AJN Watch

AJN report: An all-day service for Sir Zelman...?

2012-02-02T00:03:00.001+11:00

AJN reader writes:
It must've felt a bit like Yom Kippur...

The attendees sure spent a long time in Shul...starting with the morning service and only leaving after the afternoon service.

עבודה זרה and גילוי עריות - AJN embarrasses Lord Sacks

2012-01-22T17:02:00.000+11:00

How dumb are they? The Jewish News couldn't resist illustrating its feature on chief rabbi Sacks other than by showing him chatting with a convicted (and currently jailed) rapist, ex-Israeli president Moshe Katzav and the "avi avos hatumah" the pope!

As someone commented over Friday night dinner, if the AJN had been able to locate a picture of the rabbi with a convicted murderer, they could've had the trifecta - "Avoda Zara, Gilui Atayos and Shefichat Damim"

More on the "meshugaas in our community"

2011-12-22T02:18:00.000+11:00

While we'd like to claim that the following article in the AJN this week was inspired by our 'classic' post 2 years ago, we can't. After all, the AJN has been listing names by popularity for years. However, while we see that the craze of lumbering kids with outlandish and strange (and often embarrassing tags hasn't diminished, it was nice to see a few good old traditional Jewish names (mainly for boys, mind you) on the list.

"Goodbye to a good man"

2011-12-16T02:45:00.000+11:00

We here at AJNWatch have watched with amazement and pride at the accolades, admiration and esteem expressed by virtually all the leaders in Australian politics, academia and the media about former Governor General, Sir Zelman Cowen. We cannot recall such an outpouring of respect, affection and gratitude about any other individual in the past decades.

Despite not exactly living his life as a Shomer Torah u'Mitzvos, the story of his life and his astonishing achievements must be considered to be a huge Kiddush Hashem. To illustrate this, we republish the an article in The Age, written by Michael Shmith, which encapsulates much of the respect and fondness for this extra-ordinary individual.

Sir Zelman lived to a ripe old age and was zocheh to see the majority of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren living a true Torahdig lifestyle. No doubt that while he was אוכל פירותיהם בעולם הזה, their ongoing life בדרך התורה will also merit him הקרן קימת לעולם הבאה.

We unite the rest of the community in offering our condolences to his family. המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

PS: We understand the enormous predicament that his son Rabbi Shimon Cowen found himself in when considering whether he should be cross the threshold and speak in a בית מינים ומינות. No doubt he asked a שאלה from a recognised Posek and acted accordingly.

Goodbye to a good man: nation's big names gather to honour former governor-general

THE AGE Michael Shmith December 14, 2011

Former Australian Prime Ministers: Bob Hawke, John Howard and Malcolm Fraser at the service for Sir Zelman Cowen. Photo: Pat Scala

STATE funerals can often compress great achievements and personal qualities into too small an emotional space to do them justice. Not so yesterday's grand occasion at the Temple Beth Israel synagogue in St Kilda for former governor-general Sir Zelman Cowen, who died last week at 92.
Jewish funerals are, by tradition, as simple and unadorned as the coffin itself - this one being draped with an Australian flag. This did not preclude an opulence of affection and recollection bestowed on Sir Zelman in a service that, while talking of 92 years, stretched back thousands of years in its liturgy and Hebraic harmonies.

All this was exactly what Sir Zelman would have wanted: in fact, as we were told, it was exactly what he had ordered. Everything from the choice of speakers to what music should be played was, as it were, pre-ordained. Thus his beloved Mozart and J.S. Bach and, to see us out, Widor's thunderously pealing Grand Toccata to make sure, as Rabbi Dr John Levi said in his eulogy, ''the job is done''.

Lady Anna Cowen and Rabbi Dr Shimon Cowen leave the service. Photo: Peter Haskin

What was possibly beyond Sir Zelman's control was what people chose to say about him or who would turn up on the day. As it happened, this funeral burst the bounds of statehood. How could it have been otherwise? There were the nation's highest officials, from Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, to a litany of former GGs, former PMs (Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke and John Howard, sitting together, three old men in their yarmulkes). Also there were Premier Ted Baillieu and his predecessors John Brumby and Steve Bracks; and a generous sprinkling of politics past and present - the rich, the cultured, the judicial and the academic.

There were many from abroad. As one speaker remarked, ''The old man has gone, and they had to be here to say goodbye''.

One of Sir Zelman's qualities, said Dr Levi, was ''there was no frontier between the public and the private man''. He drew on another ancient analogy - of the three crowns: of learning, of priesthood, and of royalty. ''But there is also a fourth crown that exceeds them all: the crown of a good man.''

Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Photo: Pat Scala

Steven Skala, one of Sir Zelman's former students and long-time friend, recalled with affection how, almost by osmosis and ''simply by being in his presence'', Sir Zelman transferred his own knowledge and wisdom to younger minds and, in the process, ''helped us to shape ourselves''. A distinctive method, Mr Skala said, and once the matter was sufficiently explained, Sir Zelman would smile, and say: ''So there. You have it.''

Another extraordinary gift, he said, was the ''sudden and imperceptible transition from teacher to friend''. Friendship was very important to Sir Zelman, ''who had an extraordinary range of friends from all walks of life in all parts of the world''.

Federal MP Josh Frydenberg, a protege of Sir Zelman's, spoke warmly of what he called his regular Sundays with Zelman, and the ensuing lengthy discussions on law, music, philosophy or war. ''It was as if a back window was open, and all the great stories of the 20th century came flowing in,'' Mr Frydenberg said.

The two-hour service, as much celebration as commemoration and not without moments of pure Cowenesque comedy, expertly and excellently encapsulated a long and fortunate life that embraced the law and great offices of academia and state, but also an unfailing sense of religion and family - especially, as many of the speakers recalled, Sir Zelman's 66-year marriage to a woman who, as we were reminded, but for her religion would be called Saint Anna.

The Zelman Cowen approach to life was certainly direct and uncomplicated. As his son, Rabbi Dr Shimon Cowen, told the capacity congregation, ''Dad was a doer. I once asked him what was his philosophy of life. He said, 'The next thing, and then the next thing'.'' Dr Cowen, again reaching back through biblical history, compared his father to Abraham: how Sir Zelman also unified human beings by rebuilding and healing, particularly as governor-general. ''He had an immensely confident, exercised mind,'' he said.

On the way out, The Age encountered in quick succession three former PMs. This is what they said of Sir Zelman:

Sir Zelman Cowen.

Bob Hawke: ''When you think of the history, of the three great Jewish figures: Isaac Isaacs, General Monash and Zelman Cowen. All fantastic.''

John Howard: ''I saw a lot of him when I was treasurer and he was governor-general. I tell you what, if a poor innocent junior minister or parliamentarian hadn't done their homework, he'd give them a bit of a flick.'' The Age: ''But not you, Mr Howard?'' JH: ''No, no.''

Malcolm Fraser: ''When I asked him [to be governor-general], he kept saying 'why me?'. I said he was better than anyone else I could think of. It had to be someone who was not a personal friend, who was not involved in politics … who was distinguished, whose name was known and recognised.''

Why is the Temple lagging on "Blessing of the Animals"?

2011-12-12T02:01:00.000+11:00

It really is a bit sloppy of our friends down at the Temple Beth in not yet having introduced a "Blessing the Animals" ceremony. Not doing so, they are forcing fine Jewish families to have their pets blessed in church. Not nice.

After all if it is good enough for the church and their brethren in American Reform temples to offer such services, why not the locals?

Had there been such a "Jewish" option available, our MP David Southwick would've been able to bring his family's menagerie to Alma Road, rather than the church around the corner. And even if the Southwick family animals are not Jewish, the Temple could no doubt have arranged for a quickie conversion at the same time as the Blessing was conducted.

And if their rabbis and rabbiettes require assistance with some meaningful input for the program, here's what one American temple does:

"...Following the blessing, those gathered sang appropriate animal songs, including "Old MacDonald's Farm" in Hebrew, and ate snacks of donuts and animals crackers..."

[link]

(Just wondering, would a quickie conversion also work for a pet pig? We can see some debate amongst the "progressive" sages on that one. After all, the porker is no more chazir treif than a dog.

On the other hand, chazir bleibt chazir.Presumably, once the Blessing of Animals becomes part of the local reform ritual, this important matter will get serious consideration at their semi-annual gatherings.)

[link]

Rabbi Apple - quoting AJNWatch !?

2011-12-09T17:03:00.001+11:00

Interesting to see that Rabbi Raymond Apple's column in this week's AJN, seems to be referring to our recent post about purveyors of porn...

Robert Magid: purveyor of soft porn?

2011-12-06T03:38:00.005+11:00

If anyone thought that the Jewish News couldn't sink lower than the smutty scribbling of their dreckerati recorder Adam Kamien, (read here, here, here and here) they were in for a real shock when replacement - Bob Meiser - made his appearance last week.

The stench from the unadulterated filth in the page 2 "Shmooze" sewer (which should be renamed "Shmootz") was even worse than the usual pong we have been putting up with. Being that the manure being flung at us weekly is"Jewish" - this cr-p qualifies for a place of 'honour' of the newspaper. Yes, Meiser has quickly proven that he is no slouch when filling in for 'Bilaam's donkey'.

However, what, we ask, was editor Zeddy Lawrence thinking? And more so, the publisher, Robert Magid? Have they lost their marbles? Does Magid really want the world to think that he has no values or shame? Are both these men happy to be purveyors of 'snigger-snigger smut' to the community?

We previously posted about the AJN advertising porn on their website. Obviously they continue to wallow in filth.

While many observant Jews don't allow the rag into their homes for such and similar reasons, there are others who do. Why do they (as well as non-religious/secular readers with any sense of decency) accept being offended time and again when reading such muck at their Friday night dinner tables?

We all know that porn sells. And if Magid and Lawrence are into smut-peddling, it's none of our business. But why "Jewish" porn? Go into the bigger and more lucrative general market and take your well- deserved place amongst hard and soft pornographers. Why the hell must you associate your schweinerei with the Jewish community?

Seriously Mr Magid, aren't you embarrassed before your own family and Jewish cronies? And even more so your associates in the business world? You think that they are impressed when learning that your publication dishes out sniggering toilet-block 'humour' on a weekly scale?

One community leader we discussed this with suggested that maybe Magid will come to his senses if and when he realises that the outside world - especially the media - get wind of the kind of material being featured in his plaything.

We forward his suggestion to our readers. Please go ahead and cut, paste and email this post to all journalists, media representatives etc that you have on your email address list. And if you know of any business associates of Magid, let them read this as well.

Additionally everyone should forward this to rabbis, Shuls, and organisations. Remember, if it upsets you (and we know of many such people), it isn't good enough to kvetch and sigh. Do something about it!

Talking of which,why DO rabbis and orthodox Shuls and indeed all respectable organisations - religious or not - suffer in silence whilst pained by these depravities? Can anyone imagine the reaction if a Christian or Muslim publication - religious in nature or not - allowed the kind of cr-p that Adam Kamien and now his understudy slop out regularly? It is the sacred duty of the spiritual and lay-leadership - and more so organisations like the RCV, ORA, COSV, COSA etc to be expressing their concerns about such matters. They have far more influence and power than has this humble blog. We hear that some weeks ago, Robert Magid had a meeting with Sydney rabbis to resolve a number of issues that had been upsetting them. Why didn't they take the opportunity to express their objections to the appalling and offensive standards of sections of the paper?

Can anyone imaginesimilar filth being published in the mainstream media? The Age, SMH, Herald-Sun, Daily Telegraph? Of course not! They would never get away with treating their readers with the contempt and arrogance that we get from the Jewish News. Even the secular London Jewish Chronicle or the New York Jewish Week, would never sink to such lows. It is only here in Australia that we endure below-zero standards of the Jewish weekly.

Maybe it is time to launch a "Hasbara" campaign towards the AJN's major advertisers - Jewish and non-Jewish - suggesting that they refrain from spending their dollars with this rag until it cleans up its act. Once advertisers realise how much the Jewish News is upsetting large sectors of the community, they may decide that their money could be better utilised.

Such campaigns have worked very successfully elsewhere (most recently the Kyle Sandilands affair) and there is no reason why it wouldn't work here.

Shame on you Robert Magid for lowering AJN standards beyond anything that your predecessors achieved.

Rebbe Chairs Inc. - Yiddishe gesheften

2011-11-24T00:07:00.000+11:00

Rebbe's Chair In Every Home

A brief report in "Yediot Jerusalem" reports about the new craze among Chassidim: Purchasing replicas of their Rebbes' chairs ● A distritbutor in Jerusalem teamed up with wood carving professionals in Australia to bring you an exact replica of the Rebbe's chair for $770 ● Full Story

Chabad.info 19 Cheshvan 5772 (16.11.2011)

The new craze in the Chassidic world: Replicas of chairs of the Great Chassidic Rebbes. In the recent months, replicas of various chairs are being sold, some of famous personalities of the past, and some of current Rebbes.

The idea is of Mr. Mordechai Regev, a Breslev Chossid who started by selling replicas of Rabi Nachman's Chair from the original which sits in the Me'ah Shearim. That replica sold for $2000 and many Brelev Chassidim purchased it.

Following his success, Mr. Regev proceeded to create a replica of the chair of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and he plans on selling it to Lubavitchers around the world, and to individual Chabad Chassidim.

The chair he replicated is the one the Rebbe sat on since 5748, and after measuring the exact dimensions he contacted professional sculptors in Australia who will do the wood carving. The chair will be sold for $770.

Rabbi-plumber, anyone?

2011-11-23T01:25:00.000+11:00

We know of Doktor Rabbiners and Rabbi Drs, but "Rabbi chef" is definitely a new one.

Seeing that there are so many people who have received some sort of Semicha but didn't follow it up with a rabbinic post, we won't be surprised to see "Rabbi plumber", "Rabbi-taxi-driver" and "Rabbi-hairdresser".

And does a "Rabbi-chef" get an invitation to join the RCV?

UPDATE: We now find an even odder rabbinical combination: "Rabbi-boxer"!

Word of the week: "Ashkephard"

2011-11-21T01:37:00.000+11:00

Chabad - Betar surprise shidduch!

2011-11-21T01:28:00.001+11:00

Old-timer writes:
I was a bit surprised to read that Central Shul-Chabad will be sharing its new building with the Betar youth group.

I cannot recall other times that Chabad and a Zionist organisation have combined. I realise that Betar is one of the few Zionist groups that is not anti-religion, however to the best of my knowledge Chabad was always officially non-Zionist and even anti-Zionist.

Would the Rebbe have approved? I doubt it, (though I would be relieved to hear that he allowed such partnerships in his lifetime).

Did our Vaad Ruchni give their approval to this? If so, what about inviting Bnei Akiva and even Hashomer Hatzair to open branches in Yeshiva - or at least in the new Chabad Youth building?

A $430,000 Chilul Hashem

2011-11-17T02:17:00.000+11:00

Guest post by Hayitochen:

I was most disappointed to read in last week's Jewish News about Elwood Shul and the Yesodei Hatorah college battling it out in the Supreme Court of Victoria, with the report that the Shul has already spent $430,000 on the case!

Both sides are supposed to be Torah-observant organisations, so how come they didn't do the proper Torah thing and go to a Din Torah?

Whilst I am unsure on who the religious authority currently is for Yesodei, it was established by a group of frum Jews headed by Rabbi D Nojowitz of Beth Hatalmud with the approval of the late Rabbi Chaim Gutnick and offers a Charedi agenda and curriculum. Similarly Elwood Shul, has always been Orthodox and currently lead by Rabbi Mordechai Gutnick, who heads the Melbourne Beth Din and Melbourne Kashrut.

How is it then possible that such groups defy the stern and unambiguous Halacha of not bringing our arguments to the secular courts? Rashi states that this is a Chilul Hashem - which as we know is one of the greatest Aveiros and about which our Sages say that במקום שיש חילול השם אין חולקין כבוד לרב.

And what lesson does the average Halacha-abiding Jew learn from this? If Shuls (in this case one whose rabbi is the acting head of Beth Din!) and religious schools shun Din Torahs why should he be any different?

Additionally, one may ask, is Elwood Shul truly so flush with money? Can they really afford to squander half a million dollars fighting another Jewish institution? And what about Yesodei?How much have they spent on lawyers?

I have no inside knowledge of the case, but from what I read and heard, the case is nowhere near the end. Isn't there anyone in the community who can knock some sense into both sides?

Why aren't Jewish concerns addressed at the Media Inquiry?

2011-11-11T02:00:00.000+11:00

Can someone explain why have organisations and lay-leaders of our community - especially those who regularly criticise sections of the local media for anti-Israel bias and mis/disinformation - not made submissions about this to the current Independent Media Inquiry?

Wouldn't this have been an outstanding opportunity to publicise the frequent anti-Israel slant of the usual suspects, eg, the Canberra Times, the SMH, The Age, SBS and the ABC?

We may have missed it whilst browsing the free on-line edition of the AJN, but we cannot recall any comment or criticism by it about this bungled and missed opportunity.

Where are they all? AIJAC, ECAJ, ZFA, JCCV and all the other acronyms that claim to be representing the interests of Israel and the local Jewish community? Not sure why our fearless MP, Mr Michael Danby isn't there. Maybe being a parliamentarian has something to do with it. But where are all the others? Has there been a massive slip-up? Or what?

(At the same time, members of the Orthodox community and especially the Chabad leadership should have considered raising their concerns on the history of biased and unjust articles published in the Jewish News when reporting on the observant community.)

Isn't it a bit late (or very early) for Kol Nidre?

2011-11-11T01:41:00.000+11:00

The following advertisement appears in the Sydney edition of this week's AJN.

Advertising the Kol Nidre appeal a month after (or 11 month's before) Yom Kippur seems very odd.

Or maybe they aim to show the ignorance of people who didn't get a decent Jewish education.

Seudah Shlishit - following Maariv...

2011-10-28T01:57:00.000+11:00

Seudah Shlishit (presumably that is what was meant by "Sevdah" ) after - a very early - Maariv?

Funny mob those Elwoodians...

"Asher Yatzar" or "Mazal Tov"?

2011-10-27T01:39:00.002+11:00

"...the music department wished 'a very big and hearty mazal tov' to all those involved..."

AJNWatch suggests that at the conclusion of "Urinetown", the bracha of "Asher Yatzar" may have been more appropriate...

Blake Street's inappropriate idea

2011-10-18T14:33:00.002+11:00

"Melbourne Rabbi" writes:

I am extremely disappointed to learn that Blake Street Shul, which labels itself as Orthodox, is co-sponsoring a book festival where the majority of featured speakers are married out. Whilst I am not condemning those persons for their assimilated lifestyle - no doubt influenced by their upbringing which lacked authentic Jewish values and traditions - there is absolutely no justification for an orthodox Shul to feature such speakers.

Why didn't the rabbi and lay leaders of Blake Street consider the influence such well-known - but totally detached from Judaism - personalities may have on young and impressionable members of their community? Aren't they being totally irresponsible and reckless in supporting this project?

There is still time to withdraw and remove their Shul's name from this blunder. For the sake of your kids, Blake Street, do it!

More on Kosher tuna - the OK standard

2011-10-17T01:43:00.000+11:00

An AJNWATCH reader writes:
While I understand the need for the KCA and Kosher Aust to publicise easily available brands of acceptable tunas, for those who seek a higher standard in Kashrut, it may be advantageous if you published the attached article from the OK Kashrut magazine "Kosher Spirit", which gives some background to the tuna Kashrut debate amongst supervising organisations. The article makes it quite obvious that the OK has more stringent requirements in approving tuna than does the OU or Kosher Australia. (I have no idea what standards are held by the NSW KA.)

Thank you for being מזכה את הרבים.

Once, tuna fishing thrived on the Pacific coast of the United States. Pioneered by adventurers straight out of the novels of Herman Melville and "Papa" Hemingway, it blossomed into a major industry, employing thousands and filling countless American lunchboxes.

Then came the dolphins.

Tuna and dolphins, it seems, travel together-the dolphins on the water's surface and the tuna below. Inevitably, the nets used for tuna caught dolphins, as well. Could we allow Flipper such a painful demise? Soon, most tuna production had shifted to the Asian Pacific, and the American tuna industry was no more. Whatever the environmental and quality standards, the world's tuna production was now in the hands of fishing industrialists in Thailand and the Philippines.

Enter the Rabbis.

In Vayikra (Leviticus) 11:9, the Torah says: "This may you eat of all that is in the waters: everything that has fins and scales." The Talmud (Chulin 66b) states that, in fact, every fish with scales has fins, making scales the sole determining sign. But what exactly are kosher fish scales? After all, some reptiles also have scales.

Biologists identify four types of scales, two of which, cycloid and ctenoid, are found on kosher fish, such as tuna.

In the pre-industrial world, fish fresh from the monger were not skinned, and their species could be identified. Even absent the actual signs, as with an immature fish of a type that grows scales late in life, the fish's kosher status would depend on its species. Only fish with the skin removed, and arriving with no clear sign of their species, demanded special measures such as constant supervision or an untouched seal with two separate Hebrew signs, indicating that it had been sent by a person trustworthy in Jewish law.

The Debate:

In 1962, prominent authority Rabbi Yosef Eliyahu Henkin wrote that without supervision from the beginning of production, consumers could not trust a can's assertion that it contained tuna. However, many tuna brands were already certified kosher without such supervision.

In place of constant supervision, the best-known supervising agency arranged intermittent visits to factories abroad to check that production was according to kosher standards. As is the case with other areas of kosher supervision, it was assumed that fear of the supervisor's appearance at any moment would motivate management and workers to prevent non-kosher fish from entering the production line. Despite these less-than-ideal conditions, widespread distribution of the tuna continued.

In the years following, Torah authorities from around the world, both Sefardi and Ashkenazi, in Israel and the Diaspora, joined in demanding constant supervision. In 1977 and 1984, the highly respected Rabbi Moshe Feinstein entered the discussion, outlining the reasons for this exceptional vigilance.

Finding it unfeasible to identify a fish as kosher without overt signs, Rabbi Feinstein insisted that a reliable kosher supervisor examine every fish before skinning. The large volume of industrial fishing, he said, makes it certain that non-kosher fish will be present in the nets. Intermittent visits, even if sufficiently frequent and surprising, would not serve their traditional purpose. At the speeds of a mechanized cannery, workers could expect any non-kosher fish to be gone before anyone would notice.

The function of supervision, Rabbi Feinstein wrote, is not to make life difficult for the producer in order to reduce the percentage of non-kosher fish to an acceptably insignificant level. Supervision, he explained, is testimony; it indicates that a reliable witness has seen production and can testify that the contents are kosher.

While certain agencies (including OK Kosher Certification) followed Rabbi Feinstein's guidelines, in most tuna supervision, upgrades were slow in coming.

In 1988, the controversy bubbled over in rabbinic journals. Arguments for and against constant supervision were passionately presented. Most leading rabbinic authorities favored constant supervision. However, invoking the classic talmudic principle that a tradesman will not jeopardize his reputation, Rabbi Tzvi Schacter asserted that since it is in the fisherman's business interest to deliver albacore tuna, for example, to the factory, he would surely allow only albacore to remain among his catch. And in the name of "quality control," the factory would check again before skinning the fish.

Have we reached a stalemate? Perhaps. Yet, by his own admission, Rabbi Schacter's position rests on the assumption that virtually no non-kosher fish slip through quality control. Kosher supervisors tell another story, and undeniable gaffes in the intervening years, such as octopus and clams in tuna cans, cast doubt on his premise. Much more problematic (as the Talmud cautions and ichthyologists corroborate), appearance and taste do not always reveal the identity of a fish fillet. Without our eyes wide open, we cannot know what we have received.

The market may take care of itself, but does it take care of kashrut? How deep is a producer's commitment to quality control? I once heard the following anecdote: A supervisor arrived late to a Philippine factory for a kosher production run. Discarding the fish processed prior to the supervisor's arrival, the plant manager remarked: "Really, rabbi...would it be so terrible if someone ate a bit of catfish?"

Kosher Australia 'delivers' the Kosher tuna list

2011-10-17T00:53:00.000+11:00

Another message from Sydney reader JW:

Well, well, well. My previous post here has achieved a quick result. The KCA has now forwarded the entire list of approved tunas which was previously banned from further publication by Melbourne's Kosher Australia. Actually it seems from the time and date that their reaction was almost immediate! Good work.

Looks like a bit of public kvetching still works.

Thank you AJN Watch for you assistance by publishing my earlier complaint.

From: KCA_Sydney@yahoogroups.com On Behalf Of Yankel Wajsbort
Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:43 AM
To: Joe.Newman@lpi.nsw.gov.au; efranklin@westpac.com.au; KCA_Sydney@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [KCA Sydney] Full List of Recently Certified Tunas

The following varieties of Coles brand canned tuna, marked ‘Made in/Product of Thailand’ are kosher certified pareve by the Orthodox Union and are acceptable even without the OU symbol:

1.     Smart Buy Tuna Chunks in Brine 425g
2.     Smart Buy Tuna Vegetable Oil 425g
3.     Smart Buy Tuna in Vegetable Oil 185g
4.     Smart Buy Tuna Chunk in Brine 185g
5.     Coles Tuna Sandwich Olive Oil Blend 95g
6.     Coles Tuna Sandwich in Brine 95g
7.     Coles Tuna Chunks in Springwater 185g
8.     Coles Tuna Sandwich in Brine 185g
9.     Coles Tuna Chunks in Brine 185g
10.   Coles Tuna Chunks in Olive Oil Blend 95g
11.   Coles Tuna Sandwich in Olive Oil 185g
12.   Coles Tuna Chunks Olive Oil Blend 185g
13.   Coles Tuna Chunks in Brine 95g
14.   Coles Tuna Chunks in Oil 95g
15.   Coles Tuna in Springwater 95g
16.   Coles Tuna Chunks in Brine 425g
17.   Coles Tuna Chunks in Olive Oil Blend 425g
18.   Coles Tuna Chunks in Springwater 425g
19.   Coles Tuna Pole & Line Chunks in Olive Oil 185g
20.   Coles Tuna Pole & Line Chunk in Brine 185g
21.   Coles Tuna Pole & Line in Springwater 185g

The following varieties of canned John West tuna are Kosher certified pareve when marked ‘product of Thailand’ (Kosher Australia supervision)

1.    John West No Drain Tuna in Brine 130g
2.   John West No Drain Tuna in Olive Oil 130g
3.   John West No Drain Tuna in Springwater 130g
4. John West Tuna 185g in Olive Oil Blend (Chunk Style Tuna)
5.   John West Tuna Chunks in Brine 425g
6.   John West Tuna Chunks in Olive Oil 425g
7.   John West Tuna Chunks in Springwater 425g
8.   John West Tuna in Springwater 185g (Chunk Style Tuna)
9.   John West Tuna Slices in Olive Oil 125g
10. John West Tuna Slices in Springwater 125g
11. John West Tuna Tempter Multipack Olive Oil Blend Flavour 4 x 95g
12. John West Tuna Tempter Multipack Springwater 4 x 95g
13.  John West Tuna Tempter Olive Oil (Chunk Style Tuna) 95g
14. John West Tuna Tempter Springwater (Chunk Style Tuna) 95g
15. John West Tuna Tempter Springwater Light Sandwich Style (Flake Style Tuna) 95g
Yankel Wajsbort
General Manager, Kosher Australia Pty Ltd

Kosher Australia small-mindedness?

2011-10-12T01:55:00.001+11:00

Received from Sydney reader JW:

I am a longstanding subscriber of the Sydney Kashrut group KCA who really do an excellent job in advising and assisting Kosher consumers here.

Today I received the following email from them:

From: KCA_Sydney@yahoogroups.com On Behalf Of KCA_Committee
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 11:39 PM
To: KCA_Sydney@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [KCA Sydney] Coles brand canned tunas

Twenty-one varieties of Coles brand canned tuna marked "Made in/Product of Thailand" are kosher certified pareve by the Orthodox Union. They are acceptable even without the OU symbol.

The list includes four Smart Buy Tunas (in brine and in vegetable oil) and seventeen Coles Tuna cans (in olive oil, brine, springwater, sandwich style, and pole & line chunks).

Kosher Australia (Melbourne) issued the full list to its subscribers prior to Rosh Hashanah. It is important to note that only those varieties actually listed both by name and can size are acceptable.

Kosher Australia also recently issued a list of fifteen John West Tunas which are kosher certified pareve when marked "Product of Thailand".

For information on these products contact Kosher Australia Pty Ltd, email info@kosher.org.au; tel 03-8317 2500.

Note that the list of products certified by Kosher Australia may not be reproduced without permission. (Highlighted by JW)

KCA Committee

That last line really bothers me.

If the aim of Kosher Australia is to promote and grow Kashrut in Australia, shouldn't they rather be encouraging the reproduction of their advices - new approved items and warnings regarding non-Kosher products?

Could this be an attempt by Kosher Australia to force people to subscribe to their Kashrut Directory? Very possible. But why should those of us who live in NSW and receive to the NSWKA directory cough up another $50? (And did Kosher Australia pay OU for giving them the information?)

I also wonder, if there is another Kashrut organisation anywhere that bans publication of its information? As I see it, the most respected ones, eg, OU, OK London BD, CRC, all publicise their findings on the net - for all to see and benefit. And so too does our own Kashrut Authority. In my humble opinion, if Kosher Aust wish to be taken seriously they must work on their image to show that they are not 'moneyhungry'.

I was attracted to Kashrut many years ago when some Chabadniks approached me and explained that they were following the demand by their Rebbe to educate Jews about Kashrut. No doubt many other "non-Kosher" Jews were also influenced by this campaign. Thus I am doubly upset when learning that all the main players in the Melbourne Kosher scene are Chabadniks. Maybe someone should pass on their Rebbe's message to them too.

Jewish News calendar - only 3 years out!

2011-10-04T17:34:00.000+11:00

(Unsurprisingly,) last week's AJN messed up big time in both editions.

The people who brought you "Tzetz Chaim" inform us - via their "Jewish Festivals" calendar insert - that the new Hebrew year was תשס''ט - only 3 years out.

As any child attending a Jewish school could've told them, the correct year is actually תשע''ב.

"Jewish" News indeed!

From the US edition of the Yated: When "Orthodox" is really “Kosher-Style” Reform

2011-09-27T23:22:00.006+10:00

An important article published in the American edition of the Yated Ne'eman newspaper. Many of the points raised are more than relevant to our own "Orthodox" bodies.

When "Orthodox" Is Really “Kosher Style” Reform

By Rabbi Avrohom Birnbaum

There comes a time when one is compelled to take a stance. Our sages tell us, “Bemokom she’ein ish, hishtadel lihiyos ish - In a place where there is no man, try to be a man.” When it comes to addressing the increasingly shrill attacks on Judaism, halacha and mesorah by people who call themselves Orthodox rabbis, and the near deafening silence by organizational Jewry, we are left with no option other than to take a stance. We would have preferred that the stance be taken by publications affiliated with the Orthodox Union, RIETS, the RCA or Young Israel. Unfortunately, that has not been done…yet.

THE PRIMACY OF LANGUAGE

Let us begin by talking about language. Language is important. Very important. If one uses a word or idea and continuously hammers away promoting that word or idea, that language and its associated meaning become mainstream and shape the narrative. A few examples:

Occupation. The Palestinians have used this word ad nauseam to describe the Israeli presence in Yerushalayim and Yehudah v’Shomron, Judea and Samaria. The Israelis are “occupiers” - a terrible connotation. Menachem Begin would say, “We are redeemers, not occupiers.” Nevertheless, the use of the word “occupation” has been so successful that even right-wing Israeli politicians use it today.

Speaking about Yehudah and Shomron, the “West Bank” is another example of how language can transform Yehudah and Shomron, an undisputed piece of Biblical Eretz Yisroel, into just the west bank of the Jordan River.

Then there is the word “terrorist.” For some reason, when it comes to terrorism against Israel, the perpetrators are no longer “terrorists,” but “gunmen” or even “freedom fighters.”

“We can’t be judgmental,” say the New York Times and the mainstream world press, “can we?” Perhaps the Israelis are the terrorists and the Palestinians are “freedom fighters,” they connote. These terms, however, infiltrate, and if they are used enough, they become the mainstream narrative.

“Pro-choice” is another. Pro-choice really means pro-abortion, or pro killing unborn children. “Choice” makes it sound so benign, like the waiter asking if you would like chicken or meat. But that, too, has gone mainstream. Once the media adopts the language of one side, it inevitably becomes the default language, for better or for worse. Today, the term “pro-choice” has been adopted by virtually everyone. It is a term that, at its core, legitimizes the snuffing out of unborn life.

THE HIJACKING OF THE WORD “ORTHODOX”

Language is very important, words are important, and that is why the abuse and misuse of the word “Orthodoxy” when describing Jewish affiliation must be analyzed and challenged.

Over the last few years, a group of clergymen who call themselves Orthodox rabbis have begun engaging in a headlong dash to introduce Reform innovations and label them “Orthodox.” They insist on calling themselves Orthodox rabbis and classifying their behavior and innovations as “Orthodox” or “Open Orthodox.” They are using - nay, abusing - language to deceitfully try bringing Reform Judaism into their synagogues, many of them affiliated with the Orthodox Union and the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) under the guise of Orthodox. They are co-opting language, lying and calling themselves Orthodox in order to slip under the radar and introduce Reform anti-Torah, anti-halacha innovations into Orthodoxy.

It is high time we started using language correctly to unequivocally declare that these clergymen are Reform rabbis and unveil their insidious sneaking of Reform practice into Orthodox synagogues by having the audacity and moral turpitude to call it Orthodox.

It’s time to label “Open Orthodoxy, “Yeshiva Chovevei Torah,” “Morethodoxy” and “International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF),” et al, as Reform organizations. Yes, they are Reform organizations. No, they are not (yet) affiliated with Hebrew Union College, but their behavior, their innovations, and their own stated aims are exactly those of the Reformers of old.

It is precisely because language is important that these organizations and their rabbis should be called what they are: “Reform” organizations, “Reform Rabbis” and “Rabbahs.” This writer will henceforth call them what they are and we hope that other publications who value halachic Judaism will do the same.

REFORM PRACTICES UNDER THE GUISE OF ORTHODOXY

Let us now give a quick refresher course on just a sampling of their latest excesses, which are completely consistent with bygone Reform innovations:

TAMPERING WITH THE SIDDUR:

One of the things that characterized early Reformers was their discomfort with the siddur. They felt that it was backwards, antiquated, and not in keeping with the “enlightened” times in which they lived. They therefore decided to cut out and change sections that they felt did not belong in a “progressive” age.

Last month, a clergyman named Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky advocated removing the brochoh of “Shelo asani ishah.” Rabbi Kanefsky decided that the brochoh takes away from a “woman’s dignity.” He is obviously far more cognizant of what dignity is than our holy sages of the Gemara who instituted this blessing. His halachic rationale would be amusing if it wasn’t so tragic. He writes, “Simply for lack of male reproductive organs, otherwise qualified women are still barred from the rabbinate, and from many positions of communal leadership. She can be a judge, but not a dayan. A brain surgeon, but not a posek. And often she must content herself with davening in a cage in shul, from where her desire to say Kaddish for a parent may or may not be tolerated. This is no way to run a religion that claims wisdom as its inheritance…”

Is this the laughable halachic rationale that a rabbi who purportedly represents the “People of the Book” puts forth? It looks more like a political stump speech. Is Kanefsky a rabbi or a politician?

ASSAULTING LAWS MANDATED BY THE TORAH:

Let’s analyze another Reform nugget from Kanefsky’s diatribe: “She can be a judge, but not a dayan… This is no way to run a religion that claims wisdom as its inheritance…”

As my esteemed colleague, I. Schwartz, pointed out in his Yated article some weeks ago, “Kanefsky assaults halacha, treating dinim de’Oraisa (such as women not serving on a bais din) as if they were capriciously invented by some hateful and prejudiced rabbis, scathingly reprimanding the halacha: ‘This is no way to run a religion.’” Is criticizing a halacha derived from a gezeiras hakosuv and suggesting we do away with it not Reform practice?

Later, Rabbi Kanefsky pulled his article off the internet and wrote the same thing in language that he thought would be a bit more palatable to people not as “enlightened” as he.

LEGITIMIZING CONDUCT THAT THE TORAH LABELS TOEIVAH

Rabbis affiliated with “Open Orthodoxy” have written and released “A Statement of Principles” seeking to legitimize and neutralize the aversion to acts that the Torah calls “toeivah.” Rabbi Hyim Shafner, a clergyman who claims to be Orthodox, wrote on the Morethodoxy website that “the engagement of a couple involved in toeivah should be celebrated at the Kiddush in shul with a cake that says mazal tov.”

I kid you not. This was written by a rabbi who calls himself Orthodox.

I ask my dear readers and anyone seeking to minimize the attack on Hashem and His Torah that Open Orthodoxy represents: Is this cavalier discarding of p’sukim in the Torah, discarding “outdated” p’sukim to conform with the “enlightened” view of this issue, not Reform Judaism? Surely, it is. Are these rabbis who advocate such aberrations not Reform rabbis? Surely, they are, regardless of what they call themselves.

Language is important and we cannot let Reform rabbis hijack the name Orthodox in an attempt to spread their malignant disease. We have allowed their reprehensible conduct, their lies and their obfuscation to metastasize for far too long.

Space constraints prevent us from outlining other Reform practices that they have instituted, such as the ordination of women rabbis, tampering with the chupah ceremonyby allowing the kesubah to be read by women, and interfaith rituals. Perhaps worst of all, the IRF has made a mockery of the laws of geirus, not even requiring kabbolas ol mitzvos, the acceptance of mitzvos, as a prerequisite for conversion. And the list goes on.

“KOSHER STYLE” TARFUS

They have been very clear about their objectives. Just as Reform proposed changes in the most sacred of matters, halachos and practice to conform with what was then in vogue, so are Open Orthodoxy and the others trying to take Judaism and make it conform with the left-wing liberal ideals in vogue today.

The insistence by Open Orthodoxy, Morethodoxy, IRF and others to call themselves Orthodox is an insidious campaign of obfuscation of their goals to deceive unwitting Jews into believing that you can call yourself an Orthodox Jew while conducting your life like a Reform Jew.

The only difference between them and Reform is that they insist that their brand of Reform should be “kosher style” Reform. We have all seen those delicatessens labeled “kosher style.” They sell a mean corned beef on Jewish rye sandwich, delicious kosher style pickles, a piece of kishka reminiscent of the kishka your grandmother could have made, but it is all treif. Glatt treif.

Open Orthodoxy is Reform Judaism for those wanting a certain comfort level with Orthodox ritual and some aspects of Orthodox practice, but just as those delis are glatt treif, so is Open Orthodoxy. In this sense, they are worse than conventional Reform. Just as unwitting Jews may mistakenly patronize kosher style delis, look at the menu, and assume it is kosher when it is actually treif - after all, who would sell kishka if not a kosher place? - so too, unwitting, often innocent Jews who don’t know any better are being ensnared in the trap laid before them by the Reform purveyors of Open Orthodoxy.

THE TIME HAS COME…

In 1956, a famous p’sak halacha was released by many of the great roshei yeshiva of that era, prohibiting collaboration of any sort with Reform and Conservative clergy. I have absolutely no doubt that if they were alive today, the roshei yeshiva would treat Open Orthodoxy and all of its mutations with the same stringency.

As I. Schwartz pointed out a few weeks ago in these pages, Open Orthodoxy has given us ample proof of where they stand. They have repeatedly shown that they have no fidelity to halacha, no fidelity to the words of Chazal, and no fidelity even to p’sukim in the Torah itself.

The only weltanschauung to which they seem to have deference is the liberal value system in vogue in university campuses and certain corners of the media and intelligentsia.

It is finally time to take a stand. Organizational Orthodoxy must take a stand. Anyone who holds dear the word of Hashem, the Torah, and the Shulchan Aruch cannot afford to sit on the sidelines.

The holy Chofetz Chaim writes (laws of loshon ho’ra, 8:5), “It is permitted, and even a mitzvah, to speak loshon ho’ra about an apikores.” The Chofetz Chaim defines apikores as someone “who denies the Torah or the prophecies of Yisroel, either the written Torah or the Oral Torah, even if he says that he believes in the entire Torah except for one verse or one law which is derived from the Torah through the principles transmitted at Sinai.”

As outlined above and in the article by I. Schwartz, the Reform rabbis who are purveyors of Open Orthodoxy have shown time and time again that they wholly conform to the Chofetz Chaim’s definition of apikores.

It is time for organized Orthodoxy to take a stand. It is time for Agudas Yisroel, Young Israel, the Rabbinical Council of America, the Orthodox Union, and the leadership of RIETS to publicly ostracize Open Orthodoxy and declare it beyond the pale of Orthodoxy.

The Gemara (Shabbos 54) states that he who is able to protest and doesn’t is himself culpable in that transgression. The Gemara (Gittin 55) teaches us that when rabbonim do not protest, it is even a greater transgression: “From the fact that the rabbonim kept quiet, it shows that they agree.”

As we approach Rosh Hashanah, the Yom Hadin, we must all conduct a din vecheshbon, a self accounting. Will we and the organizations with which we are affiliated be able to say, “We did our part in stopping an organization that is attacking our holy Torah and our holy Mesorah”?

And a vintage cartoon depicting the products of the JTS seminary (from the "On the Main Line" blog:

AJN again kicks Shabbat in the guts

2011-09-23T17:23:00.000+10:00

Though rarely surprised at anything that the AJN does, readers who cherish their religion and its traditions were sickened and disgusted by the paper featuring the AJAX Chilul Shabbat team on their front page. Adding to the insult, this was done only a few days off from Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, when even Jews who have little to do with Judaism all year, come to Shul and pray for health and prosperity.

Obviously this publication has absolutely no Jewish values at all.

And the same goes for Michael Burd, who is a regular in the letter pages of the AJN as well as the Age, defending Israel from its enemies and critics. One had expected that he would be the last person to praise the trampling of Shabbat and the Torah. Such blatant desecration of one of the major tenets of our faith gives you "inspiration"!?

Shame on all of you; Ajax, AJN and Burd!

As for the following advertisement in the Sydney edition by Harvey Norman, we seriously wonder, which moron advised them to invite the Jewish community to join them for a Saturday-only "re-opening fun day"?

Shouldn't someone explain to Harvey Norman that just because the Jewish News insults the sensibilities of observant Jews, it doesn't mean that they too should do so?

How do you spell Aria in Hebrew?

2011-09-23T16:45:00.000+10:00

Received from Sarah H.
I noticed this announcement in the AJN and wondered about the Hebrew spelling of Aria. אריה after all is a boy's name!

(For more on interesting names see here.)

Tzetz, Shmetz - abi gezunt!

2011-09-18T17:50:00.000+10:00

From Yankel B.

"Interesting to see how none of the 3 clergymen featured in the ad nor anyone on the staff of the AJN noticed the incorrect spelling in the Hebrew version of עץ חיים.

Ameratzus reigns..."

Sure does. Reminds us of "Temple Nit Yisrael"

The Pishers present.....

2011-09-02T02:46:00.000+10:00

How 'progressive' of them...

What's going on here? - 2

2011-09-02T02:41:00.000+10:00

Family issues...? (Strangely, the AJN overlooked to mention the fact that Rabbi Moshe G. happens to be Rabbi Yossi Feldman's uncle.)

What made Rabbi Moshe Gutnick resign from the RCNSW? Staying there as a member shouldn't block his ORA aspirations?

And what about last week's flurry of 'media releases' re the Feldman v. AJN spat? Did the AJN apologise or not?

We offer our readers both versions. Hopefully they can make more sense of this than we could.

VERSION # 1

AJN apologises and Rabbi Yosef Feldman resumes RCNSW Presidency

In a stunning about-face, the Australian Jewish News publicly apologised today regarding a recent controversial story that called for Rabbi Yosef Feldman's resignation from a senior rabbinic position.

On 29 July 2011, the AJN ran a front page story about Rabbi Yosef Feldman entitled "Top Rabbi Must Quit". In a related Article and Editorial, reference was made to a leaked internal email discussion amongst Rabbis in which Rabbi Yosef Feldman put forward certain views in relation to the reporting of child abuse allegations to the Authorities. The AJN interpreted those views in a negative light, berating Rabbi Feldman for suggesting them and calling for his resignation as President of the Rabbinical Council of NSW.

In today's edition, the AJN admits that since the publication of their first article many Rabbis "have since contacted us to confirm they regarded the comments as Halachic conjecture in the context of an academic debate" and in a Statement from the Executive of the Rabbinical Council of NSW, also published in today's edition, the Rabbis go further and assert that "The Executive Members of the Rabbinical Council of NSW, alongside many rabbis across Australia, are of the opinion that the views propounded in those emails were simply conjecture within the context of Halachic discussion and did not necessarily reflect Rabbi Yosef Feldman's personal opinion on those matters." The Rabbis express dismay at the AJN's "interpreting in an unflattering way selected quotes from those emails."

In today's lengthy article, authored by AJN National Editor Zeddy Lawrence, the newspaper refers to its original negative coverage and says that "we recognise and fully appreciate that there are those who felt we could have been less forthright and more sensitive in the way we covered it, and we apologise for any unnecessary distress caused."

"Newspapers are perceived as ignoring ethical and sometimes legal boundaries, in their quest to enthral readers and boost sales. It would be churlish of those of us in the industry to ignore that sentiment. Likewise, it would be churlish of The AJN in particular to turn a blind eye to the feelings of many members of the community about the manner in which we handled the story regarding Rabbi Yosef Feldman."

"In this instance, if there are those who feel we have been sensationalist, then we must take that lesson on board as we move forwards."

The newspaper compares Rabbi Feldman to respected Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth Lord Jonathan Sacks, concluding that "we wish Rabbi Feldman well in all his endeavours and look forward to reporting on his positive impact on the community in the months and years ahead."

As a result of the AJN's initial onslaught, Rabbi Feldman had stepped aside temporarily from his role as President of the Rabbinical Council of NSW, in order to clear his name. In today's Statement, the RCNSW Executive informs the community that he has resumed the Presidency, saying that "The RCNSW looks forward to the contribution that Rabbi Yosef Feldman will continue to make together with his Executive in his role as RCNSW President, which he has now resumed."

"It is a fact of human nature that 'sorry' is one of the hardest words to say. Bearing this in mind we warmly welcome the AJN's willingness to acknowledge that their coverage may have been sensational, as well as their apology for the unnecessary distress caused. In particular we laud its undertaking to thoroughly review the way matters of this nature are reported in the future as well as the acknowledgement of its Editor regarding the fine character of Rabbi Yosef Feldman and the significant contribution that he has made to the community."

Also published in today's AJN is a Letter to the Community by Rabbi Yosef Feldman in which he states that "I unreservedly and emphatically condemn all forms of abuse, particularly child abuse. Perpetrators must be brought to justice in the Australian legal system, and I condemn the suggestion that paedophiles deserve protection from that legal system. I believe, as asserted by the major Australian Beth Dins and reported in the AJN, that all credible allegations of abuse should immediately be reported to, and dealt with, by the appropriate Government Authorities."

Rabbi Feldman continues that "I believe that I was seriously misrepresented in material that was recently published by the AJN", nevertheless he concludes his Letter wishing the AJN well and thanking his "colleagues on the RCNSW Executive as well as many Rabbis in NSW and across Australia for their unstinting support in recent times."

"I am hopeful that we can all move forward in unity for the benefit of our community."

VERSION # 2

JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY THE AJN AND RABBI YOSEF FELDMAN

AJN and top rabbi look ahead to a peaceful new year

The Australian Jewish News and Rabbi Yosef Feldman, President of the Rabbinical Council of NSW, have this week come to a peaceful agreement in relation to the publication of remarks made by him on the subject of child abuse.

On 29 July 2011, the AJN ran a front page story about Rabbi Yosef Feldman entitled “Top Rabbi Must Quit”. In a related article and editorial, reference was made to a leaked internal email discussion amongst Rabbis in which Rabbi Yosef Feldman put forward certain suggestive views in relation to the reporting of child abuse allegations to the authorities.

The AJN today acknowledged that its coverage may have been considered sensational and apologised for any unnecessary distress this caused.

Rabbi Yosef Feldman acknowledged that while the reporter Joshua Levi did not misquote him in the article, he believes that the context of the email discussion was not clarified. However, he acknowledges that the views he expressed could have been misunderstood. He apologises for any distress caused to the community as a result.

In today’s edition of the newspaper, the AJN admits that since the publication of their first article, many rabbis “have since contacted us to confirm they regarded [Rabbi Yosef Feldman’s] comments as halachic conjecture in the context of an academic debate”.

In a Statement from the Executive of the Rabbinical Council of NSW, also published in today’s edition, the Rabbis go further and assert that “The Executive Members of the Rabbinical Council of NSW, alongside many rabbis across Australia, are of the opinion that the views propounded in those emails were simply conjecture within the context of Halachic discussion and did not necessarily reflect Rabbi Yosef Feldman’s personal opinion on those matters.”

In today’s lengthy article, authored by AJN National Editor Zeddy Lawrence, the newspaper refers to its original coverage and says that “we recognise and fully appreciate that there are those who felt we could have been less forthright and more sensitive in the way we covered it, and we apologise for any unnecessary distress caused.”

“In this instance, if there are those who feel we have been sensationalist, then we must take that lesson on board as we move forwards.”

For his part, Rabbi Feldman stated in today’s edition, “I do acknowledge that things I wrote in emails to rabbinic colleagues could have been taken out of context and indeed misunderstood.”

He went on to “apologise to my rabbinic colleagues as well as to the Jewish community as a whole for any embarrassment caused to them by the publication of material based on my emails”.

He added: “I unreservedly and emphatically condemn all forms of abuse, particularly child abuse. Perpetrators must be brought to justice in the Australian legal system, and I condemn the suggestion that paedophiles deserve protection from that legal system. I believe, as asserted by the major Australian Beth Dins and reported in The AJN, that all credible allegations of abuse should immediately be reported to, and dealt with, by the appropriate Government Authorities.”

Comparing Rabbi Feldman’s contribution to the community with that of Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth Lord Jonathan Sacks, The AJN concludes that “we wish Rabbi Feldman well in all his endeavours and look forward to reporting on his positive impact on the community in the months and years ahead.”

As a result of The AJN’s initial article, Rabbi Feldman had stepped aside temporarily from his role as President of the Rabbinical Council of NSW in order to clear his name. In today’s statement, the RCNSW Executive informs the community that he has resumed the Presidency, saying that “The RCNSW looks forward to the contribution that Rabbi Yosef Feldman will continue to make together with his Executive in his role as RCNSW President, which he has now resumed.”

“It is a fact of human nature that ‘sorry’ is one of the hardest words to say. Bearing this in mind we warmly welcome the AJN’s willingness to acknowledge that their coverage may have been sensational, as well as their apology for the unnecessary distress caused. In particular we laud its undertaking to thoroughly review the way matters of this nature are reported in the future as well as the acknowledgement of its Editor regarding the fine character of Rabbi Yosef Feldman and the significant contribution that he has made to the community.”

Rabbi Feldman concludes his Letter wishing the AJN well and thanking his “colleagues on the RCNSW Executive as well as many Rabbis in NSW and across Australia for their unstinting support in recent times.”

“I am hopeful that we can all move forward in unity for the benefit of our community.”

This Press Release has been approved by both parties. Please disregard a previous version which had not yet received the approval of all parties involved.

Footnote: If Rabbi Yosef Feldman is the "Top Rabbi" what does that make his father, Rabbi Pinchus Feldman?

Here is the article by Zeddy Lawrence. Though not quite sure if he is really comparing "Top Rabbi" Feldman with "Chief Rabbi" Sacks...

Reflections on our role as Reporters
By Zeddy Lawrence, National Editor of the AJN

IN recent days, my mind has drifted back to 2002 and the furore that surrounded the publication of The Dignity of Difference by the Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth, Lord Jonathan Sacks.

Accused by ultra-Orthodox rabbis in Manchester of heresy for implying that Judaism did not have a monopoly on spiritual truth, Chief Rabbi Sacks eventually admitted some of his statements had been open to misinterpretation and may not have accurately conveyed his personal feelings on the matter. As well as rewriting the controversial passages in the book, he issued a statement saying “The problem lies in the use I make of words.”

It was not the first time the chief had cause to regret his terminology. A few weeks earlier he had been lambasted for claiming in an interview that events in Israel sometimes made him feel “uncomfortable as a Jew” and that Israel was forced into postures “incompatible …with our deepest ideals”.

For all the flak he received - and boy was there flak! - the chief was and is still held in the highest esteem, and it is a tribute to the man, rather than his ‘problematical words’ that he invariably pops up in almost every top 10 list of Britain’s most influential and respected public figures.

And so to the present day and the furore that greeted Rabbi Feldman’s comments on the matter of child abuse, as reported in The AJN. ‘Problematical words’ indeed. Taken from an email exchange with fellow rabbis, many of his peers have since contacted us to confirm they regarded the comments as halachic conjecture in the context of an academic debate.

Others in the community, however, read them another way and were understandably dismayed by the opinions expressed.

Which is where The AJN came in.

It is interesting to note the praise heaped on the paper when, in campaigning spirit, it lobbies for Gilad Shalit, it exposes anti-Zionist politicians or it forces online bookshops to remove anti-Semitic books from sale on their virtual shelves. Just last week, a Perth-based ticketing agency removed the option “Occupied Palestinian territories” from its drop-down address menu for overseas subscribers after The AJN alerted them to its presence.

As proud inheritors of the title ‘The Fourth Estate’, nothing fills journalists or newspapers with greater pride than effecting a change in society on behalf of its readers.

But turn that same campaigning zeal within the community and for those caught up in the spotlight, the paper goes from hero to zero.

As a newspaper, we have a duty to represent our readers and take up the baton on their behalf when they feel a grievance towards individuals or institutions that they sense are not acting in their best interests. Likewise, we have a duty to inform our readers of any perceived failings that their leaders may have. As a newspaper and as a journalists, it is our tradition to take a stand.

However, as a newspaper serving a specific community, we face additional responsibilities. One is to promote a sense of unity and pride within that community and in our communal institutions, another is to endeavour to best represent that community to the outside world.

Inevitably, these obligations will occasionally come into conflict, and when these circumstances arise we have to make tough decisions as to what side of this narrow editorial tightrope we should fall on.

Some will welcome our decision and applaud us for our strident stance. Others will feel we have overstepped the mark and condemn us for sensationalism.

We are not the first, nor will we be the last newspaper to stand accused of this charge. Indeed, in the wake of the allegations that have struck at the heart of the Murdoch media empire in recent weeks, the entire media industry is feeling the heat.

True or not in the current climate, newspapers are perceived as ignoring ethical and sometimes legal boundaries, in their quest to enthral readers and boost sales.

It would be churlish of those of us in the industry to ignore that sentiment. Likewise, it would be churlish of The AJN in particular to turn a blind eye to the feelings of many members of the community about the manner in which we handled the story regarding Rabbi Yosef Feldman. While we stand by the content of the story, we recognise and fully appreciate that there are those who felt we could have been less forthright and more sensitive in the way we covered it, and we apologise for any unnecessary distress caused.

With Rosh Hashanah fast approaching, it is timely for us all to take stock of our actions over the past few months. The AJN is no exception. Drawing on our experiences, we must consider our shortcomings, and resolve to do better, in the year ahead. In this instance, if there are those who feel we have been sensationalist, then we must take that lesson on board as we move forwards.

For a newspaper, as for rabbis, it is not always easy being all things to all people. But we do our best, just as they do their best.

Whatever was written in our story does nothing to detract from the tremendous contribution both Rabbi Yosef Feldman and his family have made to our community, or the esteem in which he and they are held.

And as with Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, it is Rabbi Feldman’s deeds and purpose that are ultimately the mark of the man, rather than some ill-chosen words.

That being the case, we wish Rabbi Feldman well in all his endeavours and look forward to reporting on his positive impact on the community in the months and years ahead.

Finally, we feel that had Rabbi Feldman continued with his threatened legal action against the AJN, it would have done far more towards ensuring that the newspaper rein in the types of attacks and reporting that it dished out both to him and to Adelaide's Rabbi Engel.

Pity that. Additionally, a temporary reduction (or better still a total halt to) Chabad advertising Australia-wide, would have taught them an important lesson on respecting readers and advertisers.

What's going on here? - 1 UPDATED

2011-09-01T15:56:00.011+10:00

The rumour mills are abuzz but AJN Watch has yet to receive credible information on why Gerassi - who was "imported" at no small cost - from South Africa together with his partner, has been given the flick.

(We invite readers input but remind all that libellous and inappropriate comments will be disallowed.)

Marching orders for Bialik principal

BIALIK College’s president Graham Goldsmith kept tight-lipped on the reasons why the school last week sacked principal Joseph Gerassi.
In a move that caught many parents by surprise, Gerassi’s employment with the school was terminated last Wednesday, effective immediately. Long-time Bialik teacher Gary Velleman has been appointed acting principal while the school conducts an international search.
Speaking to The AJN on Wednesday, Gerassi said he been prevented by the school council from telling his side of the story, for now.
With Bialik having finished in the top-10 Victorian schools for VCE in 2010 and with school enrolments at the Hawthorn East school at capacity, the move appears perplexing.
But Goldsmith refused to shed light on the reasons Gerassi was marched out, repeatedly telling The AJN, “it’s not appropriate or fair to go into that sort of detail out of respect for him.
The AJN understands a number of senior teachers at the school had clashes with Gerassi, who moved from Johannesburg’s King David School less than three years ago for the job. It is alleged they confronted the board threatening to resign if changes were not made to the school leadership.
When this version of events was put to Goldsmith, he replied: “I’m not going to go into specific interactions the council had.
He added: “We made a unanimous decision, it wasn’t take lightly.”
Dr Paul Bartrop, a former senior teacher at Bialik who this year took up a position in the United States, confirmed there was discontent.
Speaking from his new home in New Jersey, he said Gerassi’s “leadership style” had alienated some teachers and parents.
“I do not think he had a positive influence on the way Bialik College functioned on a day-to-day level,” Dr Bartrop said.
“The college community can now refocus its attention on the core objectives of teaching and fostering of menschlichkeit [creating good Jews],” he said. “It is unfortunate that the college council was place in such a position that it had to take this stand.”
Goldsmith said a meeting had been organised with parents tonight (Thursday), in the interest of “transparency”, but said reporters would not be welcome to attend.
In a letter sent to Bialik parents last Wednesday, Goldsmith wrote Gerassi had been sacked “because council lost confidence in his ability to lead the school”, however, he added the council continues to support “many new programs and initiatives introduced during the three years that Joseph was principal”.
The school president admitted parents’ reaction had been mixed, but added “With a decision like this, it’s not a sudden or rash decision, this is not something that is taken lightly.”
Gerassi began at the school in 2009, taking over from long-standing Bialik principal Genia Janover after her retirement. NAOMI LEVIN

What the Bialik students think:

Yiddish making a comeback

2011-08-15T00:28:00.000+10:00

Yiddish - alive and well in New York City

(From MTA NYC Transit)

From Yiddishist:
As someone who grew up hearing and speaking Yiddish, it has been quite painful for me to see how the younger generation have almost totally abandoned the language of our forefathers.

The only remnants of Yiddish these days (by people under the age of 50) is in the Adass Shul and their school where - probably due to an influx of ex-Brooklyn and ex-Kiryas Joel Chassidish 'sons-in-law' - it seems to be thriving. And to give credit where due, the Adass Shul is, to the best of my knowledge, the only place left where all announcements, Aliyah 'auctions' and of course Droshos and Shiurim, are exclusively in 'Mameh Loshon'. It wasn't so long ago when this was the case in Caulfield, Yeshiva, Elwood, Mizrachi and of course Katanga. But no more. How sad.

(Admittedly, we have a few Chabad 'imports' who try their best to keep Yiddish alive in their homes, but with limited success. The Yeshiva - as a school - and the Yeshiva Gedola - seems to have given up on even trying.)

So it was with great pleasure that I read the following article in COL about a project to teach youngsters the basics of the language. I look forward to seeing our traditional tongue - the language spoken by all of our (and other) Rebbes - revived here in Melbourne and in Sydney.

.א דאנק און א ברכה אוף אייער קעפ

Sicha Program Becomes Popular

A program developed by a group of bochurim Shluchim in Yeshiva College in Melbourne, aimed to give high school students critical skills for learning the Rebbe's Sichos in the original Yiddish, has gained worldwide popularity.
The unique program, entitled 'Back2Basics,' gives students basic Yiddish skills as well as the tools to learn the Rebbe's Sichos, so they can continue to learn on their own in the future.

What began with students learning from copies of the Sicha and a list of Yiddish word translations and explanations of difficult concepts, soon evolved into participants receiving professionally designed booklets. The number of attendees at the program grew each week as well, with students steadily advancing in their skills.

The entire community of Melbourne took advantage of this unique opportunity and various schools and individuals began using the booklets. Many adults who never had the chance to learn Yiddish when they were younger, viewed the booklets as a resource to finally do so.

Word of the program's success soon spread to the school in Sydney, where it was implemented and became extremely popular as well. Soon, schools and Yeshivas across the globe found out about this new resource and also wanted to use it to the benefit of their students. Programs such as Myshliach, YSP, and various others have used Back2Basics to familiarize the students with the Rebbe’s Sichos and give them the unique opportunity to learn on their own.
As one student said, “Learning the Sichos in their original form is something that everyone would love to be able to do, Back2Basics has made it available for just about anybody.”

The program's booklet has several features:

Translations: A collection of translated words that someone with very limited Yiddish would find difficult.

Classical Concepts: An overview of the entire Sicha, broken down into summaries of each individual concept.

Getting Started: A selected piece of the Sicha with every word translated. This part is geared for the beginner that is just starting to read Yiddish, to familiarize him with how the words flow.

Show Off Your Knowledge: Review Questions, which generally cover the main ideas discussed in the Sicha.
If you would like to receive the booklet weekly through email, contact ycback2basics@gmail.com

And for anyone else interested in learning the language, here is a recently published book which should help:

Bnei Akiva on the brink?

2011-08-12T00:42:00.002+10:00

What about the Melbourne and Sydney branches?

Bnei Akiva in financial trouble Ofer Petersburg YNetnews.com

World's largest religious Zionist youth movement faces budget deficit of tens of millions of shekels, half of Jerusalem staff fired, educational departments shut down. 'There are some difficulties, but we're a strong movement,' says senior World Bnei Akiva official.

The World Bnei Akiva movement appears to be on the brink of collapse: Religious Zionism's huge enterprise is operating at a deficit of tens of millions of shekels, half of the movement's staff in Jerusalem has been fired, and educational activity departments have been shut down.

The movement is facing a cash flow problem due to cutbacks in the Jewish Agency, World Zionist Organization and Education Ministry. It did not receive NIS 700,000 (about $200,000) which should have been transferred from the Education Ministry and more than $1 million from the Jewish Agency, and was forced to find an alternative for the money from communal funding. But the movement's donors, mostly in the United States, have been affected by the global financial crisis.

"Our situation has worsened, threatening the performance of the enterprise which has been accompanying the State's activity throughout the years," says Knesset Member Zevulun Orlev (Habayit Hayehudi), co-president of the World Mizrahi Movement. "There was a time when the WZO and JA carried most of the burden of the Zionist youth movements, but since they're facing difficulties too, the movement is in a bad situation."

Orlev's biggest fear is that the movement's activity will suffer significantly. "Our offices abroad will be affected by the lack of budget and their existence will be questioned. The summer activities will be reduced. I call on the government to come to its senses immediately."

The movement's current secretary-general, Zeev Schwartz, will leave office ahead of the Jewish New Year. Due to the situation, the activity in Israel has been reduced and the number of emissaries abroad has been cut. At least half of the employees have been dismissed. Key departments such as training and PR have been shut down until the movement balances its budget.

Bnei Akiva is an educational enterprise which has trained many generations: 20,000 active trainees across the world, 100,000 people who have immigrated to Israel following the movement's activity, and 200 active emissaries in 70 main cities across the world.

The movement's representatives on the ground talk about a "total collapse". A movement employee told the Kipa website that "the situation has never been worse. The remaining employees are working around the clock to bridge the gaps created following the resource and manpower cutbacks".According to the worker, "The movement will have to minimize its activities. It's a shame that one of the only movements working for Religious Zionism must end its historic role this way."

A senior Bnei Akiva official told Yedioth Ahronoth in response, "It's true that there's a cash flow problem and that we need four million shekels immediately, but Bnei Akiva is a strong movement and is not on the brink of collapse. That's a malicious thing to say. The end of the secretary-general's term led to the recent reports, some of which are irresponsible."

Some comments posted on that site:

1. Bnai Akiva's gone haridi

Maybe now they will cut back on the Haridi tendencies of the last few years. The separation of boys from girls, the emphasis on fanatical religion, instead of pluralistic religious values.

Shlomo K , Rananna (08.10.11)

2. Bnei Akiva's badly behaved youth

If the end of the funding will bring an end to their Tel Aviv youth center, in which undisciplined screaming and shrieking frequently goes on several times a week until 3-4 a.m., we, the long-suffering neighbours will be crying no tears for Bnei Akiva's demise. 4 million shekels can be better used towards providing more desperately needed hospitals.

Glen , Tel Aviv (08.10.11)

3. Yeshivot Bmei Akiva
the shake up at Yeshivat HaKotel dealt a permanent financial blow years ago. Now Bnei Akiva is getting what it deserves

joe , usa (08.10.11)

4. Bnei Akiva must survive

It has done wonderful outreach work among Jewish youth in the diaspora and was a part of the Israeli social landscape as long as I can remember. However, as the previous talkbacker notes, there has been a strong Haredification in recent years which has caused many modern orthodox young people to look elsewhere for their social life. Personally I attribute this to the very marked increase in Haredi trained teachers in the Mamlachti Dati school system, which has also become sex-segregated from Kita Alef in many towns, and places heavy and often inappropriate emphasis on "modesty" as interpreted by the minority ultra-orthodox stream. I believe that the above is also contributing to the current desertion of religious practice by young adults today who have been taught outward forms instead of spiritual and cultural truths.

Israeli grandma (08.10.11)

5. The state can t let them fall.
The best youth Israel has, comes from this organisation.

ORA , JERUSALEM (08.10.11)

6. collapse

Anybody that falls into the hands of the haridi collapses.These pests are only there to thieve legally and have no intensions to further the aims of the Bnei Akiva principles.Hope the whole activity falls and then maybe people will realise the corruption of the HARIDI

colin (08.10.11)

7. Cause was too many ex BAniks sticking their hands in the pot

It was wonderful to know how many ex hanicha made aliyah, but what was disturbing was that instead of finding a proper job they ended up working for the organisation in Israel instead. They were given jobs that enabled them to return home to the UK on the pretence of a meeting when a phone call or Skype would surfice. They were given jobs as department managers in title but in reality were no more than clerks - grand titles for simple jobs. Thats where the money went - it is not like the days of yesteryear running on a shoestring so as to build up the State and being prepared to inovate instead of spend as if there was no limit. They failed because of constantly taking from the pot, especially those from the UK.

Sid , Jerusalem (08.10.11)

8. I am sure that Bibi will find money for them!

No doubt he will take something that was earmarked for hospital equipment or children in distress because of family violence, so he can enure their vote in the next election which might not be that far off! Netanyahu will find money for anything that will serve his political career and his ego. However, we must also recognize that Bnei Akiva is strongly Zionist and supports serving in the IDF.

David , Karmiel, Israel (08.10.11)
9. As a former Bnei Akiva Rosh Snif I say "Good!"
This movement, which I was once proud to serve, has become an extreme Rightist disgrace. I hope they collapse!

Dovid , Los Angeles (08.10.11)

Bobblehead rabbi: The ultimate honour?

2011-08-09T23:05:00.000+10:00

Posted by "American Reader"

Here's a one-year-older-than-God's-parents joke about a rabbi who nodded his head a lot:

In a small Russian town, people brought their complaints to Rabbi Korsunsky to settle their differences. This day, two men were before the rabbi. He listened to the first and said, "You are right." Then he listened to the second man and said, "You are right." When they left, his wife, who was listening in the next room, said to him, "You're supposed to be some kind of judge? How can they be both right?" He listened to her and said, "You're right, too."

On August 8, the San Francisco Giants unveil a rabbi only slightly less agreeable — a nodding headed doll of San Francisco's Rabbi Yosef Langer, who serves as the team's "Rally Rabbi" on Jewish Heritage Night.

So far, more people seem to be bobbing their heads vertically ("cute!") than horizontally ("it's bad for the Jews!") with regards to the Orthodox bobblehead. One senior official with the team told me that he's received only two letters of complaint compared to oodles of "Can you save me one of those?" queries.

Either way, it's hardly the oddest bobblehead doll out there. In fact, it's not even the first rabbinical bobblehead — Rabbi Shmuley Boteach has been nodding for a while.

While once simply a charming accessory, bobbleheads have truly taken a bizarre turn in recent years. (link)
--
Could be a fundraising idea for Chabad Houses - a bobblehead doll of their rabbi.

And here's another idea that won't take long to be replicated on our shores:

Media release from Rabbi Yosef Feldman

2011-08-01T12:59:00.004+10:00

Hat tip - SBA list

Following on the AJN's shameful front page report last week - we have just received the following:

Media release from Rabbi Yosef Feldman

On 27 July 2011 and on 29 July 2011, a series of false and defamatory allegations were published by the Australian Jewish News concerning Rabbi Yosef Feldman .

The article, published under the byline of the AJN’s senior Sydney journalist, Joshua Levi, imputed that Rabbi Feldman was in favour of covering up acts of paedophilia by not reporting those acts to the police.

Those statements in the Australian Jewish News were false and are highly damaging to the Rabbi's high reputation. The Rabbi is presently considering the commencement of legal proceedings against the Australian Jewish News, its editor Zeddy Lawrence and Joshua Levi for defamation.

Rabbi Yosef Feldman has, at all times, publicly endorsed the unanimous view of the Rabbinical Council of New South Wales under his Presidency - that all acts of abuse must be reported to the police.

It would appear that the AJN obtained, by means unknown, an internal email exchange among Rabbis in which there was academic discussion of a range of views held by international scholars on how to deal with situations not subject to mandatory reporting. The AJN took extracts from that exchange and constructed a story and an editorial which attributed to the Rabbi views and opinions which he simply does not hold.

The Rabbi does not wish to speculate upon the AJN's motivation in publishing such a scandalously false piece of journalism. His only concern is to repair the damage done to his good name.

The true position is that Rabbi Feldman, like all other right thinking Australian citizens, believes that acts of paedophilia should and must be reported to the police for investigation and, if warranted, prosecution. It is not, and has never been, his view that criminal conduct of this kind should be covered up. The Rabbi's stance is that suspected paedophiles must face the Australian legal system.

There is no suggestion that any abuse has occurred in any Jewish establishment in New South Wales. However, the unanimous view of Rabbi Feldman and the Rabbinical Council of New South Wales is that suspected paedophiles must, if discovered, be reported to the police.

The Jewish News at it again - This time it's Rabbi Yossi Feldman

2011-07-31T01:10:00.026+10:00

UPDATED
Long-time readers will remember that the straw that broke the camel's back and the catalyst for creation of this blog was the following front page in the AJN:

(Although all charges against Rabbi Engel were later dropped, we cannot recall reading an apology from the newspaper for their despicable sensationalist reporting.)

Two years on - nothing has changed. Both editions last week plastered their front pages with an assault on another rabbi - not just any rabbi, but the "top" rabbi - in their estimation.

A Sydney reader has informed us that Rabbi Feldman's lawyers view the Jewish News' reporting as actionable under Australia's libel laws. If indeed so, we look forward to Rabbi Feldman extracting a substantial payout למען ישמעו ויראו.

Maybe Rabbi Engel can also get some advice about the way his case was portrayed.

If anyone can supply the documents and any further details please contact us at ajnwatch@gmail.com

Meanwhile we look forward to Australia's rabbis and rabbinical organisations to offer more support to Rabbi Feldman than they did to Rabbi Engel. After all, who knows who the next קרבן if the Jewish News is?

Update:

The Sydney Sunday Sun-Herald has now latched on to this story:

A SENIOR Sydney rabbi is refusing to resign from the state's Jewish religious authority over comments he made suggesting that sexual abuse cases should be handled within the community and not by police, claiming they did not represent his ''official'' view.

Rabbi Yosef Feldman, the president of the Rabbinical Council of NSW, has been under pressure to resign after making the comments in a series of emails to fellow rabbis last week.

Last night, his brother, Rabbi Eli Feldman, said that, while he does not deny sending the emails, which were leaked to The Australian Jewish News, the contents ''do not reflect his official position'' and he ''is a strong advocate of police intervention in cases of paedophilia''.

''He was just conjecturing,'' Rabbi Eli Feldman told The Sun-Herald.

The comments by Rabbi Feldman echo an edict given by Pope John Paul II in the 1980s that reports of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy be handled in Rome by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

Rabbi Feldman wrote: ''I really don't understand why as soon as something of serious loshon horo [evil talk] is heard about someone of even child molestation should we immediately go to the secular authorities. One must go to a Rov [rabbi] who should firstly investigate the veracity of the complaint and if thought to be serious, warn the culprit etc. and act in a way that could scare him by threatening him with publicity by internet to the whole community.''

He added: ''I personally feel that if we as a Jewish leadership can't deal with this and other issues bifnim [internally] we are showing ourselves to be impotent …''

Rabbi Feldman also suggested that because paedophiles were raped in prison, the people who reported them to the police could be held responsible.

Several rabbis told The Australian Jewish News that Rabbi Feldman's comments did not represent the broader view of the rabbinate and that he should resign from the honorary position.

As of last night, Rabbi Feldman was clinging to his post but a decision had not been made about his future, his brother said.

Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence said that he did not believe there was anyone in his congregation who was sympathetic to the views ascribed to Rabbi Feldman.

He said the rabbi's comments were alien to their understanding of Jewish values and of the responsibility of the rabbinate leadership.

Rabbi Lawrence himself resigned from the council following friction between himself and Rabbi Feldman. Asked if he felt Rabbi Feldman should step down he said that it would remove pressure from other rabbis who felt they were unable to be taken seriously within their communities while the council was enmeshed in controversy.

He stressed that there was no suggestion that there had been any abuse in Sydney or that there had been abuse in Sydney that had been concealed.

Rabbi Eli Feldman said his brother was determined to clear his name and that they were considering taking legal action against The Australian Jewish News.

Questions asked at the birth of (the now dead) "Chesed Foundation"

2011-07-30T23:43:00.004+10:00

The post by Nosson Titein about the demise of Melbourne's "Chesed Foundation" has created some behind-the-scene comment.

We have received some very interesting emails, been forwarded brochures and links to blogs requesting comments about certain posts that discuss Meshulochim. A number of Sydneysiders have also contributed with their views on that city's "Vaad Tzedaka". We shall be looking at all submissions and may post regarding some of the more important revelations.

We thank "Angry Baal-Tzedaka" for forwarding a brochure that was going around town at the time of "Chesed"'s creation.

While no longer relevant here, we have decided to publicise parts of that brochure, in case some other "well-meaning" individual will one day in the future get a similar idea into his head. It should also be of interest for AJN Watch readers in other cities where this type of organisation exists.

The brochure also included the following article in the AJN:

(Note from AJNWatch: We have not verified the allegations regarding the fees demanded from Meshulochim by the Melbourne and Sydney Tzedaka certifiers nor the amounts that its backers allegedly give.)

We don’t know if the individuals behind the “Chesed Foundation” collectors scrutinizing apparatus understand the words of the above Midrash, but their rabbinical backers certainly do.

The message is clear: !די לו בעניותו LEAVE THE POOR ALONE!! They have enough troubles, tribulations and problems in their lives without a horde of businessmen adding to their load.

We ask the businessmen behind this “Foundation” to reply to the following questions:

1) Who are you exactly? Why do your names not appear on the website?
2) What are your qualifications to approve or reject assistance to needy people arriving at our shores?
3) How much Tzedaka do you personally give (even to your 100% “scrutinized” collectors)?
4) Will you now be giving substantially larger amounts to collectors who present YOUR certificate?
5) Can you deny or confirm that the ‘businessmen’ behind this scheme include those who have mostly have their own doors closed to collectors? And/or that give collectors the grand sum of $5 and sometimes even $3? That another gives collectors the run-around where and when to come (costing them time and money) and if and when finally ‘caught’, gives them a negligible amount – often with a few abuses added?
6) How much extra funding are you guaranteeing to collectors who agree to submit themselves to your meticulous scrutiny? Have you lined up additional donors - seeing that they no longer need have doubts about the integrity of ‘certified’ collectors? Will you assure those collectors, that displaying your ‘certificate’ ensures them of additional funds? (And we don’t mean that Mr $5/$3 will now give them $10.) Or is that beyond the objectives of your “Chesed Foundation”?
7) As you well know, there already is such a “vetter” in Sydney (a member of your alleged “global Orthodox Jewish network”?),who charges Meshulochim $60,for such ‘certificates’. If a collector already has a Sydney certificate, will you still impose upon him to get your $50/100 duplicate?
8) If the answer to #7 is ‘no’, please skip this question. However if it is ‘yes’, why? What makes you a better certifier than Sydney? Why force a decent person, who may have fallen on hard times, to again undergo this degrading and time-wasting process? Don’t you trust your Sydney colleague? Why not? And we have the same question if he has a certificate from an overseas Vaad Tzedaka - from one of your so-called “global Orthodox Jewish network”. Why won’t you accept their assurances re the honesty of the collector? Is the true answer that this exercise has absolutely nothing to do with the bona fides of Meshulochim and everything to do with“Meniyat Tzedaka” (as publicly stated many times by Rav Beck שליט''א)- to reduce the number of people coming to you requesting help?
9) How about collectors who come annually? Will they be compelled to be ‘processed’ year after year? And the representatives of well-known institutions, like Chabad, Ruzin, Viznitz, Karlin, Belz, Toldos Aharon etc? Do they need a new certificate every year? Why?
How about that blind man from Jerusalem who nebach shlepps all the way to the other side of the world to raise funds to marry off his 15 children. Does he too need your annual anction that he is authentic and above board?10) And what about the blatant lie in the above newspaper article, where you claim to be “supported by most of Melbourne’s Orthodox rabbis”!
You actually list a grand total of 11 rabbis! (http://www.chesedfoundation.org.au/) which is less than 25% of the local rabbinate!
Additionally, have you bothered to investigate how many (if any!) members belonging to the shuls of Rabbis Genende, Glassman, M Groner, MZ Gutnick, S Gutnick, Heilbrun, Reisenberg EVER open their doors to a collector? According to our research there are less than 25 ‘givers’ combined!
As for the other signatories, seeing that they and their communities are constantly fundraising themselves, isn’t this a situation of conflict of interests?
And if you and they are going to be so fastidious about Tzedaka money, why shouldn’t their organizations also be investigated to ensure that monies raised are actually used in accordance with donor’s expectations? Why aren't you demanding that there be a public accounting annually? After all, they raise millions of dollars every year, compared to the paltry few thousand that the average collector from Israel can put together.)
11) If you do not wish to partake in the Mitzva of Tzedaka, simply tell the drivers that you are not a giver and not to bring anyone to you. Why incite the entire community against giving Tzedaka by making contemptible claims in the AJN, labeling good, decent - but poor - Jews as ”cheats”, “unsavory” and “frauds”?
Did the rabbis also approve this disgusting rechilut and hotzoat shem ra?)
Are you confident that if an independent auditor went through your business and financials that you’d come out so great?
The AJN article talks about “collectors whose motives are not pure”. What about the creators of the Chesed Foundation? How “pure” are their motives?

Finally, let us repeat the words of Rav Beck shlita during his Shalosh Seudot Torah on Shabbat Parsha Mattot (citing well-known Chassidic sources): “As long one isn’t too exacting about who he gives his Tzedaka to, so too in Heaven they are not overly vigilant when granting this person their blessing. However, if someone is adamant to give charity only to one who is 100% worthy, similarly in Heaven - middah keneged middah - they will scrutinize his adequacy thoroughly to see if he is eligible to qualify for Hashem’s bounty.”

And now a few questions to the honorable Rabbanim:

1) Did you consider all the above points 1-11 before signing?
2) If so, how do YOU answer the above questions?
3) Did you know at the time of signing that HaRav Beck was so firmly opposed to this and despite that gave your approval?
4) Do you know that in most places where there is a Vaad HaTzedaka, it is managed by Rabbanim and not in the hands of a few businessmen?
5) What will YOU do on the POSITIVE side of the ledger for those collectors who do pass muster? Will you speak to your well-off congregants and supporters requesting them to make generous donations? Or are you only supporting this “Chesed” foundation for the NOT giving part?
6) In your letter (published on the website) it states that “even if an institution or individual does receive a certificate of approval, it does NOT mean that in the eyes of the Vaad (Hatzedaka) it/he is worthy of the community’s support”!!!
Can you please clarify? You seem to be saying that despite demanding that these unfortunates (and representatives of prominent Yeshivas/Kollels/ organizations) go through the degradation of being probed and scrutinised by sel-appointed businessmen, you still state: “but we [still] don’t recommend supporting you”.
Or have we misunderstood your words?
7) Will you insist that Rabbanim, Roshei Yeshivot and Rebbes also be certified?
8) Isn’t the role of a Rav to encourage people to give Tzedaka – rather than stopping Jews doing Chesed?
9) And (repeat of above question #9) to our Rabbanim: Do you have ANY IDEA what percentage of YOUR membership gives - if ANYTHING - to collectors?
10) According to our investigations, 35-40% of the funds raised by most collectors are from the Adass community.
Accordingly, shouldn’t you rabbonim consult with the rabbi of that community, before backing such a vetting scheme?

We look forward to hearing the response both of the businessmen and the Rabbanim to all of the above. Meanwhile we strongly urge decent and generous Jews observe the words of the quoted Midrash: “Al Tigzol Dal”. Have no part in adding salt to the wounds of the needy and distressed.

והזהיר הקב"ה שלא יגזול אדם מהם מתנות הראויות ליתן להם, "כי דל הוא", די לו בעניותו…

והיות שאנו נמצאים בימי בין המצרים נכון מאד להזכיר שציון במשפט תפדה ושביה בצדקה - שהפדייה מהגלות והשבייה היא על-ידי צדקה
וגדולה צדקה שמקרבת את הגאולה בב''א

Another useless organisation bites the dust

2011-07-29T02:11:00.001+10:00

Guest Post:

By Nosson Tittein - the Meshulach's friend

Without the publicity, pomp and ceremony that Jewish News readers were subjected to at its launch, Melbourne's 'meshulach vetting inspectorate', with the truly insulting name "Chesed Foundation" has given up the ghost.

We say 'insulting' name, because it was everything BUT Chesed. Nebechdigeh meshulochim who detested the unpleasant time-wasting chore of applying, proving themselves worthy and qualifying for this almost-useless certificate, often had to go back a number of times before being 'zocheh' to a scrap of paper attesting that they were 'genuine' aniyim.

As any meshulach will tell you, B''H, nearly all of Melbourne's baalei tzedaka were disinterested in the 'recommendation' of this "Foundation" and brushed aside the certificate if presented. Additionally, those Rabbonim in town - who have any feeling for the mitzvah of tzedaka - were totally against it. They wanted no part in creating an extra burden for Yidden who have more than enough tzaros and issues already.

The probing and interrogating was especially painful and humiliating for people who until recently were themselves hardworking, self-supporting and 'baalebatish". Due usually to circumstancses beyond their control they find themselves in a situation of having to ask for help. To submit and force such people to grovel and plead their case before some self-appointed verifying 'gvir' who probes into their personal woes, was very often humiliating and degrading.

After the AJN published Shimon Allen's comments regarding the need to vet collectors, a meshulach responded with a letter to the editor where he clearly shows all that was wrong with the concept.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

I have no idea why S Allen and Co have decided to close down this operation. Was it because they too finally grasped that it wasn't mentchlich to add shame and pain to unfortunate and pitiable persons? Or have they come to the realisation that of the hundreds of donors in Melbourne less than a dozen people requested to see this certificate? And as the meshulochim will tell you, only one or two of those ever gave a substantial donation. The others, would give nothing if there was no certificate and almost nothing with it!

Actually, the only chesed that the "Chesed Foundation" did was for people who want no part in the Mitzvah of tzedaka. It gave them an easy way of opting out.

As for the original claim that it was going to filter out 'swindlers', that proved to be a joke. The few doubtful types that come here, ALWAYS carried certificate. (It may be that Mr Allen did refuse a suspected 'crook' or two. But that never stopped them from collecting anyway.)

PS: Interestingly, unless my computer is playing up, it appears that the Chesed Foundation have swiftly pulled their website. Pity about that as I was going to again check out who the approving rabbis were. (If anyone has anything on their files please forward tome - NT c/o ajnwatch@gmail.com)

Should the JCCV be wasting their time on this?

2011-07-29T01:16:00.000+10:00

Why is the JCCV using its limited resources for an issue that is more than fully addressed by our local, state and federal governments? After all, concerns and problems that these individuals claim to have are the same for all - whether they are Jewish, Hindu or Rastafarians.

Not that we object to them getting all the help they need. To the contrary, some may even seek and find a ways to drop their abnormal, anti-Torah, queer lifestyle and join the mainstream 'normal' community.

But why is the JCCV straining to seek a 'Jewish angle' on this? Don't they have enough issues to deal with? Have they checked with their membership and the community at large to gauge if this is something wanted by or even acceptable to the majority?

Or has John Searle finally capitulated to that miniscule and insignificant noisy bunch of homosexuals and their ad-nauseum-whimpering. If so, why not go a step further and resign his presidency and hand over the running of the Victorian Jewish community to Michael Barnett.

Such a step may even defer the whimpering for a week or two.

***

To paraphrase an earlier post on an associated matter, maybe the JCCV should call for submissions to investigate discrimination and vilification against members of the following "groups":

“Melbourne Jewish Idol-worshippers”
“Jewish Adulterers Society”
“Australian Jewish Chazir-fressers Club”
“The Shabbat-desecrators Association”
“Jews for Jesus”
“The Ladies Yom Kippur & Tisha B’av Lunchers Guild”
"Melbourne Jewish Car Thieves/Drunk-Drivers/Coke-sniffers"

The massacre in Norway - and the day before

2011-07-27T02:25:00.000+10:00

An alert overseas reader forwarded to us disturbing reports in the Norwegian press of an event that took place in the same camp only a day before the tragic mass-murder. The articles (translated in a somewhat imprecise but comprehensible English by Google) state that leaders of the AUF (Youth) faction of the ruling Labour party in Norway, were at the camp demanding and inciting that the government impose an anti-Israel boycott.

To the best of our knowledge this story has hardly been picked up by the mainstream or Jewish media.

That said, the Jewish people are "rachmanim bnei rachmanim" and offer our sincere condolences and sympathy to the victims of this cold-blooded massacre and their families.

Who, like us, knows of the horrendous capacity of Nazis and their collaborators to slaughter innocents - young and old - cruelly and pitilessly.

Who, like Am Yisrael has felt the pain of innocent children being murdered and wounded by callous, merciless killers and terrorists.

It is time for all ccounties - including the ever so liberal-minded Norway - to take the harshest possible steps against all forms of terror and to stop offering support and comfort to those are involved in such activities.

Photo: Eirik Helland Urke / Dagbladet

Norwegian to English - Google translation

Dialogue is no, Jonas

AUF leader Eskil Pedersen believes it is time for stronger measures against Israel.

ALEXANDER STENERUD alexander.stenerud @ dagbladet.no
20.07.2011, 6:56 p.m.

BOYCOTT: AUF leader Eskil Pedersen believes the time has come for more drastic measures against Israel, and wants the Foreign Minister to impose an economic boycott against the country.
This week is about a thousand members of Labour Youth (AUF) collected Utøya to discuss politics. On Thursday comes Jonas Gahr Store to Utøya to debate the Middle East.

The foreign minister believes in dialogue in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, but the leader of AUF Eskil Pedersen has a clear message to the Minister.

- We like to talk, but as we have seen so has Israel not been interested, and have not listened to any of the clashes that have been made. The peace process is the wrong way, and though the whole world screaming for Israel to comply, they do not. We in Labour Youth will have a unilateral economic embargo of Israel from the Norwegian side, says Pedersen.

Extreme

AUF leader says dialogue can no longer have anything to offer in the face of Israel, and believes it is high time that the new measures are adopted. Pedersen believes that the Israeli authorities have now moved so far right that it is impossible to have any conversations with them.

- Norway has little opportunity to influence in any way, and we are no closer to any peace in the conflict. Rather the contrary. Israel has moved very far to the right, which means that it will get the dialogue partners. I would dare say that even foreign politicians from the Progress Party will struggle to find conversation partners in Israel. There is no call web anymore. I mean is that we should talk to everyone, but we can not sacrifice our principles and our policies, just to talk, he said.

Rent

AUF has long been an international boycott of Israel, but the decision at the last congress, demanding that Norway imposes a unilateral economic embargo of the country, was sharper than before.

- I acknowledge that this is a drastic measure, but I think it gives a clear indication that we are tired of Israel's behavior. Large parts of the world react all the time, but Israel will not listen. I think the decision is a sign that we in the AUF is tired of Israel, quite simply, he says.

Jonas Gahr Store: - The occupation must end, the wall must be demolished and it must happen now
21. July 2011, at. 5:42 p.m. By: Eivind Funds

Foreign Minister met with claims that Norway must recognize a Palestinian state when he visited the Labour Youth League summer camp Thursday.

AUF WANT BOYCOTT: Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store was met by demands that Norway must recognize a Palestinian state when he visited the Labour Youth League summer camp at Utøya Thursday. Here the Minister ushered around in the camp of the AUF leader Eskil Pedersen. (Reuters)

During the second day of Labour Youth League summer camp at Utøya got the Labour Party's young hopefuls visit by Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store.

Together with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation correspondent Sidsel Wold and Norwegian People's Aid Kirsten Belck-Olsen, discussed the Foreign Minister of the deadlock between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

As foreign minister arrived Utøya he was met with a demand from the AUF that Norway must recognize a Palestinian state.

- The Palestinians must have their own state, the occupation must end, the wall must be demolished and it must happen now, said the Foreign Minister to cheers from the audience.

AUF-leaders: - Jens must be tougher against "Anbusd-Erna"

- Norway is prepared to recognize

Earlier this week, when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited Norway, the Minister said to TV 2 news channel that Norway stands ready to recognize a Palestinian state. This he repeated during the debate on Utøya.

MIDDLE EAST DEBATE: Foreign Minister participated in a debate on Utøya with NRK Sidsel Wold and Norwegian People's Aid Kirsten Belck-Olsen. (Reuters)

- We are ready to recognize a Palestinian state. I await the actual resolution text Palestinians will promote the UN General Assembly in September, said the Minister.

In autumn it is expected that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will bring the matter to the UN. Where will he ask for UN membership and recognition of a Palestinian state within the borders before the 1967 war, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

AUF would boycott

Wednesday said AUF leader Eskil Pedersen that the AUF want a unilateral economic embargo of Israel from the Norwegian side.

- Labour Youth will have a more activist Middle East policy and we have to recognize Palestine. NOK NOK's, now we have to get the peace process into a new track, said Pedersen.

The foreign minister admitted that the situation is untenable, but believes that the boycott is the wrong tool.

- Boycott will be to move from dialogue to monologue. It is difficult to open the door the day we will talk with Israel, said the Minister.

Praise for the Hamodia - from unlikely source

2011-07-21T11:11:00.000+10:00

It is rare to find Jewish publications praising the work of their competitors. But following in the wake of the tragedy of young Leib Kletzky z"l the NY Jewish Week published the following piece commending the Hamodia for its sensitive reporting of this heartbeaking story.

There was a sign outside the apartment in Borough Park where Leiby Kletzky’s family was sitting shiva for him last week that said: “DO NOT share rumors, stories and information you have heard – at all!!”

Many newspapers quoted the words of the sign and then immediately violated its proscription by going on in graphic detail about the abduction and grisly murder of the 8-year-old Haredi boy. But one paper that did not detail the “rumors, stories and information” was Hamodia, a Brooklyn paper that calls itself “the Daily Newspaper of Torah Jewry.”

From the time Leiby was reported missing, Hamodia used its pages to help get the word out. It covered the extensive search for Leiby and told of the 3,000 volunteers who scoured the neighborhood “block by block” looking for clues. It also praised “the Catholic, Asian and Pakistani communities” for handing out flyers with information and for alerting people to “keep an eye out for the missing boy.”

Addressing its own readership, Hamodia asked them to “daven and say tehillim for the safe return of Yehudah ben Ita Esther.”

When the body of Leiby was found, it was a major story, both in New York and around the world. The murder had all the earmarks of a classic tabloid story: A missing child, a search, clues, a surveillance video, dashed hopes, blood and dismemberment. But it had more than that. It also parted the curtains on a private and insular community that the public rarely gets to see. And then it had the ultimate surprise: the suspected killer was not from the outside, but one of its own, a Jew named Levi Aron.

The Daily News and the New York Post outdid each other with sensational headlines, like “Gone in a Flash,” “Monster,” “Every Parent’s Nightmare,” “Twisted,” “Confessions of a Lunatic” and “the Butcher of Brooklyn.”

While the tabloids were on the story from the beginning, reporting the disappearance of the boy and the search that was underway, the New York Times came to it late. The Times, which generally shies away from “missing children” stories, did not write about Leiby until he was found dead. Then they pulled out all the stops.

The Times was, to be sure, more understated than the tabloids, but all the gory details of the murder were there. Over the next few days, the paper explored the story from every angle, including a front page report on what the Orthodox community has done in recent years to investigate sexual predators in its midst. Joseph Berger wrote a touching article about the ritual of shiva and Clyde Haberman did a sensitive interview with the father of another celebrated kidnap victim, Etan Patz.

Hamodia’s coverage, on the other hand, was incredibly restrained. An article about Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly’s press conference only suggested the horror without detailing it. “Every piece of information increased the pain within the press briefing room,” the unnamed Hamodia reporter wrote without telling what the information was. “Seasoned reporters – who have heard it all – were visibly shaken by the steady shower of facts.”

Later in the article, the writer added: “One reporter asked if the suspect is a member of the same community. Mr. Kelly paused, seemingly looking for a tactful way to respond, then simply said that the suspect was dressed as an Orthodox Jew.”

Only once in Hamodia is the suspect’s name mentioned and this was in an Associated Press story that was heavily edited to fit Hamodia’s standards.

Rabbi Avi Shafran, director of public affairs at Agudath Israel of America and an editor at another Haredi publication, Ami Magazine, said that the restraint shown by Hamodia “was very characteristic” of such papers. “Events may be important, but grisly details are seen as unseemly to write about,” he said. “And what’s more, children read such papers too and there is a haredi reluctance to expose young kids to such details.”

Indeed, the articles in Hamodia focused on prevention and intervention, among them “What to Say to Your Child,” “Suggestions for Parents in Dealing with Child Trauma,” “Rules of Conduct in an Insane World” and “Where Do We Go From Here?”

Perhaps the most eloquent writing about the tragedy came in Hamodia’s account of Leiby’s funeral. None of the details of the death were rehearsed here. The writer, again unnamed, also stretched to find universal themes in the tragedy.

Here are some excerpts:

Sorrow of epic proportions emanated from the crowds in Borough Park on Wednesday night. Tens of thousands of anguished mourners from near and far stood sobbing unrestrainedly, shoulder to shoulder, at the levayeh of Leiby Kletzky, z”l, the 8-year-old boy abducted on Monday and murdered.

Loud sobs erupted from the crowd as the shattered father, Reb Nachman Kletzky, stood in front of the aron and stoically thanked Hashem for the few precious years he and his family were zocheh to share with his beloved son.

The massive levayeh, attended by Jews and non-Jews of all backgrounds, exhibited both the indomitable achdus of Klal Yisrael and the common threat of all humanity. Litvish, Chassidish, and Sefardi Jews of all religious levels, as well as every ethnicity and age group, were represented by those who went and cried over the loss of a precious life cut short, and a family left in profound pain.

As I read the restrained Hamodia coverage I thought that there was more involved here than just, as Rabbi Shafran said, protecting the children from the “grisly details.” Hamodia was playing a healing role in the community, much like the mainstream press did in the aftermath of the terrible events of 9/11. Remember back then? The mainstream press refrained from showing certain horrific images, like mangled body parts and people leaping to their death from the towers. The mainstream press also wrote hagiographic tributes to the fallen that made them seem more like heroes and angels than human beings.

In its coverage of the Leiby Kletzky tragedy, Hamodia reminds us that there are times for restraints, limits and self-censorship. Not everything has to be sensationalized. Mainstream journalism can learn something from them.

A few bits and pieces from this week's issues of the AJN

2011-07-21T10:24:00.002+10:00

Well, well, well. Who would've thunk it?

After all the warring going on between MP Michael Danby and the editor of the Jewish News, look who made it to the cover this week. Could it be a sign of remorse and repentence for past behaviour? We hope so - but aren't very confident.

Nobody will deny that Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant is hard-working and very active in many fields. But "senior" rabbi!? Isn't he a bit young for that tag? Or is it like our policemen who seem to be getting younger, so too are our 'senior rabbis'?

This letter to the editor had us a bit puzzled.
"Congratulations to the RCV for taking a stance on the issue of non-kosher and poor-quality mezuzos being sold in Judaica shops".

"Congratulations"!? Isn't this what they are all about? In fact some may ask - what took them so long? These passul Mezuzos have been floating around for many years.

The writer continues: "It is therefore encouraging to see our local rabbinate finally taking a stand on this very important issue."

"Finally". Our point exactly.

NO COMMENT REQUIRED

We also checked out our free issue of the Sydney edition and noticed the following two advertisements:

So now along with advertising chazir treif and mechalel Shabbat establishments, the AJN is promoting Xmas.

But it's not ALL chazir-treif. Read about this new Sydney 'minhag' -après-funeral Kosher catering!

Danby upsets the Jewish News

2011-07-15T16:29:00.002+10:00

(Apologies for the delay in posting)

We can't remember another occasion where, following criticism, the AJN expended an entire page to justify itself.

Seems that Michael Danby's private mailing to thousands of constituents describing how the newspaper was censoring or totally disregarding matters of importance, really got under the editor's skin. We suspect that AJN Watch's publicising those details didn't endear us to them either and probably the reason they unleashed Zeddy's donkey upon us this week.

But seriously, it is about time that they realised that they no longer have total domination and control on information to (and about) the Jewish community .

We now live in a world of blogs, websites and other alternatives. J-Wire seems to be picking up and becoming a more relevant. Galus Australis seems to be gaining importance. The weekly circulation of the Hamodia is growing constantly (despite the hefty $6 cover price) with much of the increase coming from the 'non-Charedi' and, surprisingly, even 'non-frum' sector. (Well maybe not really surprising, seeing that their coverage of news from Israel and the Jewish world is 3 or 4 times more comprehensive than the couple of pages that the AJN cuts and pastes from internet sites. And may we proudly add that this humble blog too, is getting thousands of hits every month (1500 this past week alone).

That a newspaper can upset so many sectors of the community is some 'achievement'. But it shows that there are deep seated problems and issues which require massive surgery and serious changes in the way the owners and management operate.

Not that we expect them to do anything. The Jewish News will continue to be the (tax loss) plaything of one rich Jew after another. And when current owner realises what little genuine respect and honour this little hobby brings him (and even less influence), you can bet on him handing over this loss-making operation to the next 'gevir' - another prosperous developer or merchant - with more dollars than sense - to take his turn riding the AJN merry-go-round.

Though it isn't a total disaster for the current owner Robert Magid. Zeddy Lawrence in his wisdom (and no doubt valuing his job or maybe even hoping for a raise) made sure to include his boss in his list of the "50 most influential Jews in Australia".

Now that's gotta be worth some of the lost big bucks and headaches that come with owning such a enterprise.

Another, rarely mentioned loudly, advantage of owning the paper is of course the clout his has when a mate or relative gets into financial or personal doo-doo. That's when the fearless voice of the community, becomes totally shtum. Shah shtill. We won't go any further about that matter at this stage, but it is special benefit that most do no have

Adam Kamien - the ass that talked - ויפתח ה' את פי האתון

2011-07-14T17:09:00.002+10:00

Perusing our free copy of the Jewish News' (to get yours, click here) we were 'elated' that their resident soft-porn peddler and dreckerati booze and drugs recorder, has after 2 years determined to again publicise this blog. (Not that we need his help, but it can't harm.)

Readers will note the title of this post is derived from last week's Parsha "Balak" and the story of Bilaam's chatty donkey. A week later the AJN's ass has opened his mouth.

Maybe Donkey Adam was running short on smut and neither could he find a way to poke fun about a seriously injured child. So AJN Watch was given the 'honor' of his attention.

A bit tardy, he is, seeing how he tried using bully-boy threats when this blog was created (see here). But better late than never.

His imbecilic name-calling proves (if there was any need for proof) that Bilaam's donkey had far more seichal than the AJN's ass.

Note his delicate discharge attacking the AJN Watch blog and that post:
"balls-out, Mariana Trench-depth, plumbing faux pas, holier than thou hypocrites, pests, fundamentalist fanatics, taking cues from unhinged religious zealots, virulent vitriol, idiotic histrionics", while equating us with the Klu Klux Klan and Hizb ut-Tahrir. Nice, no?

Unsurprisingly, Eeyaw Kamien distorts our post, by lying that we 'gleefully' 'quipped' about the NZ earthquake tragedy.

But then what can one expect from an individual who derives his income via the stench of the smutty filth he pushes into so many Jewish homes.

Meanwhile our post suggesting an association between the Shechita ban and earthquake (and, Eeyaw, it was only a suggestion) was picked up and discussed in a number of sites (including some that we prefer not to be associated with). We were quite surprised at the interest shown.

One such site, Shirat Devorah, seems to agree with our sentiments, even mentioning the possibility of Holland too getting a 'heavenly' warning after its politicians recently decided to ban Shechita.

And while we can understand donkey's and smut-peddlers denying that anything that happens comes for a reason and from Hashem, we were rather stunned by comments from some in the 'frum' community who seem to have reservations about 'signs' from Above.

So for their benefit here is a quote from the Talmud Yevamot 63:

And here's how the Hebrew Artscroll explains it:

Crown Heights Beth Din statement re reporting abusers

2011-07-12T01:59:00.001+10:00

Hat tip Zalman

Statement signed by 2/3 of the rabbonim on the Beth Din of Crown Heights (one being ex-Sydneysider Rav Y Braun the former rav of the Tzemach Tzedek community).

Hopefully similar statements will be issued by Batei Din and Rabbonim worldwide.

Another important clip: Rav Moshe Soloveitchik speaks about child abuse

2011-07-12T01:04:00.000+10:00

Very strong views on how to deal with abuse in the community - including survivors going public. A must for all to hear. Click here.

Amazing video advising parents on prevention of child abuse

2011-07-12T00:38:00.000+10:00

Rabbi Yakov Horowitz of Project Yes gives some excellent tips and advice on how to talk to your children about the dangers of abuse and how to ensure that they do not become victims.
Click here for a most important and interesting speech. A must for every parent.

From the site:
“Speaking to Your Kids about Personal Safety” is a parenting workshop conducted by Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, Director of The Center for Jewish Family Life’s Project YES and dean of Yeshiva Darchei Noam in Monsey, NY.

Part of the Project YES "Keep Our Children Safe" initiative, it was designed to raise awareness among parents in our community about the importance of speaking to our children about safety and personal space.

WARNING: "Don't start with Shechita!"

2011-07-06T12:06:00.002+10:00

Were the people of Melbourne and surrounding country areas the addressees of a (not-so) gentle warning message aimed at the state and federal governments?
Saying: "Don't mess with Shechita!"

To many in the community it may indeed seem so.

Only 9 days after the Sunday Age gave front-page coverage to an ignorant and biased anti-Shechita campaign, most of the city and environs felt a 'heavenly jolt' which they claim is a forewarning of what may happen if anti-Shechita laws are implemented.

They cite as proof the case of New Zealand where last year the government declared plans to ban Shechita - under pressure from a minister who was later allegedly found to have a strong conflict of interest in the matter.

Well, we all know what has happened in New Zealand since that time. Not one, but two devastating and destructive earthquakes plus hundreds of aftershocks have almost totally destroyed life in the city of Christchurch. In fact they just had another one today - this time in the North Island.

So who knows? Maybe there is some link between Shechita bans and earthquakes...

Someone, (possibly Michael Danby and David Southwick,) should pass on the message to Julia Gillard and Ted Baillieu - "Don't risk it!"

Meanwhile read Danny Lamm's article in defence of Shechita in The Age