will cling to our tzizis etc then maybe this generation of kids and young adults and by now adults would be more thaughtful to the locals and although there will still be antisemites who will always hate at least people should do thier "hishtadlus" to break the cycle, But no chance that is Happening instead we have the frumma apoligist justifying everything a frumma person does and refusing to say the current state of frum jews in America is heading down a terrible path. When they wake up it will be too late for all of us, what a shame.

[Anon]

This constantly happens.

Frumma speak to non- Frumma an secular Jews as if they're speaking to non Jews.

Take a clue. We know your schtick. Who are ou tring to fool?

[Korben Dallas]

Even if anyone here provided "simple Jew" with actual numbers, he'd deny the process, deny the result, deny your math, whatever. It's a religious belief, nothing in the world will dissuade them except their own complete failure.

[simple jew]

B"H

Bababbooey

I still don't know what it means but if max can say it so can I.

Feels a little stress reducing

Keep in mind being on a school board is a thankless job.

Pay is $0

[flat earth]

Michael Bongiorno; well said now but where the hell were you when you were our DA?

[Sam the Man]

The East Ramapo School District was a mess long before the Chassidim became the majority on the board. We are one of the very highest taxed school districts in the country. I have lived in that district for thirty years. Taxes go up every year, without fail, and there is never enough money. I am glad the frum community took over the school board. At least they have kept taxes lower. Most of the exorbitant tax money goes to teacher's benefits, pensions, perks, and salaries, not education.

[simple jew]

B"H

John haman

Yasher koach to you.

I am sure you are not only frum (or yarmulke wearing) person who does thi but you are an exaple to those who don't and a kiddush Hashem

I do everything you listed myself.

Lubavitcher Rebbe taught us to be respectful to everyone even those who are opposed to us.

[devorah]

"Keep in mind being on a school board is a thankless job.

Pay is $0"

Agreed, so they invented companies with fake letterheads and paid themselves. Or they awarded huge contracts to their friends without getting competitive bids...or they sold a school to the lowest bidder to wipe out a business debt, as Nathan Rothschild did and for which he served time in jail.

No pay, but tons of gelt gained fraudently. (As the typical haredim function)

[nachos]

Lubavitcher Rebbe taught us to be respectful to everyone even those who are opposed to us.

Posted by: simple jew | October 14, 2012 at 03:54 PM
Really? Then why don't you guys listen to him. Is what happened to his sister in law the Rebbe's idea of "respect." I can't wait to hear your stupid rationalizations when anti semitism gets physical in this country.

There are many Jewish employers that are trhe best and their generosity is remembere3d long after they are dead. What about that Jewish fabric manufacturer in New England? I don't remember his name, but his deeds have been remembered.

Did you ask Chaim Cohen if he paid for his furnace yet? If he did not, then ask yourself is that following the Rebbe's words? Was Shalom Rubashkin respectful of everyone? No he treated his employeees like dirt. These people acted like the rebbe acted with his sister in law.

[nachos]

seymour

Did you get my email?

[devorah]

"Lubavitcher Rebbe taught us to be respectful to everyone even those who are opposed to us."

Really? I've never met one of you who showed respect....just disdain and rudeness. This includes driving down my tree-lined street, speeding, smoking and talking on cell phones while narrowly missing hitting turkeys or deer. You're an Emily Post nightmare.

[Jeff]

Lubavitcher Rebbe taught us to be respectful to everyone even those who are opposed to us.

You might start by not brainwashing other people's children.

[Simple Jew]

B"H

nachos

i dont know chaim cohen

Agri in postville (according to secular press) was a known destination for people looking for work... not work I can do or would want to do but people literally came there to get those jobs.

Jews that I know who worked there said he was a good boss and generally very giving person. I don't know any non jews who worked there.

[SkepticalYid]

Posted by: Sam the Man | October 14, 2012 at 03:53 PM

Nonsense. The salaries of the Ramapo teachers are approximately at the national median. They are far from overpaid.

[nachos]

Agri in postville (according to secular press) was a known destination for people looking for work... not work I can do or would want to do but people literally came there to get those jobs.
Posted by: Simple Jew | October 14, 2012 at 06:01 PM

The same secular press that you quote also describes the mistreatments of workers by Rubashkin. When you read the secular press, you should read the whole article.

Simple, will you condem the heinous crime committed on the Rebbe's sister in law and sign a petition calling for the extradition of the beater?

[simple jew]

B"H

Nachos

Who was the beater? Does anyone know?
Statuteo f limitations long passed.

[Shmarya]

Who was the beater? Does anyone know?
Statuteo f limitations long passed.

Posted by: simple jew | October 14, 2012 at 08:37 PM

Idiot.

1. When you flee prosecution, the statute doesn't begin to count down until you return.

2. Everyone knows his name, asshole, even the cops.

3. You can't even support the extradition of man who savagely beat an 80-something woman.

4. You are a sick, disgusting, amoral pice of crap.

[S M L]

Anyone here familiar at all with William Faulkner's trilogy - "The Hamlet", "The Town" and "The Mansion" featuring a totally amoral low-life clan of characters named Snopes? These Haredim share a world view with Faulkner's characters - namely that all but themselves are nothing more than victims-to-be, ripe for plundering. Amoral more than immoral. "These people give up everything of true value in order to achieve wealth. Yet this wealth seems to bring him nothing but wealth itself. " [http://tunemyheart.net/ant/?p=353]

Not quite sure what it is these Haredim want - ascendancy over those they consider Gentiles? Money for sure. Certainly they have no use for any of the rest of us. I find myself loathing more with each day's posts. I wonder how many non-Jews are forming their opinions of Jews based on the actions of these people? I shudder to think.

[seymour]

seymour

Did you get my email?

Posted by: nachos | October 14, 2012 at 04:36 PM

no

[simple jew]

B"H

Shmarya

What is his name? I don't know. That whole story was before my time.

I thought someone can be charged without being present physically.

Did the rebbitzen who was attacked ever speak or write about the issue?

[Audrey the Liberal]

I'm a libertarian, and I still think the Ultra-Orthodox board are behaving badly.

[yussi]

why should we pay school taxes if we dont use the school.it like america paying taxes to mexico...

[ERSDParent]

People are paying the taxes because they live in the community. If they don't want to pay the taxes, THEY should move. Why aren't they like the Amish who don't bother others. There is nothing anti-semetic about this. What is wrong is wrong regardless of who is doing it. They try to scare people by using that word. This reminds me of Brown Vs Bd of Ed. The schools up here are separate and def. Not equal!