FailedMessiah.com

Rubashkin Fundraising Video Features Accused Pedophile

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Tewel (Tevel), arrested this week in Beverly Hills and awaiting extradition to Brooklyn to face charges of sexually abusing a teenage boy, is prominently featured in this fundraising video for convicted felon Sholom Rubashkin, the former Agriprocessors VP who was convicted of bank fraud, money laundering and related charges in 2009 and is serving a 27-year federal prison term.

Tape Allegedly Records Notorious Haredi Pedophile Rabbi Baruch Lebovits Admitting Guilt

A secretly recorded audiotape made under the supervision of NYPD Detective Steve Litwin in September 2008 recorded a conversation between the notorious alleged haredi pedophile Rabbi Baruch Lebovits and one of his alleged victims. On this tape Lebovits appears to admit his guilt.

Youth Center Linked To Chabad To Hold Prayer Gathering In Support Of Accused Pedophile

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Tevel (Tewel) is accused of sexually abusing several young teen boys. He was arrested earlier this week at the JEM youth center in Beverly Hills, California with regard to one of those cases and is expected to be extradited to Brooklyn. Tevel's alleged abuse is said to have taken place in Crwon Heights. JEM is run by Chabad rabbis led by Tevel's father-in-law, and caters to Iranian Jewish teens. It is holding a prayer gathering tonight in support of Tevel – who they claim has been falsely accused.

Which Kosher Supervisors Supervise Soglowek?

Which kosher supervision agencies supervise Soglowek – the Israeli deli producer whose slaughterhouse's obscene violations of animal welfare law were exposed on national television in Israel earlier this week and shocked the country? Here's a list:

Haredi, Zionist Orthodox Rabbis Oppose HPV Vaccine Over Modesty Fears

“There’s certainly no place for such a vaccination in a religious school, since it rests on the fundamental assumption that the girls are steeped in the sins of Western culture, in which girls give their bodies to men and don’t wait until the wedding…[it is wrong to make these girls go through the unpleasantness of being told about] “sleeping with many men, [just] for the sake of that small percentage of girls who, heaven forbid, are liable to stumble by giving away their bodies.”

Family Of Chabad Abuse Victim Relocates To Avoid Harassment From Chabad Community

"I am bitterly disappointed to share that due to the ongoing harassment, intimidation and discrimination from leaders and members of the Yeshivah Centre, which has effectively led to my parents’ excommunication from their community of almost 30 years (carried out by Yeshivah leaders and most of its members), my parents (Zephaniah and Chaya Waks) have made the difficult decision to sell their family home and relocate.…"

In 180 Degree Shift, Haredi NYC Councilman Greenfield Endorses Ken Thompson For Brooklyn D.A.

Greenfield – who reportedly kept Thompson waiting for almost 90 minutes – had previously claimed that Thompson would "target Jews" and is widely thought to be one the key architects of incumbent Brooklyn D.A. Charles J. Hynes' race-baiting strategy.

Breslov Families Move To Morocco To Be With Fugitive Leader

At least 10 Breslov hasidim and their families have reportedly moved from Israel to Morocco to be with their leader, Rabbi Eliezer Berland, who fled arrest and indictment in Israel for sex crimes and is now living in the West African Arab country.

Video: Animal Abuse At One Of Israel's Largest Kosher Slaughterhouses

Video footage shows horrible abuse of poultry including injured birds that have clearly lost their kosher status sent to slaughter. The general animal handling is horrifically bad and clearly violates Israeli law and international agreements Israel has signed. And like at Agriprocessors in Postville, Iowa, the haredi rabbis at Soglowek did nothing to stop it.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Tevel Arrest Record

The accused child molester (whose last name is lso spelled "Tewel") is being held without bail in Los Angeles pending extradition to Brooklyn, New York. Tevel worked at a Beverly Hills center for Iranian Jewish teens run by Chabad rabbis. His alleged abuse in New York State happened while he was living in Crown Heights.

Animal Abuse At Soglowek Kosher Slaughterhouse Could Have Made Chickens And Turkeys Treife, Chief Rabbi Says

When footage shot by Channel 10’s Kolbotek News Magazine investigator Ronen Bar at a Solgowek slaughterhouse aired Tuesday night, it caused an uproar in Israel. That Kolbotek report showed chickens and turkeys being mistreated so seriously that that their presumptive status as kosher to eat has been called into question by many – including one of Israel's two haredi chief rabbis.

Appellate Court Rejects Suit Filed on Behalf Of Satmar Village, Satmar Developer

Earlier today, a New York State appellate court panel rejected a lawsuit brought by the town board of Monroe, New York on behalf of a hasidic developer and the Satmar Village of Kiryas Joel. The suit sought to transfer 14 acres of Woodbury, New York to Monroe. Doing so would have allowed significantly higher population density for the land which its owner, developer Ziggy Brach, wants to develop as housing for Kiryas Joel’s Satmar residents.

Haredi Rabbis Come Out Against Casinos

Despite heavy Satmar lobbying against open opposition to proposed casinos in the Catskills, a group of haredi rabbis – including one Satmar rabbinic judge – have issued a public call to vote against them.

Jerusalem Public Library In Haredi Neighborhood Illegally Bars Women, Report Finds

A public library in Jerusalem has reportedly barred women from using its services. This illegal exclusion of women was documented in a report issued earlier today by Jerusalem’s City Comptroller Malka Dror and is taking place in part because the library building was divided in two. One half was turned into a haredi synagogue that does not permit entry to women, effectively making the entire building – even what is left of the library – a male only domain.

New Horrific Animal Abuse At Rubashkin-Linked Israeli Kosher Slaughterhouse Shocks Israel

Israel has yet another horrific kosher slaughter scandal, this one involving Soglowek – the company that once considered buying Agriprocessors. Birds are kept in rusted, bent and damaged cages causing many to trap wings, legs and even heads in the cages' bars, where they sit trapped, bleeding and suffering for hours. Birds are also dumped out of these cages from a high elevation causing further trauma to the birds – which appear to have been sold as kosher.

Government Funding For Foreign Haredi Yeshiva Students Restored – If They Study Zionism As Well As Torah

Government funding for foreign haredi yeshiva students who come to Israel to study Torah in haredi yeshivas is being reinstated, but with one very significant restriction – these foreign haredi yeshiva students will have to take lessons in Zionism.

MURDER? Haredi Yeshiva Students Savagely Beat, Stab Arab Suspected Burglar, Arrests Allegedly Made, 6 Students Allegedly Charged With 2nd Degree Murder

An Arab allegedly broke into a dorm of a haredi yeshiva in Jerusalem late Monday night/early Tuesday morning. American-born haredi yeshiva students allegedly chased down the man, detained him, savagely beat him, pursued him when he tried to flee, beat him again and – at least according to one account – murdered him.

Women Of The Wall Dissidents Tell Government They Will Not Leave The Kotel

Twenty members of Women of the Wall, many of them longtime members, some among the group's small band of founders, tell the Israeli government that they reject Anat Hoffman's decision – ratified by an 8 to 2 vote by the group's current board (which is largely created in Hoffman's image) after significant arm twisting by Hoffman – to walk away from the Kotel (Western Wall) proper in exchange for partial control over the new egalitarian prayer area at Robinson's Arch. Among the letter's signatories is Hallel Silverman, comedienne Sarah Silverman's niece.

Video: Rebbe Of Tosh Makes A Blessing

The Tosher Rebbe makes a bracha (blessing) and in doing so transgresses normative halakha (Jewish law).

Alleged Chabad Molester Arrested In Beverly Hills

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Tevel (Tewel) was reportedly arrested today at the JEM Center in Beverly Hills. Tevel will be extradited to New York City where he will stand trial for allegedly sexually abusing children in the Chabad community of Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

Haredi Male Employment Takes Sharp Downturn Despite Previous Government’s Efforts To Artificially Inflate Numbers

The previous government's attempt to cook the books to make haredim look more productive than they are has failed.

Right-Leaning RCA Rabbis Issue Deceptive Statement Against Modern Orthodox Leader

"All of us are members in good standing or identify with the Rabbinical Council of America, an organization associated with the Orthodox mainstream. We are devoted to bringing people closer to tradition through authentic Torah teaching and practice…"

Government Threatens To Defund Haredi Yeshivas That Harass Students Over Votes

Israel’s Minister of Education Rabbi Shai Piron told haredi yeshivas that the ministry he controls will cancel all funding for haredi yeshivas that continue to harass students based on their votes in Israel’s municipal elections.

Cuomo Allegedly Threatens Satmar Over Casino Opposition

A well-placed source in the Satmar community told FailedMessiah.com earlier today that a confidant of New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo phoned Rabbi Moshe David Niederman of the Satmar-dominated United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg last Thursday to threaten him over Satmar's opposition to allowing upstate casinos.

Metropolitan Council On Jewish Poverty Paid Alleged Embezzler’s Children’s Private Orthodox Day School Tuition

Not only did alleged Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty embezzler William E. Rapfogel draw a nearly $500,000 per year salary from the anti-poverty nonprofit, his employment contract had at least one unusual perk – free education for Rapfogel's children.

Israel To Jail Unlicensed Rabbis Who Perform Weddings

In a blow to haredi rabbis, according to the new law, rabbis need a special license to conduct weddings. The license will be granted only after special training. Any rabbi who conducts a wedding without a license to do so will be subject to penalties, including a two year jail sentence.

Gerrer Hasidim Ban Soy Foods Due To Gay Sex, Child Sex Abuse Fears

Gur (sometimes spelled Ger or Gerrer) hasidim have found a new sex-related ban to add to their long list of similar restrictions – a ban on soy foods.

Shattered: Knesset Passes “Tzohar Law” Breaking Haredi Near-Monopoly Over Marriage

Israel’s parliament the Knesset reportedly voted Monday night in favor of a bill that destroys the haredi near-monopoly over marriage. It easily passed by wide margins on both its second and third readings. The bill’s only opposition reportedly came from haredi Members of Knesset.

Belgian Court Rules Against Haredim, Haredi Schools Must Teach Secular Core Subjects – Haredim May Flee Country

A Belgian court has reportedly rejected an appeal by haredim against a Belgian government ruling mandating haredi schools to teach the country's secular core subjects.

Mainstream Haredi Rabbinic Leaders Demand Errant Followers Sign Loyalty Oath – Or Else

Mainstream haredi leaders led by Ashkenazi haredi leader Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman (pictured at right) and #2 mainstream Ashkenazi haredi Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky are demanding that yeshiva students and rabbis who voted for the haredi rebel faction led by Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach sign an apology and loyaty oath that apologizies for voting against Shteinman's party, Degel HaTorah (the Ashkenazi non-hasidic half of the United Torah Judaism Party) and promises never to cross Shteinman and other mainstream haredi rabbis again. Those who refuse to sign the document (posted below) will be expelled from their yeshivas and kollels immediately.

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky: Throw All Students Who Voted For Haredi Rebel Faction Out Of Yeshivas Immediately

Mainstream Ashkenazi haredi number two leader Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky has demanded that haredi yeshiva students who voted against candidates endorsed by senior mainstream Ashkenazi haredi leader Rabbi Aaron Leib Shteinman in last week's local Israeli elections should be expelled from all haredi yeshivas.

Hynes Call Hikind A "Schmuck" As His Desperate Campaign For Reelection Gets Little Traction

A desperate Charles J. Hynes denies responsibility for his own campaign's racist Yiddish language ads as he takes potshots at his opponent, Ken Thompson – and at Thompson's backers.

Women Of The Wall To Read Torah At Kotel Next Monday, Give Government List Of Demands

Gone from WoW’s list of demands is specific language calling for the removal of the Mughrabi Bridge and specific language calling for WoW to have any specific number of representatives on the committee administering the new egalitarian prayer area. Also gone is the demand that Anat Hoffman be one of those women.

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Prime Minister Receive Rightist Death Threats

"I pray that one of the Hilltop Youth murders you or Netanyahu. You are a group of miserable people. I pray that someone murders you. Traitor. A servant of the enemy."

Brooklyn Pols Join Together To Oppose D.A.'s Race Baiting

U.S. Congresspersons Jerrold Nadler, Hakeem Jeffries and Yvette Clarke joined with New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind and Satmar community leader Gary Schlesinger yesterday to denounce race-baiting Yiddish published by incumbent D.A. Charles J. Hynes’ campaign.

Hynes Yiddish Ads Falsely Claim Satmar Endorsement, Label Nuchem Rosenberg, Anti-Abuse Activists, "Mosrim" – Informers

The ad attempts to show that the media and anti-child-sex-abuse activist Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg  – "Jewish informers" – are on Ken Thompson's side, while incumbent D.A. Charles J. Hynes has all the major hasidic rebbes, including both Satmar Rebbes and the Munkatcher Rebbe, on his side. But neither Satmar Rebbe has actually endorsed Hynes. In fact, both endorsed Ken Thompson.

In Historic First, Woman And Ethiopian Jew Both Win Spots On Small Holy City’s Council – Over Haredi Objections

The northern city of Sefat is one of Judaism’s four holy cities – at least according to 16th century Kabbalists – and 55-year-old Viki Elkabetz’s campaign angered its large and growing haredi community. Yet Elkabetz – who headed her own party – was elected last week despite that anger, along with her list’s number two – Ethiopian Jew Arik Mangiste.

New Water Meters Turn Off On Shabbat To Accommodate Haredim

Smart metering, the ability to monitor water usage 24/7, finally arrived in the haredi city of Bnei Brak after new high tech water meters made to shut down on Shabbat and run only 24/6 were approved by leading haredi rabbis.

6,000 Israeli Families Reportedly Participate In Unity Shabbat

More than six thousand families from across Israel reportedly participated in Shabbat meals this weekend hosted by Orthodox families. The attendees were not Orthodox or were ba’al teshuvas (BTs; newly Orthodox). Beit Hillel, a Zionist Orthodox rabbinical association, sponsored the event in an attempt to create a bridge between Orthodox and secular Israelis.

New Bill Liberalizing Rabbinate On Marriages And Divorces Expected To Pass Knesset Tomorrow – Despite Haredi Opposition

A new bill authorizing the opening of 88 new offices for the registration of marriages and divorces is expected to pass its second and third reading tomorrow, "revolutionizing" the delivery of religious services in Israel – and haredim strongly oppose it.

Anti-David-Greenfield Yiddish Booklet Distributed Throughout Borough Park

A Yiddish language booklet attacking haredi New York City Councilman David Greenfield for his alleged "treason" of the haredi community and for many other alleged transgressions was distributed throughout Borough Park this weekend. Greefield allegedly had staffers and volumteers out collecting the pamphlettes from synagogues and other locations. They then dumped them in the trash.

Ramapo Cops Refuse To Arrest Alleged Haredi Molester

Ramapo cops refuse to arrest a haredi man who allegedly molested a child on a Monsey Trails bus, allegedly because the alleged molestation took place across the New Jersey state line.

Private Emails Reveal More Race Baiting By Desperate D.A.

Private emails between convicted (but repentant) felon and former judge Sol Wachtler and his friend, incumbent Brooklyn D.A. Charles J. Hynes, show Wachtler using the word "schwarze" – a negative Yiddish term for black people – and Hynes  making no objection to that racist term's use.

Racist Anti-Obama Emails Allegedly Circulated By Chabad Followers From Crown Heights

"…He'll mess up our streets from Nostrand to Troy But what do expect from a goy We will be stranded by the dozens He wouldn't do this to his Muslims But remember halacha And say a brocha When you see him, to bless a king But me, boruch dyan emes [blessed is the True Judge, the blessing said when someone – in this case, the implication is President Obama – dies or is killed], I'd rather sing…"

Chabad Hasidim To Stage Pro-Rubashkin Protest For Obama Visit

Chabad hasidim are planning on staging a protest in support of convicted felon Sholom Rubashkin during President Barack Obama's visit to Crown Heights today. Rubashkin was convicted of bank fraud and other related federal charges, including money laundering, and is serving a 27-year prison term. All his normal appeals along with a bid to have the US Supreme Court hear his case, have already failed.

3 Chabad Leaders Invited To Obama Crown Heights Speech Today

Rabbi Shea Hecht, Rabbi Chanina Sperlin and Mrs. Devorah Halberstam received official invitations from the White House on Wednesday to join the President in the public school on Albany Avenue.

Brooklyn D.A. Publishes Racist Anti-Thompson Ad

The ad says Thompson only won because his supporters are "the minority element that seeks lawlessness" and is published in at least one Yiddish-language Satmar-hasid-owned newspaper.

Thousands Demonstrate Against Widespread Haredi Voter Fraud

Thousands of secular and Zionist Orthodox residents of Beit Shemesh took to the streets last night to protest the widespread voter fraud they justifiably believe illegally gave Tuesday’s election to Moshe Abutbol, the hated incumbent mayor from the Sefardi haredi Shas Party.

Exclusive: Conflict Of Interest – DA's Fundraiser Led By Defense Attorney For, Leading Supporters Of, Notorious Accused Molester

In most jurisdictions in the country, this would be seen as an unacceptable conflict of interest. In the Brooklyn of Charles J. Hynes, it is business as usual.

Leading Zionist Orthodox Rabbi Shlomo Aviner Supports Convicted Sex Offender Rabbi Mordechai Elon

Leading Zionist Orthodox Rabbi Shlomo Aviner says Rabbi Mordechai Elon was wrongly convicted of sexually abusing an underage male student because it was a he said, he said situation. There was no real evidence, Aviner claims – even though the Modern Orthodox Takana Forum, which deals with Modern Orthodox clergy abuse, reportedly found several cases of abuse Elon was allegedly part of, including at least one that was far worse than the case Elon was prosecuted for.