FailedMessiah.com

Top Haredi Rabbi Calls For Shopping Centers Boycott Over Shabbat Violations

Moshe Sternbuch, the #2 rabbi in the vehemently anti-Zionist haredi umbrella organization Edah Haredit, has called for a boycott of the Big shopping center chain.

Zionist Orthodox Girls School Bans Grammar School Students From Public Library

Even though the school gets state funding, Israel’s Education Ministry said it had no problem with the ban because it comported with school rules signed by all parents and students.

Another Haredi Synagogue Bans Owners Of "Non-Kosher" Cellphones From Prayer Roles

While a small number of haredi rabbis object to these types of bans, the majority of haredi rabbinic leadership has backed ever-increasing restrictions and bans on use of technology like smartphones, because those technologies allow haredim to access forbidden information, from pornography and wife swapping groups on one hand to basic science information that contradicts fundamentalist understandings of the Torah and information about crimes and misbehavior of haredi rabbis and community leaders on the other.

Equality and Human Rights Commission Says Belz Women Driving Ban Is Illegal

Britain’s Equality and Human Rights Commission has now told the Belz hasidic sect that its ban on women driving and its threat to expel from the sect's schools all the children of mothers who violate it is illegal.

Belz Hasidim Allegedly Retract Women's Driving Ban, But Likely Really Didn't

“The school believes that women have a choice about whether they want to drive or not, and our policy is to accept all children who are members of our community, which we have been doing for the last 40 years.”

Belz School That Bans Women From Driving Applies For Government Funding

One of the Belz hasidic schools in London which banned women from driving and threatened to expel the children of women who violated the ban from all Bez schools recently applied for “voluntary aided” status from the government – meaning shortly before issuing the ban it asked to become state-funded.

Hasidic Group Apologizes For Women Driving Ban’s Language But Says Ban Justified

Belz is “proud of what we stand for and we do not feel the need to excuse ourselves for our deeply held beliefs [i.e., the ban] and staunchly maintained way of life. It has withstood the test of time and is not prone to the vagaries of passing fads. We fully accept that despite being private schools we have responsibilities to our members and to the wider public. However, as private schools we have the freedom to set our own high standards by which we seek to live and bring up our children.”

UK Equality and Human Rights Commission Says Rabbinic Punishment For Violating Belz Women’s Driving Ban “Unlawful”

The UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission says it is “unlawful” for haredi schools to expel students if their mothers defy rabbinic bans and drive them to school.

Sadigura Rebbe To Hasidim: Immediately Stop Using WhatsApp And Other Social Media

The Sadigura Rebbe lashed out at WhatsApp and other social media, saying what the apps are used for is nothing more “gossip and wasting time that should otherwise be used for Torah study.”

London Haredi Girls School Forces Parents To Prove They Follow Strictist Haredi Code Of Ethos

"…A copy of the Chareidi  Ethos is attached to this form .   Confirmation of Chareidi Status will only be endorsed when the Ethos is signed by Parent / Guardian and countersigned by the Rabbinate of The  Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.…Charedi homes do not have TV or other inappropriate media, and parents will ensure that their children will not have access to the Internet and any other media which do not meet the stringent moral criteria of the Charedi community. Families- mothers and girls, will  dress at all times in accordance with the strictest standards of Tznius (modesty) as laid down by the Rabbinate of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations..…"

Krasna Yeshiva Bans Stylish Modern Eyeglasses

The Krasna Yeshiva bans stylish modern eyeglasses – like, for example, the hipster favorites, Woody Allen-inspired, kind at right – joining bans on similar eyeglasses by Satmar, Skvere, Pupa and other hasidic groups.

British Government Lashes Out At Hasidic Sect’s Ban On Women Driving, Could Defund Sect Schools

"This is completely unacceptable in modern Britain. If schools do not actively promote the principle of respect for other people they are breaching the independent school standards. Where we are made aware of such breaches we will investigate and take any necessary action to address the situation."

The Battle For God: The Rise Of Modern Fundamentalism

Essentially all modern religions have a small subset of fundamentalists, and Karen Armstrong argues that these all come about as a reaction against the rapid modernization of the modern world, and the many crises inherent in that modernization. An even smaller subset of these fundamentalists can be characterized as extremists, given to violence in their battle against the secularizing world. Armstrong argues that these movements are not a clash of civilizations, but instead intra-societal disputes. She also argues that attempts to suppress fundamentalism simply make it more extreme.

More News On The Belz Hasidic Women's Driving Ban

The ban on women driving and the threat to expel all children of mothers who violate it from Belz hasidic schools in London, England published here last week became big news in England today, with British media comparing the hasidic sect to Saudi Arabia.

Ami, Mishpacha and Binah Magazines Banned By Williamsburg Hasidic Rabbis

A new purported ban on Ami, Mishpacha and Binah magazines signed by many leading hasidic rabbis in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Vizhnitzer Rebbe: WhatsApp Destroys Families, Should Never be Used

“The family is destroyed not just because of an iPhone but due to the use of these programs, WhatsApp and Telegram,” the Vizhnitzer Rebbe reportedly said as he told his hasidim not to use them ever again.

Where's Miri? Shas Party Newspaper Removes All Female Cabinet Ministers From Official Government Photo

Actually, a newspaper affiliated with the Sefardi haredi Shas Party, photoshopped an offical photo of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's entire new cabinet to entirely remove its three female members – including the new  minister in charge of gender equality.

Belz Hasidic Leadership In London Reiterates Ban On Women Driving, Threatens To Expel Children From Belz Schools If Their Mothers Drive

In a letter sent to parents yesterday, Belz rabbinic leadership in London, England reiterated its previous ban on Belz women driving cars and added an ominous warning to hasidim – we'll expel your children from our schools if you don't follow our ban.

London Haredi School Issues New Regulations Regarding Internet Use, Technology

The haredi Yesodey HaTorah school in the Stamford Hill neighborhood of London has issued new rules for its students regarding technology and the Internet.

Haredi Help Wanted: Internet Mashgiach

A man seeks fellow haredim to say Psalms and learn Torah out loud next to him as he uses the Internet for his business.

A Statement by Masorti/Conservative Jewish Leaders To the Cancellation of Bar and Bat Mitzvah Ceremony For Children with Disabilities in Rehovot, Israel

"To slam a door on a Jewish teen at the moment they are about to enter the fellowship of the Jewish People is terrible; to do so to a young person with disabilities is unforgivable. The insult to the dignity of these teens and their parents is egregious. Together with all those who believe that a tolerant and diverse Israeli society is the key to its survival, we are shocked and dismayed by this decision. The Masorti movement has helped to create strong Israelis who are unfettered by the handicaps and challenges they face. Mayor Malul should be ashamed of himself."

Satmar Yeshiva Bans 2-Wheel Bikes

United Talmudical Academy "Torah V'Yirah" bans 2-wheel bikes.

Belz Bans WhatsApp

The Belz hasidic sect in Israel has banned the popular WhatsApp mobile messaging app.

Jewish Leaders Want NY State To Ban MMA Over Gulf State's Partial Ownership

A group of Jewish leaders wrote a letter addressed to “friends of the Jewish community.” The letter will be sent to New York State lawmakers and will be published as an ad in Jewish publications. The letter notes that the government of Abu Dhabi owns a 10% of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the premier promotion in mixed martial arts today. Abu Dhabi is anti-Semitic and anti-Israel, the letter claims, and argues that because of that, mixed martial arts should not be legalized in New York State.

Satmar Yeshiva Bans Short Sleeve Shirts For All Boys Grade 3 And Older

A Satmar yeshiva has banned boys beginning in Grade 3 from wearing short sleeve shirts.

"Immodest" Lane Bryant Subway Ads Scheduled To Run For 3 Weeks, MTA Says, Rejecting Haredi Call For A Ban

Haredi New York City Councilman David Greenfield asked the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to remove Lane Bryant’s seminal #ImNoAngel ads from subway lines (the F train) that in part travel through the haredi neighborhoods of Borough Park and Midwood. The MTA has rejected Greenfield's request.

Haredim Want NYC Subways To Censor Lane Bryant Ad Meant To Empower Women

Haredi New York City Councilman David Greenfield has reportedly asked the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to remove Lane Bryant’s seminal #ImNoAngel ads from subway lines that travel through the haredi neighborhoods of Borough Park and Midwood.

Israeli City Bars Jews With Hametz From Entering Public Park

A Tel Aviv family tried to enter a public park in the nearby city of Afula on Saturday, the first day of Passover. A city-funded security guard checked their bags for weapons and explosives, as is common in Israel – but also checked for hametz, leavened food that halakha (Orthodox Jewish law) forbids on Passover, and refused to let them in when food that was not kosher for Passover was found.

Haredi Father Of 7 Kids Killed In Horrific Brooklyn House Fire Says The Lesson To Be Learned From The Fire – Which Was Caused By A Shabbat Hotplate – Is…Jews Should Not Use The Internet Or Cellphones

"…Our generation is tested with many types of trials, but the greatest of which, as declared by our great leaders to be the greatest trial that ever existed since the beginning of time, the trial of technology and the internet. With awesome hidden and veiled heavenly hand, the internet is burning and destroying the souls of many Jews while keeping their bodies intact. When our heavenly father returns us to our home and redeems us, how great will be the pain of the heavenly presence be, over the souls lost for all eternity, due to the internet, heaven forbid.…"

Haredi Modesty Squad Mashgiach Bans Ad Showing 2-Year-Old Girl’s Clothed Ankles And Feet

Two local haredi newspapers in the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh refused to publish an ad for a stocking shop that showed the shod feet and clothed ankles and shins of a two-year-old girl.

Israel Medical Association Billboard Banned In Jerusalem Because Of Haredi Objections To Photo – Of Elderly Woman

The Deal Tov billboard company refused to publish the billboards, which included a photo of an elderly women, reportedly telling the IMA that the Jerusalem Municipality bans the publication of women's pictures on billboards and posters in “a haredi area" – in this case, an area full of government offices located less than a mile from the Knesset.

Lipa Schmeltzer Explains Why He Decided To Get Married – And Why He Later Decided To Go To College Without Permission From His Rabbis

“When it was time to get married, it was an arranged marriage, took twenty minutes to meet my wife,” he explained. “I had no idea what marriage was all about. All I wanted was a car, and you couldn’t drive if you weren’t married. And I wanted to have a shtreimel,” the round fur hat Hasidic men wear on Sabbath and holidays, also the purview of married men.

Haredi Matzoh Bakery Threatens To Fire, Fine Any Workers Who Have Smartphones

Get caught with a "non-kosher" smartphone or cellphone and your job baking high-end Passover matzoh may be over.

Israeli Chief Rabbi Proudly Destroys Smartphone Of Unwilling Yeshiva Student

Israel’s Sefardi haredi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef lashed out at smartphones Saturday night and told a story about personally destroying an unwilling yeshiva student’s smartphone.

Internet Mashgiachs Wanted

Haredi classified ad for two Internet mashgiachs - men paid to sit in a person's office to help make sure that person does not use his Internet access for pornography or other forbidden things like blogs.

They Banned The Internet But Now Have An Official Website

Many of Agudath Israel's top rabbis banned the Internet, smartphones and home computers (some allow these but only for very restricted use by adults who have pressing business needs, and only when haredi-rabbi-approved modesty filers are installed). But now for the first time a division of Agudath Israel of America has its own official website.

Haredi Newspaper Censors Female World Leaders From Iconic Paris Unity March Photo

The Israeli haredi daily HaMevasser photoshopped an iconic photo of yesterday's Paris unity march, removing female world leaders from the photograph.

Video: Hasidim Protest Outside Verizon Store In Satmar Hasidic Village

Members of a local modesty squad protest outside a Verizon Wireless store in the upstate New York Satmar hasidic Village of Kiryas Joel. Why? Cellphones destroy children and ruin their Yiddishe neshamas (Jewish souls).

Haredi Publisher Artscroll Censors Bible Commentary Of Leading Medieval Rabbi

Rashbam (Troyes, France c. 1085 CE to c. 1158 CE), Rashi's grandson, was a major Rishon (medieval rabbi). But he wrote some things his Torah commentary that the haredi censors at Artscroll (Mesorah Publications) didn't like. So Artscroll did something unprecedented when it comes to publishing biblical commentary written by Rishonim – it censored it. Artscroll also failed to tell readers it removed any of Rashbam's words, so readers who don't know they're will be completely misled by Artscroll's censorship.

Ashkenazi Haredi Community Allegedly Harasses, Bullies Sefardi Family, Forces Them To Flee City

The Ashkenazi haredi grammar school Talmud Torah Zichron Gavriel in Zichron Yaakov reopened Wednesday – but without the two Sefardi boys who had earlier been denied admission and then, once finally admitted, were harassed and bullied. The absence of the boys prompted the government and the city to renew efforts to permanently force the school to close. The two boys, brothers, were admitted to the school earlier this year, but only after the government intervened.

"iSof" – The Biblical Villain Esav –Equals The iPhone, Haredi Paskvil Says

"iSof" – i.e., Esav or (Esau), the biblical villain who, according to rabbinic texts hated his brother Yitzhak (Isaac) – is equivalent to the (evil) iPhone, haredi poster says.

Haredi Synagogue Hit By Terror Attack Had Cellphone-Blocking Device, Slowing Down Police Response

A reason it took police so long to respond to the attack – 11 minutes, by some accounts – and likely a reason the death toll was as high as it was is because haredi rabbis had installed a device in the synagogue to block cellphone transmissions. And the synagogue did not have an easily accessible public phone.

 

Kiryas Joel Journal Blots Out Faces Of 'Evil' Non-Jewish Cops

The photo was taken at a press conference and the faces and names of these law enforcement officers are publicly known. But the Satmar hasidic Kiryas Joel Journal, Kiryas Joel's Yiddish-language newspaper, blotted out their faces yesterday, apparently so hasidim should not see their 'evil' non-Jewish faces. (There is a halakha, Jewish law, that forbids gazing at the face of an evil man, and some extreme rabbis apply this to all non-Jews.)

 

Hasidic Modesty Squad Warns Hasidim To Stay Inside During The "Dirty" Marathon

A hasidic modesty squad in Williamsburg, Brooklyn warned hasidim to stay inside during the "dirty" New York Marathon this past weekend so they would not see 'impure' 'immodestly dressed' 'dirty' runners.

If You Or Your Son Follow Professional Sports, Your Son Might Be Barred From This Yeshiva

"Do you or your son follow professional sports teams?" If you answer yes, your child may not be admitted to Yeshiva Jesode Hatorah Of Boro Park (Vien yeshiva), located at 1350 50th St, Brooklyn, NY - 11219 - 3501 near 14th Ave.

Main Bobov Hasidic Faction Bans Every Jew Who Has An Internet-Enabled Cellphone From Its "Holy" Sukkah

Any Jew with an Internet-enabled cellphone is banned from entering the  sukkah of the Bobov 48 hasidic sect – even if the phone is turned off. Meanwhile, the rival Bobov faction banned all women from entering its sukkah – just as it did last year.

God Might Kill You Over Your "Impure" Cellphone, Leading Haredi Rabbi Says

Without any doubt, holding an impure cellphone in your hands – behold, this is a great danger [for your soul when] the Day of Judgement [Rosh Hashana comes], #2 Ashkenazi haredi Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky says.

City Of Jerusalem Blots Out Lady Gaga Concert Posters

Billboards promoting tonight’s Lady Gaga concert in Tel Aviv were plastered over last week with large white stickers in Jerusalem after a city councilman from the Sefardi haredi Shas Party, Nati Lasri, complained the billboards were " abominations" and “immodest.”

Orthodox Rabbi Refuses To Reverse Excommunication Of World Famous Philosopher Because Judaism Does Not Recognize Freedom Of Speech

“The moment we rescind the herem, even if we could, it would imply that we share his heretic views…How on earth can we even consider to remove the herem from a person with such preposterous ideas, where he was tearing apart the very fundaments of our religion?"

What Killed Haredi Yeshiva Student Aaron Sofer? Likely That He Did Not Own A Cellphone

What killed Aaron Sofer might have been two things – inadequate preparation to hike though the forest, which is smaller than New York City’s Central Park but more rugged, and the lack of a cellphone.