Convicted Felon Rabbi Milton Yehoshua Balkany Lectures To Haredi Rabbinical Association On Jewish Law

Rabbi Milton Yehosua Balkany, former Agriprocessors VP Sholom Rubashkin's brother-in-law – was recently released from prison after serving time for attempting to extort hedge fund head Steven Cohen. Balkany joined fellow haredi rabbis at a convention of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, and Balkany was honored by the RAA with giving a lecture on the halakha (Orthodox Jewish law) or marit ayin.

Above: Rabbi Milton Yehosua Balkany

The haredi Rabbinical Alliance of America (RAA), also known as Igud HaRabbonim, held a conference in Brooklyn Sunday.

Where in Brooklyn?

At the Bais Yaakov of Midwood, the school run by convicted extortionist Rabbi Milton Yehosua Balkany.

Balkany – former Agriprocessors VP Sholom Rubashkin's brother-in-law – was recently released from prison after serving time for attempting to extort hedge fund head Steven Cohen.

But that didn't stop the RAA from holding its conference in Balkany's school – or from allowing Balkany to speak.

And Balkany did not give just any speech. Instead, he presented a lesson in halakha (Jewish law) on marit ayin, the law that prohibits taking an action that is in its essense permitted but which may appear prohibited in the eyes of people who see the action take place – for example, eating a Reuben sandwich made of corned beef, sauerkraut and non-dairy soy cheese when eating dairy products with meat is prohibited according to Orthodox Jewish law:

…Rabbi Yehoshua Balkany masterfully presented a halachic overview of Mares Ayin, circumstances which might prohibit that which is ordinarily permitted because of misleading appearences. An example would be eating almond cream [non-dairy cheese] with meat which might look like dairy cream cheese [which is by Orthodox Jewish law] prohibited to be consumed with meat. Contemporary food production, however, creates non-dairy ice cream and vegetable burgers, amongst many other products that, in combination, appear prohibited. However, in reality are perfecttly acceptable. Rabbi Balkany explored whether Mares Ayin applied to rabbinic enactments or only to Biblical commandments. Carefully reviewing coments of the Shulchan Aruch [Code of Jewish Law] and leading commentators [on that code], Rabbi Balkany carefully defined Mares Ayin and its restrictive aspects.…

Apparently both the RAA and Balkany agree that marit ayin doesn't apply to having a recently convicted felon lecture in Jewish law to a haredi rabbinical association.

Related Posts:

All Rabbi Milton Yehoshua Balkany Posts.

Comments

[getnotvalid]

a felony is a badge of honor for these rabbis

the spinker balkany
and belsky( who should have a felony
fred fischel todd all alecture and the rabbis dont stop it

shame on them

[Sarek]

Who better to give the lecture? Takes a thief.....

[David]

The disconnect from reality for these guys is simply staggering.

[Anti-kike]

Wouldn't the concept of marit eyin imply that meat from Agriprocessors (now, Agri Star) should be considered treif? That is, due to the company's criminal activities, for "appearance sake" their meat, poultry, cold cuts, etc., should be considered non-kosher.

[Lawrence M. Reisman]

The Rabbinical Alliance of America is a collection of scoundrels. The only difference between Balkany and most of the people he spoke to is that he got caught and most of them did not.

[Reese]

So this means his once again buying radio air time on the Jewish Talkline Communications is not far behind?

[Allan]

“which might look like dairy cream cheese [which is by Orthodox Jewish law] prohibited to be consumed with meat.”

Only because the rabbis stretched the Torah’s “Thou shalt not boil a kid in its mother’s milk” to ridiculous lengths far beyond the simple meaning of the verse, thus depriving Jews of the most delicious flavor combination known to man.

What kind of merciful deity would sentence his chosen people to burgers without cheese and pizza without pepperoni? If I had known that was on the agenda I would have voted to stay in Egypt!

[jake]

Alan you made my day !

[satufakers]

pepproni is pig as u know

[Ploiny]

It is obvious that the report on the meeting is from RAA Director Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum, who has been churning out such PR for them for a long time. His reports on the meetings used to appear in the Jewish Press (now Tannenbaum has moved his Hassidic PR propaganda column to the Five Towns Jewish Times, 5TJT). Tannenbaum is himself a prison alumnus.

Another speaker at the event, if you read the entire report, was Rabbi Shlomo Braun, who, according to media reports and investigations, is involved in a massive fraud and scam with his Aleh Foundation USA organization. Last year Braun was hosting Elliot Spitzer in Boro Park with Tannenbaum, when Spitzer ran for NYC Comptroller. Braun is a proud fourth generation Satmar (KJ) Hasid.

A number of the Rabbis listed are elderly and retired, holdovers from earlier, more glorious days of the Igud, in the pre Tannenbaum era. It is sad that a once honorable organization has become such a disgrace and laughing stock, but what do you expect when you have leaders like Tannenbaum.

Truth be told, the Igud (RAA) is basically irrelevant now, though Tannenbaum attempts to convince people with his writings that they still exist and play a significant role. Those in the know, know better.

[ichaimJay]

This is absolute lunacy. It's the fox watching the chickens.I wonder how many others in this 'igud' wore pin stripe suits in Otissville ?

[m]

the lecture was about how to extort millionaires which is permitted by the holy book . balkany is a master extortionist . he counsels and gives lectures about extortion . he is ready to catch a prey as soon as he spots a millionaire . balkany is not bothered going to jail again . he will give it a try again and again , any opportunity that will come his way . jail does not affect him . he looks very good , integral and rested , it's vacation .

[Nachum]

For the record, neither the RAA or the Agudat Harabbanim really exist.

[ruthie]

m
you are correct. this guy is a master at his craft.
professional criminal hiding behind negelwasser bullshit.
bullshit.
be religious or be a crook.
steve cohen....just great....balkany you really play with the big guys...
but balkany has a lot of kids......and they all live quite well only because of his scamming.
there is a part of me that is in awe of him and how much he gets away with. he probably made some great connections in jail.
but yes, this was a vacation. sans luxury....but he's home and laughing.

[Miami rocks]

Rabbi balkany is a good decent man.if he went to jail he's obviously paid his price for the alledged crime .
We are all entitled to second chances .
Let him move on with his life .

[m]

@ ruthie ,

do u want to know why balkany ' s children live in extreme luxury , posh cars , million dollar homes ,
very expensive clothings , vacations
all year round , not a single worry
without working , and money to burn like u won't believe .

all that thanks to their dad who extort millions from very wealthy
millionaires . balkany got away with
extortion and racketeering for decades and built a fortune being an ongoing criminal to give his children a life of luxury .

the problem is those millionaires balkany swindles do not have the guts to
file in court except for steve cohen , thank G-d . other millionaires balkany will extort very soon should do the same .

balkany is ready to go to jail which is
free vacation for him ,reading , resting and relaxing at the expense of tax payers . balkany enjoys his time in jail .

[outsider]

Whether we like it or not, the Rabbinical Alliance of America is the only rabbinical organization that is functioning fully and providing guidance. Their members are rabbis of congregations and they have frequent public and publicized meetings. Their rabbis are out there and achieving accomplishments on behalf of orthodox Jewry. Balkany was key in having school vouchers passed into law and implemented. That has helped thousands of families.If you want scrambled eggs, you have to break some egg shells. I dare anyone to name just one other rabbi who accomplished as much as Balakany, regardless of all of his errors and mistakes.

[outsider]

Speaking about Rabbi Shlomo Braun of the Aleh Foundation, please know that he has accomplished more for severly handicapped children than any other activist that you can identify. Through him, the JNF (Jewish National Fund of Israel) has joined with Aleh to literally build a whole city in the Negev devoted to severly handicapped children, custom built and with dedicated services. The Aleh Foundation is world recognized and praised by child care professionals from all around the world. Aleh has the absolute best track record for developing severly handicapped children into functioning and productive human beings. No other organization even comes close. Guaranteed, no one reading this will be worthy or privileged to sit next to him in Gan Eden.

[Y]

Shmarya:

We agreed and disagreed in the past (I was even called a shill for a criminal on one occasion!), but I really want to understand your perspective on this: At which point, if any, can we agree to give Balkany a second chance?

[Lawrence M. Reisman]

Y: We're not talking about giving Balkany a second chance. They gave him that when they dropped the charges against him for stealing a $750,000 grant meant for his school. He beat that rap, but given the opportunity, he tried blackmail. And by the way, that's just the feds. For 25 years, Balkany ran his school on smoke and mirrors, borrowing money from whomever he could and trying to pay it back with rubber checks. (I know; I got several of them before I got a check that cleared). He underpaid and late-paid his teachers, all the while living a lavish lifestyle, with uniformed servants at home. His daughters' weddings were a tribute to expense. And as for vouchers, he cheated a good number of Orthodox schools by keeping the vouchers for himself. For the rest of us, Balkany has had far more chances than anyone deserves.

[Y]

didnt know that.

[Singlemalt]

Many people become extremely repentant in prison and change their lives. Very often former drug offenders become drug counselors and former thieves work in areas of financial oversight etc. I know nothing about whether or not Balkany has repented or whether or not these organizations care, but the mere fact that he was a convicted felon alone is irrelevant. I met a person recently who is a convicted felon who works for the federal government.

[dh]

" I met a person recently who is a convicted felon who works for the federal government."

I'd be very interested to know how long ago the conviction occurred, what the present job title is, what it was for and whether it was reported on the application.

[Ploiny]

Re Rabbi Shlomo Braun and the Aleh Foundation USA -

See The Jewish Voice exposes on Braun, exposing his fraudulent operation -

1) http://jewishvoiceny.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=3946:exclusive-special-investigative-report&catid=107:israel&Itemid=290

2) http://jewishvoiceny.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7393:aleh-foundation-still-mired-in-controversy-as-annual-dinner-approaches&catid=112:new-york&Itemid=295

A donor advisory (alert to prospective donors) has been issued for it by a charity monitoring website - see http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=6705#.VHd4gPJW2M4

[Ploiny]

Re previous comment stating "Whether we like it or not, the Rabbinical Alliance of America is the only rabbinical organization that is functioning fully and providing guidance. Their members are rabbis of congregations and they have frequent public and publicized meetings. Their rabbis are out there and achieving accomplishments on behalf of orthodox Jewry."

That is not true.

The RAA does exist and they have a Beit Din, a Rabbinical court. However, there is not much beyond that. Few people attend their regular rosh chodesh meetings. Look at the names of the attendees of the latest meeting claimed by Gershon Tannenbaum. How many lead synagogues? Several are retired senior citizens, one is with a community council, another is a layman, another is involved with kosher food. Slim pickings there.

If you don't believe me, go to a meeting and see the sorry state there.

For the poster to state that it is the only such organization functioning fully is an outrageous lie. There are other Rabbinic organizations that are much more active, such as the RCA, the Hisachdus Harabonim of Chasidic Rabbis in Williamsburg, and others.

Obviously the poster is adept at twisting the truth.

[Singlemalt]

Dh, I don't remember the position but I could probably find out. They were drug charges. I believe they were State charges. He also got his RN. Because of his change in life and yhe
good works he was doing, the nursing board allowed him to obtain his license. He was working with people who had drug addictions and was asked by the hospital to pursue his RN. And yes his felonies were disclosed and he is open about his history.

[typadder]

i wonder if all those people who attended the event considered whether it was maris ayin to be hanging out with a known convict. then again, they might have been there to ask thexpert a shailah about whether they could be there.

[dh]

Singlemalt - that's interesting and good news. I was thinking it was probably a political appointment. Thanks.

[Singlemalt]

No, it wasn't a high level job or anything, as far as I can remember. It wasn't a postal worker job, but maybe something on that level. I should have been more clear. Ty.

[Account Deleted]

"White people don't feel any obligation to defend some thug just because he's white. Only blacks are expected to lie on behalf of criminals of their own race. " Ann Coulter