Ami Magazine's publisher Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter tells a reader that Ami Magazine's 'interview' with the Skvere Rebbe "is biased to the extreme, guided by the precepts of the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch, regarding the laws of respect for talmidei chachomim [Torah scholars] and prohibitions against assigning collective guilt upon a community." Those "precepts" are understood to forbid publishing embarassing or damaging information about a Torah scholar, even if that information is true.
The following is allegedly an email conversation between an Ami Magazine reader and Ami Magazine's publisher, Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter. The reader sent it to me and allowed me to publish it.
Ami Magazine Reader:
Dear Ami editor,
I commend you for doing what no one else was able to and get an interview with Skvere Rebbe concerning the burning incident. I implore you however to realize that you have an opportunity of a lifetime to make or break your magazine for the next decade with one decision. The world will be reading the article and will decide the fate of the Ami magazine based on this one question: will you ask hard journalistic questions or will you simply put a New Square spin on it?
If there is one question to be asked of Skvere Rebbe it would be the following: The world knows that the Rebbe’s word is the word of God. And the world knows that the Rebbe knows everything that is going on in New Square. And the world knows that the Rebbe was silent during previous acts of terror and violence done to Rottenberg and others. Why the condemnation only now when the Rebbe is facing a PR disaster of epic proportions?
Dear Ami editor, if you asked that question of the Rebbe—or at least if you raise it in your article—then we will respect and embrace this new publication of yours. If not, then you can peddle your publication to the Skvere Mikvah Yid, for the greater Jewish medium will not be stupefied and insulted by bad journalism.
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Ami:
Dear [ ]:
Thanks for your email. I asked those questions I felt were important, and I was satisfied with the answers I received. Whether you will find them satisfactory, is something I can’t answer.
I do though object to your characterization of a Skvere chasid as “the Skvere Mikvah Yid.” I find that highly inappropriate and offensive.
Unless Orthodox Jewry finds a way out of the morass of divisiveness and self-hatred, we are doomed as a people. Let’s leave the name calling to the neo-Nazis and other anti-Semites.
There is plenty to like in our fellow Jews.
Thanks for reading Ami.
YF
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Ami Magazine Reader:
Dear YF of Ami,
Thank you for your quick response.
I very much agree with you. There is plenty to like in our fellow Jews and let’s leave the name calling to the Neo-Nazis. Just one favor, if I may ask of you, kindly tell that to Rottenberg when you visit him in the hospital.
Ami Magazine Reader:
PS I think you misunderstood my reference the Skvere Mikvah Yid. I was referring to peddling your paper there, as many chasidish people buy their papers by the little store the Mikvah yid has. And the point was that if no true journalism can be found in your publication, that only skvere people will be interested in buying (at the Mikvah newsstand) your magazine.
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Ami:
“May I only see good and kindness in others,” is a prayer my forbear Reb Elimelech of Lizensk composed. It ought to be mandatory in our times.
Thanks again.
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Ami Magazine Reader:
I will take that as an apology for misreading my earlier email and for bashing me aimlessly.
Shlomo Hamelech, the wisest of all, also embraced the notion of peace, yet he saw another side to things when he said Eis Milchama.
You as an editor need not condone peace nor violence nor protests. It is your job simply to ask questions which accurately portray the minds of all people.
The readers will find that out when reading your hopefully unbiased and strong interview.
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Ami:
Stop. It is biased to the extreme, guided by the precepts of the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch, regarding the laws of respect for talmidei chachomim and prohibitions against assigning collective guilt upon a community. I suggest you read another publication.
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Ami Magazine Reader:
Dear YF of Ami,
After reading your published piece, I must say that you were right when saying that it was biased to the extreme. You did however write to me that "I asked those questions I felt were important, and I was satisfied with the answers I received." What questions, if I may ask? All I saw was you putting words into the Rebbe's mouth by offering that people are quick to forget his accomplishments because of the failings of one villain. I beg again, what questions?
In the exchange of our correspondence you have managed to quote Rishonim (Rambam), Achronim (Shulchan Aruch) and Chasidus (Reb Elimelech of Lizensk) all to support your claim. This is not a new technique, others have done it before you. During the Moishe Finkel incident (of selling non-kosher meat) there were some holy people who were quoting the Chofetz Chaim and other sources claiming that this is Loshon Horah and slander. Somehow the Mishana that has eluded them has eluded you as well: (Avot 4:5) "Do not make the words of Torah a crown to magnify yourself or an axe with which to chop."
In your article you further claim that the non-orthodox zealots are quick to use this incident to besmirch Chasidism and Orthodox Judaism. For the record, I thought you'd like to know that I am a proud shtreimel wearer and feel very comfortable as a chasid. Furthermore, I spent last Shabbos with some not-yet-frum Jews, modern Jews, yeshivish Jews and chasidish Jews. We had a beautiful Shabbos of unity and love. I need not be preached to about achdus. You on the other hand were quick to condemn me and liken me to Neo-Nazis by simply misreading a few of my words. You have yet to apologize.
Now allow me to tell you a little story: A few years ago during the Hakofos on Simchas Torah in Viznitz Shul in Monsey there were some women who were leaning over the balcony of the women’s shul. The next day a clever chasidish zealot decided to take matters into his own hands and smeared honey on the gallery fence to prevent this from happening again. The very next day (not a week later) the Viznitze Rebbe made it known that if the villain doesn’t come forward, he will not forgive him in this world or the next. Sure enough the villain came running to the Rebbe where he received his punishment. Now THAT is what i call leadership and THAT is what i call zero tolerance for taking matters into your own hands. And you can rest assured, no Viznitz chasid ever thought of burning anyone’s house after that, or slashing tires for that matter.
I have no idea why that story came into my mind now but I just thought you may appreciate it.
Oh, one more thing: There are many people who are reeling from this incident, from Rottenberg, to Skvere Rebbe, to Judaism as a whole, except for one person. Yitzchok Frankfurter, is not reeling. To the contrary, this story has earned you stars as a journalist; has made you very popular indeed; and most of all it earned you elitist status with Skvere Rebbe. Is it possible that this was perhaps your ultimate goal? To the naked eye it may just appear that instead of using “elitism” to boost your magazine, you are using your magazine to make a name for yourself. May the Almighty have pity on you.
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Ami:
Thanks for your feedback. Your point of view is important to us.