[Updated] Buying Love Through Lies: The New York Times' Joseph Berger

Many people think Joseph Berger of the New York Times is a dishonest and incompetent reporter who consistently minimizes the wrongdoing of Satmar and other haredim while glorifying their lifestyle. Berger allegedly argued against covering haredi child sex abuse and still claims that Williamsburg's notorious hasidic modesty squad doesn't exist – even though it very clearly does. In other words, lots of ex-hasidim and victims inside the haredi community think Joe Berger – seen posing at right with his new book and a prominent Brooklyn hasid who is the brother-in-law of a notorious hasidic pedophile – is an ass of the highest order.

 

Last updated at 3:23 pm CDT

Yoel M., a Brooklyn hasid who wrote a long heartfelt criticism of the very dishonest book on hasidim written by Joe Berger of the New York Times, sent me a picture of Berger in the home of a prominent hasid, posing with a display of his books at a book release party held by the hasid for Berger. (Please see below.)

What type of book on hasidim would engender such love from them? An honest book that detail the crime and corruption that permeate their society? Or a book that denies much of it and cover up for hasidic criminals and miscreants?

Hasidim don't generally grasp nuance, and you are either with them or against them, someone to be exploited or someone to be ignored, "black" or "white." In other words, no author of af an honest book on hasidim would be openly and publicly feted as a guest in a prominent hasid's sukkah. But here we have Joe Berger – the so very dishonest Joe Berger – enjoying a hasid-hosted book release party with guests that included Agudath Israel of America's executive VP Rabbi Chaim David Zwiebel. (Please see the photo posted below.)

And whose home was this party held in? The sister and brother-in-law of notorious hasidic pedophile Jerry "Yechiel" Brauner.

And who are they?

Rabbi and Mrs. Joseph Rapaport. That's Joseph Rapaport posing with Joe Berger in the picture posted above and below.

The Rapaports' son is Alexander Rapaport, the head of Masbia.

Joe Berger used Alexander Rapaport as a main source for his book – a book that downplays haredi pedophilia. Yet Rapaport's uncle is a notorious hasidic pedopile. Coincidence? Likely not.

Many people besides me, including many ex-hasidim and even some current hasidim who wish they could leave that lifestyle, think Joseph Berger of the New York Times is a dishonest and incompetent reporter who consistently minimizes the wrongdoing of Satmar and other haredim while glorifying their lifestyle.

Berger allegedly argued against covering haredi child sex abuse and still claims that Williamsburg's notorious hasidic modesty squad doesn't exist – even though it very clearly does. In other words, lots of ex-hasidim and victims, both inside and outside the haredi community think Joe Berger is an ass of the highest order.

None of this, of course – even the clear evidence that Berger fudges the truth in order to protect his hasidic friends – has caused the New York Times to do what it should do and fire Berger.

Please read Yoel M.'s heartfelt pointed attack on Berger's book here.

Please click to enlarge:

Comments

[jancsibacsi]

Berger in this picture with the rebbbe looks like a shmendrik and a shmock combined.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Apologies to Fiddler on the roof (Tradition!):

[Berger]
Perdition! (6x)

[Berger and the Rebbes]
Who, day and night’s on welfare for a living,
Feeds a million children, mumbles dreary prayers?
And who has the right, as master of the house,
To have his infants get sucked bone?

The Papa, the Papa! Perdition. 2x

[GOLDE & MAMAS]
Who must know the way to make a good income,
So they can afford a kosher home?
Who must raise the family and run around,
So Papa's free to cook the taxman’s books?

The Mama, the Mama! Perdition! 2x

[SONS]
At three, I started cheder school. At ten, I graduated.
I hear they've paid a bribe for me. I hope it’s plenty.

The son, the son! Perdition! 2x

[DAUGHTERS]
And who does Mama teach to be sexy as a Shiksa,
Preparing me to marry some yichus-dik prick?

[Sarek]

YL, adapting that song to write on this topic must certainly border on evil. Keep it up!

[Yochanan Lavie]

Thanks, Sarek. "Evil" spelled backwards is "Live."

[Jeff]

YL, very good!

[ira]

'shkoyach YL !

[Yochanan Lavie]

Thanks Jeff, Ira.

[put a square into a hole]

What a bunh of crap.
Joe Berger.
I can tell you all about getting RAPED in the mikvas of New Square and Satmar in Williamsburg.
OH I forgot you work with Shulem Shnitzler and the vaad that doesn't exists.