FailedMessiah.com

High Holiday Child Sex Abuse Prevention Guidelines for Synagogues

Tzedek, the Australian victims advocacy organization, has issued High Holiday child sex absue prevention guidelines. As you read them, notice how few haredi synagogues meet any of Tzedek's requirements.

"America Must Not Remain Silent"

Rabbi Israel Dresner argues that there was a direct line between the Holocaust and the American civil rights struggle. "Jews are opposed to injustice. We are opposed to hatred and bigotry and bias and racism and exploitation and so forth. And that's what we are supposed to be opposed to." But do we in 2013? Arguably not.

Panicked Hynes Campaign Launches Series Of Dishonest TV Ads

A spokeswoman for the campaign of Brooklyn D.A. Charles J. Hynes said none of the people who appeared in the ads work for either the D.A'.s political or government office in any paid or unpaid capacity – but Hynes' spokeswoman lied.

Rabbi Michael Broyde Continues To Falsely Claim He Is Still A Member Of The Bet Din Of America

Disgraced Rabbi Michael Broyde's Atlanta Dayanut Institute launched a new website recently – a website that until a few days ago falsely claimed Broyde is a member of the Beit Din of America. But he isn't. Why?

Haredim, Non-Jews And Human Life

"According to Halacha (Jewish law), we are not allowed to save a goy (non-Jew) from death. For example, if one sees a goy drowning in a river and he cries to the Jew that he should rescue him by throwing the safety ring, if no other goy will ever know that this cry was ignored and no danger will emerge from it to Jews, the Jew is not allowed to throw the safety ring according to the Halacha"

Israel To Ship African Refugees To Uganda

Israel has made a deal to ship African refugees – which Israel continues to illegally label "migrants" and "infiltrators" to Uganda. Uganda – which has a bad human rights record – is taking them in exchange for military and other aid.

New For 2013: Non-Drip Kapparot Packaging

Nothing like some new mass-market packaging to keep a medieval pagan-based haredi ritual current – and cleaner – while depriving chickens of their only real chance for revenge.

Video: Brooklyn D.A. Takes Back Statement In Support Of Haredi Child Sex Abuse Victims

Last year, Charles J. Hynes told media that the prevalent harassment, shunning and extortion suffered by haredi child sex abuse victims by haredim and by haredi rabbis was "worse than the Mafia." Now Hynes has taken back that remark in his never-ending grovelling for haredi bloc votes.

Video: New Square Sex Abuse Victim Speaks Out

One month after Yossi reported the abuse to police, Taubenfeld turned himself in. He was charged with 30  counts of forcible touching, endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree sex abuse. And then pleaded guilty. But the sweetheart plea deal Taubenfeld was offered meant he would serve no time in prison. Instead, he was sentenced to six years probation. Taubenfeld is still reportedly teaching at one of New Square’s largest yeshivas.

Two More Rabbis Arrested In Paris Chabad Child Sex Abuse Scandal

Two Chabad leaders in Paris were reportedly arrested  on suspicion of coercing parents of children who were sexually abused at a Chabad school there. The rabbis ordered parents of abused children not to call police or report the abuse.

Amara To Plead Guilty In Agriprocessors Conspiracy

Hosam Amara, a former senior manager at  Agriprocessors kosher slaughterhouse in Postville, Iowa, signed a plea agreement today. Amara admitted to being a part of  a conspiracy led by Sholom Rubashkin to knowingly employ and harbor immigrants who entered the country illegally.

Australian Court Finds Leading Chabad Rabbi Joseph Gutnick Defrauded A Fellow Chabadnik In $1 Million Mines Deal

The Australian-based Joe Gutnick, the late Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe's handpicked emissary to Israel and an internationally known mining magnate who has allegedly swindled hundreds of millions of dollars from fellow Chabadniks (mostly ba'al teshuvas) and others, has just lost a $1 million dollar suit. Gutnick in effect swindled a fellow Chabadnik, Roy Tashi, out of a million Australian dollars after offering to help Tashi get out of his financial crisis. the judge also found that Gutnick's testimony was unreliable and evasive.

Brooklyn D.A. Allegedly Meeting With Williamsburg Satmar Rebbe In Bloc Votes Deal Now

Charles J.Hynes, the ethically challenged Brooklyn D.A., is allegedly in a meeting right now in Williamsburg with the Williamsburg Satmar Rebbe Zalman Leib Teitelbaum. Hynes is trying to appease Teitelbaum, who is upset with Hynes for prosecuting hasidic child sex abusers.

Intra-Haredi Violence, Riots Over Beit Shemesh Contruction Site End

The warring factions have reached an agreement with the help of the Williamsburg Satmar Rebbe Zalman Teitelbaum. Rabbi Eliyahu Posen, named by non-Edah-Haredit haredi leader Rabbi Nissim Karelitz will be appointed as the haredi inspector of the Beit Shemesh construction site at the root of the violence. Posen will watch to make sure no graves are being disturbed. All complaints from haredim about the site will be directed to him, and construction can now go on unabated. The agreement is based on the fact that, despite the false claims by Edah Haredit's #1 Rabbi Yitzhchok Tuvia Weiss and his Asra Kadisha extortionist-thugs, there are no ancient Jewish graves at the site.

Mebourne Rabbis Get Sex Abuse Training From Expert Linked To Abuse Coverups

Yeshiva University's David Pelcovitz, linked to alleged coverups at OHEL of failure to report child sex abuse, is flown to Australia to teach Chabad, haredi and Modern Orthodox rabbis how to deal with congregants who disclose child sex abuse claims to them.

Gas Masks Are For Purim, Haredi Rabbi Says

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky also reportedly ordered haredi yeshiva students to continue studying and to ignore the talk of war.

Israel Denying African Refugees And Foreign Workers Gas Masks

Mass deportations of Eritrean refugees is also planned for after Rosh Hashana despite international law and treaties Israel signed which prohibit it. Even foreign workers hired to take care of elderly Israelis denied gas masks. IDF says if crisis develops, it will distribute gas masks to them. "The foreign population is mainly in big cities, in houses without a safe space, and their exposure to injury is huge. But Israel isn't even taking care of its own citizens right now. So it's important that first thing's [are done] first."

Hasidic President Of Scandal-Plagued School Board Caught With Illegally Subdivided Rental Property

A housing complex owned by the haredi president of the scandal-plagued haredi-controlled East Ramapo school board, Yehuda Weissmandl, was found to be illegally subdivided, village housing inspectors reportedly said today.

Haredim With Beards Reportedly Denied Gas Masks By IDF Home Front Command

There is an expensive type of mask used for elderly, disabled and seriously ill people that has an air pump built in that reportedly could provide protection to many (but probably not all) haredim with beards. But the government does not have enough of those masks to give them to haredim. Instead, haredim are refusing to shave their beards, with most opting to wait until leading haredi rabbis tell them they must shave – something many believe will not happen until an actual chemical weapon has struck Israel or such an attack is undeniably imminent.

Video: Leading Edah Haredit Rabbi Allegedly Blocks Organ Donations, Critically Ill Patients May Die As A Result

An unidentified leading haredi rabbi from the Mea-Shearim-based Edah Haredit haredi umbrella organization who is allegedly "from among the poskei ha-dor" allegedly convinced a Zionist Orthodox wife not to donate her husband's organs – even though her husband allegedy died of cardiac failure, not brain stem death. The woman had already agreed to donate her husband's organs. Eight recipients who had already been told they would be receiving transplants had to be told that instead of a new chance for life, they may die while waiting for a transplant.

Haredi Gadol Allegedly Raising Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars For Admitted Über Thief Eliyahu Weinstein's Appeal

Rabbi Elya Ber Wachtfogel, the rosh yeshiva (dean) of the Yeshiva of South Fallsburg, who is considered to be a haredi “gadol” (a most senior, important haredi rabbi, has allegedly so far raised $200,000 to pay new attorneys for haredi über fraudster and thief Eliyahu Weinstein’s appeal and has promised those attorneys that he will provide up to $400,000 in total.

Rabbi Marc Schneir's Hampton's Synagogue Sues Town Over Eruv

Southampton’s Zoning Board of Appeals ruled earlier this month that the eruv is prohibited because signs of any sort are not permitted to be placed on telephone poles, prompting the lawsuit from Orthodox Jews.

Video: Haredi Measles Outbreak, Vaccines, And The Danger Of Fundamentalism

MSNBC's Chris Hayes did an excellent report last night on measles outbreaks due to lack of vaccination – including the recent outbreak in haredi Brooklyn caused by parents who refused to vaccinate their kids and a much smaller outbreak in a fundamentalist megachurch caused by parents who refused to vaccinate their kids. (Notice a parallel?)

[Updated With Video] In Exchange For More Than 10,000 Satmar Bloc Votes, Bill Thompson Promises Satmar To "Revisit" Dangerous Haredi Circumcision Practice

As Satmar power-broker Rabbi David Niederman gave his NYC mayoral endorsement to Bill Thompson, promising Thompson more than 10,000 Satmar votes, Thompson responded by promising Satmar that he would help them on the metzitzah b'peh (MBP) issue, the direct mouth-to-bloody-penis-sucking done (primarily) by haredi mohels after cutting off the baby's foreskin and removing it and the membrane beneath it.

4 Israelis Arrested For Savage Hate Crimes Against African Refugees

The men, all in their early twenties, were arrested Monday. They allegedly attacked Africans walking in South Tel Aviv, beating them with bottles and sticks, “using great cruelty,” police reportedly said.

Video: Diaspora Relations Minister Misrepresents New Egalitarian Kotel Plaza

Diaspora Relations Minister Naftali Bennett, who is also israel's Religious Services Minister and a Zionist Orthodox Jew, misrepresents the history and location of the new "egalitarian" plaza south of the actual Kotel (Western Wall) prayer area. Not only that, Bennett did it on a self-made video in English.

5 Towns Alleged Child Sex Abuse Arrest

Marisa Trachtenberg from the Five Towns area was recently arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a very young child.

Time To Secede From Israel, Prominent Haredi Community Activist Says

Commenting on the steep cuts in government social services and welfare programs that have been the staple of haredi life for decades, the push by the government to compel haredi schools to teach math and other secular subjects, and the looming haredi draft, a prominent haredi community activist has called on haredim to consider separating from the State of Israel.

Haredim Want IDF To Ban Female Soldiers From Some Public Roles, IDF Refuses

Haredim want women – even female IDF officers – banned from all public ceremonies and performances haredi soldiers might have to attend due to “immodesty” and due to a derivative rabbinic law that forbids males to hear a female sing. (Males can hear a group of females sing or a female sing a religious, rather than a secular, song according to most normative understandings of that law, but haredim reject those interpretations.)

Haredi Swindler Eliyahu Weinstein Tells Court He Should Not Be Prosecuted For Stealing Millions, Asks To Be Released For Rosh Hashana

Why does Weinstein say he shouldn't be prosecuted? The Lakewood-based thief claims the US Attorney knew he was stealing and accepted his guilty plea in another fraud case. Since this second fraud took place during the end of the time the first fraud was ongoing, he argues that his second fraud – which wiped out generations of wealth from one non-Jewish family – should have been included in his original guilty plea. Indeed, the consummate liar and thief says, he thought it was – even though no mention of the second fraud is made in his guilty plea.

Yeshiva University President Issues New Statement On Child Sex Abuse At YU's Schools, Does Not Say Abuse Claims Are True

"Earlier today, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP released its report marking the completion of the firm’s eight-month investigation into allegations of past abuse at Yeshiva University High School for Boys. There are findings set forth in this report that serve as a source of profound shame and sadness for our institution. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire University community, I express my deepest and most heartfelt remorse, and truly hope that our recognition of these issues provides some level of comfort and closure to the victims."

Jewish Cemetery In Ukraine Desecrated

A Jewish cemetery in the small Ukrainian city of Pryluky was reportedly vandalized last week in an apparent anti-Semitic attack roughly coinciding with the defacement of a statue of Jesus on the Cross with Hebrew-language anti-Christian graffiti in the Ukrainian city of Uman.

Israel’s Government Allegedly Uses Deception To Deport More African Refugees

Many, if not most, haredim in Europe in 1939 would have been unable to fluently speak, read or write their native country’s language, and they would have known little of their native country’s history or its government structure. The same is true for many hasidim in today’s New Square, as well. Yet the Government of Israel is using similar tests to change the classifications of African refugees in a bid to skirt international treaties and deport them back to the countries from which they fled, often in terror.

YU "Independent" Investigation Into Child Sex Abuse Allegations Released, Finds Abuse Took Place

"The Investigative Team has concluded that multiple incidents of varying types of sexual and physical abuse took place at YUHSB during the relevant time period. This conduct was carried out by a number of individuals in positions of authority at the High Schools at various times throughout the period covered by the Investigation, including, in certain instances, after members of the administration had been made aware of such conduct. In addition, the Investigative Team found that, during the relevant time period, sexual and physical abuse took place at other schools comprising the University as well."

Judaism And Democracy Harmed By Haredim, Reform Leader Says

"In Israel, Judaism and democracy are both harmed by this unholy alliance. By accepting Orthodox rulings as law, the Israeli government has brought Israel –and the Jewish people—to this current crisis."

Reform Movement's Statement On The Government's Kotel Plan

The government wants to unilaterally impose a plan to end the Kotel (Western Wall) crisis that favors haredim and that violates both a court ruling and its own attorney general's acceptance of that ruling. Here is teh Reform Movement's reaction.

Government To Impose "Solution" To Western Wall Crisis That Violates Court Ruling, Conservative Movement Set To Accept Separate And Unequal Prayer Space

"We call upon Tzipi Livni Minister of Justice to reject this plan, to demand equal rights for women to pray at the women’s section of the Western Wall. Women of the Wall is calling for a 24 hour sit-in at the Western Wall in the hopes that the government will reject this plan and support the District Court Decision in which all women can pray freely at the Western Wall."

Report: Orthodox Met Council On Jewish Poverty CEO Illegally Raised Money For Politicians; Met Council Could Lose Tax Exempt Status

Disgraced former Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty CEO William Rapfogel allegedly stole millions from the Met Council in a conspiracy with the Breslov hasid-run Century Coverage insurance agency. The scheme, which along with Rapfogel is currently being investigated by New York's attorney general and other law enforcement and regulatory agencies, allegedly involved Century Coverage overcharging the Met Council for insurance and then kicking back a portion of those overcharges to Rapfogel, both as cash and as campaign contributions to Rapfogel's chosen candidates. Now proof of those illegal campaign contributions has been found.

Yeshiva University Withheld Information On Alleged Child Sex Abuse From Insurer; Settlements May Not Be Covered

YU allegedly did not tell AIG about alleged child sexual abuse at its affiliated Manhattan all-boys high school as YU became aware of it. In fact, YU allegedly continued to hide this alleged abuse from AIG even after the bombshell $380 million lawsuit was filed against it by alleged abuse victims earlier this year – and settlements with some (or even all) of the alleged victims may not be covered by AIG as a result.

How Chabad Allegedly Corrupted Brooklyn D.A. Charles J. Hynes

Former New York Governor David Paterson allegedly told an anti-child-sex-abuse activist that New York State's former Inspector General Joseph Fisch "corrupted" Brooklyn D.A. Charles J. Hynes years ago by convincing Hynes that it is wrong to put Orthodox and haredi Jews in prison.

Another Arrest In Chabad Child Sex Abuse Scandal

A former part-time and substitute teacher at Chabad's Yeshivah Centre in Melbourne, Australia who also was a Chabad youth leader, was arrested on child sex abuse charges Friday.

Modern Orthodox Leader Calls For OU, Bnei Akiva To Crack Down On Abuse

The fact that communal leaders in these two cases are protecting and enabling abusers, or condemning legitimate accusers, underscores that our community still has a long way to go. And given the high stakes of life and death and mental health of our children, we can’t afford to wait.  Things will only change if our community loudly and articulately demands it.

Haredim Upset Their Schools Will Have To Teach Math, Whine About Government's "Agenda"

The government wants haredi students to study math, English, computers, basic science, and the rest of the country's core curriculum. Haredi rabbis, of course, will have none of it.

Don't Steal Or Cheat, Hasidic Rebbe Who Enabled Pedophile Says

The Vizhnitzer Rebbe spoke to hasidim this week and told them that, despite the worsening financial situation for many haredi Jews, there is no heter (legal permission) to cut legal or ethical corners, or to steal. But he still has not condemned child sexual abuse and rape.

Haredi-Controlled Jerusalem Rabbinate Issues New Type Of Kosher Certification

“It's all a matter of supply and demand. We examine what people need and want, and sanction it. Many people want mehadrin kashrut, and they trust mehadrin meat even if its production wasn't supervised in Jerusalem. We're willing to supply this need. It's not really up to us, we only sense what the public wants, and allow the public a chance to chose. I don't see anything divisive about it. Someone might wish to buy more expensive diapers. This is the same thing, we only supply the variety.…Believe me, the regular kashrut is also a good kashrut. Anyone can come in and eat."

Illegal Haredi Yeshiva Construction Continues In Ramapo, Despite Stop Work Order

Two weeks ago, a stop work order was reportedly issued for a house renovation on Slinn Avenue after neighbors complained that renovation was really meant to illegally convert the home to a haredi girls school. But construction continued unabated, and the Town of Ramapo has done little to stop it.

Son, Grandson Of Breslov Leader Still Jailed In Money Laundering Probe

Four prominent Breslov Shuvu Banim leaders – including the son and grandson of Shuvu Banim’s head, Rabbi Eliezer Berland – who were arrested last week for alleged money laundering, tax fraud and related crimes had their remands extended for five more days yesterday, and a fifth was released to house arrest.

D.A. Allegedly To Offer Sweetheart Plea Deal To Hasid Who Threw Bleach In Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg's Face

I've been told that Meilich Schnitzler, the Satmar man who allegedly threw bleach in the face of anti-child-sex-abuse activist Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg last year, will get a sweetheart plea deal from Brooklyn D.A. Charles J. Hynes in exchange for Satmar bloc votes.

Out Of Prison For Less Than A Week, Haredi Felon Wendy Runge Is Again Intimating Anti-Semitism Was Behind Her Legal Troubles

Wendy Runge, who pleaded guilty to defrauding the State of Iowa's film support program, was released from prison last week after her sentence was reconsidered. But Runge, whose insincerity and her false claims of anti-Semitism on the part of prosecutors and judges got her a 10-year sentence instead of probation, is doing it again, intimating in Ami Magazine that anti-Semitism was behind her long prison sentence.

Video: Thousands Of Flyers Calling For Beit Shemesh Harassment Littered All Over Monsey And Ramapo

Flyers calling for haredim to harass and terrorize rabbis and supporters of a  construction project in the Jerusalem bedroom suburb of Beit Shemesh were littered all over Monsey and Ramapo earlier this week.