The Shame Of Modern Orthodoxy

The Rabbinical Council of America and the Beit Din of America prove through their inaction that poor people and "mud" people can never really be members in good standing in Modern Orthodoxy.

 

Rabbi Steven Pruzansky

Just over a week ago I reported that Rabbi Steven Pruzansky had written a post-election blog post that denigrated America's poor and all the voters who voted for President Obama. Pruzansky attacked their intelligence, questioned their American-ness, and made thinly-veiled racial claims about many of them.

When he did this, Pruzansky violated Jewish law, which forbids oppressing the poor and which supports and indeed orders much more support for the poor than America's social safety net now provides.

I argued that Pruzansky should be removed from his post and dismissed from the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) for advocating policies Judaism opposes and for violating Jewish law in the process of doing that.

Pruzansky responded by blocking negative comments on his blog – something he is known to do with regularity – and by slightly editing his blog post to tone down some of the more extreme language, but without noting that he did so. He then published that post on the Jewish Press website and continued to assert that he had done nothing wrong.

Pruzansky also dismissed my attack on his writing as a typical leftist attempt to shut down free speech.

But he did this without ever addressing any of the halakhic claims I made against him.

And now the moral midget from Teaneck has doubled down, not only refusing to apologize for his statements but insisting again that he had done nothing wrong.

Ha'aretz reports:

…[S]everal members of the Orthodox Jewish community in Teaneck, including a member of the synagogue’s executive board, [circulated] a petition via email among members of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun calling the rabbi to order. In the petition, the congregation members wrote that while they did not question Pruzansky’s right to freedom of speech, the blog “insults and denigrates” members of the community.

Asked to respond, Pruzansky said in an email, “Unfortunately, you are making a mountain out what is not even a molehill. A handful of members took personally what was a generic statement, in line with today's American cultural norm of taking offense easily, repeatedly and quickly. In a shul of 2,000 people, this type of disagreement is not really uncommon. In fact, I'm surprised it is not more common. But I respect their right of free speech and am not in the least disturbed by their letter.”

…In 1995, Abraham Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, who had been a longtime member of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun, left the synagogue in protest of inflammatory remarks made by Pruzansky against the Rabin government, including use of the term “the Rabin Judenrat.”…

…Pruzansky is a trustee of the Rabbinical Council of America and is on the board of the Beth Din of America, where he serves as a judge as well.

Prominent members of the Jewish community of Teaneck, which has one of the highest concentrations of Modern Orthodox Jews in the United States, noted that Pruzansky’s extremist views have driven away many members of his congregation over the years. Since he was appointed rabbi of Bnai Yeshurun in the mid-1990s, they pointed out, at least seven new Modern Orthodox synagogues have sprung up in Teaneck, to serve, among others, many of his detractors.…

Pruzansky denigrated all poor people including the working poor, and clearly violated Jewish law by doing it.

He has a long history of this type of behavior and has repeatedly proved that he believes the insanity and anti-Jewish garbage that he spews.

Can this man remain a Beit Din of America judge or board member or as a member or board member of the RCA?

No, he cannot – unless these supposed Jewish organizations are willing to have a member and leader who disregards Judaism's teachings on poverty and basic ethics.

The irony is that in the RCA or BDoA, you can lose your position for supporting Yeshivat Chovvei Torah or for arguing that most processed foods don't need kosher supervision (a position the Shulkhan Arukh agrees with).

But if you violate an explict (actually several explicit) Torah prohibitions in writing and repeat those violations and stand by them with no shame at all, the RCA and BDoA will do nothing, because the people injured by that speech are not donors or community leaders or powerful people. The targets of Pruzansky's venom are poor, are non-Jews, are brown and black, not white.

And that, it seems, is just fine with the RCA and BDoA.

Comments

[aloneandlonely]

Shmaryah, you sound pretty fustrated that the world at large and Teaneck in particular are not heeding your suggestions and your call for action.

Oh. Well. Just another bad day among all others.

[Joel]

The fact is that people voted for Obama, because the terrible economy does not let people risk their food stamps, medicaid, sec 8, etc etc.
We are hungry, and we don't have the luxury of electing Romney who will heal the economy in about a year. We need food Now.

[Fred]

Shmaryah,

He is entitled to his opinion. Years ago you performed a community service,notwithstanding your vile hatred of traditional jewish life because you were dissed by a semi heretical sect that didnt see your self promoted brilliance. Now you attack every opinion you disagree with and have the audacity to think you are learned enough to discuss halachic issues. These type of posts distract from any reason to look at your site nowadays.

[cheers]

Shmaryah, you sound pretty fustrated that the world at large and Teaneck in particular are not heeding your suggestions and your call for action.

Oh. Well. Just another bad day among all others

Well said. Let me add that while Jews in Israel are ussfering in air raid shelters, all Shmarya can think about is denigrating Orthodox Jews. Truly sad.

[jancsibacsi]

Joel--Most people who are getting food stamps were getting it when they were much better of ,by that i mean that those who get got it through lies and thievery you know what i mean i am sure of that.

[Jakes]

Well said. Let me add that while Jews in Israel are ussfering in air raid shelters, all Shmarya can think about is denigrating Orthodox Jews. Truly sad.

What does this mean? One cannot discuss anything in light of the current situation in Israel?

Let me be clear - the situation is terrible and I am also praying for a peaceful resolution to it. But to say that Shmaryah, or anyone else for that matter, cannot criticize something in Teaneck because Israel is under attack makes no sense to me.

[Red Sox Fan]

In other news, a Chassiddishe rebbe told his followers that they should go to work and not rely on food stamps, section 8, and welfare.

NOT!

[Chaim Z]

I'm not sure how people can claim that it is the poor and dumb who vote for Obama. While it's clear that in sheer numbers of votes, many of the bodies who vote for him are poor, it is equally clear that the most educated people also support Obama.

[ezra]

Apart from anything else, Haaretz is flat-out wrong in implying that the growth of Orthodox shuls in Teaneck is directly related to Pruzansky. The growth is due to one thing only: the still-rapid increase in the number of Orthodox Jews moving to Teaneck. Plain and simple.

[Eric]

> most processed foods don't need kosher
> supervision (a position the Shulkhan
> Arukh agrees with).

What do you mean by this?

[Yerachmiel Lopin]

dovbear.blogspot.com has done some great posts fisking Pruzansky with the great title, America's Worst Rabbi TM"

[Lawrence M. Reisman]

Joel says that Rommney would, "heal the economy in about a year."? And people think hasidim believe human beings can perform miracles?

[moshe]

Another reason why you should never rely on a rabbi for anything, especially their opinions. Think for yourself and avoid the rabbinic racket.

[Mikew]

Pruzansky responded by blocking negative comments on his blog

Sort of like deleting posts or banning posters who you don't like - where have I seen that being done before - hmmmmm.

[rebitzman]

Pruzansky also dismissed my attack on his writing as a typical leftist attempt to shut down free speech.

@Shmarya

You're the government?

[zibble]

It would be interesting to hear comments from the members of Pruzansky's shul...

[Lazar]

Soros. is a very poor man with only 8 billions
Of course. He voted for Obama
Shmarya. , Peopple in Teaneck love this Rabbi
Of course in a 2000 congregation you are going to find some ppl who need more attention

[pj]

what shmarya said is very true ............
.........poor ppl are 'mud' , can never be members in goog standing in modern orthodoxy .

shame of jewish ppl , shame on modern orthodox rabbis , shame for judaism .

[pj]

p.s. that why judaism lost a lot of jewish ppl . many jews that were treated like 'mud' got turned down from judaism and never came back .

[Joel]

I used to go into the Rebbe with a Kvittel and gave the Rebbe a $100.00 Food Stamp. Now Obama gives me a Card to swipe, I can't give this to the Rebbe.
My daughter needs braces for her teeth, Medicaid is Ahmechaya.

[evanstonjew]

Shmarya, I fully support your comments.I find Rabbi Pruzansky unacceptable.Keep up your important work. You are a man of courage.
Right wing fanaticism should be exposed and fought even though their ideas are protected by freedom of speech. The responsibility is first and foremost on his congregation. If they continue as members they are enablers and helpers in spreading these evil ideas.

[Hanan]

Im looking for where he "denigrated the POOR." Being against expansions of of food stamps for example to the some of these so called poor is not denigration.

[Shmarya]

Im looking for where he "denigrated the POOR." Being against expansions of of food stamps for example to the some of these so called poor is not denigration.

Posted by: Hanan | November 16, 2012 at 10:35 AM

Please.

He calls them unintelligent, dependent and says they voted for Obama because he bribed them with gifts. He lies about the basic facts of poverty and the social safety net and strongly implies that poor are lazy and selfish. He also says many of them don't share our values.

But I guess the small bubble you keep your head in blinds you from seeing the world as it really exists around you.

[Z]

Many Orthodox shuls, and their leaders, sound 'coincidentally' like Fox News. There is a correlative tendency for religious people to associate with authoritarian ideologies. Therefore, it makes more sense for Liberal-minded Jews to vote Democratic.

Mostly, the Rabbi's comments were just GOP talking points, mostly based upon disproven economic policy, and moral/social bigotry.

Honestly, it's just sad that otherwise intelligent people could be propagandized into believing such hatred. I knew he was an interesting person, but this proves that he is Coo-Coo for Cocoa Puffs.

[rebeljew]

Why is this "The shame of Modern Orthodoxy"? Shouldn't it be "The shame of Rabbi P..."? Why does a rabbi all of a sudden represent a category? I mean that very reasoning is the root of the fallacies of racism. (X is bad. X is a member of group G. Therefore, all members of G are bad.)

[Mets]

do you have an original copy of pruzansky's blog post that you say he changed? I'm reading the one on his website now

[Shmarya]

Why is this "The shame of Modern Orthodoxy"? Shouldn't it be "The shame of Rabbi P..."? Why does a rabbi all of a sudden represent a category? I mean that very reasoning is the root of the fallacies of racism. (X is bad. X is a member of group G. Therefore, all members of G are bad.)

Posted by: rebeljew | November 16, 2012 at 10:55 AM

Are you serious?

You claim would be true of Modern Orthodox leaders and the rank and file repudiated Pruzansky and stripped him of his honors and community jobs – but they have done none of that.

And as rabbinic law points out with regard to the rape of Dinah and the people of Shchem, if you don't act to repudiate and/or stop a wrong, you endorse it. Shtika k'hoda'ah.

[Shmarya]

do you have an original copy of pruzansky's blog post that you say he changed? I'm reading the one on his website now

Posted by: Mets | November 16, 2012 at 11:11 AM

It's linked several times in this post.

[njsmiley]

Based on the summary that
"He calls them unintelligent, dependent and says they voted for Obama because he bribed them with gifts. He....strongly implies that poor are lazy and selfish. He also says many of them don't share our values"
If he had written exactly what he wrote but implied that he was talking ONLY about all the Jews in Brooklyn and Lakewood who collect welfare et al and voted for Obama would there have been the same an outcry?

I believe what he wrote is nasty, very nasty for many reasons including his position but certainly many people on this blog think that those conclusions apply to the chareidi welfare taker/Obama voters. (disclaimer: I only read your summary and conclusions not the actual article, could not bring myself to).

[foodwriter]

The ten states with the highest level of education all went for Obama. With one exception, the ten states with the lowest level of education went for Romney. Hmmm, sort of proves RSP wrong. We do need to remember, however, that he serves at the pleasure of his congregants. We really have no right to tell them what to do. OTOH, the RCA does need to respond to what is being said.

[pj]

Joel,
you suck the system . you must be chabad,with no doubt .
you are on food stamps w/a debit card that tax payers pay for you . and you can afford internet. then you are not poor . you are a blood sucker that sucks the system . i bet you are richer than anyone who works for his money , and you don't .

today, food stamps is $ 350 a month per person . for you and your wife only , it's $ 700 a month sucked from the tax payers .

i'm sure you have at least 9 kids . so, calculate . $ 350 x 9 = $ 3,150 , now add
the $700 for you and your wife . the total amount you get from the tax payers in
food stamps is $ 3,850 PER MONTH .

you are definitely a blood sucker .

you don't need all that money to eat , bc
all your children are fed FOR FREE , breakfast , lunch and diner at lubavitch yeshivos and schools .

you cannot have a job , bc of your physical appearance . nobody will hire you . so, you collect $ 10.000 a month in tzedokoh PLUS the $ 3, 850 in food stamps - u do not need and cannot use all of it . and you keep going , taking advantage of taxpayers . you are disgusting .

medicaid also pays for your daughter's braces with taxpayers' money . you really are a disgrace to society , bc all you have to do is have sex, sex, sex w/ your wife and produce as much as you can. you do not have to worry about anything .
eveything is paid for IN FULL by the tax payers.

[Joel]

To PJ

I'm sorry but I don't want to be the only one working in my whole extended family.
I should be the Naar?

[george]

Shayma is such a snottly little boy; don't agree with him and you are evil, and he'll pick up his candy and go home. I read Pruzansky's post: he merely makes the traditional conservative political argument: it's tough to beat Santa Claus, letting millions of immigrants in who have different values than America will lead to problems, and to vote for Obama must mean the voter is stupid for not recognizing the Greecian cliff we are about to fall over. I guess Shayma didn't like being called stupid.

[Eli S.]

Shmarya - you really seem to hold yourself as a scholar and arbiter of Jewish law. It is quite sickening to see your self-promotion. I responded similarly last week at your disgusting infantile and hysterical diatribe and you suggested that I wrote thus because I could not refute your what you seem to think is your erudite and accurate commentary. That is not so at all.
Rather, seeing that you are unable to have a civil and respectful discussion and enjoy 'screaming' at whoever disagrees with you, I find it simply beneath my dignity to address the points you raise.

[rebeljew]

You claim would be true of Modern Orthodox leaders and the rank and file repudiated Pruzansky and stripped him of his honors and community jobs – but they have done none of that.

Under this measure, few groups would survive. Were Pruzansky the leader of Modern Orthodoxy, you might also be justified. He is a celebrity in Teaneck, not much more. He writes dumb stuff in newspapers. If they were acclaiming him to the be the gadol hador, then again you have a point. Uncomfortable silence, and acquiescence without denouncement are not consent, just politeness. Whether he deserves that much is a separate argument.

Does the Nobel committee hold responsibility for everything Arafat did? As I recall, he died with his award still accredited.

[david]

again shmarya you are busy protecting the torah
this is the same torah you always bash

programs is ok but when it prevents a person from going out there and get ajob and just expect gifts
it insane and 1)the torah allows you to say it is wrong 2) freedom of speach works both ways you have the right to your opinion and so does he
and happens to be he makes more sense than yours

[DBSesq]

Can anyone give an instance in which R. Pruzansky actually treated a poor person in a non-halachik fashion? Raring that Shmarya is wrong in his assertions about Halacha.

[Eli, what me messiah?]

Posted by: Eli S. | November 16, 2012 at 01:23 PM

On behalf of the Eli's of the world I object to your self-appointed authority to criticize Shmarya for being a self-appointed scholar of Jewish law. I mean, what do you think this is, a blog where you can freely post opinions?

[dh]

"Can anyone give an instance in which R. Pruzansky actually treated a poor person in a non-halachik fashion?"

Loshan hora?

[Shmarya]

Under this measure, few groups would survive. Were Pruzansky the leader of Modern Orthodoxy, you might also be justified. He is a celebrity in Teaneck, not much more. He writes dumb stuff in newspapers. If they were acclaiming him to the be the gadol hador, then again you have a point. Uncomfortable silence, and acquiescence without denouncement are not consent, just politeness. Whether he deserves that much is a separate argument.

Does the Nobel committee hold responsibility for everything Arafat did? As I recall, he died with his award still accredited.

Posted by: rebeljew | November 16, 2012 at 01:48 PM

He's on the RCA's executive, he is a dayan on the Beit Din of America, and he's the rabbi of the largest MO shul outsid of Israel.

So your argument is moot.

[zionist goy]

Capitalism has failed as an experiment in its most expansive labaratory; the U.S. We should indoctrinate all children from a young age with the teachings of Marx, Trotsky and Alinsky.Totalitarianism, now!Many today are wittingly and unwittingly paving the way for a classless society, oh, well the "party" and the party perks and everyone else, we know how that goes.the dependency class is killing the capitalist system and little do they realize that they, with thier advocates in the universities are paving the way for even fewer goods, fewer services and fewer opportunities. Only half the population paying taxes and trending downwards.

[SkepticalYid]

Posted by: zionist goy | November 17, 2012 at 07:36 AM
I'd point out that the so-called 47% includes some elderly, soldiers in combat and the working poor. I'd also point out that while they pay little or no income taxes, they do pay payroll taxes, sales tax, property tax and other common taxes. I'd also point out that the biggest beneficiaries of our tax system are major corporations who often pay not one penny in tax on billions in profit; but why should I bother? Some people don't care about facts. They have a strongly liberal bias, to quote Stephen Colbert.

[rebeljew]

Maybe we have different standards. If the RCA enthusiastically endorsed his ideas, you lump them in. If they remain silent, even Jewish law holds that there is no punishment if there is no positive action. Negative action, i.e. lo micha bai, while it is a desired trait of good leadership, is rarely punished without other context.
Todd Akin and Maxine Waters have said stupid stuff. This does not invalidate every politician in both parties, only those who endorse their views. Jeremiah Wright said some stupid stuff. Pres. Obama sat there. When pressed he lied and said that Wright had never said anything like that while he was sitting there for 20 years, even though others in the church laud Wright for saying those things regularly. Those who laud him are responsible with him. Is Obama responsible for Wright's statements and views or not?

No one ever accused the RCA of good leadership.

[rebeljew]

Before you shoot down the parallel with Wright, note that Pres. Obama called wright a mentor, a roll model, and a great influence in his life. The title of one of books is based on a public sermon of Wright's.

[Tsvika55]

Shmaria,
You should tell your mom, maybe she can help you with dealing with Rabbi Pruzansky?

[Tsvika55]

R u so frustrated with Rav Pruzansky cause your mom didn't make enough cholent for your fat tummy?

[Shmarya]

Posted by: rebeljew | November 18, 2012 at 06:36 AM

Please.

You cannot have a leader in an organization – a VP of the RCA and a Dayan on the Beit Din of America, let alone the rabbi of the largest "MO" shul outside Israel – espousing positions that conflict with basic Torah law.

Shtika k'hoda'ah means that if you sit back and don't object, you have, in effect endorsed.

The RCA knows what Pruzansky is and what he's written. They know what they are supposed to do.

But they fail to act because they're cowards and because it's far easier for them to stay silent.

Why?

Because the world is filled with people who make the same calculations you make and who alibi for these "leaders."

That's how we got 30 years of Rabbi Baruch Lanner and almost 40 years of Rabbi Yehuda Kolko.

You need to stop alibiing for the RCA's bad behavior.

[spacedout BT]

The last RCA rabbi to speak out against the madness of the RW was R. Dr. Leo Landman and he was preyty much sandbagged by the Bklyn community

[rebeljew]

Why are you "please"-ing me? What I am saying is not unreasonable, nor is it even said in defense of the RCA. I do not consider the RCA's leadership anything to emulate. Weak leadership is the rule in the Jewish world today, from celeb rabbis, Agudah, RCA you name it. I am merely saying that the standard is untenable. Obama said nothing when Rev. Wright preached hate. Is he liable for it? What about official racism in Egyptian, Libyan and other press corps that the US supports? Is the US or Obama liable for it? We clearly have the ability to object, but we have not, even when faced with the opportunity as in "the future cannot belong to those who insult the prophet of Islam" (but it does belong to those who incite hatred against Jews and Christians?)?

All I was saying is that the standard of "lo micha bay", while it is poor leadership, while it is cowardly, nonetheless does not extend culpability to the entire group. They should offer him a golden parachute and be done with him, but they won't. This is due to poor leadership.

The Gemora says that there is no gangster that his family is not gangsters, because they protect him. However, the family is criticized, not punished. "Lav she-ain bo ma'aseh". We simply disagree on how far to go. I say no one could survive your level of scrutiny in this.

[Shmarya]

You're wrong for two reasons:

1. When Obama's membership in Wright's church became an issue, when people outside the church became aware of some of Wright's more extreme statements, Obama left that church and distanced himself from those statements.

2. The "gangster" in this case isn't simply a gangster – he's the equivalent of a cabinet minister. He's a leader of the MO community, the rabbi of its largest synagogue, a VP of the RCA and a judge on the Beit Din of America. If Eric Holder had been a member of Wright's church, not Obama, and Holder had not resigned when Wright was outed, you'd argue that Obama was wrong for not firing Holder, and you'd tend to believe he also shares Wright's views.

That's what shtika k'hoda'ah means.

There is no question that the RCA, BDoA and P's shul are all required by halakha to act, the first two by expelling P and the third by taking the advice of 1 and 2 and either firing P or suspending him.

[moshe]

Out of curiosity?
is it the opinion of the posters and blogger here that only chareidim are deemed suitable to be trashed for collecting foodstamps?